Anonymous wrote:Okay, like every thread on DCUM where someone asks for advice, everyone is just going to argue for whatever they decided. (In the real estate forum, someone just suggested that the OP, who wants to live in DC proper, commute from Fredericksburg or Frederick.)

Here's my experience: We bought a starter townhouse in Del Ray (Mt Vernon Community School) before we had kids, without even taking the school thing into consideration. We were on a 5-year plan, and we were planning to leave the area altogether after that. Over the years, I've spoken with a lot of parents with kids in the ACPS system (as well as a few teachers) about their experiences, and I've been surprised by the positivity of the response (probably because I spend so much time on DCUM). I've also been surprised to learn that some of my mom friends in Fairfax County are not happy with their schools. I think some of this might have to do with the personality of the inhabitants though. If you're a school snob, you're not going to pick Alexandria City. To some degree, I think the more uptight, hyper-competitive people all flee for Arlington or Fairfax County before their kids even start school.

But, long story short, now that we're in a position to leave, we've decided to stay.

Anonymous wrote:OP, as earlier poster mentioned, emotion tends to run high on DCUM when ACPS gets mentioned.
In many ways you sound like exactly the type of family who would be happy in ACPS, since you describe yourself as "laid back, not particularly concerned about test scores, and okay with a diverse school."
Any measure that looks at test scores alone will have Alexandria rank lower than other nearby jurisdictions. We have a larger percentage of low-income families, and a larger percentage of children who are learning English as a second language. Your family's subgroup (white, not low-income) has always had and continues to have high pass rates, so your child will be fine. Their teachers will make sure they get material that's appropriate for their academic level, and encourage them to succeed.

You can do a search of previous threads to see other versions of the "pro-con" debate that's already emerging in this thread.

ACPS bashers on this thread seem to always accuse those who stick with ACPS as naive boosters.
I honestly don't think ACPS is perfect. I might spend more time on the this forum highlighting areas that I think need improvement, but the vitriol is so intense I don't feel like it would be a reasonable discussion, like parents griping about Montgomery County or Fairfax County, and would just become a witch hunt. I'd rather have those discussions offline with other ACPS families, who I know are actually familiar with current state of affairs at ACPS and not someone who left in a huff and has an anti-ACPS agenda.

PP insists that "it is not even remotely true" that the ACPS system is becoming more popular. PP is incorrect. More families with school age children in Alexandria are enrolling their children and remaining in ACPS.
Some do leave, and some do leave in middle school. I note a great deal of anxiety in general around middle school, but have yet to have someone give me a concrete example of a recent experience at an ACPS middle school that would raise an alarm bell with me.

I think some of the angst around middle school is because at its core middle school SUCKS. Without a doubt the worst years of my life. And where did I experience the worst years of my life? At Frost in Fairfax County, part of the Woodson pyramid. But WAIT that is supposed to be the BEST in the area?! Yeah, well I still had some lousy teachers and horrible mean girls, which led to many afternoons and evenings crying at home. Do I think that makes Frost a bad school? No, and the occasional dud teacher and/or social anxiety problem a kid experiences at the ACPS middle schools doesn't make them horrible either.
Take a look at the number of students taking Algebra in 8th grade and their SOL pass rates. Not too shabby.

OP, don't take my word for it, or the ACPS bashers. Go check out the neighborhoods, identify some of the specific elementary schools you might be attending, and take a tour of the schools. Go ahead and tour the middle school and TC Williams, too. They are always happy to show you around.
Good luck and best wishes, wherever you end up!

Anonymous wrote:OP, you clearly know that any question of this nature is going to draw out the ACPS fans (myself included) and several ACPS detractors (many of whom don't seem to have, or have had, children in the ACPS schools, at least recently); what you might not see much are responses from parents who are in the generally to highly satisfied range but don't have absolute top views of ACPS nor horrible things to say. This B through A- range is probably a majority of the parents, from what we've directly observed over the course of several years in ACPS, which we really like.

We withdrew DC from a local private school (well-known, but clearly second-tier) to an ACPS school, and within weeks it became clear to us that the ACPS curriculum is at least as advanced and comprehensive as essentially all of the area private schools' curricula. The general level of attention from ACPS admins and faculty has, in our view, been exceptionally high (and relatively consistently so). We went from an East End school to GW middle, which offers an all-honors option, and we've been happy in every material respect.

I suspect that some locals will tell you that the Lyles-Crouch (Old Town), Maury (Rosemont), MacArthur (Seminary Valley), George Mason (Beverly Hills) and Charles Barrett (Parkfairfax) elementary schools are viewed as being materially better than the other ACPS elementaries, and we can't disagree (we were at one for three years and we and our DC positively loved it, in every respect). If you're in the Jefferson-Houston catchment (Parker-Gray and West Old Town), that school is in tough shape -- low level of parent socio-economics and parent commitment to the school, with typically poor testing results -- and you will still have limited school choice. Likewise, in the Mount Vernon (North Del Ray) and Tucker (Cameron Station and Holmes Run) catchments, the schools are non-standard calendar, and you have the right to enroll in a different school if you'd like. If you're organized and timely, this is not a problem (we went through the process and it worked perfectly).

The ACPS system is becoming more popular, and local private school enrollment is somewhat less sought-after than in the past. As a result, a number of ACPS elementaries are at capacity. When you look at places to live, check out both your catchment school AND also ask what the primary overflow school is. Consider visiting the school(s) (all the ACPS schools welcome visitors and conduct tours for prospective parents).

We've had terrific luck with our middle school too, although not too many years ago, we might not have braved it. The sole traditional high school, TC Williams, is gigantic, offers everything, and has a terrific college placement record -- especially for a school that caters to a real economic mix. We know numerous TC families. We know of no severe dissatisfaction -- none. That said, obviously, a higher-performing kid is going to have a much better, easier, more enjoyable time at TC than a kid who is unmotivated and/or in a remedial program.

I'd be hesitant to believe the condemnatory posts that your inquiry might prompt. ACPS is controversial. The system used to be seriously deficient in many respects. Improving the schools has required the Superintendent to break a lot of eggs to make a better omelet, and upset entrenched local interests in the process. A small number of semi-pro agitators seem to spend all their free time trashing the schools. Go look at one or too. It will help you make more than real estate decisions.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you clearly know that any question of this nature is going to draw out the ACPS fans (myself included) and several ACPS detractors (many of whom don't seem to have, or have had, children in the ACPS schools, at least recently); what you might not see much are responses from parents who are in the generally to highly satisfied range but don't have absolute top views of ACPS nor horrible things to say. This B through A- range is probably a majority of the parents, from what we've directly observed over the course of several years in ACPS, which we really like.

We withdrew DC from a local private school (well-known, but clearly second-tier) to an ACPS school, and within weeks it became clear to us that the ACPS curriculum is at least as advanced and comprehensive as essentially all of the area private schools' curricula. The general level of attention from ACPS admins and faculty has, in our view, been exceptionally high (and relatively consistently so). We went from an East End school to GW middle, which offers an all-honors option, and we've been happy in every material respect.

I suspect that some locals will tell you that the Lyles-Crouch (Old Town), Maury (Rosemont), MacArthur (Seminary Valley), George Mason (Beverly Hills) and Charles Barrett (Parkfairfax) elementary schools are viewed as being materially better than the other ACPS elementaries, and we can't disagree (we were at one for three years and we and our DC positively loved it, in every respect). If you're in the Jefferson-Houston catchment (Parker-Gray and West Old Town), that school is in tough shape -- low level of parent socio-economics and parent commitment to the school, with typically poor testing results -- and you will still have limited school choice. Likewise, in the Mount Vernon (North Del Ray) and Tucker (Cameron Station and Holmes Run) catchments, the schools are non-standard calendar, and you have the right to enroll in a different school if you'd like. If you're organized and timely, this is not a problem (we went through the process and it worked perfectly).

The ACPS system is becoming more popular, and local private school enrollment is somewhat less sought-after than in the past. As a result, a number of ACPS elementaries are at capacity. When you look at places to live, check out both your catchment school AND also ask what the primary overflow school is. Consider visiting the school(s) (all the ACPS schools welcome visitors and conduct tours for prospective parents).

We've had terrific luck with our middle school too, although not too many years ago, we might not have braved it. The sole traditional high school, TC Williams, is gigantic, offers everything, and has a terrific college placement record -- especially for a school that caters to a real economic mix. We know numerous TC families. We know of no severe dissatisfaction -- none. That said, obviously, a higher-performing kid is going to have a much better, easier, more enjoyable time at TC than a kid who is unmotivated and/or in a remedial program.

I'd be hesitant to believe the condemnatory posts that your inquiry might prompt. ACPS is controversial. The system used to be seriously deficient in many respects. Improving the schools has required the Superintendent to break a lot of eggs to make a better omelet, and upset entrenched local interests in the process. A small number of semi-pro agitators seem to spend all their free time trashing the schools. Go look at one or too. It will help you make more than real estate decisions.