Tell me about the schools in Herndon/Chantilly - Crossfield, Oak Hill, Navy, Fox Mill, Lees Corner

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:OP here, really not as concerned about STEM/STEAM as I am about the community and whether the school is well regarded and families like it there. There are a couple schools that get brought up in this forum a lot and fortunately those are in areas we can't afford to live in, I just want to make sure we're avoiding schools like that where parents get all up in arms about AAP vs General Ed, or are racists, or things like that. We are a mixed race family (half Asian/half white), and I hope we'd be welcomed in these communities, I think there are decent sized asian/south asian populations?

You might want to avoid Navy then. The AAP vs Gen Ed culture is real and sadly I feel like it’s ruined the experience for us. The teachers are great, but when you split everyone into “the smart kids” and “the not smart kids”, and everyone knows who is in which class, you’re setting yourself up for a not so great learning experience. If we had a choice, we would have chosen Fox Mill. It’s a super tight knit community and everyone (parents, teachers, kids) are lovely. If you value community, those are your people.

+1 Navy does absolutely nothing to try to integrate AAP and Gen Ed kids. There are no team activities. AAP and Gen Ed teachers don’t plan units together. Everyone does their own thing (all upper grade teachers departmentalized) and it’s a mess.

I had a gen ed kid at Navy who grew up going there so she knew a lot of AAP kids as well. Those friendships died, as the divide is steep so they never interacted. Even at recess, the AAP teachers stood together and the gen ed teachers stood together on the other side of the playground. I had an older child there prior, who went to Hunters Woods for AAP prior to the change. I LOVED that at that school everyone was mixed for specials--each child was assigned a number 1-7 and all the "1s" were together each day for their special. He didn't know any of the kids there in gen ed or magnet prior to going there, but at least got out of his AAP group for a portion of ea day. It can be done, is all I'm saying. When he was at Navy, the afterschool activities were the usual ones (karate, etc) but when the younger kid went there, by that time the school was majority Asian (maybe 55%?) and even the activities had changed--every math and science activity/ competition under the sun was now available, but according to my kid, "only the AAP kids go to those". I don't know, it was a weird vibe by the end. I think 7 years in one school is too long anyways...

I agree with this. Navy does a terrible job integrating the kids. It's our base school and each of my DCs went into 3rd grade AAP with plenty of close friends who went to gen ed (or PBL, as they call it). The divide was immediate because they never saw the PBL kids again during the day since even specials were all with AAP kids. In 4th grade they start to mix by specials group, but the damage is already done. By the time they graduated, none of my DCs had any close friends in PBL. It's bizarre to watch happen and it's from both sides - neither wants to spend time with the other.

+1 this is so true. Also, there are no grade level events where kids get mixed up. Typically schools do something at each grade level where they integrate the AAP and Gen Ed kids. Such as Colonial Day, where kids move from class to class to do different activities in teachers’ rooms. They would actually mix up the kids so AAP and Gen Ed kids were combined and moved as a group. A lot of schools also do their end of year parties as a team. Not Navy. Each teacher plans their own thing.

I'm pretty sure colonial day has gone as it wasn't politically correct. I know my kids would have enjoyed it! One of my favorite memories of elementary school

+1

I think Colonial Day has been canceled for all of FCPS.

Too bad, it sounded pretty awesome. I grew up in a different state and I don't understand denying one of the main, and best, part of Virginia history.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People complaining about Navy... are your kids older? Are there more AAP classes than Gen Ed in the upper grades? Or is it a 50/50 split? In third grade there are more Gen Ed classes than AAP. Maybe that changes the dynamic. My child is utterly unbothered by any of this. He plays with kids from both programs at recess. I never hear any parents talking about some supposed divide. Maybe there are some toxic dynamics at play among some kids in upper grades but we are just not seeing it.

Mine are older and I would say we started noticing a change in friendship dynamics around middle to end of third grade. It would be nice if they mixed the groups for homeroom, language arts, science and VA studies since, as far as I am aware, the curriculum in those subjects is exactly the same. Is it not? That would seem like a very obvious solution to a very made up problem.

DP. At our center school (not one of these), it is not, especially in 5th and 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People complaining about Navy... are your kids older? Are there more AAP classes than Gen Ed in the upper grades? Or is it a 50/50 split? In third grade there are more Gen Ed classes than AAP. Maybe that changes the dynamic. My child is utterly unbothered by any of this. He plays with kids from both programs at recess. I never hear any parents talking about some supposed divide. Maybe there are some toxic dynamics at play among some kids in upper grades but we are just not seeing it.

Mine are older and I would say we started noticing a change in friendship dynamics around middle to end of third grade. It would be nice if they mixed the groups for homeroom, language arts, science and VA studies since, as far as I am aware, the curriculum in those subjects is exactly the same. Is it not? That would seem like a very obvious solution to a very made up problem.

The AAP Curriculum is supposed to go deeper into Social Studies and Science topics and involve more independent research.

[Anonymous]

Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

[Anonymous]

I think Navy is a great school if you have a kid who has no challenges and is very motivated. However, if you have to get to your child accomodations for learning challenges, I am guessing(hoping) there are better schools because that process was a nightmare for my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Navy is a great school if you have a kid who has no challenges and is very motivated. However, if you have to get to your child accomodations for learning challenges, I am guessing(hoping) there are better schools because that process was a nightmare for my family.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I must be in the same very large bubble as PP because I know a lot of Navy families and all but one have been super happy. Most of their kids are either not in AAP or they have one AAP and one Gen Ed.

My child has accommodations and it was a very smooth process to get them put into place. But mine came in with a diagnosis so maybe it’s different from challenges being identified after starting at the school, going through testing, etc. I also learned early not to rely on the county or school system to make sure my child has what they need. We’ve always done private testing and therapy in addition to whatever is being provided for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I must be in the same very large bubble as PP because I know a lot of Navy families and all but one have been super happy. Most of their kids are either not in AAP or they have one AAP and one Gen Ed.

My child has accommodations and it was a very smooth process to get them put into place. But mine came in with a diagnosis so maybe it’s different from challenges being identified after starting at the school, going through testing, etc. I also learned early not to rely on the county or school system to make sure my child has what they need. We’ve always done private testing and therapy in addition to whatever is being provided for free.

Yes, you’re in one bubble. The other bubble that I’m in sees it differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I commented on this thread earlier about the divide between AAP and PBL being a problem, but I would also say we had a great experience at Navy with no complaints, other than the fact my kids can't spell and that's more of a FCPS thing.

[Anonymous]

Just make sure you aren’t zoned for McNair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I commented on this thread earlier about the divide between AAP and PBL being a problem, but I would also say we had a great experience at Navy with no complaints, other than the fact my kids can't spell and that's more of a FCPS thing.

Navy parent here. In addition to spelling, my kids can’t write and haven’t learned and organizational/study skills. Navy is severely lacking in these areas. They care way too much about using computers in a way that is detrimental to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I commented on this thread earlier about the divide between AAP and PBL being a problem, but I would also say we had a great experience at Navy with no complaints, other than the fact my kids can't spell and that's more of a FCPS thing.

Navy parent here. In addition to spelling, my kids can’t write and haven’t learned and organizational/study skills. Navy is severely lacking in these areas. They care way too much about using computers in a way that is detrimental to the kids.

At lots of elementary schools, there seems to be too much of a focus on fluff and fun, which means the spelling, grammar and writing instruction is severely lacking. My kids didn't get actual writing instruction until middle school, and a number of my friends have had the same experiences with their kids' FCPS schools. I had one kid in general education, one in LLIV, and one at a center, and all three had incredibly weak/nonexistent spelling, grammar and writing lessons throughout elementary school, so I do not believe this problem is isolated to one school or one teacher.

Even the reading instruction was extraordinarily weak at both the elementary schools my kids attended. From kindergarten through 6th grade, they were never taught very many reading strategies at all. FCPS needs to reduce the amount of fluff and fun and they need to increase the amount of actual instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I commented on this thread earlier about the divide between AAP and PBL being a problem, but I would also say we had a great experience at Navy with no complaints, other than the fact my kids can't spell and that's more of a FCPS thing.

Navy parent here. In addition to spelling, my kids can’t write and haven’t learned and organizational/study skills. Navy is severely lacking in these areas. They care way too much about using computers in a way that is detrimental to the kids.

At lots of elementary schools, there seems to be too much of a focus on fluff and fun, which means the spelling, grammar and writing instruction is severely lacking. My kids didn't get actual writing instruction until middle school, and a number of my friends have had the same experiences with their kids' FCPS schools. I had one kid in general education, one in LLIV, and one at a center, and all three had incredibly weak/nonexistent spelling, grammar and writing lessons throughout elementary school, so I do not believe this problem is isolated to one school or one teacher.

Even the reading instruction was extraordinarily weak at both the elementary schools my kids attended. From kindergarten through 6th grade, they were never taught very many reading strategies at all. FCPS needs to reduce the amount of fluff and fun and they need to increase the amount of actual instruction.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Navy family here. Our experience has been exceptional. Wonderful teachers, engaging work, a strong sense of community and school spirit. We feel so fortunate to have experienced Navy, and I think most of our friends agree. Surprised to hear the negative comments on this thread.

That’s because you live in a bubble. The Navy parents I have talked to all have concerns, especially with the upper grades.

I commented on this thread earlier about the divide between AAP and PBL being a problem, but I would also say we had a great experience at Navy with no complaints, other than the fact my kids can't spell and that's more of a FCPS thing.

Navy parent here. In addition to spelling, my kids can’t write and haven’t learned and organizational/study skills. Navy is severely lacking in these areas. They care way too much about using computers in a way that is detrimental to the kids.

At lots of elementary schools, there seems to be too much of a focus on fluff and fun, which means the spelling, grammar and writing instruction is severely lacking. My kids didn't get actual writing instruction until middle school, and a number of my friends have had the same experiences with their kids' FCPS schools. I had one kid in general education, one in LLIV, and one at a center, and all three had incredibly weak/nonexistent spelling, grammar and writing lessons throughout elementary school, so I do not believe this problem is isolated to one school or one teacher.

Even the reading instruction was extraordinarily weak at both the elementary schools my kids attended. From kindergarten through 6th grade, they were never taught very many reading strategies at all. FCPS needs to reduce the amount of fluff and fun and they need to increase the amount of actual instruction.

Navy AAP parent here. The writing instruction is poor. The use of groupwork covers up for it. The only time my kids ever had a spelling list was prepping for the spelling bee. Never did a book report. Math instruction is fine.

My kids supplement as a result, particularly in writing.