Best elementary school in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought Tuckahoe and McKinley have the best scores. Are they teach to the test? How would a sensitive kid do?

Tuckahoe definately doesn't have best scores. McKinley does well. ATS is the best test wise:

http://wtop.com/virginia/2015/08/best-worst-northern-va-schools-on-reading-math-more/

Definitely. Not definately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Maybe Patrick Henry should be added to the list? I've always heard good things about the school.

Patrick Henry Elementary School Named 2015 Blue Ribbon School
Henry One of Only Seven Public Schools in Virginia to Receive This Honor

http://www.apsva.us/Page/31938

I've heard mixed reviews from parents

Spoken like a true N. Arlington snob! The state obviously thinks it's the best of the bunch. That should mean something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that OP asked for "the best elementary," as if there is consensus on what that would be. How many of us have extensive experience with schools in Arlington other than the ones our children have attended, or have a solid basis for comparison? Even if someone has extensive personal knowledge of several schools, her assessment of those schools is still one person's personal opinion.

I have friends with kids at Taylor, ATS, McKinley, Tuckahoe, Nottingham, ASFS, Glebe, Ashlawn, Jamestown, and now Discovery. Probably others I've forgotten. Most of them are happy, even thrilled with their schools.

I live in a neighborhood that is split among three elementary schools: Key, ASF and Taylor. I know families, many, at all three. From former preschool, my friends from my gym, co-workers and sports team friends--we know many families at every school on the list. We often talk about different policies, environment, homework, administration, etc. You get a pretty good feel for how different some of these schools are. Age is another consideration--the longer people are at a school the cracks are often wider...what was so wonderful at the K level isn't so much as the kids move through the years. I was happy with many of the teachers at the school and felt my goods were learning and mastering a large amount of material---but as the years have gone by the social aspect and administration at the school is horrid. It's awful that kids don't like their school---even if they like their friends and some of the teachers. It's run like a high-security prison. Hands behind back, don't talk at lunch or I'll blow my whistle at you, no tag--nothing boisterous at recess, teach to the test questions...REALLY HOW MANY YEARS DO WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER?!?!?!! He's an SOL question and my kids have had two long segments in different years about him. My kid ask why they think he's more important than our First President.

Ok, well what school is this where the administration is horrid and kids are so restricted?

ASF

Weird I've been to lunch and the kids are chatting and seem to be having good time. So they relax rule when parents visit?
And I could have sworn DS said they played tag but maybe that was PE?

Probably with ASFS is that it is a choice school (even in sense that you are zoned for Key and chose ASFS), so you tend to get parents with certain expectations and that spills over into a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that OP asked for "the best elementary," as if there is consensus on what that would be. How many of us have extensive experience with schools in Arlington other than the ones our children have attended, or have a solid basis for comparison? Even if someone has extensive personal knowledge of several schools, her assessment of those schools is still one person's personal opinion.

I have friends with kids at Taylor, ATS, McKinley, Tuckahoe, Nottingham, ASFS, Glebe, Ashlawn, Jamestown, and now Discovery. Probably others I've forgotten. Most of them are happy, even thrilled with their schools.

I live in a neighborhood that is split among three elementary schools: Key, ASF and Taylor. I know families, many, at all three. From former preschool, my friends from my gym, co-workers and sports team friends--we know many families at every school on the list. We often talk about different policies, environment, homework, administration, etc. You get a pretty good feel for how different some of these schools are. Age is another consideration--the longer people are at a school the cracks are often wider...what was so wonderful at the K level isn't so much as the kids move through the years. I was happy with many of the teachers at the school and felt my goods were learning and mastering a large amount of material---but as the years have gone by the social aspect and administration at the school is horrid. It's awful that kids don't like their school---even if they like their friends and some of the teachers. It's run like a high-security prison. Hands behind back, don't talk at lunch or I'll blow my whistle at you, no tag--nothing boisterous at recess, teach to the test questions...REALLY HOW MANY YEARS DO WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER?!?!?!! He's an SOL question and my kids have had two long segments in different years about him. My kid ask why they think he's more important than our First President.

I went to K in the late 70s. Learned about him back then too.

[Anonymous]

ASFS isn't really a choice school, not like ATS. You can buy your way into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that OP asked for "the best elementary," as if there is consensus on what that would be. How many of us have extensive experience with schools in Arlington other than the ones our children have attended, or have a solid basis for comparison? Even if someone has extensive personal knowledge of several schools, her assessment of those schools is still one person's personal opinion.

I have friends with kids at Taylor, ATS, McKinley, Tuckahoe, Nottingham, ASFS, Glebe, Ashlawn, Jamestown, and now Discovery. Probably others I've forgotten. Most of them are happy, even thrilled with their schools.

I live in a neighborhood that is split among three elementary schools: Key, ASF and Taylor. I know families, many, at all three. From former preschool, my friends from my gym, co-workers and sports team friends--we know many families at every school on the list. We often talk about different policies, environment, homework, administration, etc. You get a pretty good feel for how different some of these schools are. Age is another consideration--the longer people are at a school the cracks are often wider...what was so wonderful at the K level isn't so much as the kids move through the years. I was happy with many of the teachers at the school and felt my goods were learning and mastering a large amount of material---but as the years have gone by the social aspect and administration at the school is horrid. It's awful that kids don't like their school---even if they like their friends and some of the teachers. It's run like a high-security prison. Hands behind back, don't talk at lunch or I'll blow my whistle at you, no tag--nothing boisterous at recess, teach to the test questions...REALLY HOW MANY YEARS DO WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER?!?!?!! He's an SOL question and my kids have had two long segments in different years about him. My kid ask why they think he's more important than our First President.

Ok, well what school is this where the administration is horrid and kids are so restricted?

ASF

Weird I've been to lunch and the kids are chatting and seem to be having good time. So they relax rule when parents visit?
And I could have sworn DS said they played tag but maybe that was PE?

Probably with ASFS is that it is a choice school (even in sense that you are zoned for Key and chose ASFS), so you tend to get parents with certain expectations and that spills over into a lot.

It hasn't been a true choice school for several years now since the population of in-boundary kids grew. It's filled with almost entirely with in-boundary students. Only 1-2 total each year are from outside the zone. Most of the 'choice' students left with the opening of Discovery this year.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe parents care about SOL scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that parents complain about too much testing yet then test scores are used to justify the best. Serious logical disconnect!

There might be different parents arguing for different things. Speaking as a parent who wants less testing/homework and thinks some of "The Best" schools aren't the ones with the highest test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Maybe Patrick Henry should be added to the list? I've always heard good things about the school.

Patrick Henry Elementary School Named 2015 Blue Ribbon School
Henry One of Only Seven Public Schools in Virginia to Receive This Honor

http://www.apsva.us/Page/31938

I've heard mixed reviews from parents

Spoken like a true N. Arlington snob! The state obviously thinks it's the best of the bunch. That should mean something.

I know a few families there. Two families love it and are active. Another had a really bad experience with the teachers and trying to resolve an issue. Went to the administration and it wasn't handled well. They also felt that their kids weren't getting what they needed academically. Ultimately, they moved into another school boundary to change schools. Thus, "mixed reviews". How exactly does that make me a snob? I was just sharing what I've heard from people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that OP asked for "the best elementary," as if there is consensus on what that would be. How many of us have extensive experience with schools in Arlington other than the ones our children have attended, or have a solid basis for comparison? Even if someone has extensive personal knowledge of several schools, her assessment of those schools is still one person's personal opinion.

I have friends with kids at Taylor, ATS, McKinley, Tuckahoe, Nottingham, ASFS, Glebe, Ashlawn, Jamestown, and now Discovery. Probably others I've forgotten. Most of them are happy, even thrilled with their schools.

Diverse list there, chief.

OP didn't request diversity. Chief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that parents complain about too much testing yet then test scores are used to justify the best. Serious logical disconnect!

Yes, its crazy. But don't forget, the high(er) test scores of certain schools allow for a certain smugness/rationalization among parents that their kid is at the best school, regardless of whether those parents actually love the teaching or testing their kid faces in said school. Its basically for gloating rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that parents complain about too much testing yet then test scores are used to justify the best. Serious logical disconnect!

Yes, its crazy. But don't forget, the high(er) test scores of certain schools allow for a certain smugness/rationalization among parents that their kid is at the best school, regardless of whether those parents actually love the teaching or testing their kid faces in said school. Its basically for gloating rights.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/04/20/one_standardized_testing_supporter_in_new_york_lets_it_slip_it_s_all_about.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Maybe Patrick Henry should be added to the list? I've always heard good things about the school.

Patrick Henry Elementary School Named 2015 Blue Ribbon School
Henry One of Only Seven Public Schools in Virginia to Receive This Honor

http://www.apsva.us/Page/31938

I've heard mixed reviews from parents

Spoken like a true N. Arlington snob! The state obviously thinks it's the best of the bunch. That should mean something.

No, that's not obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that parents complain about too much testing yet then test scores are used to justify the best. Serious logical disconnect!

Yes, its crazy. But don't forget, the high(er) test scores of certain schools allow for a certain smugness/rationalization among parents that their kid is at the best school, regardless of whether those parents actually love the teaching or testing their kid faces in said school. Its basically for gloating rights.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/04/20/one_standardized_testing_supporter_in_new_york_lets_it_slip_it_s_all_about.html

very stupid

[Anonymous]

Ugh. That Slate article is depressing