Elementary schools in fcps to avoid and why

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a lot of this is a systemic issue. Plus the nature of the beast- HUGE public school system.

Yes, there will be un-charasmatic admin, yes Spec Ed services will not be top notch/over whelmed system, yes schools can be too small/over en-rolled, yes AAP isn't as ideal as it's made to be, etc
There will always be a bunch of bad apples...

But it's free, there are services available for the super smart kids and for those who struggle, there are truly dedicated teachers, there's bus service too, and so on.

Still don't like it? Go private. Read this forum long enough and you'll see it is how it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of this is a systemic issue. Plus the nature of the beast- HUGE public school system.

Yes, there will be un-charasmatic admin, yes Spec Ed services will not be top notch/over whelmed system, yes schools can be too small/over en-rolled, yes AAP isn't as ideal as it's made to be, etc
There will always be a bunch of bad apples...

But it's free, there are services available for the super smart kids and for those who struggle, there are truly dedicated teachers, there's bus service too, and so on.

Still don't like it? Go private. Read this forum long enough and you'll see it is how it is.

Systematic long term issues from FLI impact Kent Gardens and Great Falls so it's best to not buy in boundary for those 2 schools. There is less control and flexibility with that than AAP.

Potential contentious boundary issues- some or all Forestville sending areas when a boundary process commences for the proposed future western high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haycock - weak administration, horrible special ed department, parent community (trickles down to kids)

& can't keep a principal.

Most of Haycock’s principals have had longer than average tenures. The exceptions were one principal who was a disaster and another who was removed due to something that happened at his prior school (Freedom Hill) and had nothing to do with Haycock. The current principal is strong and generally well regarded.

Haycock/Longfellow/McLean remains one of the most sought-after pyramids in FCPS so no surprise the usual haters have materialized.

Love when Haycock parents come on here and are like "they're being mean because they're jealous!". It literally happens in every thread your school is mentioned.

Lots of schools get hated on, PP, and many of them are not in your precious sought-after pyramid. We purposely stayed out of that area because we (a) preferred a school with more diversity and (b) could get more house for our money on the other side of Broad St./Leesburg Pike.

And yes, we know your precious Haycock is diverse, but wealthy Asian kids aren't the only ones added diversity to schools.

(Sidebar: My kids ARE wealthy Asian kids)

I didn’t see the word “jealous” in the PP. Sounds like you’re projecting (and possibly one of the same parents who posted hateful things about Haycock and blamed Haycock parents for years after FCPS moved some of the AAP kids in the Marshall pyramid from Haycock to Lemon Road).

[Anonymous]

Belvedere Elementary. Lackluster academics. IB is a joke. Untrustworthy admin.

[Anonymous]

If your child needs special education services, I recommend avoiding Vienna Elementary. Evaluation and eligibility is very challenging to get at that school, lots of barriers to get your foot in the door for special ed. Once you have an IEP, it's also difficult to get the services that are necessary. If your child is neurotypical and doesn't difficulties, then the school is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Run principal is nuts.

Neighborhood is great at least though!

She's not that bad. Virginia Run is a good school.

[Anonymous]

I would avoid AAP centers if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Belvedere Elementary. Lackluster academics. IB is a joke. Untrustworthy admin.

Belvedere's test scores are spectacular given the large Hispanic population and large FARMs population. It is extremely rare to see a school have such high scores with that type of diverse population. We have people here on DCUM claiming that schools like Sangster ES are closing the achievement gap

Belvedere staff are truly working miracles because no other low-SES, high-FARMs school shows such results. Something great must be happening in the classroom despite the untrustworthy admin you've encountered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of this is a systemic issue. Plus the nature of the beast- HUGE public school system.

Yes, there will be un-charasmatic admin, yes Spec Ed services will not be top notch/over whelmed system, yes schools can be too small/over en-rolled, yes AAP isn't as ideal as it's made to be, etc
There will always be a bunch of bad apples...

But it's free, there are services available for the super smart kids and for those who struggle, there are truly dedicated teachers, there's bus service too, and so on.

Still don't like it? Go private. Read this forum long enough and you'll see it is how it is.

Systematic long term issues from FLI impact Kent Gardens and Great Falls so it's best to not buy in boundary for those 2 schools. There is less control and flexibility with that than AAP.

Potential contentious boundary issues- some or all Forestville sending areas when a boundary process commences for the proposed future western high school.

What exactly are the "systemoc long term issues from FLI" at GFES? We don't see them . . . it's a very good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Run principal is nuts.

Yeah.... we pulled our kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Belvedere Elementary. Lackluster academics. IB is a joke. Untrustworthy admin.

Belvedere's test scores are spectacular given the large Hispanic population and large FARMs population. It is extremely rare to see a school have such high scores with that type of diverse population. We have people here on DCUM claiming that schools like Sangster ES are closing the achievement gap

Belvedere staff are truly working miracles because no other low-SES, high-FARMs school shows such results. Something great must be happening in the classroom despite the untrustworthy admin you've encountered.

A ton of other ES send their AAP kids to Belvedere. It’s a lot like Springfield Estates used to be. No miracles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a lot of this is a systemic issue. Plus the nature of the beast- HUGE public school system.

Yes, there will be un-charasmatic admin, yes Spec Ed services will not be top notch/over whelmed system, yes schools can be too small/over en-rolled, yes AAP isn't as ideal as it's made to be, etc
There will always be a bunch of bad apples...

But it's free, there are services available for the super smart kids and for those who struggle, there are truly dedicated teachers, there's bus service too, and so on.

Still don't like it? Go private. Read this forum long enough and you'll see it is how it is.

Systematic long term issues from FLI impact Kent Gardens and Great Falls so it's best to not buy in boundary for those 2 schools. There is less control and flexibility with that than AAP.

Potential contentious boundary issues- some or all Forestville sending areas when a boundary process commences for the proposed future western high school.

What exactly are the "systemoc long term issues from FLI" at GFES? We don't see them . . . it's a very good school.

Most of the posts on this thread are total rubbish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child needs special education services, I recommend avoiding Vienna Elementary. Evaluation and eligibility is very challenging to get at that school, lots of barriers to get your foot in the door for special ed. Once you have an IEP, it's also difficult to get the services that are necessary. If your child is neurotypical and doesn't difficulties, then the school is fine.

You’ve described any ES ever in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virginia Run principal is nuts.

Neighborhood is great at least though!

She's not that bad. Virginia Run is a good school.

Our teachers have always been wonderful. No love for the principal here though. I'd correct PP to say the school is not bad (even if the Principal is). It definitely is a good school.

[Anonymous]

Your question is too general. You will find all ES mentioned here, because there is always a hater in every ES. All ES have the pro and the cons. You need to narrow down your search by putting the list on what is important to you.