Recommendations for schools in south arlington?

[Anonymous]

We're moving into Arlington soon and there isn't much inventory out there in our price range. So we have to consider South Arlington as well as North Arlington. (North would be my first choice, as I've lived there in the past and know the schools have a better rep, plus there's better access to metro.)

Can anyone recommend their current or past South Arlington elementary school?

We were looking at a home in Barcroft, but the demographics there scared me a bit. (81% free/reduced price lunch eligible kids is a REALLY poor school. our current elementary in fairfax is 19%. and it's about 80% hispanic, which we are not.) Looked at another house in Patrick Henry boundary and that didn't sound too good either. We don't really want to send our daughter to private school and would like her to go to school with and make friends with other kids in our neighborhood.

thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I have heard good things about the parent involvement at both schools. The parents seem really committed to boosting achievement at both schools. Barcroft is such an adorable neighborhood. The school is on that year-round schedule which allows for breaks during the year for remediation of lower-achieving students. Which seems to have raised their test scores a lot. The thing I would be concerned about in South Arlington is keeping my kids out of Gunston Middle. I know someone who worked there who said they would never, ever allow their own children to attend that school. Gangs and violence and discipline problems. Terrible principal at Gunston too.

[Anonymous]

I've heard only positive reviews on Gunston Middle School by current and former parents. But I suppose it's all perspective. Many North Arlington parents do opt to send their kids there for the Spanish Immersion middle school program, and Oakridge, which is likely the best South Arlington elementary in terms of academic performance is assigned to Gunston.

I'd suggest Oakridge, which is still a diverse school, but has a more affluent population than the other South Arlington schools. From your comments, Oakridge would be more to your liking. Also check out Campbell Elementary, but it is similar to Patrick Henry in terms of demographics which did not appeal to you.

I'd say look at Oakridge, Campbell, and give Patrick Henry another look. Patrick Henry does have a good reputation among South Arlington schools.

[Anonymous]

Claremont Elementary, the Spanish Immersion school for the western half of the county is located in South Arlington. This week it received recognition for its outstanding immersion program.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for your input! I'm ok with a diverse school, but I think 80% hispanic/20% other isn't any more diverse than an 80% white school would be, and i don't think our blonde-haired, blue-eyed daughter would fit in so well. I loved the home in Barcroft and the neighborhood, though. I can give Patrick Henry a second look. Seems like getting caught up in the applications and lotteries for the various "special" programs would be similar to DC public schools, so it would be easier just to buy in a school district we like. The areas we like all feed into either Jefferson or Kenmore; we're looking mostly in Penrose, Arlington Heights, Arlington Forest, and maybe Alcova Heights. I haven't seen Gunston show up in the listings yet. My daughter is not quite 3 so right now we're focusing on elementary.

[Anonymous]

Also look at Glencarlyn, which is just west of Arlington Forest. An old 19th century "streetcar suburb" it has a mix of homes: victorian, ramblers, colonials, etc. You have a choice of either Carlin Springs or Campbell Elementaries. Campbell has a much better socio-economic mix, which would appeal to you. Carlin Springs Elem has the highest percentage of low-income students in So. Arlington.

Alcova Heights is a beautiful, historic neighborhood not far from the yellow and blue lines (pentagon city and crystal city stops). The elementary is Oakridge.

Also look at Arlington Forest north of Rte 50. It is close to the Ballston Metro. The Elementary is Barrett, which has a good socio-economic mix, and a very good reputation. The principal is well-liked and has led the school since 1996. It is a very popular neighborhood school for Arlington Forest (north of 50), and it is within walking distance of many homes.

[Anonymous]

There is a mistake in the previous post. Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge are assigned to Oakridge Elementary. Both neighborhoods are very popular and close to Metro and Pentagon City and Crystal City. These neighborhoods are arguably the most attractive in South Arlington. Lots of parks, forested areas, and trails. There are beautiful large colonials as well as more modest cape cods. Just don't buy a house across the street from the sewage treatment plant.

[Anonymous]

I hear very good things about Patrick Henry, and some of the families I know who have had a good experience are very blond.

Also, if you live in S Arlington, you can send your kids to Campbell, which people also seem to like.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, from the OP! We're waiting to hear back from a seller in Arlington Forest (North.) I liked Glencarlyn a lot, looked at one house there but it was a foreclosure in really bad shape. Keeping an eye on the neighborhood. I had hoped to buy in very close-in Penrose or Arlington Heights for the commute, but the schools don't seem all that great. (I realized I was wrong about the demographics of Barcroft - the FARS % was correct, but I was mistaken on the racial makeup.)

p.s. i know that sewage treatment plant! I ran by it once by mistake. I haven't taken that route since.

[Anonymous]

Hope it works out. Arlington Forest north has great access to the Lubber Run park and amphitheater--soon to be restored. There are many young families in the area with kids at Barrett. And you would also be eligible for membership at the Arlington Forest swim club.

[Anonymous]

I think you've found most of the schools in S. Arlington that people seem to be happy with. We know a lot of families that are happy with Barcroft, Campbell, Claremont, and Oakridgel.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Good to hear, 23:31. I keep falling in love with houses in the Barcroft area, while everything I see in North Arlington just sucks. Hate to spend $500K+ on something I'm not even remotely excited about in North Arlington. That's a lot of money. I don't want to buy and then move again before high school - this is our "forever" house, so it's a huge decision. (Fairfax and Falls Church schools are good, but wouldn't help my commute much, which is why we're moving closer in.)

[Anonymous]

There are many new young families moving into South Arlington neighborhoods like Barcroft. The neighborhood schools are improving and they have plenty of community support. The civic association for Barcroft is called the "Barcroft School and Civic League" which speaks to the commitment of the community to its school. Barcroft also has popular annual family events like the 4th of July parade. http://www.bscl.org/

TJ is a decent middle school, whose reputation is on the rise, and the new Wakefield High School, when completed in about three years will have some of the best facilities of any public high school in the area. South Arlington families are very proud of their neighborhood schools, and I doubt you would feel the need to "move again before high school." Arlington also offers school transfers to schools that are under capacity. There are a number of elementary schools that are accepting transfers, and Arlington is famous for its excellent county-wide elementary schools. For high school this year both Yorktown and Wakefield are accepting transfer applications. W-L accepts IB program transfers, but not regular transfers as that school is at capacity.

In terms of public transportation, Columbia Pike will soon have rail mass transit (in the form of a tram/streetcar), and money for that project was finally included in VDOT's budget. Property values will surely rise as they have in North Arlington neighborhoods close to Metro.

[Anonymous]

My understand is that no Arlington elementaries are taking transfers this year. Regardless, my blue eyed blond haired daughter is thriving at Barcroft elementary--along with many of her classmates of all hair and eye color. It's certainly a diverse school, but I thought its demographics were similar to Campbell. Most of my neighbors have chosen to send their kids to Barcroft and many have skipped the ATS lottery all together. It's a terrific school, that happens to have a lot of recent immigrants. Miriam Hughey-Guy, the principal, has been there forever. She won APS Princpal of the Year a few years back and she has an incredibly strong presence in the school and the neighborhood alike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were looking at a home in Barcroft, but the demographics there scared me a bit. (81% free/reduced price lunch eligible kids is a REALLY poor school. our current elementary in fairfax is 19%. and it's about 80% hispanic, which we are not.)

Anonymous wrote:(I realized I was wrong about the demographics of Barcroft - the FARS % was correct, but I was mistaken on the racial makeup.)

both of your #s were off by a lot -

Free and Reduced Lunch Statistics
2009-10
Barcroft
58.02%

SUMMARY OF K-12 STUDENT CIVIL RIGHTS STATISTICS
2010-11
Hispanic
51.7%