Tuckahoe is great!

Discovery! They have a 2 story slide inside the school!

My kids love Nottingham. If you can find a house within a half mile of the school, there are tons of families in the walk zone and lots of cul-de-sacs where the surrounding kids will gather to ride bikes/scooters, etc.

Chesterbrook near the Arlington/McLean border.

Anonymous wrote:I would avoid McKinley for now if you are looking at N. Arlington. We are there and love it, but the construction project starting in June and continuing for the following 18 months is going to be a nightmare. As a former military brat myself, I know how hard those elementary school moves can be and the entire McKinley school year for 2015/16 is going to feel like A LOT of transition/chaos for those kids until the addition is complete. It might be easier on your daughter to start somewhere else. Tuckahoe is a really cute school, although I know nothing about the "happiness" factor there. I have friends with kids in Glebe though who say it is a beautiful cheery kind of place.

+1. Rising K family at McKinley and we have heard nothing but fabulous things about the school. Yet we are dreading dealing with the construction issues. The area is wonderful though, friendly neighborhoods and good schools around it. Welcome to the area.

Glebe.

11:25 here. For my kids happiness has really come from a kid-friendly neighborhood -- also look at that when looking.

This really depends on the teacher that your child gets. I would look at commute, combined with great schools ratings and ranking of SAT scores of the high schools in the pyramids (if that exists)

I would avoid McKinley for now if you are looking at N. Arlington. We are there and love it, but the construction project starting in June and continuing for the following 18 months is going to be a nightmare. As a former military brat myself, I know how hard those elementary school moves can be and the entire McKinley school year for 2015/16 is going to feel like A LOT of transition/chaos for those kids until the addition is complete. It might be easier on your daughter to start somewhere else. Tuckahoe is a really cute school, although I know nothing about the "happiness" factor there. I have friends with kids in Glebe though who say it is a beautiful cheery kind of place.

Stay in North Arlington and check out tuckahoe, Ashlawn , science focus, jamestown or nottingham

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/VA/district/00270/search.aspx?level=1

OP here. We'll be renting. Budget is $4000/mo.

OP, do you have a housing budget in mind? While choosing a friendly school is a priority for most every parent, the financial realities of the real estate market in this area will determine your choices. Unless cost is no issue, you probably need to determine your housing budget and provide that with your request above.

Maybe Ashlawn or Tuckahoe would come the closest? Or Key School? The only schools that truly have what you're looking for are privates.

You are barking up the wrong tree in this area.

DH got a job at the Pentagon and we'll be moving to the area very soon. DC will be going into 2nd grade in the fall. I've reviewed school ratings on Greatschools, looked at the school websites, and searched DCUM forums for comments. The only info I can't really tease out is the intangible happiness rating. Which elementary schools out there have good academics as well as an atmosphere of kindness and fun? I'm looking for a responsive and encouraging administration, caring teachers, students who practice what we used to call good citizenship, fun field trips and after school activities, and a welcoming PTA. Those schools may not exist (except in my dreams) but which ones come close? I'm not too caught up on test scores or socioeconomic/racial diversity (or lack thereof). I just want my daughter to wake up in the morning wanting to go to school and to learn a lot while she's there.