I regret buying in ACPS...should we try to move before ES or wait until DC is older?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we're West End. We were at two different privates (the second, very well known), and were disappointed by literally everything from academics (this region simply does not have tremendous private schools) to plain ol' nastiness. We enrolled DC in an ACPS public, and we were astounded. It was terrific. We've stayed in ACPS and DC is now at TC. Doing ACPS without support isn't something we'd recommend, but if your DC is capable and doesn't need a great deal of academic support in order to perform well, consider your ACPS options.

That's interesting. Can you elaborate?

This is 20:59. We were astounded to learn that all but two of the NOVA privates actually use the regular VA state curriculum as their own, but don't even comprehensively test on it. One school was a "progressive" program -- in math, the kids in an early year were taught only addition and multiplication, because the teacher thought subtraction and especially division were just too hard (said they would "pick that up"). Essentially all projects were group projects, so we saw middle-schoolers struggling with very-first-time individual tests and reports. The school was really a recreational project for stay-at-home parents; essentially, their version of a private club. The stay-at-home parents used to just show up in classrooms and "help," meaning actually yeah and try to critique students. Valueless and quite invasive.

Curious now. How about Episcopal & St. Stephens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we're West End. We were at two different privates (the second, very well known), and were disappointed by literally everything from academics (this region simply does not have tremendous private schools) to plain ol' nastiness. We enrolled DC in an ACPS public, and we were astounded. It was terrific. We've stayed in ACPS and DC is now at TC. Doing ACPS without support isn't something we'd recommend, but if your DC is capable and doesn't need a great deal of academic support in order to perform well, consider your ACPS options.

That's interesting. Can you elaborate?

This is 20:59. We were astounded to learn that all but two of the NOVA privates actually use the regular VA state curriculum as their own, but don't even comprehensively test on it. One school was a "progressive" program -- in math, the kids in an early year were taught only addition and multiplication, because the teacher thought subtraction and especially division were just too hard (said they would "pick that up"). Essentially all projects were group projects, so we saw middle-schoolers struggling with very-first-time individual tests and reports. The school was really a recreational project for stay-at-home parents; essentially, their version of a private club. The stay-at-home parents used to just show up in classrooms and "help," meaning actually yeah and try to critique students. Valueless and quite invasive.

Curious now. How about Episcopal & St. Stephens?

20:59 again. Hear plenty of similar stories re SSSAS. Never heard anything like this re Episcopal, but bear in mind that Episcopal is boarding and is a sim-closed campus. Much less opportunity for petty parent games.

[Anonymous]

OP, I feel very similarly. We are in the Tucker zone. (Although our neighborhood is very friendly.) One thing I will throw out there: We now have two kids, and the thought of trying to get our house in selling condition amidst two-kid chaos is sooo much more daunting than with one. You may want to do the move before DC #2 comes (assuming for the sake of discussion you want to have more kids, which of course I don't know). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We moved to West Springfield. Really miss Alexandria but wanted better schools. The elementary schools here have been great and we are not disappointed at all. Lots of military people who commute to Pentagon. It's an easy slug, metro, or express bus ride.

I wish we could move our school to Alexandria but since we can't we are staying in West Springfield for the long haul.

[Anonymous]

No advice here but I wanted to say I love Alexandria. I would be there if I didn't have kids.

[Anonymous]

Episcopal is high school and boarding so not really in the same field as the other private schools.

We were in your same situation- probably in your neighborhood- and we decided to just move before 1st grade. DC went to private kindergarten. We moved into the Woodson pyramid and we like our neighborhood and neighbors but the school is not setting any records for us. I hope it gets better but the first year I was really mad we moved from Alexandria to FFX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Episcopal is high school and boarding so not really in the same field as the other private schools.

We were in your same situation- probably in your neighborhood- and we decided to just move before 1st grade. DC went to private kindergarten. We moved into the Woodson pyramid and we like our neighborhood and neighbors but the school is not setting any records for us. I hope it gets better but the first year I was really mad we moved from Alexandria to FFX.

I'm the PP who moved to West Springfield. Just curious what you don't like? We've been so pleased with our school so,the move was worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, we're West End. We were at two different privates (the second, very well known), and were disappointed by literally everything from academics (this region simply does not have tremendous private schools) to plain ol' nastiness. We enrolled DC in an ACPS public, and we were astounded. It was terrific. We've stayed in ACPS and DC is now at TC. Doing ACPS without support isn't something we'd recommend, but if your DC is capable and doesn't need a great deal of academic support in order to perform well, consider your ACPS options.

That's interesting. Can you elaborate?

This is 20:59. We were astounded to learn that all but two of the NOVA privates actually use the regular VA state curriculum as their own, but don't even comprehensively test on it. One school was a "progressive" program -- in math, the kids in an early year were taught only addition and multiplication, because the teacher thought subtraction and especially division were just too hard (said they would "pick that up"). Essentially all projects were group projects, so we saw middle-schoolers struggling with very-first-time individual tests and reports. The school was really a recreational project for stay-at-home parents; essentially, their version of a private club. The stay-at-home parents used to just show up in classrooms and "help," meaning actually yeah and try to critique students. Valueless and quite invasive.

Curious now. How about Episcopal & St. Stephens?

20:59 again. Hear plenty of similar stories re SSSAS. Never heard anything like this re Episcopal, but bear in mind that Episcopal is boarding and is a sim-closed campus. Much less opportunity for petty parent games.

Parent of SSSAS student here, and the parents are not in the classroom unless there's a special event (holiday parties, for example). They are not involved in instruction. Not sure what pp is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Episcopal is high school and boarding so not really in the same field as the other private schools.

We were in your same situation- probably in your neighborhood- and we decided to just move before 1st grade. DC went to private kindergarten. We moved into the Woodson pyramid and we like our neighborhood and neighbors but the school is not setting any records for us. I hope it gets better but the first year I was really mad we moved from Alexandria to FFX.

I'm the PP who moved to West Springfield. Just curious what you don't like? We've been so pleased with our school so,the move was worth it.

The curriculum is boring, all the work seems to be worksheets, the teachers are either overwhelmed or underwhelming. Then add on top of it that we have had to deal with an IEP committee that is bogged down in beaurecracy and incompetence. I really worry about America's education system if this is the best we have got!

[Anonymous]

OP: at least go to an open house or visit the school. Talk to people with kids at that school. Talk to the principal. We were at another ACPS and were considering moving. We did all of the above and we are SO glad we did not bolt. Do not rely on this forum or really anyone who has not had or does not have kids at the school you are considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: at least go to an open house or visit the school. Talk to people with kids at that school. Talk to the principal. We were at another ACPS and were considering moving. We did all of the above and we are SO glad we did not bolt. Do not rely on this forum or really anyone who has not had or does not have kids at the school you are considering.

Absolutely agree w this. (Maury, GW, TC parent here.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: at least go to an open house or visit the school. Talk to people with kids at that school. Talk to the principal. We were at another ACPS and were considering moving. We did all of the above and we are SO glad we did not bolt. Do not rely on this forum or really anyone who has not had or does not have kids at the school you are considering.

Absolutely agree w this. (Maury, GW, TC parent here.)

Also agreed 100% (very satisfied pp, CBES/GW/TC parent here)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: at least go to an open house or visit the school. Talk to people with kids at that school. Talk to the principal. We were at another ACPS and were considering moving. We did all of the above and we are SO glad we did not bolt. Do not rely on this forum or really anyone who has not had or does not have kids at the school you are considering.

Absolutely agree w this. (Maury, GW, TC parent here.)

Also agreed 100% (very satisfied pp, CBES/GW/TC parent here)

Both of you are in significantly "better" ES's than OP, though.

[Anonymous]

I love Alexandria, but I would have to do private school to live there. No way I am sending my kids to those public schools. I would rather spend the extra money on a house in Falls Church City, McLean or Vienna in order to get into one of those school pyramids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Alexandria, but I would have to do private school to live there. No way I am sending my kids to those public schools. I would rather spend the extra money on a house in Falls Church City, McLean or Vienna in order to get into one of those school pyramids.

Again, someone who does not have their kids in ACPS. I am the person who wrote earlier about staying. OP, again, talk to people with kids in the school. Look up test scores on the VA and isolate out variables that do not apply to your kids such as being economically disadvantaged. How are kids of your child's demographic doing? I bet you will be surprised.

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