Tell me about Pine Spring ES

[Anonymous]

...really, just tell me about it. I am trying to think of specific questions. What is the curriculum like? What is the discipline like? Are there supports for GT kids? Is there good differentiation of instruction? Do the kids go outside?

This is for a kindergartner.

We are moving to the area from out of state, don't want to spend a ton on housing, and many of the options we like are in this school boundary. I see that it isn't rated as highly as other schools, so I'd like to learn more.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...really, just tell me about it. I am trying to think of specific questions. What is the curriculum like? What is the discipline like? Are there supports for GT kids? Is there good differentiation of instruction? Do the kids go outside?

This is for a kindergartner.

We are moving to the area from out of state, don't want to spend a ton on housing, and many of the options we like are in this school boundary. I see that it isn't rated as highly as other schools, so I'd like to learn more.

Thanks!

It is a Title 1 school that is surrounded by aging housing and aging garden apartment complexes that attract ESOL/FARMS students' families. A generation ago, the residents of the housing surrounding it were much more racially and economically balanced.

Adding in the Mosaic Town Center adjacent to the Pine Spring boundaries seems to have had absolutely no effect whatsoever on the school.

[Anonymous]

My daughter went to Pine Spring from K-2nd. After 2nd grade, she moved to Mantua which has AAP(Advanced Academic Program). Teachers are really good. Lot of diversity - Indians, Asians, Hispanics etc. It is a Title 1 School and many kids are eligible for free/reduced lunch. Class sizes are very small, around 19 kids/class. In Kindergarten, each class has a teacher and an IA. There are 4-5 K Classes. Kindergarten/1st grade/2nd grade teachers are really good and we liked them. Don't have direct experience with other teachers. SACC(After School) program is also good. Principal and Teachers are very caring and they know families by name. When my daughter attended Pine Spring, Teachers used to evaluate kids and then group them based on the ability. My daughter used to read when she started K, so she was placed in advanced reading group. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. Providence recreation center is close by. Thomas Jefferson Library is also there. Most of the kids go to My Gym/Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwondo. Route 50/I-495, Dunn Loring are minutes away, so we stay in this neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to Pine Spring from K-2nd. After 2nd grade, she moved to Mantua which has AAP(Advanced Academic Program). Teachers are really good. Lot of diversity - Indians, Asians, Hispanics etc. It is a Title 1 School and many kids are eligible for free/reduced lunch. Class sizes are very small, around 19 kids/class. In Kindergarten, each class has a teacher and an IA. There are 4-5 K Classes. Kindergarten/1st grade/2nd grade teachers are really good and we liked them. Don't have direct experience with other teachers. SACC(After School) program is also good. Principal and Teachers are very caring and they know families by name. When my daughter attended Pine Spring, Teachers used to evaluate kids and then group them based on the ability. My daughter used to read when she started K, so she was placed in advanced reading group. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask me. Providence recreation center is close by. Thomas Jefferson Library is also there. Most of the kids go to My Gym/Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwondo. Route 50/I-495, Dunn Loring are minutes away, so we stay in this neighborhood.

Thank you for the informative post. 11:09 sounds like a real prick!

[Anonymous]

This won't be helpful, but I attended Pine Spring for the 2nd half of 2nd grade in the late 80s. My family was in an apartment before moving to our house after a move from another state.

The school was sweet and I distinctly remember we had a visually impaired boy in our room, and we all took turns being his helper. We were eager to be paired with him and it is such a nice memory of kindness and inclusiveness.

My teacher, on the other hand, was a B. She sighed heavily when I was brought to her class the first day back after Christmas and accused me of picking my nose when I didn't on a regular basis, so it's no surprise I began faking sick.

I remember the sweet playground, Wood City which I'm sure if no longer there. And the aftercare was pretty fun.

Sorry to digress - memories!!!!

[Anonymous]

OP, just remember the curriculum is the same no matter where your child goes to school. Maybe some schools have more money for after school activities and what not, but your child will be taught the same material as the 'good' schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:09 sounds like a real prick!

11:09 here. Not trying to be a prick, just recalling when Pine Spring was a better, more balanced in every way, school.

Pine Spring and schools like it do not regularly get any praise on DCUM. I am actually one of the few advocates of the eastern FCPS schools, and my kids attend one.

It is very frustrating to see the eastern end of Fairfax County continuously getting the shitty end of the stick on everything.

I really, really like how Pine Spring is in its own cul-de-sac at the end of a road, and not situated directly off of a main road. That makes it feel very safe and private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:09 sounds like a real prick!

11:09 here. Not trying to be a prick, just recalling when Pine Spring was a better, more balanced in every way, school.

Pine Spring and schools like it do not regularly get any praise on DCUM. I am actually one of the few advocates of the eastern FCPS schools, and my kids attend one.

It is very frustrating to see the eastern end of Fairfax County continuously getting the shitty end of the stick on everything.

I really, really like how Pine Spring is in its own cul-de-sac at the end of a road, and not situated directly off of a main road. That makes it feel very safe and private.

Well, I didn't know why you'd say Mosaic has done nothing for the area. Mosaic isn't zoned for Pine Spring, but instead for Fairhill, yet just about every house that comes on the market now in the Pine Spring district sells quickly.

Sorry if it mistook your intentions.

[Anonymous]

11:19 here, I agree with all 11:09 said.
I feel it is a good school with good teachers and encourage kids to excel. There are enrichment activities like odyssey of the mind, chess club, girl power etc. Curriculum is not different from any FCPS School. But I think from 1st grade onwards, AAP teacher pulls certain number of kids for some challenging work, like 1-2hrs/week or something like that. Kids get to play as per FCPS recess guidelines. Playground is nice and situated in woods. Rating - there are many kids whose parents work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, so SOL Scores are not good. I know it is a tough decision to make, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:09 sounds like a real prick!

11:09 here. Not trying to be a prick, just recalling when Pine Spring was a better, more balanced in every way, school.

Pine Spring and schools like it do not regularly get any praise on DCUM. I am actually one of the few advocates of the eastern FCPS schools, and my kids attend one.

It is very frustrating to see the eastern end of Fairfax County continuously getting the shitty end of the stick on everything.

I really, really like how Pine Spring is in its own cul-de-sac at the end of a road, and not situated directly off of a main road. That makes it feel very safe and private.

Well, I didn't know why you'd say Mosaic has done nothing for the area. Mosaic isn't zoned for Pine Spring, but instead for Fairhill, yet just about every house that comes on the market now in the Pine Spring district sells quickly.

Sorry if it mistook your intentions.

My intentions/feelings weren't clear, I guess. Its just a little puzzling over the last 10, 20 years seeing Fortune 500 companies open their doors a stone's throw away from Pine Spring (Fairview Park), Mosaic, hipster expensive restaurants opening right near, yet it just seems to slip further and further down the ranks. That's all. I guess that is the way of the world.

Traffic was TERRIBLE mid-day the other day when I was running errands at Gallows/50/495 - it was NEVER this bad years ago - I ran my errands on a most decidedly a non rush hour- time - so, the residents of Pine Spring have to put up with increased traffic due to revitalization all around them, yet the school seems to slip further.

Sorry, I know you were looking for specific information, and I'm speaking in platitudes, this is just something that has puzzled me.

[Anonymous]

A friends child attends there. Academically he is thriving and she is very happy with the teachers and the material as it is presented. Her child does not received differentiation. I don't know if that because it's not offered or if he doesn't need it.

Where he is struggling is socially. It is hard to throw a class Bday party when a good portion of the class can't attend. They can't attend because parents are working or the kids can't otherwise get to the party. She was saddened to learn that being invited to a playdate at her house is considered good because she serves snacks or dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Where he is struggling is socially. It is hard to throw a class Bday party when a good portion of the class can't attend. They can't attend because parents are working or the kids can't otherwise get to the party. She was saddened to learn that being invited to a playdate at her house is considered good because she serves snacks or dinner.

That is sad. There are schools not too far away, like Camelot, that still are in the Jackson/Falls Church pyramid where this is not the case at all.

[Anonymous]

How does Pine Hill compare to Shrevewood?

[Anonymous]

The demographics at Shrevewood are very different. It's still diverse, but with a much larger group of middle/upper middle class kids. My son went there when we first moved to Fairfax County and he had a good-sized peer group with similar academic skills for play dates, parties. etc. You won't get this at Pine Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The demographics at Shrevewood are very different. It's still diverse, but with a much larger group of middle/upper middle class kids. My son went there when we first moved to Fairfax County and he had a good-sized peer group with similar academic skills for play dates, parties. etc. You won't get this at Pine Spring.

You can find such a peer group at PS, but it might be smaller. Don't assume kids don't have academic skills or like to socialize just because their parents need financial help. Shrevewood is about 25% low income vs about 55% at Pine Spring.