Looking for thoughts on Mount Vernon Community School in Del Ray, Alexandria

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP but for a different reason. The parent group at the other school is vicious. Do a search here under the schools' names, and do the same on FB and ND. The better choice will be very clear.


I was trying not to be mean but totally agree. The parent behavior at Maury is remarkable, and not in a good way.

I'm curious what you mean. My son finished elementary there two years ago and is now at GW. I never saw anyone behave inappropriately. I certainly didn't attend many PTA meetings etc., so cannot speak to anything like that, but people were perfectly fine in terms of running into them at the playground, occasional classroom volunteering, scout meetings etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with the PP but for a different reason. The parent group at the other school is vicious. Do a search here under the schools' names, and do the same on FB and ND. The better choice will be very clear.


I was trying not to be mean but totally agree. The parent behavior at Maury is remarkable, and not in a good way.

I'm curious what you mean. My son finished elementary there two years ago and is now at GW. I never saw anyone behave inappropriately. I certainly didn't attend many PTA meetings etc., so cannot speak to anything like that, but people were perfectly fine in terms of running into them at the playground, occasional classroom volunteering, scout meetings etc.

Maury is the prettiest girl in school and constantly gets attacked by the ugly girls. MVCS is like the hippie chick that is cool. Cora Kelly is the weird kid that never talks and JH is the kid who fights everyone and is a little dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I currently live in a condo in Rosemont and are looking to move to a townhouse in Del Ray, so we would move from Maury Elementary to Mount Vernon Elementary School. My daughter is 1 so this is not really any issue right now. I am looking for thoughts on the following questions for the dual language program:
1. If your child attends/attended MVCS, did you find it challenging to assist with your child's schoolwork in Spanish? I majored in French, actually, so I like the idea of the dual language program but am worried I won't understand half of the content.
2. I have heard of the option to opt out of the dual language program, should it not be right for my child. Can someone explain how this works? Specifically, I am looking to see whether you have a choice once you decide to opt out: for example, if I opt out and the school closest to me has no openings and then I am offered a spot at the second or third farthest school with more availability, can I decide to just stay at MVCS? Or, once I opt out, do I have to go with the school that has openings. We primarily get around by walking and I am worried about how to get to a school farther away.

Thanks so much for any and all responses I get!

We live in the zone but attend private instead. The neighborhood is pretty divided on MVCS. Some love, love, love it and send their kids there. Others not so much and therefore send their kids to SSSAS, Grace, Browne, Burgundy, ACDS, or parochial. All the kids on our block do private of some sort. A few up the street go to TC for high school, but they moved here after ES. Sorry I don't have more to offer, but you should anticipate strong opinions on this school. Probably better opinions generally when compared to Jefferson Houston, but not as favorable as Maury and some of the others in ACPS.

I am so tired of Alex residents coming on here to give opinions on ACPS, when they don’t send their kids there themselves. So much gossip and bashing, without being able to provide an informed opinion.

OP- we have been at MVCS for 2 years. I agree with a PP who said the dual language program has only gotten stronger. We are very pleased to see my DC teachers committed to language immersion in the Spanish class. I also think so far my DC teachers were excellent- engaged and effective with instruction.

It is a large school, so could be daunting for certain students. They do have a good job of keeping a “school within a school”
Feeling by grade level. I would say another drawback are the facilities. Building is 100 years old.

Overall- pleased with instruction and student and parent community. I can’t speak to difficulty with homework as I understand Spanish, but I can say so far my 1st grader hasn’t had any homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with the PP but for a different reason. The parent group at the other school is vicious. Do a search here under the schools' names, and do the same on FB and ND. The better choice will be very clear.


I was trying not to be mean but totally agree. The parent behavior at Maury is remarkable, and not in a good way.

I'm curious what you mean. My son finished elementary there two years ago and is now at GW. I never saw anyone behave inappropriately. I certainly didn't attend many PTA meetings etc., so cannot speak to anything like that, but people were perfectly fine in terms of running into them at the playground, occasional classroom volunteering, scout meetings etc.

Maury is the prettiest girl in school and constantly gets attacked by the ugly girls. MVCS is like the hippie chick that is cool. Cora Kelly is the weird kid that never talks and JH is the kid who fights everyone and is a little dumb.

Wow, this is pretty accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with the PP but for a different reason. The parent group at the other school is vicious. Do a search here under the schools' names, and do the same on FB and ND. The better choice will be very clear.


I was trying not to be mean but totally agree. The parent behavior at Maury is remarkable, and not in a good way.

I'm curious what you mean. My son finished elementary there two years ago and is now at GW. I never saw anyone behave inappropriately. I certainly didn't attend many PTA meetings etc., so cannot speak to anything like that, but people were perfectly fine in terms of running into them at the playground, occasional classroom volunteering, scout meetings etc.

Maury is the prettiest girl in school and constantly gets attacked by the ugly girls. MVCS is like the hippie chick that is cool. Cora Kelly is the weird kid that never talks and JH is the kid who fights everyone and is a little dumb.

Wow, this is pretty accurate.

Incredibly accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with the PP but for a different reason. The parent group at the other school is vicious. Do a search here under the schools' names, and do the same on FB and ND. The better choice will be very clear.


I was trying not to be mean but totally agree. The parent behavior at Maury is remarkable, and not in a good way.

I'm curious what you mean. My son finished elementary there two years ago and is now at GW. I never saw anyone behave inappropriately. I certainly didn't attend many PTA meetings etc., so cannot speak to anything like that, but people were perfectly fine in terms of running into them at the playground, occasional classroom volunteering, scout meetings etc.

Maury is the prettiest girl in school and constantly gets attacked by the ugly girls. MVCS is like the hippie chick that is cool. Cora Kelly is the weird kid that never talks and JH is the kid who fights everyone and is a little dumb.

This. It was kind of a poster to provide an example without even realizing what she has done and why it so perfectly buttresses my point.

[Anonymous]

We have generally been happy at MVCS. Despite its size it doesn’t feel large. The parents can be a little clique-y but not overly so. I’m a PRA freeloader and grateful for their involvement. The teachers have been very engaged and supportive and when we needed support because of special needs we got it. We don’t have homework (now in 3rd), and while my DS understands Spanish, he will tell you he isn’t fluent and won’t use it conversationally. He has been exposed to Spanish before school so that has disappointed me a little. That said I’ve had a front row seat to the teachers this year and am consistently impressed with them. I’m sorry we’re doing it virtually because I think they’d be amazing in class.

I am generally displeased with ACPS, while loving our school, and despise our current superintendent. I’m concerned about the future of dual language after this year when Spanish has not been as big of a focus as it usually is. We are supposed to send our youngest there next year and I’m not sure what we’ll do. We’ve considered moving but also afraid of special Ed in other districts. We cannot afford private.

[Anonymous]

They teach reading using Calkins instead of a phonics program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They teach reading using Calkins instead of a phonics program.

Calkins is being phased out throughout the division, as is happening in neighboring jurisdictions as well. It was popular, but nationwide its in decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I currently live in a condo in Rosemont and are looking to move to a townhouse in Del Ray, so we would move from Maury Elementary to Mount Vernon Elementary School. My daughter is 1 so this is not really any issue right now. I am looking for thoughts on the following questions for the dual language program:
1. If your child attends/attended MVCS, did you find it challenging to assist with your child's schoolwork in Spanish? I majored in French, actually, so I like the idea of the dual language program but am worried I won't understand half of the content.
2. I have heard of the option to opt out of the dual language program, should it not be right for my child. Can someone explain how this works? Specifically, I am looking to see whether you have a choice once you decide to opt out: for example, if I opt out and the school closest to me has no openings and then I am offered a spot at the second or third farthest school with more availability, can I decide to just stay at MVCS? Or, once I opt out, do I have to go with the school that has openings. We primarily get around by walking and I am worried about how to get to a school farther away.

Thanks so much for any and all responses I get!

Don't buy in Alexandria. The schools are terrible. And parents deny it and pretend everything is great to protect home values instead of demanding an actual education to protect home values. Watch a school board meeting or two and you will see that the School Board members are there to protect Hutchings and Central Office. These people will continue to get elected so nothing changes. If I had a nickel for every time a school board member has said how wrong parents are...I could afford private school tuition.

The mayor is also intent on paving every green space in town and turning it over to developers. Those nice fields next to MVCC will be on the chopping block soon. Just like the park behind Maury (a planning commissioner who lives in that neighborhood all but said that at a meeting in September) and the fields at George Mason.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience opting in to MVCS? We live near the school but are not in the zone and are interested in possibly enrolling our oldest in a few years (currently 3). Curious about how easy it is to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience opting in to MVCS? We live near the school but are not in the zone and are interested in possibly enrolling our oldest in a few years (currently 3). Curious about how easy it is to do.

MVCS parent here. I don’t have experience with this but suggest posting on NextDoor or a local Facebook page to get some feedback. Good luck, we have been very happy with our last 5 years at MVCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience opting in to MVCS? We live near the school but are not in the zone and are interested in possibly enrolling our oldest in a few years (currently 3). Curious about how easy it is to do.

If you are white the city will not approve the transfer. If you are a POC they will let you right in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience opting in to MVCS? We live near the school but are not in the zone and are interested in possibly enrolling our oldest in a few years (currently 3). Curious about how easy it is to do.

It can change over the years depending on demand and space. Here is the current list. Note that if you are zone for Jefferson-Houston, you might have a tougher time.

https://www.acps.k12.va.us/families/enrollment/program-transfers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience opting in to MVCS? We live near the school but are not in the zone and are interested in possibly enrolling our oldest in a few years (currently 3). Curious about how easy it is to do.

If you are white the city will not approve the transfer. If you are a POC they will let you right in.

We did this with our kids, who are now in upper elementary school. You have to register for kindergarten at your neighborhood school and then submit a transfer request form. The form itself is very basic -- they don't require (or give you the opportunity) to explain why you want to transfer. So the decision really does seem to be just based on enrollment numbers. When our oldest got in we didn't find out until the week before school started. With our younger child we found out earlier in the summer, possibly because they give siblings preference.