Arlington schools

[Anonymous]

Prek is about $14k a year. If you are military, then you might qualify For low income though.

Abington is just fine. It has a fairly new addition. The only Arlington elem schools I’d avoid would be Randolph and Carlin Springs.

[Anonymous]

ATS is lottery, and you’ll never get all your kids in, so forget about that.

[Anonymous]

Could you rent a townhome in Oxon Hill and put your child in Catholic school?
I would look at Alexandria over Shirlington. Again, Catholic school. It's not easy commuting around here and the schools situation isn't easy either.

[Anonymous]

tburchar wrote:Hi everyone! I am in desperate need of help regarding schools. We are moving to the area for only 7 or 8 months right after this next school year starts (November 10). Trying to find an area that we can afford while ensuring it's in a good school district is insane!
I narrowed it down to the fairlington/shirlington area to rent and Abingdon elementary is the school zoned. Is this a good choice? I also noticed that ATS and Public school of Montessori look like nice options as well.
Any help would be appreciated.
I have never sent my kids ( needing prek, 1st, and 4th) to a public school so this is all new to me. I would prefer a school that has minimal to no use loads and a strong reading and math program.

Thank you everyone!!

I don’t understand your aversion to iPads. They are fabulous tools and effectively integrated into APS teaching methods.

[Anonymous]

1. Arlington uses lots of iPads. No elementary is going to be much different there
2. PreK is not guaranteed or free. Some locations don’t have extended day care for PreK.
3. ATS and Montessori are option schools you lottery into. Most don’t get in.

Based on your rent budget and concerns, I am not sure Arlington is the right place. It’s less than a year. Just about anywhere in NoVa will likely be good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

tburchar wrote:Hi everyone! I am in desperate need of help regarding schools. We are moving to the area for only 7 or 8 months right after this next school year starts (November 10). Trying to find an area that we can afford while ensuring it's in a good school district is insane!
I narrowed it down to the fairlington/shirlington area to rent and Abingdon elementary is the school zoned. Is this a good choice? I also noticed that ATS and Public school of Montessori look like nice options as well.
Any help would be appreciated.
I have never sent my kids ( needing prek, 1st, and 4th) to a public school so this is all new to me. I would prefer a school that has minimal to no use loads and a strong reading and math program.

Thank you everyone!!

I don’t understand your aversion to iPads. They are fabulous tools and effectively integrated into APS teaching methods.

Not consistently across schools.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why all of the hostility and snide comments on here, and thank you to the very select few who were kind and helpful! My reasons why I desire to raise my kids technology free until they are much older is not a concern to anyone, and I am not sure why several have said Shirlington is not the place for me due to my budget. I have found SEVERAL beautiful townhomes that have been newly renovated and perfect for our family. We live a lifestyle that is in our budget and within our means. We want adequate, not flashy.
Again, thank you for those who provided encouragement and nice responses to my questions. I truly appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all...our monthly budget is $2700 and I have spent days researching and rent prices are ridiculous!! I focused on Shirlington because I found 3 bedroom townhouses in our rent budget, yet all of the apartments are same price for a 2 bedroom!!!
My husband is military and we will be commuting to Anacostia Bolling in DC. I will need to call and see what the requirements are to get on the list...we qualify income wise for prek, and I was hoping to do only 1 drop off.

You said minimal to no iPads, so I would not recommend APS schools. They rely very heavily on iPads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why all of the hostility and snide comments on here, and thank you to the very select few who were kind and helpful! My reasons why I desire to raise my kids technology free until they are much older is not a concern to anyone, and I am not sure why several have said Shirlington is not the place for me due to my budget. I have found SEVERAL beautiful townhomes that have been newly renovated and perfect for our family. We live a lifestyle that is in our budget and within our means. We want adequate, not flashy.
Again, thank you for those who provided encouragement and nice responses to my questions. I truly appreciate it.

You are entitled to your preference for no iPad usage, but your preference won’t matter much if you put your kids in public school unless there’s a medical reason that could get you an IEP prohibiting iPad usage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why all of the hostility and snide comments on here, and thank you to the very select few who were kind and helpful! My reasons why I desire to raise my kids technology free until they are much older is not a concern to anyone, and I am not sure why several have said Shirlington is not the place for me due to my budget. I have found SEVERAL beautiful townhomes that have been newly renovated and perfect for our family. We live a lifestyle that is in our budget and within our means. We want adequate, not flashy.
Again, thank you for those who provided encouragement and nice responses to my questions. I truly appreciate it.

You are entitled to your preference for no iPad usage, but your preference won’t matter much if you put your kids in public school unless there’s a medical reason that could get you an IEP prohibiting iPad usage.

You CAN opt out of iPads in APS. You will need to stay on top of it and find the process yourself, because it isn't widely advertised and it likely varies from school to school. But others have done it, and it can be done.

[tburchar]

Thank you SO much for that information...very helpful! I will look into that route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure why all of the hostility and snide comments on here, and thank you to the very select few who were kind and helpful! My reasons why I desire to raise my kids technology free until they are much older is not a concern to anyone, and I am not sure why several have said Shirlington is not the place for me due to my budget. I have found SEVERAL beautiful townhomes that have been newly renovated and perfect for our family. We live a lifestyle that is in our budget and within our means. We want adequate, not flashy.
Again, thank you for those who provided encouragement and nice responses to my questions. I truly appreciate it.

You are entitled to your preference for no iPad usage, but your preference won’t matter much if you put your kids in public school unless there’s a medical reason that could get you an IEP prohibiting iPad usage.

You CAN opt out of iPads in APS. You will need to stay on top of it and find the process yourself, because it isn't widely advertised and it likely varies from school to school. But others have done it, and it can be done.

You CAN opt out but this isn't going to be an easy road for your children. Very few people opt out. Are you ok with your child being the only one in his/her class doing something different for hours every day?

If you don't like i-pads, I'd pick another school district that aligns more closely with your preferences instead of fighting an uphill battle every single day.

[Anonymous]

OP - If you are working on JBAB and are active duty you should get on the waitlist for CDC there. Its subsidized so it would help your budget for the kids not yet in public.

You could also put your school age child into before/after care at Fort. Myer. If you do that then your child automatically goes to Fleet regardless of where you live in Arlington. Fleet is considered a good school, despite being fairly new.

Abington is also a good school and Shirlington is a nice area with lots of restaurants/parks. Especially for a short-term stay I wouldn't stress about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you all the way on the little/no ipad use. I won't let my kids have screens til middle school. Robot kids...

My kids read BOOKS.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. I have decided to rent an apartment in Rosslyn and go to Arlington Science Focus school zoned for the neighborhood. In case anyone military is reading this, we do have rights regarding fair schooling come to find out. That means our kids can have the opportunity to enter the lottery and not miss out just because we have orders to move 2 months into the school year.