Escaping Alexandria Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was TC Williams ever in Fairfax County schools? I attended an FCPS school that played them in sports. The school had a decent reputation then. Do they still play against FCPS schools in sports?

What happened was that Alexandria got both much richer and poorer at the same time, with many middle class families moving out, both getting squeezed by property costs and cost of living. The new residents are often either poorer immigrants and upper middle class and wealthy professionals.

So what you were probably used to, lots of middle class TC Williams students from military and government families, have basically moved to Fairfax County or Prince William County. I'm not saying that they don't exist anymore, but their numbers are much smaller.

The rich and upper class families can afford private school and send their kids to them, opting out of public school by the time middle school happens. So TC Williams has a very large population of public housing kids and English as a second language kids that really struggle and score really bad on standardized exams.

The college track kids are basically separated from the rest for most of their college prep classes, but I think a lot of families have concerns. My neighbor's daughter got involved with a bad crowd her jr and sr year, basically the "school is for losers" crowd, and was made to think she was a nerd. She lost interest in school and instead of getting A's, she got mostly B's and a few C's the last few years. She drove her mother crazy and is finally turning things around in college where more students care about doing well in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The college track kids are basically separated from the rest for most of their college prep classes, but I think a lot of families have concerns. My neighbor's daughter got involved with a bad crowd her jr and sr year, basically the "school is for losers" crowd, and was made to think she was a nerd. She lost interest in school and instead of getting A's, she got mostly B's and a few C's the last few years. She drove her mother crazy and is finally turning things around in college where more students care about doing well in school.

Oh. My. God. A few C's. I hope her mother grounded her for her entire junior and senior years.

[Anonymous]

I still hold that it's your immediate neighbors that matter more than the overall reputation of the school. Of the various ACPS schools, I think only Jefferson-Houston would make me pause entirely since it seems even ACPS has given up on the place. I'd give the other schools a chance, even GW if my DD did okay in

But if you live in a neighborhood with drug dealers/users, people having drunken fights at 1am, people living 15 to a house and taking all the parking, etc., etc., that'll wear on you quick, especially if you grew up in a nice Midwestern area or a wealthier DC suburb.

FWIW, it's all relative. Folks in Lansdowne fought like hell to avoid getting sent to Tuscarora High School because of the chance they'd get contaminated with North Leesburg germs. But most of you see Leesburg and Lansdowne as "ew, exurbia."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still hold that it's your immediate neighbors that matter more than the overall reputation of the school. Of the various ACPS schools, I think only Jefferson-Houston would make me pause entirely since it seems even ACPS has given up on the place. I'd give the other schools a chance, even GW if my DD did okay in

But if you live in a neighborhood with drug dealers/users, people having drunken fights at 1am, people living 15 to a house and taking all the parking, etc., etc., that'll wear on you quick, especially if you grew up in a nice Midwestern area or a wealthier DC suburb.

FWIW, it's all relative. Folks in Lansdowne fought like hell to avoid getting sent to Tuscarora High School because of the chance they'd get contaminated with North Leesburg germs. But most of you see Leesburg and Lansdowne as "ew, exurbia."

And this describes Alexandria ... Old Town has public housing right next to million dollar town homes as well as some other mixed areas with market rate and public housing. There is no single section of the City where there are only "good" neighborhoods. There are sections where there are good and then some so-so and then others where there is good then crappy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still hold that it's your immediate neighbors that matter more than the overall reputation of the school. Of the various ACPS schools, I think only Jefferson-Houston would make me pause entirely since it seems even ACPS has given up on the place. I'd give the other schools a chance, even GW if my DD did okay in

But if you live in a neighborhood with drug dealers/users, people having drunken fights at 1am, people living 15 to a house and taking all the parking, etc., etc., that'll wear on you quick, especially if you grew up in a nice Midwestern area or a wealthier DC suburb.

FWIW, it's all relative. Folks in Lansdowne fought like hell to avoid getting sent to Tuscarora High School because of the chance they'd get contaminated with North Leesburg germs. But most of you see Leesburg and Lansdowne as "ew, exurbia."

And this describes Alexandria ... Old Town has public housing right next to million dollar town homes as well as some other mixed areas with market rate and public housing. There is no single section of the City where there are only "good" neighborhoods. There are sections where there are good and then some so-so and then others where there is good then crappy.

It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

So, pp, when your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, who hosts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still hold that it's your immediate neighbors that matter more than the overall reputation of the school. Of the various ACPS schools, I think only Jefferson-Houston would make me pause entirely since it seems even ACPS has given up on the place. I'd give the other schools a chance, even GW if my DD did okay in

But if you live in a neighborhood with drug dealers/users, people having drunken fights at 1am, people living 15 to a house and taking all the parking, etc., etc., that'll wear on you quick, especially if you grew up in a nice Midwestern area or a wealthier DC suburb.

FWIW, it's all relative. Folks in Lansdowne fought like hell to avoid getting sent to Tuscarora High School because of the chance they'd get contaminated with North Leesburg germs. But most of you see Leesburg and Lansdowne as "ew, exurbia."

And this describes Alexandria ... Old Town has public housing right next to million dollar town homes as well as some other mixed areas with market rate and public housing. There is no single section of the City where there are only "good" neighborhoods. There are sections where there are good and then some so-so and then others where there is good then crappy.

It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

LOL! I am from the area and no it's not called "diversity". "Diversity" is a pc word that was made up to replace "ghetto" and "public housing".

And you are right, I do accept the way the City is but I also recognize that the schools suck and private is the best bet for education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

So, pp, when your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, who hosts?

I grew up in the bronx. So "playdates" at the projects don't strike fear in my heart. I'm sorry you're so sheltered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

So, pp, when your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, who hosts?

I grew up in the bronx. So "playdates" at the projects don't strike fear in my heart. I'm sorry you're so sheltered.

You didn't answer the question: When your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, do you host, or does the other kid?

Or, will you admit that you sequester yourself from "those people" and are being a mite sanctimonious?

[Anonymous]

I did not think I would ever see Episcopal and TC Williams compared in a post! I don't think you could get more opposite ends of the spectrum on schools. And, I know because I went to both.

Now, as an adult- we will either choose to stay in Alexandria and go to private school or move to Arlington and try public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's called diversity. Just sayin' I know I know this concept is probably way over the head of those who grew up in those nice Midwestern areas?! I'm sure there are no drug dealers/users in the Midwest Your children will one day have to deal with others from...wait for it...shudder PUBLIC. HOUSING.

So, pp, when your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, who hosts?

I grew up in the bronx. So "playdates" at the projects don't strike fear in my heart. I'm sorry you're so sheltered.

You didn't answer the question: When your dc have playdates with these kids from the projects, do you host, or does the other kid?

Or, will you admit that you sequester yourself from "those people" and are being a mite sanctimonious?

Not the PP, but we send our kid to the Rec after school where he often plays with "those people." I know it might be hard to believe, but he hasn't been the victim of crime yet. How miserable it must be for you to think that disadvantaged children are too tainted to play with your "precious" young one. You're a first-rate bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not the PP, but we send our kid to the Rec after school where he often plays with "those people." I know it might be hard to believe, but he hasn't been the victim of crime yet. How miserable it must be for you to think that disadvantaged children are too tainted to play with your "precious" young one. You're a first-rate bitch.

+1.

Just be happy this person no longer lives in the City of Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're a first-rate bitch.

-1

Spoken like someone in ACPS. Your children will copy your pathetic example.

[Anonymous]

The use of profanity is not worse than your elitest views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your children will copy your pathetic example.

+1