Lower rated schools in Falls Church and Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I consult greatschool all the time. Yes, we all know that greatschools is not the authority, so why repeat it again.
Still, wouldn't buy anywhere near a school rated lower than 7 and would be weary of 10. I don't know too many 10s and we are not rich enough to live in these neighborhoods that have schools rated 10.
One kids goes to school rated 8 in DC. I love the school and so does DS.
Our younger DC is entering one rated 9. I'm a little worried about that one because neighbor said the parents there are " too much".
We do live in DC right now, but are planning to move out in 5 years or so since DH works in Va and we'd like to shorten his commute. I'm looking at houses in Burke, W.Springfield, Oakton, Vienna, Fairfax, Annandale and Falls Church.
After looking at the house, I scroll down to the IB schools. Low rated schools and I'm done looking at the house. We put schools ahead of the house.
We are uncomfortable with diversity. Well, at least with the one where kids talk trash. I grew up talking trash and I don't want that for my children. Hasn't served me well at all.
Not afraid of the Spanish speaking children at all since our child speaks Spanish (his father is from SA, I'm from EE). We have actually found that many lower income children with whom we have come in contact are losing their Spanish kills or hiding them just to fit in.
Because of the schools, we are not ready to buy our forever home. We'd rather be ready to move for the best fit and will enjoy our forever home when kids are in college.

Spectacularly terrible advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea that attending a school with some economic diversity might irreparably harm your child is ridiculous. I get it, you require a more palatable way to justify your fear and racism. Massive Resistance is so gauche. PP, you are unhinged. You must be the dummy who bought the tiny old house we passed on in a "good" school zone that was in a terrible location, on a busy street near environmental hazards, for full ask. Sorry you can't unload that dump to the next sucker.

NP. Buying a house in n Arlington is never a losing bet.

Tell that to the people who bought in 2006. Lots of people lost a ton of money buying in Clarendon in 05 and 06.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

Bailey's and Glasgow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

Bailey's and Glasgow.

My friend's daughter just graduated from Stuart and is going to Yale this fall. Her parents are both smart and liberal, however, not the type to start castigating minorities the first time they hear about a middle-school fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

I don't think that, but the physical fighting is more prevalent in lower SES schools. Bullying is all over and drugs are more prevalent in higher SES schools. Low academics and physical altercations are deal breakers for me. I think I'm more able to influence my kids on making good choices about saying no to drugs. I'm sure there are people who have good experiences in lower SES schools, but the combination of the low SES and high ESOL places a burden on the schools and teachers. I'm only telling the OP my opinion based on my experience. I think there are many posters who have no experience with lower SES/high ESOL schools who always chime in to say the PC "all schools are good if your child isn't poor." If the schools and peers don't matter, I'm not sure why people care if their kids go to Harvard vs. community college. I'm not a bigot, I'm fine with my kids having friends of different races and SES, I have just found that having a school with over 60 percent FARMS and high percentage of ESOL impacts the quality of the academics at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

I don't think that, but the physical fighting is more prevalent in lower SES schools. Bullying is all over and drugs are more prevalent in higher SES schools. Low academics and physical altercations are deal breakers for me. I think I'm more able to influence my kids on making good choices about saying no to drugs. I'm sure there are people who have good experiences in lower SES schools, but the combination of the low SES and high ESOL places a burden on the schools and teachers. I'm only telling the OP my opinion based on my experience. I think there are many posters who have no experience with lower SES/high ESOL schools who always chime in to say the PC "all schools are good if your child isn't poor." If the schools and peers don't matter, I'm not sure why people care if their kids go to Harvard vs. community college. I'm not a bigot, I'm fine with my kids having friends of different races and SES, I have just found that having a school with over 60 percent FARMS and high percentage of ESOL impacts the quality of the academics at the school.

You know those movies... Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, and Dangerous Minds?

Yeah, we don't have the equivalent in Northern Virginia. There is so much stupidity to unpack in your post, and I'm very busy. I will say, if you don't understand the difference between community college and Harvard... I don't think there is any reasoning with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

Bailey's and Glasgow.

My friend's daughter just graduated from Stuart and is going to Yale this fall. Her parents are both smart and liberal, however, not the type to start castigating minorities the first time they hear about a middle-school fight.

So your friend's child's experience, which is way out of the norm for Stuart, is more valid than my experience? OK. Also, I'm not castigating minorities, I'm merely pointing out the fact that kids from lower SES backgrounds have a lot of issues that they face, and unfortunately there are adverse consequences to that. This amplified by being ESOL. I'm speaking from personal experience. Which school do your kids go to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

Higher SES schools likely do not have groups of kids speaking in Spanish speaking badly ("talking trash") about the white non-Spanish speaking kids, who are a small minority of the school.

Well, welcome to life. White non-Spanish speaking individuals are going to be a minority in this country within a generation or less. Best to get used to it and accept the reality rather than futilely rage against it. Maybe start brushing up on your Spanish, and make sure your kids are learning it early and that they become accustomed to being a racial/ethnic minority.

Sure, I will share your prescient advice with my 5 yo Kindergartner. I will also share she is simply going to die eventually, so get over it already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

I don't think that, but the physical fighting is more prevalent in lower SES schools. Bullying is all over and drugs are more prevalent in higher SES schools. Low academics and physical altercations are deal breakers for me. I think I'm more able to influence my kids on making good choices about saying no to drugs. I'm sure there are people who have good experiences in lower SES schools, but the combination of the low SES and high ESOL places a burden on the schools and teachers. I'm only telling the OP my opinion based on my experience. I think there are many posters who have no experience with lower SES/high ESOL schools who always chime in to say the PC "all schools are good if your child isn't poor." If the schools and peers don't matter, I'm not sure why people care if their kids go to Harvard vs. community college. I'm not a bigot, I'm fine with my kids having friends of different races and SES, I have just found that having a school with over 60 percent FARMS and high percentage of ESOL impacts the quality of the academics at the school.

You know those movies... Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, and Dangerous Minds?

Yeah, we don't have the equivalent in Northern Virginia. There is so much stupidity to unpack in your post, and I'm very busy. I will say, if you don't understand the difference between community college and Harvard... I don't think there is any reasoning with you.

No, I do understand the difference between Harvard and community college. I also understand that when a school is over 60 percent FARMS and high ESOL, there is a significant negative impact on the academics. I'm telling OP my experience. Of course your opinion of my experience is more valid You can be as condescending as you would like, it doesn't change my opinion or my experience. It's up to Op to read the posts and make an informed decision. How about you tell OP your personal experience with low SES schools and rebut my post that way instead of resorting to saying how much stupidity there is in my post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

Higher SES schools likely do not have groups of kids speaking in Spanish speaking badly ("talking trash") about the white non-Spanish speaking kids, who are a small minority of the school.

This might be the best pearl-clutching I've ever seen on DCUM. Some middle schoolers are "talking trash" about other middle schoolers....in Spanish!

Seriously, OP, if you want to live around real people, consider avoiding the schools that feed into Yorktown, because that is where the craziest people live. Normal people live south of Lee Highway.

This was in ES with the Kindergartners on the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

Bailey's and Glasgow.

My friend's daughter just graduated from Stuart and is going to Yale this fall. Her parents are both smart and liberal, however, not the type to start castigating minorities the first time they hear about a middle-school fight.

So your friend's child's experience, which is way out of the norm for Stuart, is more valid than my experience? OK. Also, I'm not castigating minorities, I'm merely pointing out the fact that kids from lower SES backgrounds have a lot of issues that they face, and unfortunately there are adverse consequences to that. This amplified by being ESOL. I'm speaking from personal experience. Which school do your kids go to?

Belvedere, and we are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

I don't think that, but the physical fighting is more prevalent in lower SES schools. Bullying is all over and drugs are more prevalent in higher SES schools. Low academics and physical altercations are deal breakers for me. I think I'm more able to influence my kids on making good choices about saying no to drugs. I'm sure there are people who have good experiences in lower SES schools, but the combination of the low SES and high ESOL places a burden on the schools and teachers. I'm only telling the OP my opinion based on my experience. I think there are many posters who have no experience with lower SES/high ESOL schools who always chime in to say the PC "all schools are good if your child isn't poor." If the schools and peers don't matter, I'm not sure why people care if their kids go to Harvard vs. community college. I'm not a bigot, I'm fine with my kids having friends of different races and SES, I have just found that having a school with over 60 percent FARMS and high percentage of ESOL impacts the quality of the academics at the school.

You know those movies... Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, and Dangerous Minds?

Yeah, we don't have the equivalent in Northern Virginia. There is so much stupidity to unpack in your post, and I'm very busy. I will say, if you don't understand the difference between community college and Harvard... I don't think there is any reasoning with you.

No, I do understand the difference between Harvard and community college. I also understand that when a school is over 60 percent FARMS and high ESOL, there is a significant negative impact on the academics. I'm telling OP my experience. Of course your opinion of my experience is more valid You can be as condescending as you would like, it doesn't change my opinion or my experience. It's up to Op to read the posts and make an informed decision. How about you tell OP your personal experience with low SES schools and rebut my post that way instead of resorting to saying how much stupidity there is in my post.

I've done arts programming in Stuart, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Wakefield. The kids were remarkably similar in all four schools. Nice kids. We will be sending our kid to Wakefield ( in about 10 years ), and have no reservations. We think it's an excellent school and will provide plenty of opportunities for our kid to excel.
So, where was this school with constant hallway brawls, and barely literate students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

What school? We are in this area but kids are still pre-school aged. So far I've heard nothing but positives from the neighborhood parents about their experience with the elementary.

Bailey's and Glasgow.

My friend's daughter just graduated from Stuart and is going to Yale this fall. Her parents are both smart and liberal, however, not the type to start castigating minorities the first time they hear about a middle-school fight.

So your friend's child's experience, which is way out of the norm for Stuart, is more valid than my experience? OK. Also, I'm not castigating minorities, I'm merely pointing out the fact that kids from lower SES backgrounds have a lot of issues that they face, and unfortunately there are adverse consequences to that. This amplified by being ESOL. I'm speaking from personal experience. Which school do your kids go to?

Belvedere, and we are very happy there.

Ok, then tell the Op that your kids attend an AAP center that is also a title I school, and you've had a good experience there. Are your kids in AAP? That is an entirely different experience than gen Ed at Bailey's. Anyway, if your kids are in gen ed at Belvedere and are having a good experience, great. That doesn't change the fact that we haven't been happy with Bailey's or Glasgow, and that quite a few of our neighbors have had similar experiences to ours and have moved. Op will benefit from hearing different experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay away from the poorly rated schools in Falls Church (Fairfax County). We bought our house before kids and aren't afraid of "diversity" so stayed. It hasn't been a great experience. A majority of the kids are behind academically, and as you get into middle school, there are physical fights etc. Many of our neighbors with kids have moved. We're planning on moving next spring. My opinion is based on experience, not great schools rating. There are a lot of issues faced by ESOL/low SES kids, and unfortunately it impacts other kids in the school when the ESOL/low SES kids are the majority. Also, buying for elementary and then moving is hard on kids, so I'd avoid doing that. Good luck with making your decision.

If you think higher SES schools don't have fights or bullying, you are in for a rude awakening.

I don't think that, but the physical fighting is more prevalent in lower SES schools. Bullying is all over and drugs are more prevalent in higher SES schools. Low academics and physical altercations are deal breakers for me. I think I'm more able to influence my kids on making good choices about saying no to drugs. I'm sure there are people who have good experiences in lower SES schools, but the combination of the low SES and high ESOL places a burden on the schools and teachers. I'm only telling the OP my opinion based on my experience. I think there are many posters who have no experience with lower SES/high ESOL schools who always chime in to say the PC "all schools are good if your child isn't poor." If the schools and peers don't matter, I'm not sure why people care if their kids go to Harvard vs. community college. I'm not a bigot, I'm fine with my kids having friends of different races and SES, I have just found that having a school with over 60 percent FARMS and high percentage of ESOL impacts the quality of the academics at the school.

You know those movies... Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, and Dangerous Minds?

Yeah, we don't have the equivalent in Northern Virginia. There is so much stupidity to unpack in your post, and I'm very busy. I will say, if you don't understand the difference between community college and Harvard... I don't think there is any reasoning with you.

No, I do understand the difference between Harvard and community college. I also understand that when a school is over 60 percent FARMS and high ESOL, there is a significant negative impact on the academics. I'm telling OP my experience. Of course your opinion of my experience is more valid You can be as condescending as you would like, it doesn't change my opinion or my experience. It's up to Op to read the posts and make an informed decision. How about you tell OP your personal experience with low SES schools and rebut my post that way instead of resorting to saying how much stupidity there is in my post.

I've done arts programming in Stuart, Robinson, Lake Braddock, and Wakefield. The kids were remarkably similar in all four schools. Nice kids. We will be sending our kid to Wakefield ( in about 10 years ), and have no reservations. We think it's an excellent school and will provide plenty of opportunities for our kid to excel.
So, where was this school with constant hallway brawls, and barely literate students?

I'm not sure where you got the bolded language from. I said there was a higher incidence of physical altercation, and that high FARMS and high ESOL adversely impact the academics of a school. The middle school I'm referring to is Glasgow. I'm glad, based on your experience you would send your kid to Wakefield. Based on my experience, I don't recommend Glasgow. Good for you for thinking that the only bad schools are the ones with constant hallway brawls, and barely literate students. I guess we have different standards, and I'm OK with that.