Real life experiences at schools in Del Rey
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Anonymous
| Hello - My family is looking to buy a home and for a variety of reasons we’re focusing our search in the Del Rey area. The one thing that has me worried are the ratings for the schools. I know everyone says Great Schools isn’t something to be overly focused on so I would like to hear from real people who have put kids through the schools in del Rey. What was your experience. Both good and bad? Our son is 4 so we’re mainly thinking about elementary schools but happy to hear beyond that. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| No one moves into that neighborhood with a 4 year old. You will notice most of the houses FOR SALE have a preschooler or toddler's bedroom. |
Anonymous
| It's Del Ray. |
Anonymous
You're completely out of touch with reality. Del Ray has teeming with elementary-aged kids. I'm shocked to see it every time I'm there. There are even quite a few kids who look old enough for middle school. |
Anonymous
*is* not has. |
Anonymous
|
OP, check out this interesting 2014 WP article that discusses the Del Ray elementary school:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/sometimes-the-school-down-the-block-makes-you-nervous/2014/08/15/e8098c54-24d7-11e4-958c-268a320a60ce_story.html?utm_term=.6c89dcdc3835 The article concludes with this list: Twelve Things to Look For in a School 1. A Good Principal. Spend at least 30 minutes with the principal. Talk to parents and teachers as well. Five or more years experience at the school is a good sign. If the school has had more than two principals in the past five years, that’s a bad sign. Be particularly cautious if the principal doesn’t have 30 minutes to see you. 2. What It Feels Like. Don’t discount the mood and the atmosphere. Are the walls gaily decorated? Are the teachers friendly? Do the children seem happy? 3. Active Parents. Never put your child in a school without speaking to at least two parents already there, including at least one PTA officer. If you can’t find such a person, or if there’s no active PTA or equivalent organization, beware. 4. Good Teachers. If average scores are in the 70th percentile, or are rising year to year, that’s a good sign. But more important is the quality of the teachers your child will likely get. Ask experienced parents about them. 5. Long-Term Superintendent. Most urban systems, including the District, average little more than three years per superintendent, and yet have many good schools. But a suburban system with rapid superintendent turnover is less common and a matter for concern. 6. A Well-Stocked and Well-Used Library.Are there enough books and computer terminals? And how many students are using them? A library full of kids is a sign of health. 7. Using Every Minute. Are there before-school classes for students with special needs? Is there tutoring available at lunch or after school? Are there Saturday sessions? An active summer school? 8. High Expectations. Are there accelerated classes? Gifted student services? Are these available for all students who want them, not just for those who have high grades? Look for signs of enrichment outside the classroom -- -student musicals, publications and athletic contests. 9. Connections to Adults. Some schools have set up systems to ensure that at least one school employee -- a teacher, a counselor, an aide, a coach -- knows each child and his or her family well. Such schools are rare gems. 10. Safety. This is less likely to be a problem than the headlines would suggest. If you are comfortable living in your community, then the neighborhood school will almost certainly be safe enough for you. If you are looking at a school far from home, talk to parents who send their children to that school. 11. Challenges Ahead. Does the high school your child is headed for have Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses? Does it provide dual enrollment in local college courses? Are such programs open to any student who wants them? 12. Listen to Your Heart. The school may pass all these tests, and yet you’re still not sure. If there’s another school you like better, even if it doesn’t look as good on paper, go there. |
Anonymous
Interesting because the zoned elementary school for Del Ray is rated a 2. People pay for private school, finagle their way into better Alexandria elementaries, or suffer thru Mt Vernon for the lower grades and THEN move or pay for private. |
Anonymous
|
No one giving you practical advice so far.
Half of Del Ray zones to Mt Vernon community School - north of Monroe. Half of Del Ray zones to Jefferson-Houston - south of Monroe. Plenty of neighborhood kids go to Mt Vernon. It's Spanish Immersion. It's quite large. If you have a bright and outgoing kid (not a wallflower type), many kids seem to do great at Mt Vernon. There is definitely a focus on bringing up the bottom kids. Facilities are pretty run down. J-H is considered a non-option for most families. Lots of issues. Search specifically for a thread on J-H. Hope that helps. |
Anonymous
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We live in Del Ray with a toddler, but there are plenty of elementary aged kids on our block. They go to Mount Vernon Elementary School or Barrett, but would be zoned for J-H now.
They all happy, healthy interested and interesting kids. There's a lot of support for parents and families in Del Ray, with plenty of extra-curriculars just down the street - music school, dance school, sports, art, clubs, parks, etc. And (of course) tons of community involvement. We will be going to Jefferson-Houston in three years. Everyone on this forum acts like it's the end of the world, but everyone who actually has kindergartners, first or second graders there are happy and see the school thriving. OP - take a tour of the schools and see for yourself. I think you'll be impressed. |
Anonymous
It's really not teeming with elementary-kids, which isn't to say there aren't people there who use the public schools and have a good experience. When we moved to a different school district, one of the first things I noticed was how many more school-aged kids, of all ages, there were everywhere. |
Anonymous
They were always zoned for J-H. Families just got out of going to J-H in the past by getting administrative transfers, which is now a much more difficult option. |
Anonymous
OP, ignore the people who have vested interests in attracting other middle class families to the neighborhoods. Jefferson Houston is one of the worst schools IN THE ENTIRE STATE. Do not purchase real estate zoned for this school. It used to be easier in Alexandria to get your kids into a better school when you lived in a crap zone, but they closed a lot of the loopholes. |
Anonymous
| The only people who will tell you it fine are the ones who are already living in that neighborhood and trying to entice more families to move in. |
Anonymous
We go down their weekly for my teen's activity. One day he looked around and asked "Why are there more dogs than kids in Del Ray?" |
Anonymous
| We have friends from our pool that live there with elementary age kids, and they send them to St. Mary's. I have also had a coworker with a child approaching elementary move out of Del Ray. I am sure that there are families that are happy with the schools, and it is a great neighborhood, but I have not known anyone who has used the elementary options. |