Arlington and Alexandria school districts

[Anonymous]

My kids go to ACPS. It’s very diverse abd there are high rates of poverty. My kids are in first and third grades and love it. We live in 22301 zip code. My husband and I can bike to work in DC or take the metro, VRE or Amtrak. If you or your husband travel for work, we are close to DCA. My neighbors are a mix of private and ACPS. Guess what? The ACPS kids get into better colleges. We love the walksbility. My kids walk to school. We can walk or bike to Old Town and Del Ray. There are grocery stores and farmers markets. If you need big box stuff. There is the Target in Potomac Yards or Costco or Pentagon City mall. My husband commutes by biking. I take the metro. We like the small shops and restaurants, beautiful parks and trails. We enjoy all the free museums in DC plus Mount Vernon down the parkway. We go kayaking, hiking. Skiing in the winter a few hours away.

The schools are typical for urban schools. My husband and I both went to big urban public schools and then top public and private colleges. Honestly people in this area are classist and don’t want their kids going to school with poor kids. My kids have friends that live in public housing and $10m homes. I think it’s real life. Our teachers and principals are very good. We love the sports snd arts activities. The problems are at central office level and with the school board not the principals or school leadership.

[Anonymous]

ACPS, Youngkin family. We have children in elementary, middle, and HS. So far, we have had a positive experience. We do worry about safety at the HS, as there have been multiple instances this year (with weapons). Our little goes to CB. The CB principal is not great, but the assistant principal is. Love the MS and HS principals. We are very involved parents and forge our family’s values at the dinner table. Our eldest is willing to engage with teachers, and they have been very good at respectful debate about a wide array of topics. The class offerings are extensive. College limitations will only be our child’s test scores, and not the school. We also love, love our community and neighborhood. The fact that in the midst of an urban center we have block parties, bike parades, and amazing holidays is irreplaceable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ACPS, Youngkin family. We have children in elementary, middle, and HS. So far, we have had a positive experience. We do worry about safety at the HS, as there have been multiple instances this year (with weapons). Our little goes to CB. The CB principal is not great, but the assistant principal is. Love the MS and HS principals. We are very involved parents and forge our family’s values at the dinner table. Our eldest is willing to engage with teachers, and they have been very good at respectful debate about a wide array of topics. The class offerings are extensive. College limitations will only be our child’s test scores, and not the school. We also love, love our community and neighborhood. The fact that in the midst of an urban center we have block parties, bike parades, and amazing holidays is irreplaceable.

I love this view. Alexandria is really community oriented, which I appreciate. I like that my kids know their neighbors, and with one exception, all the parents on our street send their kids to public.

[Anonymous]

7:08 commenter. I only say Youngkin family to encapsulate our perspective and to highlight our satisfaction with the schools (when opened) on a ground level despite what the school board prioritizes.

[Anonymous]

I can only speak to ACPS, not APS. Was in ACPS for elem, middle, and high school. My advice is to investigate the curriculum of each and compare. Curriculum was the main reason we left the district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked hard in Arlington and it was price prohibitive - we had the money but it was ridiculous to shell out that amount for what you got - and it just wasn't convenient. Arlington folks will say you can get around easy but we decided to stay in Alexandria and let me tell you - there is getting around and there is convenience! Working in metro DC is a lot easier from Alexandria by the Shirlington And S Arl locations where you access 395 v either 66 or parkway. While I agree that infrastructure like flooding and traffic patterns are really cumbersome in Alex, it is a really nice place to live. Esp around where are by Del Ray you just have that diversity, community and convenience. It's hard to look at Arlington because their lots back into each other. There were small sections of Arl we liked and I mean small - like sections of 3-4 streets. I really enjoy Arl and people who live there but physically, it's hard to pass up Old Town, DC, Del Ray and have Target, markets and mall. School wise, the local elementary schools are fine but middle school is dicey - a lot depends on the kids abilities and personality. I don't have a prob with HS so MS is private but there are a lot of independent schools in that part of Alex to look at. I would look at both and rent if possible. I'm from a major metro city and I really hate the DC culture but where we are is the only neighborhood I could ever manage living. Falls Church City is cute but I'm a city gal and really hard to be that suburban for me. While Fairfax is known for schools, there's no place in that county near enough to DC for us commute wise to stomach nor culturally comfortable for us. I dream of leaving this area but I will say Alex USA hard neighborhood to beat all things considered.

We lived in Fairlington before moving out of the area. We "thought" we had the best of both worlds because we were walking-distance close to Alexandria (which I loved for everything PP said above), but we were zoned for Arlington Public. We were at an option school and APS is overcrowded unless you're in North Arlington. If I had to do it again and stay in DC I would buy in Alexandria send the kids to elementary in ACPS (honestly I don't think APS is that much better unless you're at ATS or HB). I would then re-evaluate for MS and HS. Of course that means we would have had to be prepared to go private later if needed. But honestly Alexandria is so lovely (visually, historically, convenience-wise and a cohesive community) and so close to DC. South Arlington is a mish-mash of large new homes on small lots, unless you have the convenience of being on the Orange line, or the money to be north of 66. Just a vote for Alexandria over Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked hard in Arlington and it was price prohibitive - we had the money but it was ridiculous to shell out that amount for what you got - and it just wasn't convenient. Arlington folks will say you can get around easy but we decided to stay in Alexandria and let me tell you - there is getting around and there is convenience! Working in metro DC is a lot easier from Alexandria by the Shirlington And S Arl locations where you access 395 v either 66 or parkway. While I agree that infrastructure like flooding and traffic patterns are really cumbersome in Alex, it is a really nice place to live. Esp around where are by Del Ray you just have that diversity, community and convenience. It's hard to look at Arlington because their lots back into each other. There were small sections of Arl we liked and I mean small - like sections of 3-4 streets. I really enjoy Arl and people who live there but physically, it's hard to pass up Old Town, DC, Del Ray and have Target, markets and mall. School wise, the local elementary schools are fine but middle school is dicey - a lot depends on the kids abilities and personality. I don't have a prob with HS so MS is private but there are a lot of independent schools in that part of Alex to look at. I would look at both and rent if possible. I'm from a major metro city and I really hate the DC culture but where we are is the only neighborhood I could ever manage living. Falls Church City is cute but I'm a city gal and really hard to be that suburban for me. While Fairfax is known for schools, there's no place in that county near enough to DC for us commute wise to stomach nor culturally comfortable for us. I dream of leaving this area but I will say Alex USA hard neighborhood to beat all things considered.

We lived in Fairlington before moving out of the area. We "thought" we had the best of both worlds because we were walking-distance close to Alexandria (which I loved for everything PP said above), but we were zoned for Arlington Public. We were at an option school and APS is overcrowded unless you're in North Arlington. If I had to do it again and stay in DC I would buy in Alexandria send the kids to elementary in ACPS (honestly I don't think APS is that much better unless you're at ATS or HB). I would then re-evaluate for MS and HS. Of course that means we would have had to be prepared to go private later if needed. But honestly Alexandria is so lovely (visually, historically, convenience-wise and a cohesive community) and so close to DC. South Arlington is a mish-mash of large new homes on small lots, unless you have the convenience of being on the Orange line, or the money to be north of 66. Just a vote for Alexandria over Arlington.

I agree on all of this! Alexandria for elementary makes sense and then after that, it really depends on your kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked hard in Arlington and it was price prohibitive - we had the money but it was ridiculous to shell out that amount for what you got - and it just wasn't convenient. Arlington folks will say you can get around easy but we decided to stay in Alexandria and let me tell you - there is getting around and there is convenience! Working in metro DC is a lot easier from Alexandria by the Shirlington And S Arl locations where you access 395 v either 66 or parkway. While I agree that infrastructure like flooding and traffic patterns are really cumbersome in Alex, it is a really nice place to live. Esp around where are by Del Ray you just have that diversity, community and convenience. It's hard to look at Arlington because their lots back into each other. There were small sections of Arl we liked and I mean small - like sections of 3-4 streets. I really enjoy Arl and people who live there but physically, it's hard to pass up Old Town, DC, Del Ray and have Target, markets and mall. School wise, the local elementary schools are fine but middle school is dicey - a lot depends on the kids abilities and personality. I don't have a prob with HS so MS is private but there are a lot of independent schools in that part of Alex to look at. I would look at both and rent if possible. I'm from a major metro city and I really hate the DC culture but where we are is the only neighborhood I could ever manage living. Falls Church City is cute but I'm a city gal and really hard to be that suburban for me. While Fairfax is known for schools, there's no place in that county near enough to DC for us commute wise to stomach nor culturally comfortable for us. I dream of leaving this area but I will say Alex USA hard neighborhood to beat all things considered.

We lived in Fairlington before moving out of the area. We "thought" we had the best of both worlds because we were walking-distance close to Alexandria (which I loved for everything PP said above), but we were zoned for Arlington Public. We were at an option school and APS is overcrowded unless you're in North Arlington. If I had to do it again and stay in DC I would buy in Alexandria send the kids to elementary in ACPS (honestly I don't think APS is that much better unless you're at ATS or HB). I would then re-evaluate for MS and HS. Of course that means we would have had to be prepared to go private later if needed. But honestly Alexandria is so lovely (visually, historically, convenience-wise and a cohesive community) and so close to DC. South Arlington is a mish-mash of large new homes on small lots, unless you have the convenience of being on the Orange line, or the money to be north of 66. Just a vote for Alexandria over Arlington.

I agree on all of this! Alexandria for elementary makes sense and then after that, it really depends on your kid

Glad you both had good experiences or imagine that you would.
Our experience was one of overcrowding, anemic curriculum, and the failed application of a one size fits all approach to problem-solving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked hard in Arlington and it was price prohibitive - we had the money but it was ridiculous to shell out that amount for what you got - and it just wasn't convenient. Arlington folks will say you can get around easy but we decided to stay in Alexandria and let me tell you - there is getting around and there is convenience! Working in metro DC is a lot easier from Alexandria by the Shirlington And S Arl locations where you access 395 v either 66 or parkway. While I agree that infrastructure like flooding and traffic patterns are really cumbersome in Alex, it is a really nice place to live. Esp around where are by Del Ray you just have that diversity, community and convenience. It's hard to look at Arlington because their lots back into each other. There were small sections of Arl we liked and I mean small - like sections of 3-4 streets. I really enjoy Arl and people who live there but physically, it's hard to pass up Old Town, DC, Del Ray and have Target, markets and mall. School wise, the local elementary schools are fine but middle school is dicey - a lot depends on the kids abilities and personality. I don't have a prob with HS so MS is private but there are a lot of independent schools in that part of Alex to look at. I would look at both and rent if possible. I'm from a major metro city and I really hate the DC culture but where we are is the only neighborhood I could ever manage living. Falls Church City is cute but I'm a city gal and really hard to be that suburban for me. While Fairfax is known for schools, there's no place in that county near enough to DC for us commute wise to stomach nor culturally comfortable for us. I dream of leaving this area but I will say Alex USA hard neighborhood to beat all things considered.

We lived in Fairlington before moving out of the area. We "thought" we had the best of both worlds because we were walking-distance close to Alexandria (which I loved for everything PP said above), but we were zoned for Arlington Public. We were at an option school and APS is overcrowded unless you're in North Arlington. If I had to do it again and stay in DC I would buy in Alexandria send the kids to elementary in ACPS (honestly I don't think APS is that much better unless you're at ATS or HB). I would then re-evaluate for MS and HS. Of course that means we would have had to be prepared to go private later if needed. But honestly Alexandria is so lovely (visually, historically, convenience-wise and a cohesive community) and so close to DC. South Arlington is a mish-mash of large new homes on small lots, unless you have the convenience of being on the Orange line, or the money to be north of 66. Just a vote for Alexandria over Arlington.

I agree on all of this! Alexandria for elementary makes sense and then after that, it really depends on your kid

Glad you both had good experiences or imagine that you would.
Our experience was one of overcrowding, anemic curriculum, and the failed application of a one size fits all approach to problem-solving.

That was ours as well, but in Arlington. We switched to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am current ACPS parent and I've had kids a both private and public. The best teacher we've had so far was at an acps school and the worst teacher we've had was a private school. There are good and bad teachers at both. You can get a good eduction at ACPS - its just a choice of what community you want to be a part of and what is best for your child.

That's a really cute idea, unless you want to attend Lyles Crouch but you can't afford to live in south Old Town.

Is Lyles Crouch the exception to ACPS schools being crappy?

Lyles Crouch is a public elementary in Alexandria zoned for Old Town, which is one of the most expensive areas (per square foot) in the DC region.

There are SEVERAL highly regarded public elementary schools in Alexandria City (not Fairfax, which has even more). It's just the high school (maybe the middle schools too, depending on how picky you are) that is considered not so great, because it's huge and has a lot of FARMS kids (but, I'll note, it also has many upper middle class kids who do quite well).

The same is true of the Alexandria parts of Fairfax. There are a lot of pockets with good elementary schools--Waynewood Elementary comes to mind, as does Clermont Elementary. A lot of parents like Lane Elementary. However, the corresponding high schools are considered weaker (though under the new plan, those kids have an advantage in applying to TJHSST).

[Anonymous]

Parents obsess too much about schools. All you need is a cohort and you're fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents obsess too much about schools. All you need is a cohort and you're fine.

LOL, ok. PP here who left ACPS after years of difficulty. We had a cohort, actually. That was a failure, too.

[Anonymous]

What is a cohort in this context?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ACPS, Youngkin family. We have children in elementary, middle, and HS. So far, we have had a positive experience. We do worry about safety at the HS, as there have been multiple instances this year (with weapons). Our little goes to CB. The CB principal is not great, but the assistant principal is. Love the MS and HS principals. We are very involved parents and forge our family’s values at the dinner table. Our eldest is willing to engage with teachers, and they have been very good at respectful debate about a wide array of topics. The class offerings are extensive. College limitations will only be our child’s test scores, and not the school. We also love, love our community and neighborhood. The fact that in the midst of an urban center we have block parties, bike parades, and amazing holidays is irreplaceable.

Principal quality is definitely declining. Lots of new elementary principals are overwhelmed and inexperienced. They get steamrolled by superiors all the time. GW is also awful, but for different reasons. It seems to be as bad as it gets because ACHS has been a much better experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a cohort in this context?

A smaller group within the larger group. Like an academy.