Happiest Elementary Schools in Arlington/N. Fairfax Co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glebe.

+1. My child (now in 6th grade) was very happy there. People seemed happy to me. The principal is delightful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'd stay in Arlington if I were you.

Yep, if you can afford it, this is the right answer. In this area, it is rarely a mistake to minimize your commute.

[Anonymous]

I'd much rather live in Fairfax. Better schools, more housing options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Glebe.

+1. My child (now in 6th grade) was very happy there. People seemed happy to me. The principal is delightful.

I have two children there and they love it. It's a great school and the kids (and staff) seem very happy.

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure Long Branch is the APS that buses kids from the Ft Myer CDC...so if you need before or after school care you can get it on post at a VERY reasonable price. A bonus to using Ft Myer SAS for before and after school is priority in their summer camp program.

There is a great mix of military/non-military in Fairfax county down along the GW Parkway toward Mt Vernon. The schools down that way -- Belle View, Waynewood, Stratford Landing, Fort Hunt -- are good and there are many community activities inside the school and within the communities themselves. Commute to the Pentagon is 25ish minutes if you go in early.

The best advice in this area is to minimize your commute. Sure you can get a big, new home on lots of land farther south, but the trade off is a horrendous commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in North Arlington and check out tuckahoe, Ashlawn , science focus, jamestown or nottingham

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/district/00270/search.aspx?level=1

ASFS is not a "happy" school. All of the kids and half of the parents are scared of the principal.

Amen. I loathed 4 of the 6 years my child was in this school. We didn't suck up to the principal (on principle, I just will not suck up to people I think are bullies), and my child paid. Paid in teacher selection, GT services (158 IQ and denied for GT), and most importantly of all ... happiness and well being. My child's grade was a nasty, festering cesspool of means girls and their moms. I was actually wondering if the problem was us. Moved to middle school. Delightful. Nope, it's the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in North Arlington and check out tuckahoe, Ashlawn , science focus, jamestown or nottingham

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/district/00270/search.aspx?level=1

ASFS is not a "happy" school. All of the kids and half of the parents are scared of the principal.

Amen. I loathed 4 of the 6 years my child was in this school. We didn't suck up to the principal (on principle, I just will not suck up to people I think are bullies), and my child paid. Paid in teacher selection, GT services (158 IQ and denied for GT), and most importantly of all ... happiness and well being. My child's grade was a nasty, festering cesspool of means girls and their moms. I was actually wondering if the problem was us. Moved to middle school. Delightful. Nope, it's the school.

+1. The favoritism played by the administration is pretty bad. I don't know many people who say they're happy that their kids are here. The cliquiness and favoritism have killed off our happiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay in North Arlington and check out tuckahoe, Ashlawn , science focus, jamestown or nottingham

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/district/00270/search.aspx?level=1

ASFS is not a "happy" school. All of the kids and half of the parents are scared of the principal.

I feel like this is true at Jamestown as well. The school has a lot of pluses, but the principal is by no means warm and fuzzy.

No, she is a micromanaging type who has all of her staff under her thumb. You cannot interact with a teacher without her knowing about it/getting involved in some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd much rather live in Fairfax. Better schools, more housing options.

More housing options, anyway. The schools are definitely not better. Plus, you have that whole AAP absurdity.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is true at Jamestown as well. The school has a lot of pluses, but the principal is by no means warm and fuzzy.

No, she is a micromanaging type who has all of her staff under her thumb. You cannot interact with a teacher without her knowing about it/getting involved in some way.

I didn't feel that way about her at all. We actually had very positive interactions with her a number of times. She is a great improvement over the last principal, IMO. My DD was at Jamestown for all six years and we had an incredible experience there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd much rather live in Fairfax. Better schools, more housing options.

More housing options, anyway. The schools are definitely not better. Plus, you have that whole AAP absurdity.

I agree. We're seriously thinking of moving to Arlington just to get away from the AAP division nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Move to the Rosemont n-hood in Alexandria (city) and send your daughter to Maury. Wonderful school, happy kids and happy staff.

(And ignore the haters on DCUM).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd much rather live in Fairfax. Better schools, more housing options.

More housing options, anyway. The schools are definitely not better. Plus, you have that whole AAP absurdity.

I agree. We're seriously thinking of moving to Arlington just to get away from the AAP division nonsense.

Yeah, the North/South Arlington divide between the haves and have nots is so refreshing.

[Anonymous]

Mantua Elem is good but that is prob longer than 30 min unless you are in carpool on 66 or leaving at 6AM. Strong neighborhood, convenient location otherwise.

[Anonymous]

There are happy people in Arlington? If you want happy, try Ashburn.