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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
What is the reputation of Alexandria public schools?
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Anonymous
| We are moving to the DC metro area from out of state. Was wondering what the reputation of Alexandria public schools. |
Anonymous
| I suggest you look at moving to Alexandria (Fairfax County side) or Arlington. The schools in Alexandria City just don't have the same great reputation as the Fairfax and Arlington schools. |
Anonymous
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PP is right w/r/t City of Alexandria (vs. Alexandria section of Fairfax Co.).
That said, some of the elementary schools in the City of Alexandria are very well-regarded...smaller class sizes, better teachers, etc. City of Alexandria public schools get a bit of a bad reputation b/c its middle schools are very bad and TC Williams can be hit or miss ("jail or Yale"). |
Anonymous
May I ask what the better elementary schools are called and what area they are located? Is there some sort of book or website we can visit that has this type of information? We know people who went to school in DC or live there now but are childless. |
Anonymous
| Bad. There are some boosters, but don't move there for the schools. |
Anonymous
|
Lyles Crouch is fantastic. Mt. Vernon Community, Douglas MacArthur, Cora Kelly ...I think these all have a good reputation.
For specific recommendations, you should join the yahoo group "OldTownMoms". |
Anonymous
Spoken like somebody who doesn't have a child in the Alexandria City school system and has no idea what he/she is talking about... |
Anonymous
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ACPS good elementary schools: George Mason, Charles Barrett, and MacArthur. Some would include Maury.
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Anonymous
| If you can afford Arlington or Falls Church, or parts of Fairfax, their schools are better. But, there are worse places to be, at least for elementary school. |
Anonymous
| PP here. Should have added that you really need to do your own research on schools and not be too swayed by what others think. What is great for one kid can be awful for anther. Open Houses are going on now so it is a good time to visit and take a peek. |
Anonymous
| To the original poster: Some background info. "Alexandria" is an incorporated city and "Alexandria" is also a geographical section within Fairfax County. Essentially Alexandria can either be Alexandria City Public Schools or it can be Fairfax County Public Schools. They are different, so let us know which area in Alexandria you are talking about and we can give you more information and resources. |
Anonymous
I was looking into living around Old Town Alexandria. |
Anonymous
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That's definitely Alexandria City Schools unless you go a little south of Old Town and then you are in Fairfax County. I don't know the schools, so I'll let someone else fill you in. I think I have heard/read that Lyles Crouch has good test scores. I don't know more than that. There are a couple of Catholic schools in Old Town if you decide that fits your life.
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Anonymous
| The Old Town Area (ZIP Code 22314) feeds into 3 elementary schools, Lyles Crouch, Maury, and Jefferson Houston. Lyles Crouch and Maury are generally well regarded. Jefferson Houston could be describe generously as "up and coming" or more realistically as failing. However, the area for Jefferson Houston is changing rapidly and the city is working on improving the school. If you have a child in elementary school, look at housing south of King Street. It will cost you about 100K more for a house but parents love Lyles Crouch. |
Anonymous
| Since Jefferson Houston does not meet AYP can you apply out? How does that work? I would be interested in hearing from parents that have done that. |