Have had three kids in Ashlawn. I agree that the teachers are excellent - many are veteran teachers and are incredibly caring and responsive. The only problems we have experienced have been more social - for our less extroverted kid. Ashlawn is a big school and there is a good amount of bullying, even as young as second grade. Especially at recess. The teachers simply don't have the bandwidth to spot all of it. We pulled our youngest and moved him to private school because it got so bad, and nobody seemed to be able to do anything about it. He is *so* much happier in private school with smaller classes and we're just going to keep him there until high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a fifth grader who has gone to Ashlawn since K, and we've never had more than passing interactions with the previous or current principal. Not a knock on them - just haven't had any need. With one exception, the teachers have been excellent.

I'm not an educator, but I'd imagine that Ashlawn is particularly challenging because it is a very, very socioeconomically diverse school. From families in $2 million McMansions to foreign service families that are only here for a few years to families in the apartments on the western edge of Arlington whose electricity gets turned off and can't afford food. I can't even imagine how you balance all those different needs.

I'm sure Ashlawn is a lovely school, but it is not unique in APS in having a lot of socioeconomic diversity. Many APS elementary schools other than the single digit FARMS in the north and the handful of very high FARMS schools are like this (Fleet, Glebe, Claremont, Innovation, Science Focus, ATS, Long Branch, Oakridge, Key, etc).

Agreed, I would say this is the majority of the schools in APS, and this demographic trend will increase (but maybe not for the schools way up in the north).

Anonymous wrote:We have a fifth grader who has gone to Ashlawn since K, and we've never had more than passing interactions with the previous or current principal. Not a knock on them - just haven't had any need. With one exception, the teachers have been excellent.

I'm not an educator, but I'd imagine that Ashlawn is particularly challenging because it is a very, very socioeconomically diverse school. From families in $2 million McMansions to foreign service families that are only here for a few years to families in the apartments on the western edge of Arlington whose electricity gets turned off and can't afford food. I can't even imagine how you balance all those different needs.

I'm sure Ashlawn is a lovely school, but it is not unique in APS in having a lot of socioeconomic diversity. Many APS elementary schools other than the single digit FARMS in the north and the handful of very high FARMS schools are like this (Fleet, Glebe, Claremont, Innovation, Science Focus, ATS, Long Branch, Oakridge, Key, etc).

Ashlawn is a special place and a hidden gem in Arlington. The teachers are EXCELLENT and the community is strong and kind.

Ashlawn parent here. The administration is great - all of my interactions with the principal and new vice have been positive. They are both very approachable.

We have a fifth grader who has gone to Ashlawn since K, and we've never had more than passing interactions with the previous or current principal. Not a knock on them - just haven't had any need. With one exception, the teachers have been excellent.

I'm not an educator, but I'd imagine that Ashlawn is particularly challenging because it is a very, very socioeconomically diverse school. From families in $2 million McMansions to foreign service families that are only here for a few years to families in the apartments on the western edge of Arlington whose electricity gets turned off and can't afford food. I can't even imagine how you balance all those different needs.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have kids at Ashlawn, but I know many people who do. Most seem quite happy. In addition, several teachers live in the attendance zone and their kids go (or did go) to the school. To me, that says a lot.

To clarify, I meant that several Ashlawn teachers live in the Ashlawn attendance zone and their kids go (or did go) to the school.

I don’t have kids at Ashlawn, but I know many people who do. Most seem quite happy. In addition, several teachers live in the attendance zone and their kids go (or did go) to the school. To me, that says a lot.