Baileys ES in FFX County

[Anonymous]

My DD just got accepted into Baileys ES via lottery. I'm excited as our local school isn't an option in our mind, we're also considering local private school but lets face it, not paying the extra $$$ sounds nice. However, I am concerned about the size of Baileys (largest ES in Virginia). Can anyone talk from experience about the size of the school and their experience? We'll also apply for spanish immersion lottery...

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to Bailey's via the lottery, but if I was starting out today, I'm not sure I'd send her there. I love the school, but 1300+ kids! And they expect 1600+ in the next 3-5 years - http://www.fcps.edu/fts/dashboard/enrollment/esenroll.html

When the FCPS head of facilities retired recently, he said Bailey's overcrowding was the only problem he couldn't solve. There are already 19 trailers (3rd to 5th grade), limited playground space, and crazy lunch times. And there's no solution in sight. There's no land available to build a new school in that part of Fairfax Co. Even if they found a site tomorrow, Supervisory Penny Gross has said a new school is at least 5 years from completion.

There's also a new principal who seems to be very SOL-focused. I'm worried that she'll crowd out all of the enrichment opportunities that make Bailey's so special.

Hate to be a downer, but there seems to be a growing sentiment among parents that Bailey's isn't what it used to be.

[asht]

Anonymous wrote:My DD just got accepted into Baileys ES via lottery. I'm excited as our local school isn't an option in our mind, we're also considering local private school but lets face it, not paying the extra $$$ sounds nice. However, I am concerned about the size of Baileys (largest ES in Virginia). Can anyone talk from experience about the size of the school and their experience? We'll also apply for spanish immersion lottery...

We got accepted as well. In the application, I let them know I was interested in the spanish immersion. Do you know how that works?
Do we have to wait for another letter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to Bailey's via the lottery, but if I was starting out today, I'm not sure I'd send her there. I love the school, but 1300+ kids! And they expect 1600+ in the next 3-5 years - http://www.fcps.edu/fts/dashboard/enrollment/esenroll.html

When the FCPS head of facilities retired recently, he said Bailey's overcrowding was the only problem he couldn't solve. There are already 19 trailers (3rd to 5th grade), limited playground space, and crazy lunch times. And there's no solution in sight. There's no land available to build a new school in that part of Fairfax Co. Even if they found a site tomorrow, Supervisory Penny Gross has said a new school is at least 5 years from completion.

There's also a new principal who seems to be very SOL-focused. I'm worried that she'll crowd out all of the enrichment opportunities that make Bailey's so special.

Hate to be a downer, but there seems to be a growing sentiment among parents that Bailey's isn't what it used to be.

"Growing sentiment"? How does one define that when there are over 1300 children there? Let's low-ball it and say that those 1300 kids come from 500 families. How many of those 500 families have you spoken with?

[Anonymous]

I don't have kids at Baileys, but have had occasion to meet with parents and PTA reps from Baileys.

With parents who are as committed and dedicated as they, I can't imagine how you could do any better.

[Anonymous]

Bailey's is a magnet school for the Arts and Sciences that offers Spanish Immersion- so there will be lots of additional opportunities for the students, such as all 3rd graders take violin. A percentage of students from out of boundary locations can apply for a slot via a lottery.

Bailey's is one of a few CETA schools in the area meaning that it has a partnership with the Kennedy Center. Many of the teachers have been trained to incorporate the arts into their teaching via things like creative movement. The school has a black box theater- and an awesome chorus and music program. I have had my children there for a few years. Even though there are trailers and crowding, I cannot imagine a more talented, open, supportive and creative group of teachers. It is not without faults, but in my opinion, for the right family and student- it could be an amazing learning experience.
It has been for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to Bailey's via the lottery, but if I was starting out today, I'm not sure I'd send her there. I love the school, but 1300+ kids! And they expect 1600+ in the next 3-5 years - http://www.fcps.edu/fts/dashboard/enrollment/esenroll.html

When the FCPS head of facilities retired recently, he said Bailey's overcrowding was the only problem he couldn't solve. There are already 19 trailers (3rd to 5th grade), limited playground space, and crazy lunch times. And there's no solution in sight. There's no land available to build a new school in that part of Fairfax Co. Even if they found a site tomorrow, Supervisory Penny Gross has said a new school is at least 5 years from completion.

There's also a new principal who seems to be very SOL-focused. I'm worried that she'll crowd out all of the enrichment opportunities that make Bailey's so special.

Hate to be a downer, but there seems to be a growing sentiment among parents that Bailey's isn't what it used to be.

"Growing sentiment"? How does one define that when there are over 1300 children there? Let's low-ball it and say that those 1300 kids come from 500 families. How many of those 500 families have you spoken with?

The "committed and dedicated" parents at Bailey's - and they definitely are - have a very active email list. Over the past few months, there have been numerous posts on this and related topics. The teachers are "talented, open, supportive and creative", but parents are concerned that the overcrowding and administration focus on the SOLs will drive them away. The FCPS working conditions survey - although done under a prior principal - reinforce some of these concerns - http://fcpswcs.org/reports/. My point is that an amazing educational experience in a school with 1000 or 1100 kids may not be the same in a school with 1600 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to Bailey's via the lottery, but if I was starting out today, I'm not sure I'd send her there. I love the school, but 1300+ kids! And they expect 1600+ in the next 3-5 years - http://www.fcps.edu/fts/dashboard/enrollment/esenroll.html

When the FCPS head of facilities retired recently, he said Bailey's overcrowding was the only problem he couldn't solve. There are already 19 trailers (3rd to 5th grade), limited playground space, and crazy lunch times. And there's no solution in sight. There's no land available to build a new school in that part of Fairfax Co. Even if they found a site tomorrow, Supervisory Penny Gross has said a new school is at least 5 years from completion.

There's also a new principal who seems to be very SOL-focused. I'm worried that she'll crowd out all of the enrichment opportunities that make Bailey's so special.

Hate to be a downer, but there seems to be a growing sentiment among parents that Bailey's isn't what it used to be.

"Growing sentiment"? How does one define that when there are over 1300 children there? Let's low-ball it and say that those 1300 kids come from 500 families. How many of those 500 families have you spoken with?

The "committed and dedicated" parents at Bailey's - and they definitely are - have a very active email list. Over the past few months, there have been numerous posts on this and related topics. The teachers are "talented, open, supportive and creative", but parents are concerned that the overcrowding and administration focus on the SOLs will drive them away. The FCPS working conditions survey - although done under a prior principal - reinforce some of these concerns - http://fcpswcs.org/reports/. My point is that an amazing educational experience in a school with 1000 or 1100 kids may not be the same in a school with 1600 kids.

I'm a Bailey's parent also and there is definitely "growing sentiment" in my neighborhood (I'm in boundary) that Bailey's is too crowded to really effectively educate the kids. But I'm guessing my opinion is irrelevant since I haven't spoken to 500 families

[Anonymous]

asht wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted as well. In the application, I let them know I was interested in the spanish immersion. Do you know how that works? Do we have to wait for another letter?

I'm not 100% sure how it will work this year because the FCPS World Languages office just took over running the Spanish Immersion lottery for Bailey's. I believe there will be another letter regarding immersion - probably not until mid-August when Bailey's knows how many neighborhood kids they have to accomodate before they can take lottery kids into immersion. You may want to call the World Languages office at 571-423-4602. If you call Bailey's, they will just refer you to World Languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

asht wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got accepted as well. In the application, I let them know I was interested in the spanish immersion. Do you know how that works? Do we have to wait for another letter?

I'm not 100% sure how it will work this year because the FCPS World Languages office just took over running the Spanish Immersion lottery for Bailey's. I believe there will be another letter regarding immersion - probably not until mid-August when Bailey's knows how many neighborhood kids they have to accomodate before they can take lottery kids into immersion. You may want to call the World Languages office at 571-423-4602. If you call Bailey's, they will just refer you to World Languages.

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Looking at that survey any criteria under 70 percent has to do with school leadership. As the original poster pointed out this was taken under a past principal. Everyone at Baileys is trying hard for it to be a place that lives up to the enriching and collaboration learning community for the students. It is great that parents want to support the school but I have noticed this does not always happen in a professional way with certain parents.
Good luck on your decision! You know your child the best and what school will be the best environment!