Newington Forest Elementary, Springfield VA

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone!
I wanted to know what your experiences has been with Newington Forest Elementary, good and bad please! We are possibly moving within that schools boundary and really would value everyone's input. Thank you again!

[Anonymous]

Anyone??

[Anonymous]

There arent too many families on here from that area (Newington Laurel Hill Gunston Silverbrook). I'm familiar w/ Halley and South County. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Hi there, any luck with any parents hearing about Newington Forest in Springfield?

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things. It's a smaller, neighborhood school and one family I know who goes there likes it. Not much to say. Typical FCPS school!

[Anonymous]

I haven't heard anything bad, although it does feed into South County cluster, they are opening a New South County Middle so that might end up being better.

[Anonymous]

BUMP

[Anonymous]

I have had a few contacts with folks at Newington, but no big impression. Have you looked at the FCPS school data website?

http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolprofile/profile.cfm?profile_id=352

If you're looking in that area, try Hunt Valley. Great school, good scores, involved PTA. My son has had great teachers there.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above poster -- "Typical FCPS" But that isn't a bad thing at all. A great playground. Nice building. About 4 classes per grade. Average class sizes. Fun "extras" like the Student/Teacher Basketball and volleyball games. Arts Night, Math Night, etc etc.

We have friends who were there for a few years and loved it but had to move from the area. Nice neighborhood school with nice teachers and a great prinicpal but easily lost in the shuffle with other FCPS schools. I do not think you will be disappointed at all.

[Anonymous]

Also have to agree with the poster before myself. I think your child will enjoy their time there while learning.

[Anonymous]

If you are thinking of relocating to the Newington Forest Area, put your child/ren in a private school or go somewhere else. This school is simply pathetic. The infighting and politics is something that everyone's lives can do without. The principal bends to pressure and has no spine. 99% of the parents are disengaged and the PTA has about 5 people who ever do anything to help out. The school has gone from being a coveted place to be in Fairfax County before the current principal took over to now being consistently in the bottom 5 ranked schools in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

"consistently ranked in the bottom 5"? What are you talking about? Maybe there are problems with the management, but it certainly isn't affecting the SOL pass rates of white and asian students. They rank in the top tier of the state. The personal reviews on GreatSchools.org sound great as well.... seems like someone has a problem that other people don't have with this school.

[Anonymous]

i agree principals /leadership can hurt. There is some new stuff for teachers coming through the pipeline that cluster 6 has to deal w/. I would suggest seeing the school yourself. My kid to Halley (fairfax station) and its somewhat crappy scores but i tell you that I have never seen so many parents involved and a school so tight, that morning program made all the difference. I remember how emails would go out (for school and class events) and everything was already filled w/ volunteers or items needed. I still don't think it is a bad school and give it a shot. And by the way the kids that did do private elementary flooded back in when SoCo opened.

[Anonymous]

Everyone's experience will differ, the importance is that you feel your child is safe and is constantly learning. That her teachers engage and care about their students. Overall Fairfax County is a great system to be in, so as parents we have to learn to not "freak" out so much. Do you think our parents where like this?