Cunningham Park

[Anonymous]

What's the scoop on Cunningham Park? I moved into this neighborhood this summer and heard that the principal is gone. Is the remaining staff strong? Does it have any good programs especially for the K - 3 kids?

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the scoop on Cunningham Park? I moved into this neighborhood this summer and heard that the principal is gone. Is the remaining staff strong? Does it have any good programs especially for the K - 3 kids?

TIA!

Cunningham park has the worst reputation of any of the Vienna elementary schools. But, that is like saying that the C class is the least luxurious mercedes. They are all good, but some are better.

I would not worry about Cunningham park. Says the Louise Archer parent.

[Anonymous]

Why does it have the worst reputation?

[Anonymous]

Oh geez. The "reputation" Cunningham has is that there are a lot of poor and brown students, relative to the rest of Vienna. It had some struggles a few years ago, almost becoming a Title 1 school, but the principal and staff turned it around.

It is an AMAZING school with a great staff (one stinker of a teacher). The principal will be sorely missed, though. She is moving on to become an executive principal, but she is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh geez. The "reputation" Cunningham has is that there are a lot of poor and brown students, relative to the rest of Vienna. It had some struggles a few years ago, almost becoming a Title 1 school, but the principal and staff turned it around.

It is an AMAZING school with a great staff (one stinker of a teacher). The principal will be sorely missed, though. She is moving on to become an executive principal, but she is fantastic.

This is not quite right. Cunningham Park was never on the verge of becoming a Title I school, which is based on having a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced meals. CP has never been close to meeting that threshold as its FARMS rate is closer to 30%.

CP does have a higher percentage of FARMS students than any other elementary school in the Madison pyramid, including those who live in the Cedar Park Apartments in the SE part of Vienna. A few years ago CP was also included by FCPS on a list of "priority schools" that either were not meeting state and federal benchmarks or were in danger of not meeting them. If you're familiar with those benchmarks, you know that having one or more sub-groups whose performance is lagging can cause a school to be deemed "not in compliance," regardless of how well the other students do. Literally, that's what "no child left behind" was intended to address, and there have been periods when CP's Hispanic students, in particular, have performed below state or federal expectations. Sometimes that just gets regurgitated as "CP isn't as good as the other schools in Vienna," even if most kids have a good experience there.

[Anonymous]

I think it's actually one of the best schools in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

I know a couple of families whose children go there and absolutely love the school. The neighborhoods close to the school are also lovely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's actually one of the best schools in Vienna.

Historically, that has not been the case, but is is still a great school. All of the schools in Vienna are great.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a good school. Thanks for the responses!

From,
OP

[Anonymous]

I know there have been talks about starting a local AAP Level IV there. Does anyone know the latest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know there have been talks about starting a local AAP Level IV there. Does anyone know the latest?

The third grade teachers (and some others) are undergoing training this summer in order to make this a reality. The teachers and staff are committed to the Local Level IV thing - apparently it also depends on what the new principal decides he/she wants to do, but there seems to be a lot of support for the idea. According to the FFX county schools people who were at the principal search update meeting the other night, the new principal is expected to be selected and start by the end of September (there will be an interim principal at the school until then). So I'm not sure if Level IV will be able to be implemented this year, but at least there's positive movement in that direction.

Signed, very happy CPES parent

[Anonymous]

I have a lot of friends with kids in Cunningham Park, and they are all happy with it.

[Anonymous]

It's a friendly school - there are some discipline issues that are not handled as well as they would be at other Vienna Elementary Schools.

I wouldn't necessarily choose it, but it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a friendly school - there are some discipline issues that are not handled as well as they would be at other Vienna Elementary Schools.

I wouldn't necessarily choose it, but it's fine.

What kinds of discipline issues?

[Anonymous]

A lot of talking back and class disruption. It's okay - I have a kid there, she likes it, but I wouldn't send her there if I had the choice of one of the other Vienna schools.