Best elementary school in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
In terms of programs offered, the tech focus and not being overcrowded right now, Jamestown wins.

Unless you aren't impressed by the programs or the tech focus, and the parents give you a ginormous pain in the rear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown? Tuckahoe?

Do you mean "best" or "whitest"? Taylor (81%) and Nottingham (80%) are right behind Tuckahoe (82%), so not too bad. Jamestown (85%) still wins, though.

Let's not turn this into a race issue. We are talking about parental involvement, PTA, test scores etc... it doesn't matter if there are white majorities.

Please tell me how you quantify those things to come up with "best." You can't. We all know perfectly well what OP meant. If he/she is asking for a simple answer, it has to be based on something simple. [/quote

Isn't it funny how nobody ever blinks or whines about lack of diversity at 100% black schools?

That's because nobody is interested in 100% black schools.

[Anonymous]

I'm a parent of a child in an Arlington ES and these threads are so gross to me. I do like and appreciate the diversity at my child's school. I have no idea what the SOL scores are and I don't care. It's threads like this that depress me about living here (although I've never heard a person IRL say anything remotely similar, thank God).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a parent of a child in an Arlington ES and these threads are so gross to me. I do like and appreciate the diversity at my child's school. I have no idea what the SOL scores are and I don't care. It's threads like this that depress me about living here (although I've never heard a person IRL say anything remotely similar, thank God).

You should check out the back half of the north/south thread. There was actually some interesting discussion about policy and the direction many would like to see their schools head. Much of it informed and reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll get the popcorn.

I ate all mine the last 5,000 times this came up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

[Anonymous]

Niche says that Science Focus is the best in the state. Take that for what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need a choice school in Arlington officially named The Best Elementary.

So many parents will sleep better knowing that they can tell everyone that their children attend The Best Elementary school in Arlington.

I love this. About five years ago, when some of the schools in south Arlington still had room, someone suggested they could help the capacity problem by adding "Gifted" to the names of the schools (e.g., Hoffman Boston Elementary School for the Gifted, Barcroft Elementary School and GT Center) and making north Arlington kids pass a test to be admitted. People would have been prepping their kids, acting all coy about whether their kids got in, demanding an appeals process...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Niche says that Science Focus is the best in the state. Take that for what it's worth.

Not much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez. Not again.

I know, right?

Six of one, half dozen of the other.

I'm sure Jamestown is a lovely place, but I'm glad I didn't have to hang with the Jamestown cheerleader on this site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

[Anonymous]

Clearly it's ATS. Taking one measure SOLs they are highest in the state. Plus multiple state and national awards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jamestown? Tuckahoe?

Do you mean "best" or "whitest"? Taylor (81%) and Nottingham (80%) are right behind Tuckahoe (82%), so not too bad. Jamestown (85%) still wins, though.

Let's not turn this into a race issue. We are talking about parental involvement, PTA, test scores etc... it doesn't matter if there are white majorities.

You are stupid or naive. This is either about race or socioeconomics, or both equally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

I thought ATS was the restrictive one??!
Why is ASF restrictive?
The class keeping the teacher from 3rd to 4th - wow! How did that happen? Is that a common thing?!