Experiences with Long Branch Elementary and Jefferson Middle?

[Anonymous]

PP who can't drive: If your reasons for liking or not liking a school are so specific to your circumstances that they are likely irrelevant to the OP, maybe leave those factors out because they will only confuse and derail the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted a few months ago asking the same question when we were looking at houses in that zone. Everyone really had wonderful things to say. You can probably search for my post.

I've met the principal and she is wonderful. I joined the TJ pta, my only thought from reading what they put out is that they are more south arlington centric -- most of the community events are much further south. I'm not sure how much you would want to participate in those either way, but it would have been difficult for my family since I don't drive.

We ended up buying a little more north so we are in asfs and hamm, but from what I've heard, long branch is a great community and all the middle schools are about the same.

Huh?

Me, too on the "huh?"
All middle schools are about the same???
And what does "much further south" for the school events mean? They are all at the school with maybe a restaurant fundraiser at some pizza place nearby.
And heaven forbid one might venture to south Arlington for an event once a year.

Ok, so maybe I won't try to be helpful.

I kind of lurk/joined the TJ PTA two years ago when we were thinking about buying in Lyon Park -- all of the pta events I've seen have been really far from my house. I don't live anywhere near Walter Reed, or Pupatella. Frankly I don't even know where they are, other than they are over two miles from the houses we were looking to buy (which considering how small Arlington is, is really far). Its very different from my impressions from Hamm, where all of the events that were planned pre-Covid were walking distance of the house we ended up buying. I don't own a car, so going over two miles for a school event is not happening. Again, this is middle school so in all likelihood it doesn't matter, but it was something I noticed. If I had known COVID was going to happen, then it would have probably factored in even less.

I know parents at Williamsburg, Kenmore, Swanson, Hamm, and TJ. I know a few parents at the immersion program at Gunston. Everyone I know in real life neither loves or hates their middle school. Academically, they are all about the same. Demographics may be different, but in real life, I've never heard anyone say anything about the schools being dramatically different other than from a social aspect.

Thanks! The perspective of someone who “lurk/joined” a potential school’s PTA, prioritizes school events that are walkable, and doesn’t know where two commonly know entities are is invaluable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. Demographics may be different, but in real life, I've never heard anyone say anything about the schools being dramatically different other than from a social aspect.

I don't know the other MS's well but there are distinct differences at TJ because of the IB program. The most notable are that world language is required all three years with a greater variety of languages offered and there is a community service requirement all three years culminating in an 8th grade project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted a few months ago asking the same question when we were looking at houses in that zone. Everyone really had wonderful things to say. You can probably search for my post.

I've met the principal and she is wonderful. I joined the TJ pta, my only thought from reading what they put out is that they are more south arlington centric -- most of the community events are much further south. I'm not sure how much you would want to participate in those either way, but it would have been difficult for my family since I don't drive.

We ended up buying a little more north so we are in asfs and hamm, but from what I've heard, long branch is a great community and all the middle schools are about the same.

Huh?

Me, too on the "huh?"
All middle schools are about the same???
And what does "much further south" for the school events mean? They are all at the school with maybe a restaurant fundraiser at some pizza place nearby.
And heaven forbid one might venture to south Arlington for an event once a year.

Ok, so maybe I won't try to be helpful.

I kind of lurk/joined the TJ PTA two years ago when we were thinking about buying in Lyon Park -- all of the pta events I've seen have been really far from my house. I don't live anywhere near Walter Reed, or Pupatella. Frankly I don't even know where they are, other than they are over two miles from the houses we were looking to buy (which considering how small Arlington is, is really far). Its very different from my impressions from Hamm, where all of the events that were planned pre-Covid were walking distance of the house we ended up buying. I don't own a car, so going over two miles for a school event is not happening. Again, this is middle school so in all likelihood it doesn't matter, but it was something I noticed. If I had known COVID was going to happen, then it would have probably factored in even less.

I know parents at Williamsburg, Kenmore, Swanson, Hamm, and TJ. I know a few parents at the immersion program at Gunston. Everyone I know in real life neither loves or hates their middle school. Academically, they are all about the same. Demographics may be different, but in real life, I've never heard anyone say anything about the schools being dramatically different other than from a social aspect.

Thanks! The perspective of someone who “lurk/joined” a potential school’s PTA, prioritizes school events that are walkable, and doesn’t know where two commonly know entities are is invaluable!

LOL. Not at TJ but have experience with other APS middle schools and I can say there are definitely big, big differences between them so you are smart to ask these questions.

[Anonymous]

Yes there are differences.

[Anonymous]

We are a current Long Branch family and have been happy. It’s a great, laid back community, not type-A at all. We have another year before middle school, but the parents of older kids I have talked to have been reasonably happy, same as I have heard about most of the other middle schools in arlington. I have heard the PP’s complain about how it’s just the long Branch kids who go to W&L instead of Wakefield, but the actual neighborhood Hs kids we use as babysitters have taken it in stride. We really like that from our particular house (south of Pershing), our kids will be able to walk or bike to all 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

My kid didn’t go to Long Branch but my neighbors really like the school.

My kid goes to TJ and it’s a great middle school. Pre COVID there were great after-school events at the school (like plays and fall outside movie)

The IB program has been interesting and helps the show my kid a world perspective. Don’t know if other middle schools do this but TJ has home room/TA concept with teachers and small groups I like. Helps to make sure no kid is lost

Covid has been tough but I admire the TJ PTA and Principal for doing Town Halls so parents could ask questions. I got more info through that than a Gunston parent I know. And please understand that in middle school most kids don’t want to know parents exist so PTA is different at middle school. Go Yellowjackets!!

[Anonymous]

LOL. Not at TJ but have experience with other APS middle schools and I can say there are definitely big, big differences between them so you are smart to ask these questions.

Well, let's hear it...what are the differences?

[Anonymous]

I have kids at Long Branch and TJ and have been pretty happy with both schools with the large caveat that this past year has been hard due to COVID and, I think, would have been hard anywhere. I have been impressed, in particular, with how much work TJ does toward building a school community and providing students support, the small TA's are really helpful and have been particularly helpful during COVID. Long Branch transitioned to a new principal two years ago, and lost some great staff in the process and in the continuing fall-out, but is a great school community and has a very strong core of teachers who are exceptional and very devoted to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's not my intention to criticize you; but I just don't understand the issue with the one or two fundraisers being at Pupatella on Walter Reed. It's a few blocks from the school; so if you would have been willing to buy to go to TJ, I don't get why the location of the limited events was a thing.

There are differences in middle school programs and offerings. IB at TJ, for instance. Music and art programs are much stronger at other middle schools. Some small differences in course offerings. From the parents I've talked to, homework is different. And, as you suggest, there is definitely a difference in the population, and the PTAs and PTA fundraisers and activities.

How is homework different?

My kids went to Long Branch and TJ. On the homework thing, I've heard from parents who had kids at both TJ and either Swanson or Williamsburg that the homework load was a lot heavier at those schools vs. TJ and, for some kids, that made the HS transition more of a shock for TJ kids. My kids didn't have an issue with it and have done well in tough schedules at W-L so I was fine with a more relaxed middle school experience.

I think Long Branch/TJ is generally a bit of a more relaxed, less competitive vibe than some other schools. We were happy with both. Long Branch did have a very long-serving principal who has retired a couple years ago so that may impact the school somewhat, I haven't heard anything from current families.

I think the main potential negative of the Long Branch/TJ neighborhood is that at TJ it is only the Long Branch kids that go on to W-L. Everyone else at TJ goes to Wakefield. This can be tough for kids who make a new batch of friends in MS. DS had one friend who opted to transfer to Wakefield to stay with friends. DS makes friends easily and had no issue with the shift in friend groups. Others, including DD, have stayed tighter with ES friends than they might otherwise have done if all their middle school group had gone to HS together.

OP here. This is super helpful, thank you! We are definitely looking for more relaxed/less competitive (there's already too much of that going around in the area and DD is naturally hard on herself).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.
I don't know the other MS's well but there are distinct differences at TJ because of the IB program. The most notable are that world language is required all three years with a greater variety of languages offered and there is a community service requirement all three years culminating in an 8th grade project.

This is great to know. Sounds like what we're looking for since DD speaks a second language already and we'd love for her to pick up a third.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids at Long Branch and TJ and have been pretty happy with both schools with the large caveat that this past year has been hard due to COVID and, I think, would have been hard anywhere. I have been impressed, in particular, with how much work TJ does toward building a school community and providing students support, the small TA's are really helpful and have been particularly helpful during COVID. Long Branch transitioned to a new principal two years ago, and lost some great staff in the process and in the continuing fall-out, but is a great school community and has a very strong core of teachers who are exceptional and very devoted to the school.

OP here. This is very helpful, thanks!