move to Fairfax or Arlington for public schools

[Anonymous]

I'm looking to move to Fairfax or Arlington because the public schools are considered to be amoung the best in the country. Does anyone know of a list that rates or ranks the elementary schools? I know Newsweek does one for High Schools, are there any for elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

For FCPS, I would look at middle schools and high schools and find a pyramid you are happy with. If you need full day K, consider that as well because not all FCPS ES have full day K.

Also, consider the GT program. While it may change, if it were *me* and I had to do it all over again, I would find an ES that was a GT Center and move into a neighborhood that had the GT Center as it's base school.

And then of course balancing that with your/your DH's commute. LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Also, consider the GT program. While it may change, if it were *me* and I had to do it all over again, I would find an ES that was a GT Center and move into a neighborhood that had the GT Center as it's base school.

ITA

[Anonymous]

Arlington, for sure. Much smaller system and, I think, better schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, consider the GT program. While it may change, if it were *me* and I had to do it all over again, I would find an ES that was a GT Center and move into a neighborhood that had the GT Center as it's base school.

ITA

Why would you do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, for sure. Much smaller system and, I think, better schools.

Arlington is great for general ed classes. If your child is GT, head to Fairfax over Arlington -- or opt for City of Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, consider the GT program. While it may change, if it were *me* and I had to do it all over again, I would find an ES that was a GT Center and move into a neighborhood that had the GT Center as it's base school.

ITA

Why would you do that?

Because if the GT Center school is your base school, you need not be concerned with Local Level IV and/or changes in feeder schools to the GT Center.

[Anonymous]

From someone who never ever considered putting kids into private school . . . until I had to: Move into a house that you like in a neighborhood that you like. There's a danger in moving to a place that you're not so thrilled with for the schools when it's always possible that the schools - no matter how good the reputation - aren't a fit for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From someone who never ever considered putting kids into private school . . . until I had to: Move into a house that you like in a neighborhood that you like. There's a danger in moving to a place that you're not so thrilled with for the schools when it's always possible that the schools - no matter how good the reputation - aren't a fit for your child.

Yup. And to add to this, it's always possible that boundaries could change in your district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Also, consider the GT program. While it may change, if it were *me* and I had to do it all over again, I would find an ES that was a GT Center and move into a neighborhood that had the GT Center as it's base school.

ITA

Why would you do that?

Because if the GT Center school is your base school, you need not be concerned with Local Level IV and/or changes in feeder schools to the GT Center.

But this would only be if your child gets into GT Center. Our base school happens to be GT Center but my child is not in the GT program, and it is horrible for her. The school is split btw GE and GT and run as if it is 2 separate schools. It is so awful psychologically for kids at the GT Center who are not in GT. The school is majority GT. So if the child is not in GT, she ends up feeling like she's in the one dumb class, rather than Level IV situation where they would just feel like there's one class with the smart kids. And whether you tell your child or not, they all know who's in GT and who's not. It is making kids who are perfectly fine academically feel like failures. And the schools will never admit this, but much of the resources and attention is catered to the GT students (well after all, they are the majority in the school). It's a terrible system. I don't know why they just don't create GT only schools.

[Anonymous]

Are class sizes similar between Arlington and Fairfax County schools. I believe Fairfax is about max 28(?) per class in the ES. Does anyone know class size for Arlington County public schools? I heard they were smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why they just don't create GT only schools.

Great idea! Why don't you suggest that to your School Board members?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From someone who never ever considered putting kids into private school . . . until I had to: Move into a house that you like in a neighborhood that you like. There's a danger in moving to a place that you're not so thrilled with for the schools when it's always possible that the schools - no matter how good the reputation - aren't a fit for your child.

Thank God someone said this. I grow so tired of these "I'm moving there for the schools" threads. The best-laid plans...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But this would only be if your child gets into GT Center. Our base school happens to be GT Center but my child is not in the GT program, and it is horrible for her. The school is split btw GE and GT and run as if it is 2 separate schools. It is so awful psychologically for kids at the GT Center who are not in GT. The school is majority GT. So if the child is not in GT, she ends up feeling like she's in the one dumb class, rather than Level IV situation where they would just feel like there's one class with the smart kids. And whether you tell your child or not, they all know who's in GT and who's not. It is making kids who are perfectly fine academically feel like failures. And the schools will never admit this, but much of the resources and attention is catered to the GT students (well after all, they are the majority in the school). It's a terrible system. I don't know why they just don't create GT only schools.

It's not necessarily the case that it will be traumatic for non-GT kids at schools with GT centers, or that they will feel like "failures," but they likely will internalize the notion that they are not "brainiacs," and that's certainly not a message many parents want their kids to take from primary education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, for sure. Much smaller system and, I think, better schools.

I'm sure you're referring to the South Arlington school pyramids, right? A significant number of Arlington parents will only consider Williamsburg Middle School and Yorktown High.