Anonymous wrote:We use to love Ashlawn. However, there is a new principal this year who is awful. Ashlawn has really tanked.

To each their own. We are an Ashlawn family and really like the new principal (loved the previous one too).

Had 2 go through ashlawn - one finishing up. Between Covid and 3 principals in our time I would go private over ashlawn.

We left our last one in since they had friends and Covid ruined elementary school for everyone. We will keep ours in private thru HS.

Do not move to Arlington for schools - just location.

Anonymous wrote:I was trying to do anything to get my kid out of a horrid neighborhood school and Ashlawn was one of the ones I begged to get into because of its excellent reputation. Didn't work btw.

Yea, you can't beg to leave your school for another neighborhood school.... duh.

I was trying to do anything to get my kid out of a horrid neighborhood school and Ashlawn was one of the ones I begged to get into because of its excellent reputation. Didn't work btw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did previous principal leave? I liked her a lot.

Left to be with her kids. The previous beloved principal was sent to help Barcroft.

I did not care for the principal who left for Barcroft. But her successor, who just left, was phenomenal.

I know a lot of Ashlawn families and teachers were unhappy that she was reassigned to Barcroft, but that school needed her. She’s really turned it around. It’s a testament to the ability of a principal to really make a difference.

OP, you have two great choices, so it really depends on your personal preferences. Things to consider: school start/end times and how they work with your family’s schedules. Transportation: would you be walkers at Ashlawn and do you prefer that? You’d be bus riders at Campbell and driving is strongly discouraged. School size: Campbell is a much smaller school than Ashlawn. I believe class sizes are fairly equivalent, but the overall sizes are really different. Do you prefer the EL model? Basically, it comes down to what you think you want/like in a school for your kid and your family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why did previous principal leave? I liked her a lot.

Left to be with her kids. The previous beloved principal was sent to help Barcroft.

I did not care for the principal who left for Barcroft. But her successor, who just left, was phenomenal.

Everyone I know LOVES Ashlawn, except one family I know who left for ATS.

Ashlawn is a wonderful school. My kids have had 6 great main teachers and adore both art teachers, the librarian, and the gifted resources teacher so much. The extended day staff has a core group of employees that were there since before the pandemic. We ran into the counselor out of school and both my kids ran to say hi and introduce us to her.

My only concern is the new principal. I can’t put my finger on what bugs me about her but I feel like she doesn’t fit. Maybe it will take more time, but the last principle and VP were such a great team and you could tell how much they liked each other and how much the kids liked them.

Anonymous wrote:Why did previous principal leave? I liked her a lot.

Left to be with her kids. The previous beloved principal was sent to help Barcroft.

Why did previous principal leave? I liked her a lot.

OP- people overwhelming love Ashlawn. When you don't see paragraphs of complaints (as has happened with other elementary school threads), that speaks for itself. There's always a parent or 2 who can find a fault.

Anonymous wrote:Don't let people fool you. Ashlawn is terrible. Run away fast. My daughter didn't have a teacher all of last year and then earlier this academic year her teacher quit. We've been on the waitlist for ATS and Campbell and are also looking for a house that is zoned for a better school.

There was a K teacher on maternity leave? Is this what you mean?

Ashlawn is great - no complaints here.

Ashlawn has phenomenal teachers and a strong community. It is a gem in Arlington.

There weren't any classes without a teacher last year. That is patently false.