Douglas Macarthur Elemntary in Alexandria

[Anonymous]

I was just wondering what parents think of the quality of school. We are deciding between two houses that we like. One is associated with Haycock elemntary in Fairfax county, the other one with Douglas Macarthur. Ive heard mixed reviews about Haycock (overcrowded classes, etc) and considering that we need to stretch ourselves financially to buy the house nearby Haycock, I was wondering what the reviews are about Macarthur? Will we regret our decision to move to Alexandria due to school's quality(elementary is my concern).

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Depends on what grade, plus you are not guaranteed a slot at any City of Alexandria school this year if you're a newbie starting in kindergarten. There are a couple of very good threads about this last topic. If you do end up at DM, it is one of the better Alexandria schools, but you'll always have issues in middle school and beyond.

Signed someone who just moved from Alexandria to McLean.

[Anonymous]

A spectacular school (we're at a different ACPS school). MacArthur had been regarded as the very best of the Alex City schools for decades. It's strongly supported by its (well-heeled) catchment neighborhood. MacArthur has seen something like 9% enrollment growth in the past two years. You need to check to assure that there will be a space there; all of the ACPS schools have experienced a tremendous enrollment increase in the last 2-3 years. If there isn't, ask what other ACPS school you might wind up with. Barrett, Mason, Lyles-Crouch and Maury are all good, and you're highly likely to get one of them if not MacArthur.

[Anonymous]

MacArthur is a great school. Do call and ask if they've reached capacity for your child's grade. As other poster said, there are plenty of other good elementary schools in Alexandria even if MacArthur is full. Once you are enrolled, you are set for that school--don't need to cross your fingers every year. If MacArthur doesn't have an immediate opening in your child's grade, you have the option to be put on a wait list, and then you can transfer when there is an opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MacArthur is a great school. Do call and ask if they've reached capacity for your child's grade. As other poster said, there are plenty of other good elementary schools in Alexandria even if MacArthur is full. Once you are enrolled, you are set for that school--don't need to cross your fingers every year. If MacArthur doesn't have an immediate opening in your child's grade, you have the option to be put on a wait list, and then you can transfer when there is an opening.

Exactly correct. But you might not want to. The likely adjacent-district schools on the east and north sides of the MacArthur district are very good; at least a few families have been diverted to Maury and Mason, and parents who are sent there typically don't want to pull even if a space does open up. If there's a sib, ACPS will cross-enroll the sibs at the same school.

And you will not regret a decision to move to Alexandria because of the schools. There's one regular participant on these chat boards who disagrees and will likely log on soon to reply. We've had really wonderful experiences with our DD's ACPS elementary, and we are keeping her in ACPS for middle. Alexandria is fabulous and you will love it!

[Anonymous]

FYI--enrollment at MacArthur is projected to be over 700 this fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what grade, plus you are not guaranteed a slot at any City of Alexandria school this year if you're a newbie starting in kindergarten. There are a couple of very good threads about this last topic. If you do end up at DM, it is one of the better Alexandria schools, but you'll always have issues in middle school and beyond.

Signed someone who just moved from Alexandria to McLean.

Where's the thread (NP here)?

So basically, Douglas Macarthur might be full for this school year already?

(help! - school me)

[Anonymous]

It might be. Call the school. If it is full, the immediately-adjacent schools are very good as well.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
MacArthur is currently at 664, up from 651 at the end of the last school year. Don't know what grade might be "full". I only have the total enrollment number.

[Anonymous]

a house in the Haycock district is a much better investment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a house in the Haycock district is a much better investment

Really? Have you bothered to look at the appreciation in City of Alexandria vs. 22043 in recent years? Alexandria RE has done pretty well.

[Anonymous]

I think class size in Alexandria is capped at 22 and in FCPS it's 29.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think class size in Alexandria is capped at 22 and in FCPS it's 29.

It is capped at 22, but inches up slightly for the upper elementary grades. Can't remember the exact maximum for each grade, but ever as high as 29. While there is plenty of debate over the impact of class size (see about 5000 DCUM discussions ) Alexandria City Public Schools has make keeping class size down a priority.

[Anonymous]

Have a son at MacArthur. We are very happy with the school. To say an investment in some soulless FC neighborhood is better than city of Alexandria is just stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a son at MacArthur. We are very happy with the school. To say an investment in some soulless FC neighborhood is better than city of Alexandria is just stupid.

I can understand why people would pick an affluent section of Fairfax near a Metro station over an area with a decent elementary school, and questionable middle and high schools. It's TC Williams HS, not McLean HS, that's been singled out by the Commonwealth as a persistently under-achieving school. I'm just not sure which area currently is a better investment, since people already pay a lot (for what they get) to be in the Haycock district, while ACPS has far more room to improve.