Anonymous wrote:I'm always amazed by the number of cars I see driving around NoVa and DC with "Haycock Cougars" bumper stickers. It's kind of rare when you're talking about an elementary school. Don't know if it's due to pride or the AAP program or whatever, but it's definitely unusual.

It's the simple fact that we have nearly 1000 kids.

I'm always amazed by the number of cars I see driving around NoVa and DC with "Haycock Cougars" bumper stickers. It's kind of rare when you're talking about an elementary school. Don't know if it's due to pride or the AAP program or whatever, but it's definitely unusual.

We have found it to be a better-than-average elementary school, but not the Mecca that some parents paint it as. We've had a string of truly wonderful teachers who have challneged our kids, communicated well with us, and gone above and beyond to help our our boys when they needed it. Music and library are great. Art is so-so. The couselors -- one retiring this year -- are amazing. I don't like the current principal much, but do like the AP. The PTA operates like a "cool girls" club and they don't seem to like outsiders, but they are effective and organized and run many fun community events and really excellent after-school programs. I help in our classrooms and mind my own business and have had a fine experience.

I do have to say that I am quite worried about how the coming renovation will affect things. Overcrowding plus a loss of space could mean the loss of some of our best community events and stressed otu staff. We'll see...

Gen ed parent here. DC is very happy at the school. DC was at a different FCPS for a year, and is now at Haycock. We've had better teachers at Haycock, but that could just be the individual teachers. DC's teachers have taken the time to really get to know DC, and they have worked with us on some behavior issues. For being a large school, we have received a lot of personal attention.

The school has a very involved PTA and parent base. They have a ton of events - carnivals; math, science, and international nights; after-school activities; ect. They work really hard to raise funds for the school. The current effort is to purchase more computers.

I'm not sure about the staff cliques. Some parents are very involved with the school. I don't have that type of time or inclination. I'm not involved enough to know who likes or favors another. They have been professional and helpful to me, even though DC has had some behavior issues. I also think the school is heading in the right direction by realigning AAP. I think the school would be better with more balance between the AAP and gen ed populations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall, the school is good and my DC is very happy there. I think it's a tad over rated, though. Also, the staff gives off a little bit of a high school girl cliquish vibe. As long as DC is happy and getting a good education, I can overlook the staff and parental cliques. It's not about me.

+1 Couldn't agree more. Good school but not sure what all the hype & frenzy is about, especially on DCUM. Can't believe how often it gets mentioned on DCUM, either positively or negatively. I've heard someone call it a "free private school." I wouldn't call it that. But I don't agree with all the nasty comments either, that the parents are nasty, so overcrowded that it's a fire hazard, terrible division between AAP & GenEd.... It's neither that horrible nor that great. It's just a solid public ES. I especially agree with the "high school girl cliquish vibe" of the staff comment. I think that comes down from the principal (although I like the asst principal).

I think it's great and going to be even better for GenEd families once the renovation is done and the AAP realignment is complete.

Anonymous wrote:Overall, the school is good and my DC is very happy there. I think it's a tad over rated, though. Also, the staff gives off a little bit of a high school girl cliquish vibe. As long as DC is happy and getting a good education, I can overlook the staff and parental cliques. It's not about me.

+1 Couldn't agree more. Good school but not sure what all the hype & frenzy is about, especially on DCUM. Can't believe how often it gets mentioned on DCUM, either positively or negatively. I've heard someone call it a "free private school." I wouldn't call it that. But I don't agree with all the nasty comments either, that the parents are nasty, so overcrowded that it's a fire hazard, terrible division between AAP & GenEd.... It's neither that horrible nor that great. It's just a solid public ES. I especially agree with the "high school girl cliquish vibe" of the staff comment. I think that comes down from the principal (although I like the asst principal).

Overall, the school is good and my DC is very happy there. I think it's a tad over rated, though. Also, the staff gives off a little bit of a high school girl cliquish vibe. As long as DC is happy and getting a good education, I can overlook the staff and parental cliques. It's not about me.

I especially like math night and science night. Those are the best events all year.

I have two DC in different grades there. They love school, love the teachers and the staff. The school events are well thought out, educational and fun. I get in real trouble when I forget to bring DC to one. I have seen teachers at evening Friday school events staying until the end to clean up! I have seen many staff at outside school events. Staff will know your children by name.(well behaved or not!) But most kids are well behaved and interested in learning. Some say it is crowded and it may be , I don't think so, but I'm from a really crowded place! However, the staff are really organized at getting your DC to where they need to go. All the parents I have met or walked past have been at least cordial and I have not met a rude or pushy parent. I really enjoy the school events because I can socialize while the children are learning and in a safe environment. More familiar parents seem really down to earth and just trying to balance work while keeping their children's education a priority. The science has been excellent. The music is good as my DC come home singing the same song they learned for the school over and over and over again. The PTA has been very active. The art has been good enough for me. There is always room for a parent volunteer to improve the art! My children love the gym teachers. The work is differentiated. Staff,teachers , Asst Principal and Principal are all very approachable.

Our child is happy there and doesn't notice the overcrowding like an adult would. The science teacher is awesome. The PTA and parents totally support the teachers and school. I haven't met any slacker parents.

Anonymous wrote:It's crowded. Most teachers are good. Music is vey good. I've been unimpressed with art. School events are decent, but there won't be any for 2 years while the renovation is going on. PTA is active. Principal is good.

I would agree with this. Especially about art (its a lot of "copy this" with no creativity in sight...ever tried calligraphy without calligraphy pens? Who's idea what that?).

However, I am not a fan of the principal. I'd give my left arm to have the previous principal back.

It's crowded. Most teachers are good. Music is vey good. I've been unimpressed with art. School events are decent, but there won't be any for 2 years while the renovation is going on. PTA is active. Principal is good.

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I guess all the Haycock people moved to the AAP forum

Hi - we recently moved and our DD will be in kindergarten at Haycock in a year and a half. It seems that all discussions revolve around the AAP center, and that informs the views expressed here. But can anyone tell me about your kid's experience at Haycock as a child who lives in the neighborhood? How are the teachers? The art and music programs? School events? The PTA? The administration? Etc. What are the things you love? TIA!