Virginia Run principal is nuts.

Great Falls Es
Not great if child has a disability

Louise Archer. Woe to the parents and students of non-AAP students. Great for students in the AAP program.

Cliques abound between parents and students: AAP v. base.
Heartbreaking and sad to see the students forever separate out to AAP in third grade.

So to the parents of neighborhood-assigned students, I’m telling you now to get ready to supplement reading, handwriting, spelling, math facts and writing to name just a few off of the top of my head. Opt out of the SOLs.

The only time my DC got offers of extra help and tutoring before and after school was after he failed the online math SOL. VP called to discuss remediation and a re-take. Declined.

PP and I’ll say this; every FC elementary school has a special program or designation in the interest of equity (great, nice, okay) but these programs are designed/created and then assigned to bolster numbers and to prevent under-enrollments and school closures like what happened in the mid-1980s.

Former neighborhood schools are no more. Bringing in Head Start, CAT B, performing arts, AAP Center, preschool, even SACC all guarantee severely overcrowded schools and huge classes but Gatehouse would rather see overcrowding than under enrollment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Olde Creek- too small, bad with special Ed services, lackluster administration but really too small.

Sounds as though it might be perfect for an average kid who doesn’t need special services.

go for it. But you have been warned.

Where are you going with this, Op?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Olde Creek- too small, bad with special Ed services, lackluster administration but really too small.

Sounds as though it might be perfect for an average kid who doesn’t need special services.

Small size make bullying issues worse as it’s harder to avoid problem kids.

Kent Gardens - avoid. Not a cheerful environment. Disgruntled, disengaged and ineffective administration. Mismanaged school.

French immersion a draw for many families but this program is
lackluster and poorly managed. Parents use the immersion program as ticket out of their in boundary elementary schools and so their student will be in immersion one year then drop and get to stay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haycock - weak administration, horrible special ed department, parent community (trickles down to kids)

I personally enjoy the principal, but the community is indeed atrocious

NP - former staffer and the school’s just too big.

Parents are considered to be intimidating and overbearing and thus, have the reputation of running/driving the school to include administrator decisions.
Intense focus upon AAP.

Anonymous wrote:Haycock - weak administration, horrible special ed department, parent community (trickles down to kids)

I personally enjoy the principal, but the community is indeed atrocious

Anonymous wrote:Which elementary schools would you advise newer families to avoid if at all possible? Why?

Honestly, every ES will have pros/cons and people who love it and hate it.

Anonymous wrote:Olde Creek- too small, bad with special Ed services, lackluster administration but really too small.

Sounds as though it might be perfect for an average kid who doesn’t need special services.

Haycock - weak administration, horrible special ed department, parent community (trickles down to kids)

Olde Creek- too small, bad with special Ed services, lackluster administration but really too small.

Which elementary schools would you advise newer families to avoid if at all possible? Why?