Alexandria: St. Mary's vs ACPS (Maury or Lyles Crouch)

[Anonymous]

We are trying to decide whether to send our DS to kindergarten at St Mary's or ACPS (Maury or Lyles Crouch). Can anyone comment on pros and cons? We are interested in class size and differentiation, as our son is already reading well and doing basic math. We don't want him to be bored. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Our public school principal assured us that children who are significantly behind or advanced are better served by public school than private. After touring and seeing what special services were offered, we ultimately weren't convinced and ended up in private. For us, there was a huge class-size difference because we're in FairfaxCounty.

I think you'll find comparable class sizes in st Mary's versus ACPS and you've name two very strong publics. Your best bet is probably to call each school and ask to handle differentiation. If there's a visit day for some sort of tour opportunity where you can ask that question in person, that would be even better. I think you'll probably find the answers and attitude toward your question will be revealing.

[Anonymous]

St Mary's does not do much in the way of GT or even accelerated learning. Sure, there are spelling and reading groups, and you can take Algebra in 7th grade if you jump through several hoops, but most families with truly gifted kids leave after 2nd grade to go to a public school with an AAP or GT program. If you're on either end of the continuum (gifted or LD/special needs), SMS cannot really accommodate you. Their mission is to provide a strong catholic education, not a challenging GT education. Also, OP, if you are not a parishioner, chances are slim that you will get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are trying to decide whether to send our DS to kindergarten at St Mary's or ACPS (Maury or Lyles Crouch). Can anyone comment on pros and cons? We are interested in class size and differentiation, as our son is already reading well and doing basic math. We don't want him to be bored. Thanks in advance!

So are the majority of the other kids from higher SES homes so he will be in good company.

Other things to consider: there is more to math then basic addition and subtraction. Lots of kids can add 5+5 but they don't have the understanding of 10's place, one's place and why it matters. Reading - they can read the words on the page but aren't advanced with comprehension or writing skills.

[Anonymous]

A little confused about the Maury or Lyles Crouch comment. Which one are you in boundary for? You don't get to just pick a school within the Alexandria system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A little confused about the Maury or Lyles Crouch comment. Which one are you in boundary for? You don't get to just pick a school within the Alexandria system.

+1 It's one or the other, though I will say that the vast majority of parents at both of those schools are very pleased with both schools. Have you toured these schools, spoken with parents. Both school have very active PTAs, and you could go to one of the meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are trying to decide whether to send our DS to kindergarten at St Mary's or ACPS (Maury or Lyles Crouch). Can anyone comment on pros and cons? We are interested in class size and differentiation, as our son is already reading well and doing basic math. We don't want him to be bored. Thanks in advance!

We know a number of St. Mary's families, and they don't seem to rave about the academics, or about the environment generally. Those that are happy typically are committed parishoners or members of nearby parishes. The Maury and L-C families we know like both schools a great deal. You should find out exactly which one you're zoned for and register NOW, since ACPS is expected to be heavily over-subscribed this coming year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A little confused about the Maury or Lyles Crouch comment. Which one are you in boundary for? You don't get to just pick a school within the Alexandria system.

The op is asking for feedback, so no need to digress into a discussion of how he or she is choosing between LCTA and Maury.

Anyway, OP, we know families at all three schools (including ours) and have heard the following:

(1) St Mary's. Very Catholic, nice community, conservative and traditional curriculum, focus on discipline, nice community with good resources. Academics considered ok, but not of same caliber as other privates. Classes are 24-26, which is larger than LCTA and comparable if not a pinch larger than Maury. I have heard there are reading groups but not true differentiation. Public will pull out kids who are way ahead, and there is also the TAG program. I don't believe SMS has a gifted track.

(2) LCTA. Smaller classes. Public trying to be private (uniformed dress code) Very traditional environment and focus on core subjects. Strong PTA with lots if resources. Odds of transferring in are small for K but more likely in later years. Strong academics and lots of homework. Differentiation ok.

(3) Maury. Small school with very active PTA. Crowded building so classrooms for art removed. No trailers yet. Will differentiate, but doesn't happen in k until late in year, so many k-aged kids who are ahead may be bored for the first 3/4 if year. Uniforms/dress code. Classes are smaller than SMS but larger than lcta.

I think public is usually a better choice for kids needing special services one way or the other. But we also know families who have pulled their kids from LCTA and Maury to go to privates or parochials.

If I had a choice between those three, I would probably go public over SMS. If I was an active parishioner, devout Catholic, or was zoned for one if the crappy publics like Jefferson Houston, Adams, MVCS, Ramsay, Polk, then I would go with SMS due to the environment.