Do you think FFX County or N Arlington is better for a bright child?
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Anonymous
| Skip all the hassle with moving. Home schooling is the way to go. |
Anonymous
| My one issue in Arlington (I have two kids in APS elementary school) is that they don't have as much experience, or seem to know what to do with, a GT/LD kid. My son is dyslexic, and reading has been a challenge (which he's really overcoming, no beef with the SpEd program) but he also has a freakishly high IQ. It feels like the school decided that, because of his LD, not to focus on his other needs. I haven't pushed because, to be honest, he's so excited to be back in the regular classroom this year full time that I'm ok with him not being pulled out for gifted services, but I feel like every time I bring it up I get blank stares from the gifted teacher, like she has no clue what to do with a kid like mine. My sister, a teacher at a Fairfax County Gifted Center, sees kids like mine all the time, and I feel like he'd be served better in terms of being a 2e kid there. |
Anonymous
| Go private. Kids in the publics in both Ffx and ARL are not able to benefit from differentiation that privates offer. Especially for a kid with a special need - on either end of the spectrum (LD, GT, both), your child would thrive in the right private. There are some great ones in and around ALX. Don't let finances scare you, you can make it work, with FA if necessary. |
Anonymous
Fairfax has slowly come around (at least in my pyramid). The current crop of HS kids are the ones whose parents pushed for it and made headway, but it is not the same at all schools. IME, the larger established local (not Center) gifted programs (called LLIV) in the ES are the ones that have made the difference as well as an excellent Assistant Supervisor for Special Ed and her staff. She has made 2E education and services on of her priorities. MS came next (was the hardest to make any headway) and HS seemed to be there waiting for these kids. It was through the Special Ed teachers in ES, not the gifted/AAP teachers that headway was made. The IEP to transition to ES helped make headway by establishing all the appropriate accommodations and signing up for the advanced level classes as they entered MS, then vigilence on the parent's part to make sure they were followed. Then teachers, with education from the Special Ed department, and experience with kids with significant accomodations that changed a few teachers (not all). FWIW, TJ is not a place for a LD/GT kid - if you look a the statistics, they just don't have the experience - that will take a new crop of parents to change. It takes more time to parent a child with an LD no matter what their intelligence. Schools, whether private or public, can only do so much. It is hard to find the higher level math and number of available AP science courses in the private schools and homeschooling doesn't work for every child or family. Plus, they tend to concentrate on the deficit (LD) and not the asset (GT). For my family, we have found it "easier" to do public and supplment with private one on one tutoring. It takes quite a bit more time parenting a child with special needs and the intense parenting time is elongated. Whatever your choice, I wish you luck, happiness, patience, and serenity. 
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Anonymous
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Both are fine. Which matters more to you and your kid? Yard or commute? Do you want the problems of a big district or a smaller one?
The differences in overall quality, whatever that means, are unclear. The answer is "which do you prefer?" |
Anonymous
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We are in North Arlington. 19 kids in Kindergartners class with teacher and full-time aide; 20 in 2nd graders class. This is a popular school.
Older one gifted. His needs are being met. Much smaller, more attentive Co. Vs Fairfax. I also grew up in Fairfax. More $ to schools and kids--not all of the problems Fairfax is facing and school closes much less frequently for weather. Late high school start times--8:19am. |
Anonymous
Less differentiated instruction, lower SAT scores in Arl. Very "Lake Wobegon" mentality. Nothing stands out. Leadership is ex-FCPS who maxed out there. They were happy to see him go to Arl. Not much experience with 2E students in Arl. Feels weirdly segregated. Very little diversity in N.Arl. S.Arl gets the shaft. Lots of resentment, sometimes acknowledged. Built new schools in Arl, but smaller than ones they replaced. Bad planning so some schools are bursting at seams or will be soon. I lived in Arl., saw complacency first-hand. Much happier in larger system with more to offer across the board. |
Anonymous
Your dated experience in a school system does not lend any credibility to your statement. 20 yrs ago Apple vs Microsoft was a very different discussion than it is now. |
Anonymous
Relative high up in Fairfax Co school system does though 
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Anonymous
| Oh cool. Is this going to turn into another "they suck!", "no, THEY suck" discussion again? So mature and productive! |
Anonymous
I know. I hate that. The people I know who chose Fairfax over Arlington seem just as nice as the people who live near me in Arlington. I am fairly certain they love their children just as much as we do. I am also fairly certain that they weighed their options and chose the one that worked best for their families. Losers. |
Anonymous
Right? They are two good options. No need to trash one another. |
Anonymous
Stop paying attention after than post........you know, except for this one. 
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Anonymous
+1. Find the neighborhood you like/can afford with the shortest commute. Having a short commute allow more time for family/life balance, creates a less stressful environment and helps children more than any differences (perceived or real) between Arlington and Fairfax schools. |