Fairfax County Alexandria schools, esp. West Potomac and Mt. Vernon

[Anonymous]

The Air Force is the only branch of the military that provides in depth analysis on public schools available to it's families with a member serving on each base.

The Army should do this for Fort Belvoir.

[Anonymous]

I think there is zero chance that they don't end up with an island of RT1 students to add diversity once the next boundary study is completed. That's how ever other school in the area gets its diversity

And this really helps a kid to be part of the school community?

DD had a fellow student that she worked with on a project. Student had PP into her school. They were freshmen and it required more than internet to work together. It was a pain for transportation, etc. One reason I hate group projects that require work outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Del Ray with a 3 yo and love the area, but we're thinking of moving out to the Fairfax County area of Alexandria (as close to the GW parkway and trail as possible) for more house and better schools. But now I'm learning that all FFX Co. schools are not necessarily better than Alexandria City. We'd be fine sending DD to Alexandria schools for elementary, but I'm not sure about the middle schools, and I do not want her at T.C. Williams. Not just the test scores/rankings, but the gangs/violence are worse than I'd anticipated. So my main question is: are West Potomac and Mt. Vernon really any better on the gangs/violence issue?

FWIW, I want some socioeconomic diversity, even if it means it brings the school's test scores down. (This is one reason we aren't going to consider private school.) And I know there will be drugs, fights, etc., at any school. But I want a reasonably safe environment, and TC does not fit that bill to me. If MV and WP don't, either, then maybe we need to scrap the FFx Co. idea and try Arlington, although I'm not sure we can afford a SFH there. We're looking for a SFH in the ballpark of $550k, which puts Del Ray, much of Arlington, and some neighborhoods along the GW parkway out of the question. Anyone know where I can get that and good schools without going farther out into the burbs?

For what you’re describing, look at the Edison High school pyramid and Bush Hill/Rose Hill elem
Schools. They are wonderful schools. I love that my kids have a lot of diversity and excellent teachers. We love our community and we are close to Old Town, access to the beltway/395, etc.

And if those ES are too brown for you, there is always Clermont ES. Also in the Edison pyramid. Has a bit more cream/sugar.

Lane also has a bit more cream/sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think there is zero chance that they don't end up with an island of RT1 students to add diversity once the next boundary study is completed. That's how ever other school in the area gets its diversity

And this really helps a kid to be part of the school community?

DD had a fellow student that she worked with on a project. Student had PP into her school. They were freshmen and it required more than internet to work together. It was a pain for transportation, etc. One reason I hate group projects that require work outside of school.

FT hunt and Hollin meadows families seem to be very happy with their schools. Stratford seems to get a surprisingly high percentage of kids in it's traditional boundaries into AAP, so different story there. Here's FT Hunt's boundary map, https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/boundary-maps/Forthunt_ES.pdf it's a neighborhood school with a few buildings in a garden style apartment complex nowhere near the school or neighborhood tacked on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Del Ray with a 3 yo and love the area, but we're thinking of moving out to the Fairfax County area of Alexandria (as close to the GW parkway and trail as possible) for more house and better schools. But now I'm learning that all FFX Co. schools are not necessarily better than Alexandria City. We'd be fine sending DD to Alexandria schools for elementary, but I'm not sure about the middle schools, and I do not want her at T.C. Williams. Not just the test scores/rankings, but the gangs/violence are worse than I'd anticipated. So my main question is: are West Potomac and Mt. Vernon really any better on the gangs/violence issue?

FWIW, I want some socioeconomic diversity, even if it means it brings the school's test scores down. (This is one reason we aren't going to consider private school.) And I know there will be drugs, fights, etc., at any school. But I want a reasonably safe environment, and TC does not fit that bill to me. If MV and WP don't, either, then maybe we need to scrap the FFx Co. idea and try Arlington, although I'm not sure we can afford a SFH there. We're looking for a SFH in the ballpark of $550k, which puts Del Ray, much of Arlington, and some neighborhoods along the GW parkway out of the question. Anyone know where I can get that and good schools without going farther out into the burbs?

For what you’re describing, look at the Edison High school pyramid and Bush Hill/Rose Hill elem
Schools. They are wonderful schools. I love that my kids have a lot of diversity and excellent teachers. We love our community and we are close to Old Town, access to the beltway/395, etc.

OMG, they aren't wonderful schools. We just moved to West Springfield to get out of that pyramid. They aren't the worst by any stretch, but I'd never suggest someone move over there so their kids could go to these schools.

Am fascinated by how such an old thread got resurrected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Sandburg/West Po zone and honestly, it is fine. There may be gangs but our kids certainly don't mention it as a problem. Smoking pot among all socio-economic classes seems to be the biggest issue by mid high school-some richer kids start in middle school. It is a very diverse group of kids by middle school and high school. Most elementary schools are pretty diverse too. We happen to think it generally makes life richer.

We were one of many families from Rosemont/Del Ray who move down here every year. I have a relative who lives in Del Ray felt she had no option by middle school to send her kids off to Catholic school. We've felt no such need thus far.

You must not live in the Waynewood School District.

Most people call it White-wood.

I think there is zero chance that they don't end up with an island of RT1 students to add diversity once the next boundary study is completed. That's how ever other school in the area gets its diversity

Good. The WW zone looks like a Rorschach test drawn by a KKK members in 1955.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Sandburg/West Po zone and honestly, it is fine. There may be gangs but our kids certainly don't mention it as a problem. Smoking pot among all socio-economic classes seems to be the biggest issue by mid high school-some richer kids start in middle school. It is a very diverse group of kids by middle school and high school. Most elementary schools are pretty diverse too. We happen to think it generally makes life richer.

We were one of many families from Rosemont/Del Ray who move down here every year. I have a relative who lives in Del Ray felt she had no option by middle school to send her kids off to Catholic school. We've felt no such need thus far.

You must not live in the Waynewood School District.

Most people call it White-wood.

I think there is zero chance that they don't end up with an island of RT1 students to add diversity once the next boundary study is completed. That's how ever other school in the area gets its diversity

Good. The WW zone looks like a Rorschach test drawn by a KKK members in 1955.

it's the most compact zone in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Del Ray with a 3 yo and love the area, but we're thinking of moving out to the Fairfax County area of Alexandria (as close to the GW parkway and trail as possible) for more house and better schools. But now I'm learning that all FFX Co. schools are not necessarily better than Alexandria City. We'd be fine sending DD to Alexandria schools for elementary, but I'm not sure about the middle schools, and I do not want her at T.C. Williams. Not just the test scores/rankings, but the gangs/violence are worse than I'd anticipated. So my main question is: are West Potomac and Mt. Vernon really any better on the gangs/violence issue?

FWIW, I want some socioeconomic diversity, even if it means it brings the school's test scores down. (This is one reason we aren't going to consider private school.) And I know there will be drugs, fights, etc., at any school. But I want a reasonably safe environment, and TC does not fit that bill to me. If MV and WP don't, either, then maybe we need to scrap the FFx Co. idea and try Arlington, although I'm not sure we can afford a SFH there. We're looking for a SFH in the ballpark of $550k, which puts Del Ray, much of Arlington, and some neighborhoods along the GW parkway out of the question. Anyone know where I can get that and good schools without going farther out into the burbs?

For what you’re describing, look at the Edison High school pyramid and Bush Hill/Rose Hill elem
Schools. They are wonderful schools. I love that my kids have a lot of diversity and excellent teachers. We love our community and we are close to Old Town, access to the beltway/395, etc.

OMG, they aren't wonderful schools. We just moved to West Springfield to get out of that pyramid. They aren't the worst by any stretch, but I'd never suggest someone move over there so their kids could go to these schools.

Am fascinated by how such an old thread got resurrected.

Wow. Guess I can derive some consolation from the fact that other pyramids like Langley and Woodson look down on West Springfield as much as you do on the Edison pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Why did a 7 year old thread get revived?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did a 7 year old thread get revived?

It's a 10 year old thread.

[Anonymous]

See 22310 and 22315.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Del Ray with a 3 yo and love the area, but we're thinking of moving out to the Fairfax County area of Alexandria (as close to the GW parkway and trail as possible) for more house and better schools. But now I'm learning that all FFX Co. schools are not necessarily better than Alexandria City. We'd be fine sending DD to Alexandria schools for elementary, but I'm not sure about the middle schools, and I do not want her at T.C. Williams. Not just the test scores/rankings, but the gangs/violence are worse than I'd anticipated. So my main question is: are West Potomac and Mt. Vernon really any better on the gangs/violence issue?

FWIW, I want some socioeconomic diversity, even if it means it brings the school's test scores down. (This is one reason we aren't going to consider private school.) And I know there will be drugs, fights, etc., at any school. But I want a reasonably safe environment, and TC does not fit that bill to me. If MV and WP don't, either, then maybe we need to scrap the FFx Co. idea and try Arlington, although I'm not sure we can afford a SFH there. We're looking for a SFH in the ballpark of $550k, which puts Del Ray, much of Arlington, and some neighborhoods along the GW parkway out of the question. Anyone know where I can get that and good schools without going farther out into the burbs?

For what you’re describing, look at the Edison High school pyramid and Bush Hill/Rose Hill elem
Schools. They are wonderful schools. I love that my kids have a lot of diversity and excellent teachers. We love our community and we are close to Old Town, access to the beltway/395, etc.

OMG, they aren't wonderful schools. We just moved to West Springfield to get out of that pyramid. They aren't the worst by any stretch, but I'd never suggest someone move over there so their kids could go to these schools.

Am fascinated by how such an old thread got resurrected.

Wow. Guess I can derive some consolation from the fact that other pyramids like Langley and Woodson look down on West Springfield as much as you do on the Edison pyramid.

Agreed. Edison is a 4/10 on Great Schools. It's perfectly fine. Take your snobby views over to Springfield, no one over here wants you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Del Ray with a 3 yo and love the area, but we're thinking of moving out to the Fairfax County area of Alexandria (as close to the GW parkway and trail as possible) for more house and better schools. But now I'm learning that all FFX Co. schools are not necessarily better than Alexandria City. We'd be fine sending DD to Alexandria schools for elementary, but I'm not sure about the middle schools, and I do not want her at T.C. Williams. Not just the test scores/rankings, but the gangs/violence are worse than I'd anticipated. So my main question is: are West Potomac and Mt. Vernon really any better on the gangs/violence issue?

FWIW, I want some socioeconomic diversity, even if it means it brings the school's test scores down. (This is one reason we aren't going to consider private school.) And I know there will be drugs, fights, etc., at any school. But I want a reasonably safe environment, and TC does not fit that bill to me. If MV and WP don't, either, then maybe we need to scrap the FFx Co. idea and try Arlington, although I'm not sure we can afford a SFH there. We're looking for a SFH in the ballpark of $550k, which puts Del Ray, much of Arlington, and some neighborhoods along the GW parkway out of the question. Anyone know where I can get that and good schools without going farther out into the burbs?

For what you’re describing, look at the Edison High school pyramid and Bush Hill/Rose Hill elem
Schools. They are wonderful schools. I love that my kids have a lot of diversity and excellent teachers. We love our community and we are close to Old Town, access to the beltway/395, etc.

OMG, they aren't wonderful schools. We just moved to West Springfield to get out of that pyramid. They aren't the worst by any stretch, but I'd never suggest someone move over there so their kids could go to these schools.

Am fascinated by how such an old thread got resurrected.

Wow. Guess I can derive some consolation from the fact that other pyramids like Langley and Woodson look down on West Springfield as much as you do on the Edison pyramid.

Lol. The shallowness and insecurity of people increases the further west and north one goes in Fairfax…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did a 7 year old thread get revived?

It's a 10 year old thread.

It seems some teacher has an axe to grind with the current Whitman prinicpal and wanted to get the ball rolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did a 7 year old thread get revived?

It's a 10 year old thread.

It seems some teacher has an axe to grind with the current Whitman prinicpal and wanted to get the ball rolling.

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/whitman-middle#fndtn-desktopTabs-assessments

The 25% pass rate from last year's sol really speaks to the quality of the school and the principal. Just over half of the students passed the reading SOL, so I guess they can celebrate that