Best elementary school in Arlington

[Anonymous]

I'll vote for ours - ATS. High scores, good parent involvement and a more diverse student body than many of the schools in the county. (There is a downside to not using the neighborhood school, though - you lose some of the connection to your neighbors.)

But I have friends with kids in most of the county's schools, and they are mostly happy with where they are. I think we're lucky to have terrific schools here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

What do you hate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I am hearing this more and more and am very concerned. I have a kid who is in Key/ASFS zone for K next year and I truly don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I'll only chime in for a moment and say, while I'm not a rabid Jamestown booster on this board, we did have a fantastic experience there. We are a pretty normal family--no need for red flags. I'm sure the other schools mentioned are great, too. We wanted a neighborhood school, so we didn't consider ATS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I'll only chime in for a moment and say, while I'm not a rabid Jamestown booster on this board, we did have a fantastic experience there. We are a pretty normal family--no need for red flags. I'm sure the other schools mentioned are great, too. We wanted a neighborhood school, so we didn't consider ATS.

Unfortunately, my neighborhood school is ASF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I'd also add Long Branch to this list. We've been very happy with our teachers and the administration. Strong test scores despite being one of the more diverse schools in the county (about a third FARMS as I recall). Also one of the less crowded schools -- this is the first year we've had trailers (there are 2). Sane parents. Doesn't feel competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I'd also add Long Branch to this list. We've been very happy with our teachers and the administration. Strong test scores despite being one of the more diverse schools in the county (about a third FARMS as I recall). Also one of the less crowded schools -- this is the first year we've had trailers (there are 2). Sane parents. Doesn't feel competitive.

Also, one thing that impressed me about Long Branch from the start -- kindergarten teacher placement was informed by the principal personally visiting the incoming kindergartners at their preschools. She observed a bit and talked with their teachers. I have no idea how she finds the time to do that for the entire entering class but she definitely knows every kid and, with the exception of one year that was a bad fit, we've been really happy with their teacher placements.

[Anonymous]

I thought Tuckahoe and McKinley have the best scores. Are they teach to the test? How would a sensitive kid do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought Tuckahoe and McKinley have the best scores. Are they teach to the test? How would a sensitive kid do?

It's not good to be overly sensitive in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I'd also add Long Branch to this list. We've been very happy with our teachers and the administration. Strong test scores despite being one of the more diverse schools in the county (about a third FARMS as I recall). Also one of the less crowded schools -- this is the first year we've had trailers (there are 2). Sane parents. Doesn't feel competitive.

Also, one thing that impressed me about Long Branch from the start -- kindergarten teacher placement was informed by the principal personally visiting the incoming kindergartners at their preschools. She observed a bit and talked with their teachers. I have no idea how she finds the time to do that for the entire entering class but she definitely knows every kid and, with the exception of one year that was a bad fit, we've been really happy with their teacher placements.

Wow, it makes me so happy to read this! We are zoned for long branch and it isn't mentioned very often in all of the many threads about N Arlington threads so I was a little worried. We still have 2 years before my son starts kindergarten, I hope this principal is still there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I am hearing this more and more and am very concerned. I have a kid who is in Key/ASFS zone for K next year and I truly don't know what to do.

Well, we really like Key. Picking up another language for free is great, too.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line, OP, is that "best" seems to depend on what you think is important in a school and what your kid is like. Since you didn't tell us any of that, no one can tell you. And most people only know their kids school, maybe one other if the boundaries shifted or they moved, so its hard for anyone to rank them anyhow. All anyone can comment on is their personal experience--which, again, without context of what you are looking for, is a waste of everyone's time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought Tuckahoe and McKinley have the best scores. Are they teach to the test? How would a sensitive kid do?

It's not good to be overly sensitive in general.

You'd fit in as a teacher at our school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

We also have two children at ASFS and agree with much of the above. Personally I'd pick one of the smaller, neighborhood schools with warm principals. McKinley, Ashlawn. They are truly THE BEST for elementary school.

1 at ASFS and agree. I'd toss a vote at the ones that generally keep quiet (Ashlawn, McKinley, Glebe). Any school with lots of DCUM boosters raises red flags.

I am hearing this more and more and am very concerned. I have a kid who is in Key/ASFS zone for K next year and I truly don't know what to do.

Well, we really like Key. Picking up another language for free is great, too.

Seriously - if ASFS isn't your cup of tea, Key is great! You're lucky to be zoned for such a great school.