First Week in Alexandria City elementary school

[Anonymous]

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

We get it. ACPS is not for you and does not meet your expectations. That's fine; pursue your other options. However, when you say you "feel for" people "stuck" with other schools (which your child does not attend and you have no direct experience with), it is really disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

We get it. ACPS is not for you and does not meet your expectations. That's fine; pursue your other options. However, when you say you "feel for" people "stuck" with other schools (which your child does not attend and you have no direct experience with), it is really disrespectful.

Look, booster, you're overcompensating. LOTS of people in Alexandria feel the way OP does. That's the reality. Deal with it. You can insist until you're blue in the face that ACPS is beat up unfairly, but that doesn't change the very real and widely acknowledged and publicized shortcomings in the system.

For those who think ACPS is on an upward trajectory: that is perhaps true. But, people have been talking about the "changing demographics" with hope since about 1995.

[Anonymous]

Look, booster, you're overcompensating. LOTS of people in Alexandria feel the way OP does. That's the reality. Deal with it. You can insist until you're blue in the face that ACPS is beat up unfairly, but that doesn't change the very real and widely acknowledged and publicized shortcomings in the system.

You're an idiot. I'm not an ACPS "booster" and don't have an opinion of the system one way or another. My son attends the Lab School, by necessity. However, I find OPs way of speaking about schools that she does not have personal experience with and that other parents may attend and be satisfied with, to be very disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Look, booster, you're overcompensating. LOTS of people in Alexandria feel the way OP does. That's the reality. Deal with it. You can insist until you're blue in the face that ACPS is beat up unfairly, but that doesn't change the very real and widely acknowledged and publicized shortcomings in the system.

You're an idiot. I'm not an ACPS "booster" and don't have an opinion of the system one way or another. My son attends the Lab School, by necessity. However, I find OPs way of speaking about schools that she does not have personal experience with and that other parents may attend and be satisfied with, to be very disrespectful.

She evidently has far more experience with ACPS schools than you. So who the hell are you to weigh in?

Her experience is perfectly valid and tragically common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Which elementary does your DC attend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Which elementary does your DC attend?

Not OP, but I've got my money on MacArthur.

[Anonymous]

OP: What aspects of the school have been disappointing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Which elementary does your DC attend?

Not OP, but I've got my money on MacArthur.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Which elementary does your DC attend?

Not OP, but I've got my money on MacArthur.

Why?

Just a hunch based on the initial descriptions. It has a rep of being one of the better ESs, but when I talk to my friends with children there (seven or eight different families) I detect some disappointment with how the year is going.

[Anonymous]

She evidently has far more experience with ACPS schools than you.

She has no experience with Jefferson Houston, Ramsey, or Adams, which are the schools she is saying she "can't even imagine" would be like.

[Anonymous]

Have a kid in MacArthur, we really lik it. OP and others, sorry you're such a Type-A PIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Wow, OP! So you judged your ACPS kindergarten to be inferior in less than 1 week's time. And now, after two months' experience in kindergarten, you've also determined that the middle schools are inadequate, too. I'll look forward to your post in December sharing your informed opinion on the quality of education at TC Williams High School.

Please post once you've found your place in Arlington. I'll come help you load the truck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see this thread again. I am the OP.

I am pretty shocked to read these comments. To the poster asking about middle school, I would really be wary of the person claiming that it isn't easy in middle school or its a great experience, etc.

Things never improved past the first week. It has been a crushing disappointment all the way around and we are now trying to find an alternative. Basically looking to move over to Arlington Co or struggle to pay for private again.

We are at one of the best elementary schools so I really feel for those people stuck with schools like John Adams, William Ramsey or Jefferson Houston. I can't even imagine what it's like there.

Wow, OP! So you judged your ACPS kindergarten to be inferior in less than 1 week's time. And now, after two months' experience in kindergarten, you've also determined that the middle schools are inadequate, too. I'll look forward to your post in December sharing your informed opinion on the quality of education at TC Williams High School.

Please post once you've found your place in Arlington. I'll come help you load the truck.

Your sarcasm is a bright shining light on your insecurities about ACPS. You're overcompensating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a kid in MacArthur, we really lik it. OP and others, sorry you're such a Type-A PIA.

+1. Parents are blowing down the doors trying to get their children enrolled in most of the ACPS schools now. And most of the local privates are still advertising open spaces. If you really want to withdraw your kid from ACPS, PLEASE go! Now! Bye bye! Sayonara!

[Anonymous]

OP, is this MacArthur?
Other than Mason, where people seem generally happy, I hear lots of complaints about all of ACPS. Even Maury is struggling with inexperienced teachers. And yes, the schools are mostly full, but that means nothing - what choice do people have? people are escaping JH and Ramsey, which are under enrolled.