Best elementary school in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

I thought ATS was the restrictive one??!
Why is ASF restrictive?
The class keeping the teacher from 3rd to 4th - wow! How did that happen? Is that a common thing?!

Not sure.

Thanks - other PPs already answered.
No talking at recess/lunch?
Hands behind the back? (When does this apply? Which situations!?!)

I'm very surprised to hear this!

I'm also surprised that people are calling ASF a choice school! It was only ever a choice for two or so schools to begin with! But like others have pointed out, it has been a de facto "neighborhood " school for many years now. Unless you choose Key, which is one of the worst rated schools in all of Arlington!
I know, ratings and scores don't mean everything, but they do reflect challenges at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

I thought ATS was the restrictive one??!
Why is ASF restrictive?
The class keeping the teacher from 3rd to 4th - wow! How did that happen? Is that a common thing?!

Not sure.

Thanks - other PPs already answered.
No talking at recess/lunch?
Hands behind the back? (When does this apply? Which situations!?!)

I'm very surprised to hear this!

I'm also surprised that people are calling ASF a choice school! It was only ever a choice for two or so schools to begin with! But like others have pointed out, it has been a de facto "neighborhood " school for many years now. Unless you choose Key, which is one of the worst rated schools in all of Arlington!
I know, ratings and scores don't mean everything, but they do reflect challenges at the school.

They think that part of the reason the Key "ratings" (SOL scores) are low is that the kids are receiving instruction in Spanish, but the tests are in English, and for the subjects with specific vocabulary (e.g., science) it can be hard for the kids to demonstrate their actual proficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS and Science Focus have the highest SOL scores.

At one of those and hate it. Kids have been there since K. They are now 2nd and 4th.

I've heard they are both terrible.

We have a 3rd grader and 5th grader at ASF. We've been there since our first born started Kindergarten. We've had some fabulous teachers. I hate the environment--too restrictive. Too authoritarian. Not warm on a whole (minus the teachers that do their best to work within the restrictions set above).
The teach to test is stifling. Some of the homework is truly idiotic. The kids can't go on the field Nov-April--it gets covered with a blankie.

Sensitive kids get crushed in this restrictive environment. There is also a focus on the squeaky wheels with the normal parents getting the shaft. Special treatment is shown. A lot of 4th grade parents are upset that one class got to just roll from 3rd to 4th with the same class/teacher. The rest were screwed.

I think about private school a lot, but we're almost out.

I thought ATS was the restrictive one??!
Why is ASF restrictive?
The class keeping the teacher from 3rd to 4th - wow! How did that happen? Is that a common thing?!

Not sure.

Thanks - other PPs already answered.
No talking at recess/lunch?
Hands behind the back? (When does this apply? Which situations!?!)

I'm very surprised to hear this!

I'm also surprised that people are calling ASF a choice school! It was only ever a choice for two or so schools to begin with! But like others have pointed out, it has been a de facto "neighborhood " school for many years now. Unless you choose Key, which is one of the worst rated schools in all of Arlington!
I know, ratings and scores don't mean everything, but they do reflect challenges at the school.

They think that part of the reason the Key "ratings" (SOL scores) are low is that the kids are receiving instruction in Spanish, but the tests are in English, and for the subjects with specific vocabulary (e.g., science) it can be hard for the kids to demonstrate their actual proficiency.

It's ridiculous that school even has to administer those tests. The SOL questions are bad enough for native English speakers being taught in their mother tongue.

[Anonymous]

Now wishing we had picked Key...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now wishing we had picked Key...

If you are in the zone you can always transfer...however, coming in without Spanish at an upper grade would be more difficult.

What is the policy for being stuck with only a 'choice school' and an 'immersion school'? You think you'd be allowed to invoke a transfer to a 'regular' school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKinley FTW!

While I love the school, I'd caution new residents to look in other parts of Arlington. For some reason, APS is hell-bent on making it the largest ES in that part of the county. They are building it out to 683 seats, but they are transferring kids from Glebe and Tuckahoe next year that is going to put it WAY over that number. Their projection for this year was 569, but they are already over 600. Unless APS revises the boundary changes, McKinley will be hurting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now wishing we had picked Key...

If you are in the zone you can always transfer...however, coming in without Spanish at an upper grade would be more difficult.

What is the policy for being stuck with only a 'choice school' and an 'immersion school'? You think you'd be allowed to invoke a transfer to a 'regular' school.

You can't start at Key after 1st unless you are already proficient in Spanish - verbal & written. At least that is my understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McKinley FTW!

While I love the school, I'd caution new residents to look in other parts of Arlington. For some reason, APS is hell-bent on making it the largest ES in that part of the county. They are building it out to 683 seats, but they are transferring kids from Glebe and Tuckahoe next year that is going to put it WAY over that number. Their projection for this year was 569, but they are already over 600. Unless APS revises the boundary changes, McKinley will be hurting.

Bummer

[Anonymous]

The comments on ASFS school are harsh. Our kids go there and we think it is fine. Not perfect, but fine. The principal is responsive and the teachers have been more often than not very good. I would not rave about it but I do not find it so different from any other school out there - public or private.