Best elementary schools in Fairfax county?

[Anonymous]

But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

PP here, I agree with this too. Even if you are in McLean or Vienna- go by the schools- because you might be shocked at some of them too. There are some really great schools in Fairfax but there are some really, really bad ones too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

Who's perpetuating that myth? You?

Everybody knows that NoVA schools are the best in the nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I second the post on Churchill Road School. Having seen the schools in McLean (and the kids from the schools, what they learn, etc.), I personally think it is the best public ES in McLean. I cannot speak to schools in the rest of FFX County, but McLean is reputed to have the best overall ES in FFX County. That said, the big classes were not the thing for one of my children, so we've moved that child to private.

Moving a kid to private doesn't mean that the education is better. What you're getting is smaller class size and a large bill.

[Anonymous]

or a larger bill and a larger class size. Many private schools have huge class sizes. I tutored some kids going to private school and was shocked when I heard they had 30+ in a class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you should go around and look for yourself as well. What someone else may think ii "great" may be a nightmare to you. I was HORRIFIED at how overcrowded these schools are! We are actually moving out of FFC because of the overcrowding problem. They have large classrooms. Our child was about to start highschool and they have a 25-30 student per classroom. That is way too high for me! I think 'best" should be in what you are looking for with your child and their education. I haven't been too impressed since moving here. I don't see the extra money we pay to live here is worth it. This is just my two cents, so take it for what it is worth. I think the only way to know for sure is to personally visit some schools, look at the classrooms, ask them any specific questions that you have, etc.

Good luck!

Gee, even 25 years ago, the class sizes were 25-30 where I went to high school on the West Coast. Where did you go to school?

I'm sorry.. I meant the elementary school. We lived out of state. The average classroom size there was 14 with 2 teachers. {Public school}. I was just really shocked here. I would think there would be more schools and/or more classrooms/teachers in such a busy place. I was very impressed with the school and staff that we met here though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

Who's perpetuating that myth? You?

Everybody knows that NoVA schools are the best in the nation.

Everybody? Really? I don't know they are the best in the nation. I had never even heard of the "Fairfax County Schools" before moving here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

Who's perpetuating that myth? You?

Everybody knows that NoVA schools are the best in the nation.

Everybody? Really? I don't know they are the best in the nation. I had never even heard of the "Fairfax County Schools" before moving here.

neither had I! But since moving here, and doing a little research, I have learned that they are, in fact, the best in the nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But there's also a myth that if a school isn't in McLean or Vienna, then it's subpar. There are excellent schools outside of those areas.

Who's perpetuating that myth? You?

Everybody knows that NoVA schools are the best in the nation.

Everybody? Really? I don't know they are the best in the nation. I had never even heard of the "Fairfax County Schools" before moving here.

Alot of people around the country haven't even heard of Fairfax County, period. It has over a million people though. Your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:check out greatschools.com to get the % of free/reduced price lunch kids, the racial makeup (if that matters), and the SOL test scores.

also, if you want to be ultra-safe, then check fcps.edu for a zone map to find out if you live near a bad school's zone.

Schools that get a 1, 2, or 3 from greatschools:
Mount Vernon Woods
Rose Hill
Bucknell
Washington Mill
Annandale Terrace
Hybla Valley
Woodley Hills
Glen Forest
McNair
Beech Tree

McLean has no bad schools. I'd be more worried about getting an "all upper-middle class, all the time" perspective than about getting a bad education or even worse not being safe there.

Good luck

This list is a joke. Bucknell and Hybla Valley are 2 of the worst elementary school's in the county. The last time I checked the list, they were rated, by Fairfax Co., as 5 and 4, respectively.

[Anonymous]

Go to http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/accreditation_ayp_reports/accreditation/index.shtml

Scroll down to School Accreditation Ratings.
Find your county, listed in alphabetical order.

Any school rated about 90 is considered very very good.

For example, Waynewood Elementary is rated 95. Bucknell is rated 86.

You can't rely on Great Schools and School Digger. You have to find factual data, not parent ratings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:check out greatschools.com to get the % of free/reduced price lunch kids, the racial makeup (if that matters), and the SOL test scores.

also, if you want to be ultra-safe, then check fcps.edu for a zone map to find out if you live near a bad school's zone.

Schools that get a 1, 2, or 3 from greatschools:
Mount Vernon Woods
Rose Hill
Bucknell
Washington Mill
Annandale Terrace
Hybla Valley
Woodley Hills
Glen Forest
McNair
Beech Tree

McLean has no bad schools. I'd be more worried about getting an "all upper-middle class, all the time" perspective than about getting a bad education or even worse not being safe there.

Good luck

This list is a joke. Bucknell and Hybla Valley are 2 of the worst elementary school's in the county. The last time I checked the list, they were rated, by Fairfax Co., as 5 and 4, respectively.

1, 2, and 3 are the worst ratings. 8, 9, and 10 are the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to http://www.doe.virginia.gov/statistics_reports/accreditation_ayp_reports/accreditation/index.shtml

Scroll down to School Accreditation Ratings.
Find your county, listed in alphabetical order.

Any school rated about 90 is considered very very good.

For example, Waynewood Elementary is rated 95. Bucknell is rated 86.

You can't rely on Great Schools and School Digger. You have to find factual data, not parent ratings.

GS does use SOL scores to compare schools within a state, giving them a 1-10 rating, with 1 being the worst and 10 the best.

I pay no attention to the parent ratings, those can get hijacked too easily by an angry parent or two, and some of the ratings are a good 5-6 years old.

Also, SOL accreditation is virtually meaningless given that 98% of schools have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am moving to NoVA soon and would like to pick from homes that are in a good school district. If anyone can post the names of good elementary schools in Fairfax or closely surrounding counties, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking in Burke, and Springfield. I found a home that says it's in Springfield, and the elementary school is Crestwood.

Thanks!

Right now the feeder schools are not as important. Thanks!

OP, are you by chance transferring in as a military family?