Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whitest, wealthiest ES in Arlington. There are PTA events at the country club. If you are a family of color, your kids may not meet any classmates who look like them.

Your tone suggests that these are negatives.

They are negatives.

Maybe to you. Most reasonable people would consider those features, not a bug. It is a very good school, in part because of those reasons.

This poster has to be a troll.

Why would I be a troll? My children went through Jamestown. I am genuinely offended at your disparagement of it for such trivial reasons. You truly should be ashamed of yourself.

Nobody disparaged you. Not everyone will find their people there because it’s highly segregated. It can have many good qualities but that’s a big issue for a lot of people. Adults can have these kinds of conversations without everyone taking offense. The people leaving for private school are even going to more diverse schools than Jamestown. That’s pretty exceptional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whitest, wealthiest ES in Arlington. There are PTA events at the country club. If you are a family of color, your kids may not meet any classmates who look like them.

Your tone suggests that these are negatives.

They are negatives.

Maybe to you. Most reasonable people would consider those features, not a bug. It is a very good school, in part because of those reasons.

This poster has to be a troll.

Why would I be a troll? My children went through Jamestown. I am genuinely offended at your disparagement of it for such trivial reasons. You truly should be ashamed of yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whitest, wealthiest ES in Arlington. There are PTA events at the country club. If you are a family of color, your kids may not meet any classmates who look like them.

Your tone suggests that these are negatives.

They are negatives.

Maybe to you. Most reasonable people would consider those features, not a bug. It is a very good school, in part because of those reasons.

This poster has to be a troll.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whitest, wealthiest ES in Arlington. There are PTA events at the country club. If you are a family of color, your kids may not meet any classmates who look like them.

Your tone suggests that these are negatives.

They are negatives.

Maybe to you. Most reasonable people would consider those features, not a bug. It is a very good school, in part because of those reasons.

Not sure why there is so much anger here towards Jamestown. OP there are a lot of secretly jealous people in Arlington so you better get used to it. There are many nice people as well. We are zoned for Tuckahoe (but my kids go to ATS) and my friend’s kids are zoned for Jamestown. They are not ultra rich and she owns one of the smaller homes right next to the school. They seem to love the community atmosphere of the school. It is smaller than many of the schools in Arlington and all the families seem to know each other and watch out of each others kids. It is very idyllic in that sense. As a foreigner it reminded me of the suburban America I see in movies and tv shows Quality wise it has the same reputation as all the schools in that corner of North Arlington (Tuckahoe, Nottingham etc). I will say that if you are not white your kid may feel left out. But as for it being the whitest school in Arlington, while that is technically true, all the nearby schools are pretty white as well You will find more private schools in the Jamestown neighborhood as opposed to other neighborhoods. But enough kids go to public that Jamestown still feels like a neighborhood school with neighborhood kids.

Anonymous wrote:Unlike at a private school where kids are far flung, your kid not only knows the kids in her/his class/grade but knows their families. You know their families. Many kids participate in sports together so you meet families on the weekends. Many go to the same pool so you hang out with them in the summer. Kids know each other from the bus stop, from playing with their classmate who lives around the corner afterschool.

This is a benefit to your child. They see families socializing together. They gain familiarity with other adults. Other adults know and care about your child. Many families choose Jamestown for this very reason and have made family friends for life. People will throw aspersions here because most people want this general situation of an excellent school/great community.

This small community feel exists at the other North Arlington schools (can’t speak to South Arlington - probably there too) without the downsides of JES.

Anonymous wrote:The choice for many families zoned for Jamestown is just that: private school vs Jamestown.

I see. I think that’s been the trend in many N Arlington neighborhoods, but it may be happening at a greater rate for the area surrounding Jamestown. People who can pay 2.5-3.5M and more for homes aren’t paying for APS.

IME most people can afford private, and a lot of kids start leaving for private around 3rd or 4th. It’s snobby imo and my kids also go to a rich, white 22207 school.

The choice for many families zoned for Jamestown is just that: private school vs Jamestown.

Anonymous wrote:Unlike at a private school where kids are far flung, your kid not only knows the kids in her/his class/grade but knows their families. You know their families. Many kids participate in sports together so you meet families on the weekends. Many go to the same pool so you hang out with them in the summer. Kids know each other from the bus stop, from playing with their classmate who lives around the corner afterschool.

This is a benefit to your child. They see families socializing together. They gain familiarity with other adults. Other adults know and care about your child. Many families choose Jamestown for this very reason and have made family friends for life. People will throw aspersions here because most people want this general situation of an excellent school/great community.

I don’t quite follow why you’re comparing Jamestown to private school. Wouldn’t any public neighborhood school have the same benefits you are describing? Or are you saying Jamestown feels like a neighborhood private school?

Unlike at a private school where kids are far flung, your kid not only knows the kids in her/his class/grade but knows their families. You know their families. Many kids participate in sports together so you meet families on the weekends. Many go to the same pool so you hang out with them in the summer. Kids know each other from the bus stop, from playing with their classmate who lives around the corner afterschool.

This is a benefit to your child. They see families socializing together. They gain familiarity with other adults. Other adults know and care about your child. Many families choose Jamestown for this very reason and have made family friends for life. People will throw aspersions here because most people want this general situation of an excellent school/great community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the whitest, wealthiest ES in Arlington. There are PTA events at the country club. If you are a family of color, your kids may not meet any classmates who look like them.

Sorry you couldn’t afford a house inbounds for Jamestown.

Sorry you don’t realize there are wealthy people of color who want their children to have the opportunity to meet other children of color at school.

It’s one of the best elementary schools (based on test scores) in a very good (but not great school), large school district.

I’m not sure what else could be added. APS is fine. It’s got some issues but you can find plenty of threads about that on these boards. There are also many people who really love APS.

Agree you will notice attrition to private school as your kids move through but that’s not unique to Jamestown. Arlington is a very wealthy county.

It’s a great small community. Seems wonderful for earlier years but we know a lot of people who transfer to private for middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - Thanks! I’ve search the forum. Interested in any current views on how the school is doing.

It's always one of the top-performing schools in Arlington due to the demographics. It's a good community, albeit rife with affluenza.

PP who said PTA events are held at the country club is wrong -- they're held at the schools. However, the annual fundraiser IS indeed held at the Washington Golf and Country Club. And it's an over-the-top soiree.

Sorry for spreading fake news- I thought the fundraiser was a PTA-sponsored event. I recall one year there was some kind of well-meaning but cringey fashion show.