Haycock vs Kent Gardens

[Anonymous]

The homes for sale in 22043 around 700k that are slated for Shrevewood are about a mile or two further than the houses slated for Haycock.

I agree that Vienna would be silly, as would a large portion of the Langley boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Since Op original ? Was about 2 schools, I'll comment on them. Our child goes to Haycock and is in 1st grade. We haven't experienced any "mean" parents/tiger moms as of yet. I realize this may change in a year or two when the whole AAP aspect takes place(3rd grade) we have made friends with several neighborhood families who are very similar to ourselves. We do not dress any of our kids in designer brands. We have been happy thus far with the teachers and staff at Haycock. There seems to be a lot more community building between the children this year at the school. They mix up classes and combine classes in specials(PE, art, etc). We moved to the area because we heard good things about the schools not for the AAP program. Our kids are involved in lots of activities in the community;falls church city, McLean and some school activities. Our one school age child knows kids in many different classes and different schools.
We know families whose children go to Kent gardens and they are raving about the new principal(which we also loved as the assistant at Haycock) she has apparently done wonderful things and made great changes in the short time she has been there.
Both schools have wait lists for their before and aftercare programs. Sometimes several years.
Haycock was suppose start a massive renovation this winter it seems to have been postponed a little but should be starting soon. It will take 2+ years. Also it seems like a lot if FCPS are integrating local level IV advanced classes so who knows if it will even be a "center" for much longer if everything switches to all schools having advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since Op original ? Was about 2 schools, I'll comment on them. Our child goes to Haycock and is in 1st grade. We haven't experienced any "mean" parents/tiger moms as of yet. I realize this may change in a year or two when the whole AAP aspect takes place(3rd grade) we have made friends with several neighborhood families who are very similar to ourselves. We do not dress any of our kids in designer brands. We have been happy thus far with the teachers and staff at Haycock. There seems to be a lot more community building between the children this year at the school. They mix up classes and combine classes in specials(PE, art, etc). We moved to the area because we heard good things about the schools not for the AAP program. Our kids are involved in lots of activities in the community;falls church city, McLean and some school activities. Our one school age child knows kids in many different classes and different schools.
We know families whose children go to Kent gardens and they are raving about the new principal(which we also loved as the assistant at Haycock) she has apparently done wonderful things and made great changes in the short time she has been there.
Both schools have wait lists for their before and aftercare programs. Sometimes several years.
Haycock was suppose start a massive renovation this winter it seems to have been postponed a little but should be starting soon. It will take 2+ years. Also it seems like a lot if FCPS are integrating local level IV advanced classes so who knows if it will even be a "center" for much longer if everything switches to all schools having advanced classes.

+1

I think most people liked Kent Gardens before, but the prior principal had been there a long time before she retired, and some people thought she ran the place a bit too much like a personal fiefdom.

We really like the new principal at McLean, too. She was very low-key in her first year, and some people never saw her, but she seems to have found her comfort zone now. She communicates regularly with parents, shows up at school events, and seems to care about ALL the kids.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Just checked in, and am grateful to see so many responses and comments. To the PPs who suggested Burke/W Springfield: yes, I wanted to look in those areas bc it seems to be more our thing culture-wise and home-price-wise; however DH vetoed that area emphatically bc it's so far out, and he is very nervous about the infamous 95 commute everyone rants about. His major requirement is that we stay inside the Beltway. I disagree completely, and so does our realtor bc it rules out areas like Vienna and Burke.

Thanks so much for the additional suggestions on areas. This is so challenging to do remotely when our realtor cannot legally make suggestions on schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't be afraid to look across rt7 at the Shrevewood/Kilmer/Marshall pyramid. The schools are equally as great and the families are friendly and very down-to-earth.

My reservation about Haycock would be the renovation they are about to begin. The school is already very crowded, and with the renovation, many more classrooms than usual will be in trailers for the next couple years until the renovation is complete.

From a facilities perspective, Shrevewood and Kilmer are expected to be more overcrowded in the future than Haycock and Longfellow, and McLean is projected to be more overcrowded than Marshall. If I were concerned about the possibility of trailers at Haycock, I would definitely avoid Shrevewood and Kilmer.

Trailers don't really bother me. I think the renovation is going to be chaos, though. If OP can avoid it, she might want to, depending on the age of her kids. It would stink to live through it and never reap the benefits by enjoying the new school. During the renovations, we have been told there are no after school activities and no school events in the evening (i.e. PTA events). Also, the playspace will be taken up by construction trailers and equipment so the recess possibilities are dubious (although kids that love construction and construction equipment will likely be in heaven). If her children are young, it may be worth living through a couple years of pain to get a nice, new school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Just checked in, and am grateful to see so many responses and comments. To the PPs who suggested Burke/W Springfield: yes, I wanted to look in those areas bc it seems to be more our thing culture-wise and home-price-wise; however DH vetoed that area emphatically bc it's so far out, and he is very nervous about the infamous 95 commute everyone rants about. His major requirement is that we stay inside the Beltway. I disagree completely, and so does our realtor bc it rules out areas like Vienna and Burke.

Thanks so much for the additional suggestions on areas. This is so challenging to do remotely when our realtor cannot legally make suggestions on schools.

OP, are you doing this 100% remotely or have you come out for a house search?

If you are doing the whole thing online and through a realtor without visiting, then that is a bad idea for this area. I would recommend that you consider renting for a year and spending that time finding a place that really works for you.

The housing prices around here make picking the wrong neighborhood a very costly and potentially irreversible mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Just checked in, and am grateful to see so many responses and comments. To the PPs who suggested Burke/W Springfield: yes, I wanted to look in those areas bc it seems to be more our thing culture-wise and home-price-wise; however DH vetoed that area emphatically bc it's so far out, and he is very nervous about the infamous 95 commute everyone rants about. His major requirement is that we stay inside the Beltway. I disagree completely, and so does our realtor bc it rules out areas like Vienna and Burke.

Thanks so much for the additional suggestions on areas. This is so challenging to do remotely when our realtor cannot legally make suggestions on schools.

You don't commute 95. You either slug or bus and take the HOV express lanes OR you do the metro or VRE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The homes for sale in 22043 around 700k that are slated for Shrevewood are about a mile or two further than the houses slated for Haycock.

I agree that Vienna would be silly, as would a large portion of the Langley boundaries.

With a 700K budget, I would seriously consider the Shrevewood district. I live there and am walkable to West falls Church metro (not all of it is, but we are). It's a good school pyramid. Haycock and KG are also good, of course, but more expensive.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have received wonderful advice. My kids attend Shrevewood and are very happy there. I'm also very pleased with the school as well as the admistration. Yes, it's over crowded, however, we currently do not house any classrooms (other than specials) in trailers.

As for the schools you really can't go wrong with this area. Now that being said, what I think is great and what you think is great, can be miles apart. For me, it's all about the teachers and administration. So far, my kids have had great teachers at Shrevewood. We have had great communication with the teachers and they are very in tune to notice problems if they exist. I have one child who has difficulty adjusting to new teachers in the begining of the year, all the teachers have met his needs and deal with him very well.

Some people don't look at Shrevewood because of the diversity, there is lots of it! For me the diversity is one of the main reasons I love it so much. My kids have met children from all over the world.

This area is very tranisant, you have diplomats, State Dept, IMF, World Bank, military, you get the idea.

I know of a couple of parents at Haycock, while they are happy with the academics they are a bit disappointed with the classrooms in trailors. The Haycock construction will last at least 2 years from what I have heard.

Good luck with your decision, I would suggest you and your family come out to the are for a long weekend to get a feel for the area and look around.

[Anonymous]

Check out Westgate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Just checked in, and am grateful to see so many responses and comments. To the PPs who suggested Burke/W Springfield: yes, I wanted to look in those areas bc it seems to be more our thing culture-wise and home-price-wise; however DH vetoed that area emphatically bc it's so far out, and he is very nervous about the infamous 95 commute everyone rants about. His major requirement is that we stay inside the Beltway. I disagree completely, and so does our realtor bc it rules out areas like Vienna and Burke.

Thanks so much for the additional suggestions on areas. This is so challenging to do remotely when our realtor cannot legally make suggestions on schools.

Your DH is making a wise decision....listen to him.

Realtor just wants to make a sale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have received wonderful advice. My kids attend Shrevewood and are very happy there. I'm also very pleased with the school as well as the admistration. Yes, it's over crowded, however, we currently do not house any classrooms (other than specials) in trailers.

As for the schools you really can't go wrong with this area. Now that being said, what I think is great and what you think is great, can be miles apart. For me, it's all about the teachers and administration. So far, my kids have had great teachers at Shrevewood. We have had great communication with the teachers and they are very in tune to notice problems if they exist. I have one child who has difficulty adjusting to new teachers in the begining of the year, all the teachers have met his needs and deal with him very well.

Some people don't look at Shrevewood because of the diversity, there is lots of it! For me the diversity is one of the main reasons I love it so much. My kids have met children from all over the world.

This area is very tranisant, you have diplomats, State Dept, IMF, World Bank, military, you get the idea.

I know of a couple of parents at Haycock, while they are happy with the academics they are a bit disappointed with the classrooms in trailors. The Haycock construction will last at least 2 years from what I have heard.

Good luck with your decision, I would suggest you and your family come out to the are for a long weekend to get a feel for the area and look around.

Nothing against the Shrevewood's quality of teaching, but I have been inside the school many times and found it to be run down and drabby. Quite a contrast to the high tech electronic bulletin board in front of the school.

BTW, KG is very diverse also, and holds a yearly international night. In contrast, schools like Spring Hill, Churchill Road, Chesterbrook, and Franklin Sherman are predominantly white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have received wonderful advice. My kids attend Shrevewood and are very happy there. I'm also very pleased with the school as well as the admistration. Yes, it's over crowded, however, we currently do not house any classrooms (other than specials) in trailers.

As for the schools you really can't go wrong with this area. Now that being said, what I think is great and what you think is great, can be miles apart. For me, it's all about the teachers and administration. So far, my kids have had great teachers at Shrevewood. We have had great communication with the teachers and they are very in tune to notice problems if they exist. I have one child who has difficulty adjusting to new teachers in the begining of the year, all the teachers have met his needs and deal with him very well.

Some people don't look at Shrevewood because of the diversity, there is lots of it! For me the diversity is one of the main reasons I love it so much. My kids have met children from all over the world.

This area is very tranisant, you have diplomats, State Dept, IMF, World Bank, military, you get the idea.

I know of a couple of parents at Haycock, while they are happy with the academics they are a bit disappointed with the classrooms in trailors. The Haycock construction will last at least 2 years from what I have heard.

Good luck with your decision, I would suggest you and your family come out to the are for a long weekend to get a feel for the area and look around.

Nothing against the Shrevewood's quality of teaching, but I have been inside the school many times and found it to be run down and drabby. Quite a contrast to the high tech electronic bulletin board in front of the school.

BTW, KG is very diverse also, and holds a yearly international night. In contrast, schools like Spring Hill, Churchill Road, Chesterbrook, and Franklin Sherman are predominantly white.

OP is coming from Kansas...this is likely a non issue either way for her.

[Anonymous]

Np here following this thread with interest. Re : Shrevewood, the school is ranked 659 in the state. Is it that good? Several ACPS elementary schools are ranked better and everyone complains that system stinks. Why not recommend that the OP consider the Alexandria parts of FFX county where housing prices are cheaper. E.g., Waynewood and Stratford Landing. Both ranked higher than Shrevewood.

OP - you might want to check out Waynewood and Stratford Landing systems. You can find a nice home in your price range ($600 -$700 k) and not have the McLean and Haycock drama. And it's close in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you have received wonderful advice. My kids attend Shrevewood and are very happy there. I'm also very pleased with the school as well as the admistration. Yes, it's over crowded, however, we currently do not house any classrooms (other than specials) in trailers.

As for the schools you really can't go wrong with this area. Now that being said, what I think is great and what you think is great, can be miles apart. For me, it's all about the teachers and administration. So far, my kids have had great teachers at Shrevewood. We have had great communication with the teachers and they are very in tune to notice problems if they exist. I have one child who has difficulty adjusting to new teachers in the begining of the year, all the teachers have met his needs and deal with him very well.

Some people don't look at Shrevewood because of the diversity, there is lots of it! For me the diversity is one of the main reasons I love it so much. My kids have met children from all over the world.

This area is very tranisant, you have diplomats, State Dept, IMF, World Bank, military, you get the idea.

I know of a couple of parents at Haycock, while they are happy with the academics they are a bit disappointed with the classrooms in trailors. The Haycock construction will last at least 2 years from what I have heard.

Good luck with your decision, I would suggest you and your family come out to the are for a long weekend to get a feel for the area and look around.

Nothing against the Shrevewood's quality of teaching, but I have been inside the school many times and found it to be run down and drabby. Quite a contrast to the high tech electronic bulletin board in front of the school.

BTW, KG is very diverse also, and holds a yearly international night. In contrast, schools like Spring Hill, Churchill Road, Chesterbrook, and Franklin Sherman are predominantly white.

OP is coming from Kansas...this is likely a non issue either way for her.

Not an issue, but a benefit to have diversity....esp since both parents work on the hill.