Reply to Hardy/Deal vs Arlington middle schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty. [/quote]

We left Capitol Hill for one of the N Arlington middle schools two years ago. I'm not finding that my kids are remotely sheltered or stifled in VA. Their 7th and 8th grade friends take city buses and Metro all around the DMV on their own to get to sports practices, music practices, to see friends, for scouting etc.[/quote]

Are you happy with the middle school? Do you have a comparison point from friends who stayed in dc and went to dcps or charters? Or that were at deal or hardy?[/quote]

We keep in close touch with Capitol Hill friends of many years. Their middle schoolers go to Latin, BASIS, Stuart Hobson, Eliot-Hine or parochial schools in Upper NW.  The facilities at my kids' Arlington MS blow these programs away. The place has a giant indoor track at the attached community center, school gardens, great tennis courts and good playing fields, a lovely theater with 500 seats and fine acoustics, a good school music program etc. Unlike the DC schools, Arlington has intensified/honors classes in all core subjects for 7th and 8th. Only BASIS seems to offer better academics, and just for science. My eldest does math 2 years ahead of the curriculum in 7th grade, on track for Calc in 9th or 10th. My kids take languages at school 6th-8th.

We looked at Deal and Hardy, thought about moving to NW, but didn't like the lack of honors classes and the chaotic seeming environment at the former. If you're open to moving, N Arlington is the obvious choice.  Dorothy Hamm is the best Arlington MS these days.[/quote]

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