For those parents in North Arlington who chose private school over public school . . .

[Anonymous]

for their elementary age child. Can you please tell me what made you make that decision - just class size? We are completely undecided about what we are going to do, and money is a factor. We can afford private school, but not without certain sacrifices.

[Anonymous]

i think any school in North Arlington will give you a great education...but I am biased...I used to teach there! What privates are you thinking about?

[Anonymous]

For us, it is a matter of choosing a more progressive educational model for our kids. Arlington public schools are great, and the ones we are in bound for are excellent schools. But they are still bound by the traditional model of testing, grading, rigid curriculums. At least for the early years, we felt our kids, especially as our first is a boy, likely more middle of the road, would get lost/overlooked in a traditional public school. We do plan to revisit the decision but class size, and dwindling budgets do make a difference as well.

[Anonymous]

You might want to check out the Montessori program at Drew Model School in South Arlington.

Daily testing and traditional grading is at a minimum (Arlington has even developed a special non-graded report card for the students). The SOLs are still taught (and tested), but woven into a more individualized instruction that allows a child's interest to help deliver the content, often beyond the required learning material.

Teachers are Montessori and Virginia certified.

The school is open to anyone living in Arlington and bus service is provided. Applications are due April 15.

[Anonymous]

We don't live in North Arlington but plan to move there for high school when the time comes ... we have our child in a nice progressive school now for the early, formative years.

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. Thanks for your responses. Our main priority is to find small classes and a place where our somewhat shy and reserved son would not get overlooked. I hear so many great things about the "Arlington Public Schools" but have no direct experience with them.

[Anonymous]

As for Drew, it's important to note that admission is by lottery and it is by no means easy to get in as 2/3 of the spots are reserved for households making less than $70,000.

OP, we're nearly in the same boat - shy and reserved boy, feeling like he'd be overlooked v. a nice progressive school with small class sizes and great academics. It's a tough choice but we feel the early, formative years are important enough to choose private at this point.

[Anonymous]

Our son is a massive introvert and has done very, very well at Taylor. He's not shy, though, if by that you mean he lacks confidence in dealing with new people or with crowds. He *can* do it, he just, like Bartleby, would prefer not to.
Unlike Bartleby, he doesn't curl up in a ball and surrender, but mingling is not his favorite thing.

[Anonymous]

OP, my DD started out as a very reserved and shy 5 yr old at Taylor elementary. She is now 7 and has thrived at her school. She is still on the reserved side, but once you get to know her, she opens up more. Her teachers have been very nurturing and have helped her come out of her shell, encouraging her to speak up in class, etc. They know she knows the answers, but getting her to volunteer has been something they have worked on with her, and it is working. She most certainly has not been overlooked or lost in the crowd, and she comes home exciting about school and about the various projects she is working on. I highly recommend Taylor based on our first hand experiences. My friends who have children in public schools in Arlington are also very pleased with their schools.

[Anonymous]

PP here, sorry about the typos...I am in the middle of making dinner and posting this!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son is a massive introvert and has done very, very well at Taylor. He's not shy, though, if by that you mean he lacks confidence in dealing with new people or with crowds. He *can* do it, he just, like Bartleby, would prefer not to.
Unlike Bartleby, he doesn't curl up in a ball and surrender, but mingling is not his favorite thing.

This is the cutest. Love the Bartleby reference.

Does anyone else have insights on the public vs. private choice for Arlington?

And for those who are choosing progressive private schools, where are your children going? I'm concerned that many of the schools are far from Arlington and require difficult commutes (and non-local friends). Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Burgundy Farm. There is a nice little group of Arlington kids there ... a group of them share a car service to make the commute easier for the parents and it is cheaper than signing up for bus service.

[Anonymous]

We are also sending our child to burgundy and plan to try to get in touch with the group about the "bus". I think it's a great option than me driving or the sssas bus.