George Mason Elementary School?

[Anonymous]

Good grief. I had two children at George Mason, after we transferred from another elementary school where we were not happy. We loved our experience there, but it was definitely colored by our previous experience. However I would not have a problem recommending it to anyone.

We gave the middle school a chance as well, and now our children are in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ACPS is an urban school district. At Mason, you have kids from Arlandria/Chirilagua section of Alexandria who are new arrivals from Central America and language learners. Their parents primarily work in construction and the service industry. Then you have kids in $1-2M homes here.

I’ve seen this come up a couple of times in recent discussions on ACPS. To be clear, ACPS is not an urban school district. Alexandria has similar demographics to Arlington, Montgomery County, etc. But it has created such a poor school system that a disproportionate number of people with resources have fled to private schools, leaving the publics looking different than the “city” as a whole.

You are incorrect here. While demographics in those other districts may be similar, an urban school district is characterized by the fact that it's a densely populated metropolitan area. Those other districts are suburban, however Alexandria City is 4 miles outside of DC, has a city government, a centralized school management system, a mayor, a city council, a city manager, and a robust public transportation system. It has a high population density, a diverse student population from a wide range of ethnic and socioeconomic background that's 60% FARM, and a large ELL population. Students use DASH and WMATA to navigate the city, the neighborhoods are walkable with a mix of SFH, townhomes, and high rise apartment complexes, and the city houses a tourist destination and downtown It is an urban school system.


.

No, this is what a suburb looks like for a large city. All of the things you described are no different than Arlington, Bethesda, etc. That’s just what large city suburbs look like. This fiction that Alexandrians like to peddle about their “city,” (yes, in quotes, it’s legally incorporated as a city but it’s not a real city for all intents and purposes), when it is a suburb of an actual city is exactly why we end up with nonsense like ACPS apologism, the arena debacle, and others.

Toxic gaslighting at its finest. This is why this site is so messed up. "It's legally a city, but not really a city." SMH.

If you’ve ever lived in a real city then you would never describe Alexandria as a city. A town, maybe. But every time I hear someone talk about some thing that Alexandria needs to do or be because it’s a city, I assume that person is from the podunk sticks.

You don't even know who I am, so not only do you gaslight but youre someone who makes assumptions too, got it. I grew up in the world's largest and most populous city. If you've visited Alexandria in the last 5 years, then you will see, it is a city. Not sure why people outside like to disprove Alexandrians so much. It's odd.

Because I live here (have for actually 5 years, like you said!) and, no, it’s not. It’s a suburb like any close-in big city suburb. Doesn’t matter which big city you go to, they all have an Alexandria or multiple Alexandrias. But most of them don’t have weird apologists who try to use “city” or “urban” to excuse poor schools. Most of them actually have good schools.

I always find this funny, too, because it’s clear most of these people have never set foot west of King or south of Duke. Their Alexandria is only half of the area, if that.

Umm,

1. King runs east-west. How does one step foot west of a road that runs.... west
2. Alexandria is a city. If you don't like that, take it up with the Federal Government. https://data.census.gov/profile/Alexandria_city,_Virginia?g=050XX00US51510
3. You are a sad, poor, troll. I will never understand the special insecurity our city triggers in wannabe Alexandrians.

1. Because it kinks at Russell and runs northwest. Look at a map if you can figure out what one is.

2. You clearly missed the discussion between a city as a legal entity and a city as a concept but you do you. There are independent “cities” in Virginia with fewer than 10k people but for all intents and purposes people would not consider them cities in a discussion about city vs suburb vs exurb vs rural vs town vs whatever. This conversation started over whether Alexandria is an “urban” school district which can’t be assessed by looking at the jurisdiction’s legal status.

3. You are one of the several extremely triggered people here over the simple idea that Alexandria is merely a suburb of the actual city and that people should approach it that way. Not sure how that’s trolling other than that you are incapable of hearing anything you don’t want to hear and have a complex about living in the suburbs.

Peace ✌🏼.

Sooooo, you meant west of Russell?

Yeah, all those poors on Lloyd and High just shaking...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, this seems to have gone slightly off the rails, so let's see if we can bring it back some. (unlikely, I know) We aren't zoned for Mason but we are zoned for another well-regarded elementary in the city. We decided on private for our child and she is currently in K with kids who chose private over Mason due to the upcoming turmoil from construction. The issue with ACPS is less the elementary schools and more the middle and high school. I would look at those and determine whether you are ok with how they are or if you would be ok moving your child to private at middle school. I personally knew that I didn't want to move to private later and would rather have her start in private, so we made that decision for K. My main concerns were the overcrowding and violence at GW along with the refusal to build a second high school rather than just the second campus. I think if it looked like the school board and administration were starting to make better choices I would have been more willing to give ACPS a try, but their history of poor choices just does not give me confidence in the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

As the parent of a recent grad and a current AC student, I was reading all the posts and considering points, including yours. Then you had to go and be so freakin’ snotty with the last few words. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

As the parent of a recent grad and a current AC student, I was reading all the posts and considering points, including yours. Then you had to go and be so freakin’ snotty with the last few words. Sigh.

Sorry if that was too much. I just have little tolerance for the multiple, “oh, that person said something negative, they must be a jealous poor who just wishes they could live here” arguments. Like, Del Ray is fine. No one is special or better than anyone else just because they can afford a house here. And having blinders on doesn’t help ACPS.

(I do think most of the restaurants are mid, though. Gustave’s was a good addition. But that’s for another thread).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

As the parent of a recent grad and a current AC student, I was reading all the posts and considering points, including yours. Then you had to go and be so freakin’ snotty with the last few words. Sigh.

Sorry if that was too much. I just have little tolerance for the multiple, “oh, that person said something negative, they must be a jealous poor who just wishes they could live here” arguments. Like, Del Ray is fine. No one is special or better than anyone else just because they can afford a house here. And having blinders on doesn’t help ACPS.

(I do think most of the restaurants are mid, though. Gustave’s was a good addition. But that’s for another thread).

ACDS isn't even a HS, sweetie.

You are a troll. And a bad one at that. There are no yard signs for private schools in any of the yards. Those of us that actually do live here know that.

Enjoy Annandale!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

As the parent of a recent grad and a current AC student, I was reading all the posts and considering points, including yours. Then you had to go and be so freakin’ snotty with the last few words. Sigh.

Sorry if that was too much. I just have little tolerance for the multiple, “oh, that person said something negative, they must be a jealous poor who just wishes they could live here” arguments. Like, Del Ray is fine. No one is special or better than anyone else just because they can afford a house here. And having blinders on doesn’t help ACPS.

(I do think most of the restaurants are mid, though. Gustave’s was a good addition. But that’s for another thread).

ACDS isn't even a HS, sweetie.

You are a troll. And a bad one at that. There are no yard signs for private schools in any of the yards. Those of us that actually do live here know that.

Enjoy Annandale!

NP. In our Alexandria neighborhood, which is not zoned for George Mason so I can't speak to that, we were only one of two ACPS families. As another PP said, the rest were private/parochial or moved. There were lots of private school signs, especially for seniors and sports, and car magnets. We moved this past summer after 7 years in ACPS (6 in elementary and 1 in middle; 1 was enough).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief. I had two children at George Mason, after we transferred from another elementary school where we were not happy. We loved our experience there, but it was definitely colored by our previous experience. However I would not have a problem recommending it to anyone.

We gave the middle school a chance as well, and now our children are in private.

Thank you. I am OP. Did your kids have a hard time transitioning from public to private and making new friends? How common is it for kids to go to Mason and then leave public for private middle and HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP, this seems to have gone slightly off the rails, so let's see if we can bring it back some. (unlikely, I know) We aren't zoned for Mason but we are zoned for another well-regarded elementary in the city. We decided on private for our child and she is currently in K with kids who chose private over Mason due to the upcoming turmoil from construction. The issue with ACPS is less the elementary schools and more the middle and high school. I would look at those and determine whether you are ok with how they are or if you would be ok moving your child to private at middle school. I personally knew that I didn't want to move to private later and would rather have her start in private, so we made that decision for K. My main concerns were the overcrowding and violence at GW along with the refusal to build a second high school rather than just the second campus. I think if it looked like the school board and administration were starting to make better choices I would have been more willing to give ACPS a try, but their history of poor choices just does not give me confidence in the schools.

Hi - thank you, I am OP. These are my concerns as well - giving elementary a try and having to pull/restart when they are older. Doesn’t seem ideal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to use public schools, you shouldn’t have bought a house in Alexandria.

Words to live by

AC sent more kids to UVA than any HS in all of Fairfax County. But, keep pretending you could live here....

DP but the whole “you said something negative about Alexandria and its schools therefore you don’t live here” is such a lazy and tacky argument. It’s especially weird because if you actually live in one of these expensive neighborhoods then you know how many people fled the school system for privates, and how many more fled Alexandria for better publics elsewhere.

As for your stat, ACHS is nearly double the size of many Fairfax high schools (because FCPS is competent enough to build high schools) so it doesn’t tell us anything.

Are there only 2 schools in Fairfax County? No? Then it tells you loads. AC is way better than most of the FCPS HSs.

It's a lie that everyone fleas Alexandra or only use privates. There are 22 kids on my Del Ray block and every single one attends ACPS. And every single one will attend an excellent university.

The wealth and education level of parents is a much better indicator of future success than is the ranking of a HS. In short, the child of a NSA analyst and a chief staffer at AC is going to do a hell of a lot better than the child of a GS11 and a mechanic. But, keep clutching on to.... Hayfield, I guess.

You said ”any HS in all of Fairfax County.” ACHS is significantly larger than all of them. So, no, it doesn’t tell us anything. Your argument is nonsensical.

I’m also in Del Ray so it seems weird that you are oblivious to all of the yard signs for private schools, or don’t know any neighbors that moved away (who, by definition, wouldn’t be on your block anymore). Or that you think SSSAS or ACDS or the others are apparently filled with non-Alexandrians. Seems almost as realistic as knowing 22 kids on an individual block and where each attends school.

But, keep clutching on to…that 47% of students reporting they feel safe in middle and high school.

Anyway, OP, go elsewhere for advice. The apologists will never give you an honest take, just knee-jerk provincial defensiveness and illogical arguments while subtly claiming they are better than everyone else because they can walk to the mediocre restaurants on Mt. Vernon.

As the parent of a recent grad and a current AC student, I was reading all the posts and considering points, including yours. Then you had to go and be so freakin’ snotty with the last few words. Sigh.

Sorry if that was too much. I just have little tolerance for the multiple, “oh, that person said something negative, they must be a jealous poor who just wishes they could live here” arguments. Like, Del Ray is fine. No one is special or better than anyone else just because they can afford a house here. And having blinders on doesn’t help ACPS.

(I do think most of the restaurants are mid, though. Gustave’s was a good addition. But that’s for another thread).

ACDS isn't even a HS, sweetie.

You are a troll. And a bad one at that. There are no yard signs for private schools in any of the yards. Those of us that actually do live here know that.

Enjoy Annandale!

NP. In our Alexandria neighborhood, which is not zoned for George Mason so I can't speak to that, we were only one of two ACPS families. As another PP said, the rest were private/parochial or moved. There were lots of private school signs, especially for seniors and sports, and car magnets. We moved this past summer after 7 years in ACPS (6 in elementary and 1 in middle; 1 was enough).

Thank you. I am OP. One year at GW? Sad. Where did you move?