Glebe Elementary

[Anonymous]

My family is looking to move to Arlington to be closer to my husband's family. We've done some research on schools and my sister in law was a former Arlington school teacher. Based on what we'vew researched, Glebe doesn't seem to be as good as other Arlington elementary schools- especially in terms of reported test scores. I do know that average test scores aren't everything. It turns out that the high school I went to was average at best, but it had a good honors program so I never knew it was allegedly substandard. Does anyone have any experience with Glebe- good or bad- or opinion? We found a house we like but the area it's in was just put into Glebe. My husband is considering Glebe to be a deakbreaker but I wanted to get some more opinions. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I moved into the Glebe district last year. My kids won't begin attending until 2011 but we never considered not purchasing the house because our elementary would be Glebe. I have lived in Arlington for 5 years. I had always heard positive comments about Glebe and our neighbors who send their kids there seem to be very happy. I don't think you can go wrong with any elementary in Arlington and that was our belief when we were house hunting.

I am a former school teacher and I think there are so many other factors I would consider about a school besides test scores. One thing I do like about Glebe is that it has a fairly diverse student population compared to other N. Arlington schools. I hope you get the feedback you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

I also live in the Glebe district and my son will go there starting in 2010. So, like the pp, I don't have personal experience with it yet. However, everything I have heard about it so far has been positive. One of the best things people say about it is because it is a smaller school and pulls from neighborhoods that are really close by, there is a true neighborhood feel to the school (unlike some others which pull from a huge area - Taylor for example). Yes, it is more diverse than most of the N. Arlington schools, but IMO that is not a bad thing. While I love living in Arlington, I do think it is very segregated by race, especially in the elementary schools. So I love the idea that my sons will be interacting with kids from all backgrounds, especially in their formative years. Yes, students who are not native English speakers will pull test scores down, but that does not mean the school is bad, especially if YOU the parent are involved and concerned with your child's education. I remember a quote I heard from Jay Mathews a few months ago that basically said as long as you are an involved and concerned parent, it doesn't really matter where your child goes to elementary school as long as it is safe. Meaning a lot of the learning at that age comes from home and getting children used to going to school and (hopefully) loving it.

I am a current teacher in high school (Fairfax County) and I agree with the poster that there is so much more to a school than test scores. Before eliminating Glebe, I would try to talk to some parents and get a better feel for what the school is really like. Good luck - maybe we will be neighbors!

[Anonymous]

Don't use test scores to distinguish one N. Arlington school from another. They are all fine. Some are more or less diverse and that is reflected in the test scores. Glebe is fine. It has a nice new facility and good teachers. All of the N. Arlington schools are fine.

[Anonymous]

My kids are at Taylor, and while we love it, it is definitely not diverse -- I'm a little jealous of Glebe families in that regard.

I think almost all Arlington families -- and not just North Arlington ones -- will tell you they love their schools.

[Anonymous]

I agree with all the PPs. We do not live in Glebe school district but know people who do. We live in another of the more diverse North Arlington elementary school districts. It is absolutely true that the test scores are lower where the percentage of ESL students is higher. I truly believe all the Arlington schools (especially elementary) are strong - the only difference between them is the composition of the student body and that is what is reflected in those test scores.