Looking for elementary school recommendations near Reston

[Andrew_]

It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

[Anonymous]

What is your budget for a house? What is the likelihood of your job moving within the Washington DC area? Does your partner/spouse work outside the home, if so where? Will you need before and after care?

Unless you are VIP or have a recommendation from a private school from which your child is transferring, finding a private school for this fall will be tricky. What is your budget for private school?

[Anonymous]

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

Some of the elem. schools in Herndon are good, like Crossfield elementary, which feeds into Oakton high school. Avoid any schools that feed into South Lakes high school.

[Anonymous]

10:12 here. You can also look at greatschools.net (or .com?)

You'll be also fine with elem. schools that feed into the top high schools, Langley, McLean, Madison, Oakton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

Some of the elem. schools in Herndon are good, like Crossfield elementary, which feeds into Oakton high school. Avoid any schools that feed into South Lakes high school.

Dumb. Apart from perhaps Dogwood, the elementary school feeders into South Lakes are fine.

[Anonymous]

Aldrin.

[Anonymous]

Lots of great public elementary schools in areas commutable to Reston. What's your housing budget and how much space do you need?

[Anonymous]

Sunrise Valley has much smaller classes than the Vienna schools. My son's K and 1st grade both had 18-20. Lots of housing options in the district, too. I wouldn't pick based on the feeder high school, given how far on the future that is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

Some of the elem. schools in Herndon are good, like Crossfield elementary, which feeds into Oakton high school. Avoid any schools that feed into South Lakes high school.

Wait, should I be avoiding South Lakes? I grew up in the area, and it wasn't bad then.

[Anonymous]

Buzz Aldrin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

Some of the elem. schools in Herndon are good, like Crossfield elementary, which feeds into Oakton high school. Avoid any schools that feed into South Lakes high school.

Wait, should I be avoiding South Lakes? I grew up in the area, and it wasn't bad then.

South Lakes had some problems in the 90's and early 00's. There are still some under performing aspects, but if you go for IB, it will be fine.

Madison and Oakton are preferred generally.

[Anonymous]

South Lakes is completely fine. Just know it is an IB school.

Most of the SL bashers on this site don't have a clue what they are taking about.

[Anonymous]

Good elem schools in/near Herndon - Floris Elem/ Oak Hill Elem (AAP center)/ Mcnair elem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Andrew_ wrote:It looks like I'll be moving to the Reston area at short notice for work and now I need to find an elementary school for my son who is due to start first grade.
We've started doing research but would love to hear any recommendations .

I'll be working in Reston, but I'm happy to commute a reasonable distance for the right school district or private school if need be.
Since the last minute move is already likely to throw more than a little chaos into the family's life I'm worried about my 6 year old starting school at the same time, for this reason we were thinking that maybe private is the right thing since he'll likely get more attention, but obviously that's not always the case and there are excellent public schools in the area from what I'm reading.

As we continue to do research any thoughts you can share would be gratefully received.

First, I think you will find FCPS to be quite good. While class sizes are larger, most people do not send their kids to private except for religious purposes. As for Reston proper, I would try to avoid Dogwood ES. Also some of the schools in Herdon are not so good. The problem is with the lower SES schools, there is not as much community support -- which matters when the school can not afford field trips.

Among the communities with the reputation for top schools (Vienna, Mclean,etc), Vienna is a short commute to Reston (about 15 minutes each way...I do it).

Some of the elem. schools in Herndon are good, like Crossfield elementary, which feeds into Oakton high school. Avoid any schools that feed into South Lakes high school.

Dumb. Apart from perhaps Dogwood, the elementary school feeders into South Lakes are fine.

. I have the unique experience of having had 1 child do K-6 at one higher-rated elementary school in Herndon, and 2 at Dogwood currently. The class size has been much lower at Dogwood, the Special Ed staff is terrific, the teachers are top-notch too, and my two younger children have had much more differentiation in the early grades than my older son did. They're currently in the middle of a 3-week science camp there. Yes, they are in the minority , but I grow tired of the Dogwood bashing from those who have never set foot in the building. Schools are more than their test scores and SES.