A school like Barcroft?

[Anonymous]

I've also posted this in the special needs forum but trying to get additional responses. I could really use your help. We are moving to NoVa this summer and one of DS has Aspergers/ADHD. Although this current school year (2nd grade) has gone well because we changed schools, his first two years of school were awful. With the current school we have a great IEP team and support system and he is thriving. With the previous school, he was frequently suspended, documents were "lost" and when the diagnosis was finally accepted by the school, we were given a letter stating that he would have to change schools at the beginning of the 4th quarter. Lots of drama and lawyer fees (not to mention causing anxiety and regression for DS) and I don't want our family to go through that again.

That background gets us to picking a school in NoVa. We selected Barcroft in Arlington for its modified schedule, school size, diversity, active PTA and a phenomenal staff (we met with them). This school would meet the social and educational needs of both DS and give us a short commute to the Pentagon (work). However, it is getting close to the end of April and we haven't found a suitable rental in the Barcroft zone so that we can move at the end of June. We are thinking of broadening our school search (yes we have a list of 3-4 APS schools we like (all similar in characteristics) but no housing there either). We now want to look at schools in Fairfax County that would still offer a short (20-25 min) commute and meet educational/social goals. Can you offer some suggestions? Criteria: in addition to short commute time... skip the school ratings and focus on class size, availability of teacher assistants, support of the IEP process (not just lip service), diversity (don't want DS to be the only child of color in the class), availability of after school activities and in a perfect world- male role models in the school (I know, we're asking for a lot).

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. DS has finally started to like learning and feel confident again. I don't want this to change.

[Anonymous]

This may be on your APS list, but we've found the proportion of male teachers at Oakridge to be higher than most elementary schools. No scientific data, just our family's observation, having lived in a few different areas of the county. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit Oakridge during our short trip to the area. But we are planning another trip to visit schools and we'll add it to the list.

[Anonymous]

Just to warn you, when we moved to Fairfax County we had to go though a transfer IEP process. Depending on the needs of your child, services that you get for your child may be configured differently. We're happy with what we have now but it was another process to go through.

[Anonymous]

Just curious...is Barrett one of the NoVA schools you are looking at? Our daughter is at Barrett and we are at the Pentagon (close commute -- I could easily metro but I drive and it takes about 5-10 minutes). We love Barrett. Small class sizes (20 kids), great teachers, a very active PTA, and amazing staff. When I deployed last year, one of the counselors took our daughter under her wing -- my husband had just gotten back from a deployment and then I left for mine. I know there are a few houses in Arlington Forest for rent (and also some for sale). The neighborhood is great and we have been very happy here!

[Anonymous]

If there is a special program at Barcroft that would be good for your son's special needs, you can send him there if you are zoned somewhere else, but you have to get it in the IEP.

[Anonymous]

OP here. 10:44, Barrett is tied on our list with Long Branch and after Barcroft and Henry. For PP, Barcroft doesn't have a special program per se, just a lot of similarities to our current school- faculty with spec Ed background, title 1 support, size and diversity. We were told by the schools we visited that our IEP would need to be reviewed again but they made it seem simpler than the initial IEP process since we are moving from another part of the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious...is Barrett one of the NoVA schools you are looking at? Our daughter is at Barrett and we are at the Pentagon (close commute -- I could easily metro but I drive and it takes about 5-10 minutes). We love Barrett. Small class sizes (20 kids), great teachers, a very active PTA, and amazing staff. When I deployed last year, one of the counselors took our daughter under her wing -- my husband had just gotten back from a deployment and then I left for mine. I know there are a few houses in Arlington Forest for rent (and also some for sale). The neighborhood is great and we have been very happy here!

+1

Barrett has a very solid Special Ed program and very caring community. There should be rentals coming on the market soon if not already. We know of at least one property that will be listed in the coming months.

[Anonymous]

Campbell Elementary. My kids are there and we love it. The school has an Expeditionary Learning focus, small classes, looping, no grades and a phenomenonal Special Ed team. It's a lottery school. Apps are due Monday.

My children are both thriving. We left an independent school in DC for Campbell and it was the best thing we've done for our children and our family.

[Anonymous]

How do you apply for a school like Campbell before you have Arlington residency? Seems that those move during the summer would miss the application deadline.

[Anonymous]

I would call the school tomorrow and talk to the principal. She will have good advice.

[Anonymous]

Because you aren't applying for a K spot it should be easier as there will be attrition and there aren't usually many apps for grade 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you aren't applying for a K spot it should be easier as there will be attrition and there aren't usually many apps for grade 3.

OP here. Thanks for the advice. I will call a couple of the choice schools we had thought about but didn't pursue because of the application deadline.