Any cautionary advice for parents contemplating move to Arlington for good schools?

[Anonymous]

There are so many things I wish I had understood about MCPS before moving to MoCo. We're considering a leap to Arlington to get away from the crowding and seemingly unmanageable size of the school system, not to mention the schools we're zoned for aren't a good fit for us, so we'd have to move within MoCo if we wanted to stay. Everyone seems to flock to Arlington for schools and if they're good, I'm all for it. Are there places to avoid? Non-obvious factors to consider when selecting schools? or a house? What do you wish you had known before you invested yourself in a house/neighborhood/school in Arlington? For reference, we're focusing on North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many things I wish I had understood about MCPS before moving to MoCo. We're considering a leap to Arlington to get away from the crowding and seemingly unmanageable size of the school system, not to mention the schools we're zoned for aren't a good fit for us, so we'd have to move within MoCo if we wanted to stay. Everyone seems to flock to Arlington for schools and if they're good, I'm all for it. Are there places to avoid? Non-obvious factors to consider when selecting schools? or a house? What do you wish you had known before you invested yourself in a house/neighborhood/school in Arlington? For reference, we're focusing on North Arlington.

As long as you avoid the areas north or south of Arlington Boulevard, you can't go wrong.

[Anonymous]

N Arl has crowding too. You get less house for more $ in N Arl. Very little diversity too if you want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are so many things I wish I had understood about MCPS before moving to MoCo. We're considering a leap to Arlington to get away from the crowding and seemingly unmanageable size of the school system, not to mention the schools we're zoned for aren't a good fit for us, so we'd have to move within MoCo if we wanted to stay. Everyone seems to flock to Arlington for schools and if they're good, I'm all for it. Are there places to avoid? Non-obvious factors to consider when selecting schools? or a house? What do you wish you had known before you invested yourself in a house/neighborhood/school in Arlington? For reference, we're focusing on North Arlington.

As long as you avoid the areas north or south of Arlington Boulevard, you can't go wrong.

LOL, i see what you did there.

[Anonymous]

Former MoCo resident here. Less house for more money, less ethnic/cultural diversity (also small numbers of African Americans), middle/high schools will go through re-zoning in the coming year or so. Elem schools are very crowded. Re-zoning for elementary schools is done, but, in some cases, will merely bring capacity down to 100%. Also, NOVA is generally much more populated.

[Anonymous]

FARMS rates matter - how resources are allocated, attention that can be accorded to higher-income students, ESOL, social environment, parental involvement etc etc.

That said, FARMS rates in N Arlington schools are relatively low (assuming you are talking about elementary). There is only one elementary with a 50%+ FARMS rate in N Arlington and next highest at about a quarter FARMS.

Here is the list from 2012 data:

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/nutrition/statistics/free_reduced_eligibility/2012-2013/schools/frpe_sch_report_sy2012-13.pdf

[Anonymous]

North Arlington posters will pretend South Arlington doesn't exist, and then the utter lack of diversity in North Arlington will scare off most people with a conscience. I would stay in MoCo, which is far more interesting.

[Anonymous]

Is everyone and their brother moving to Arlington or what? Geesh! What's the next best thing? Once we all move to Arlington, we'll be scrambling to move from the overcrowding we're going to cause by all moving there. Plus, inventory is nil to begin with. Are we all going to move in with each other or on top of each other or what?

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine you'd be happy with Arlington if you're not happy with Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

We really like Arlington. Our elementary school is overcrowded, but we have not seen an increase in class size, rather an increase in trailers. Since I could not care less about trailers, I feel the impact of overcrowding on my child has been nil so far. My children attend two of the more "diverse" schools in Arlington, but our middle school is disappointingly homogenous.

Overall, we have been very pleased here, but since I have never lived in MoCo, I can't compare. I do know several people who have taught in both Arlington and FC schools and they all prefer the smaller Arlington school system to the larger FC system. But I'm not sure if the things they prefer about teaching in Arlington are things that are better just for teachers or if they are better for students as well.

I will say that I have noted handwringing among parents of preschool children about the terrible overcrowding and need for the dreaded trailers and maybe they should move to Falls Church City. ~shrug~

[Anonymous]

We out of Arlington to Fairfax because we felt the AAP curriculum in Fairfax was decidedly superior. We have not been disappointed.

[Anonymous]

OP, what kind of school is a "good fit" for you? I need to know this before I give you any advice.
Love, A North Arlington parent of 4

[Anonymous]

Don't move to Arlington to escape overcrowding. It's only getting worse.

[Anonymous]

best known are taylor (where people like principal). and jamestown. Ones with more crowding are nottingham and tuckahoe, although that is being resolved w new elementary. Some closer in are more diverse. long branch has kids from all over the world. I think arlington is a VERY well run county and would choose it in a heartbeat over mont co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:best known are taylor (where people like principal). and jamestown. Ones with more crowding are nottingham and tuckahoe, although that is being resolved w new elementary. Some closer in are more diverse. long branch has kids from all over the world. I think arlington is a VERY well run county and would choose it in a heartbeat over mont co.

Could you explain what you mean by best known?