Stratford Landing or Staying at Fort Hunt

[Anonymous]

The Stratford Landing AAP orientation yesterday afternoon was really impressive. However, we are still having a difficult time deciding whether to go or stay at Fort Hunt.

Fort Hunt (a Spanish Immersion school) is offering an Infusion Model for Level IV next year. It will be a Level IV curriculum made up of students in Level IV and Level III and still include the Spanish component.

Thoughts??

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it could be the best of both worlds.

I've heard many people say that Local Level IV does not go as in depth as at a Center School. However, add on the Spanish component and it could be quite challenging and stimulating. WOW! That's really a lot to think about.

I only wish we had had this option for my DD when she was in school.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard of Level IV Infusion. Are there any other immersion schools in Fairfax County doing this? and are they successful?

[Anonymous]

We're in the same boat. It's a very hard decision, especially since it's a new program model, but someone has to be the first and I really think it could be something great.

We're leaning toward staying at Fort Hunt and not going to Stratford Landing. There's always the option of going to Stratford Landing next year, but once we pull out of immersion there is no getting back in. I'd hate to lose the two years we already put into it.

Good luck with your decision. We're crossing our fingers that there will be many others that decide to stay as well.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at Fort Hunt and it was a good choice for us. Although they say the infusion is new, this year, my 6th grader took an advanced math curriculum at Fort Hunt (and will take 7th grade SOLs) which will permit her to take Algebra as a 7th grader. She will also activate AAP for middle school. We found that the Fort Hunt teachers found ways to challenge her even without the formal infusion program. Each family is different, but it worked well for us.

[Anonymous]

Question for Fort Hunt parents - are you planning to send your kids to Carl Sandburg? We're trying to decide where to move and know that many of the elementary schools in the area are great but have heard both positive and negative about the middle school/high school. If we buy in this area are budget will not allow for private school.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I went to Stratford Landing 25 years ago. I hated not going to school with the kids in my neighborhood. And having a longer trip on the bus 2x/day. Then when we moved, it was very hard to meet kids in my neighborhood because I didn't go to school with them.

[Anonymous]

Our DD is at Sandburg and is really enjoying it. New principal last year, diverse but generally a pretty good mix of kids - definitely a lower income group there as well. Not nearly as scary as this board makes it out to be.

Regarding AAP, DC switched to Ft Hunt for immersion in 1st grade but had a lousy experience and Ft. Hunt was and still is from what I understand not great in math. I heard just the other day from an instructional aide there that they are in "serious math remediation" right now after 3 years of subpar test results. As Spanish speakers ourselves (but not bilingual) we were disappointed in the immersion program. Absolutely no grammar is taught - just vocabulary for math and science.

Our DC switched to SL in 3rd and that was the right move. Plenty of kids stay and join AAP at Sandburg though. Good luck with your decision.