Anonymous
Post 08/21/2012 22:52     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Our DC has went to both Freedom Hill and Haycock. We liked both schools, and I think children would get a good education at either. If I had to pick, I guess overall we like Haycock better.

Freedom Hill did a great job of celebrating the diversity of its students. They have a popular International Night where the students have a parade representing their ethnicity. A student from overseas would feel very welcome there. It's not a walk able area, but the school itself is very close to Tyson Corners shopping.

In comparison to Haycock, i think the academics are stronger at Haycock. This may have more to do with our individual circumstance, as our teachers at FH were not great. At Haycock, the teachers emphasize differentiated learning. They have many reading groups and a specialist. The students are divided by ability in math starting in the first grade. The major problem with Haycock is the lack of parking. Attending school events can be a pain.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2012 14:17     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have heard great things about Vienna ES. One of my friends sends her boys there and loves it. Haycock is very crowded from what I have heard, but if your child is not in the gifted program, I would look at other schools. One school you may want to look at is Shrevewood, it's a great school with lots of diversity and if you are from overseas, chances are there will be someone from your country at Shrevewood and if you live within walking distance to Shrevewood you will be within walking distance to West Falls Church metro.
Good luck in your search.


The West Falls Church Metro is in the Haycock district, so it's the best district for those who want to be close to the station and not have to cross busy Route 7. The reason Haycock is crowded is that people know it's a great school and want to send their kids there, even if they are not in the AAP program.

There is one poster who posts really nasty things about Haycock on local forums - typically exaggerating the class sizes and the overcrowding. Maybe their kids didn't get into AAP at the school and they were bummed, or they live in a neighboring school district and resent the attention Haycock gets. Either way, their views are by no means representative of most parents in the area. Any of the schools the OP mentioned should be fine. I did see a poster mention recently that she did not think her children were challenged as much at Shrevewood as they were at Haycock (presumably in the AAP program), but I've heard good things about that school as well.





I have kids at both Haycock and Shrevewood as well. They are both good schools, just very different. I have high hopes for the new principal at Shrevewood. I think she is on the right track. I like the diversity at Shrevewood. I worry a bit about my child at Haycock because a lot of the families have a lot more money than we do, but so far it has been ok. Haycock is a wonderful school, too. Yes. It's crowded (but Shrevewood is also getting crowded) and they are doing a great job managing the number of children. Parent-wise, they are different at each school but have found parents I like at both schools. My kids seem to have friends and a decent social life at their respective schools.
Anonymous
Post 08/19/2012 10:33     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Anonymous wrote:I have heard great things about Vienna ES. One of my friends sends her boys there and loves it. Haycock is very crowded from what I have heard, but if your child is not in the gifted program, I would look at other schools. One school you may want to look at is Shrevewood, it's a great school with lots of diversity and if you are from overseas, chances are there will be someone from your country at Shrevewood and if you live within walking distance to Shrevewood you will be within walking distance to West Falls Church metro.
Good luck in your search.


The West Falls Church Metro is in the Haycock district, so it's the best district for those who want to be close to the station and not have to cross busy Route 7. The reason Haycock is crowded is that people know it's a great school and want to send their kids there, even if they are not in the AAP program.

There is one poster who posts really nasty things about Haycock on local forums - typically exaggerating the class sizes and the overcrowding. Maybe their kids didn't get into AAP at the school and they were bummed, or they live in a neighboring school district and resent the attention Haycock gets. Either way, their views are by no means representative of most parents in the area. Any of the schools the OP mentioned should be fine. I did see a poster mention recently that she did not think her children were challenged as much at Shrevewood as they were at Haycock (presumably in the AAP program), but I've heard good things about that school as well.



Anonymous
Post 08/19/2012 07:53     Subject: Re:Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
If your kids go to Archer I believe the school buses their non base AAP kids back to their base schools for SACC in Vienna and you can place your child there as well for SACC, but I'd check with the school and SACC office on this.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2012 22:12     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
I have heard great things about Vienna ES. One of my friends sends her boys there and loves it. Haycock is very crowded from what I have heard, but if your child is not in the gifted program, I would look at other schools. One school you may want to look at is Shrevewood, it's a great school with lots of diversity and if you are from overseas, chances are there will be someone from your country at Shrevewood and if you live within walking distance to Shrevewood you will be within walking distance to West Falls Church metro.
Good luck in your search.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2012 21:57     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Archer does not ave sacc
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2012 21:03     Subject: Re:Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Of the options and your desires, I'd go for Vienna Elementary. Most homes that feed into it are walking distance to a lot of amenities. The library, grocery stores, community center, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. It's supposed to be a great school, no personal experience there though.

AAP is Fairfax County's "gifted" program. Some schools have dedicated AAP centers and others have local level IV AAP. Kids can choose to stay at their assigned school or go to the dedicated center school if they are selected for AAP. This happens in 3rd grade. If the school has neither service, then the child can still stay at the assigned school and forego the AAP classes or go the the AAP center school.

Vienna Elementary doesn't have either AAP designation, so if your child were selected for AAP then you would have the option of sending your child to Louise Archer which would be the closest AAP center school or staying at Vienna El. with the regular curriculum.

I wouldn't base where you buy your home on which schools have AAP centers unless you know for a fact that your child will be attending one. If they get in you always have the option of sending them to an AAP center. I'd choose your neighborhood, that's where you will be spending more of your time.

SOLs are Virginia's Standards of Learning test. These are given in certain grades not every grade. They don't really impact your child's grades, they are more for the school to see if everyone is progressing properly. They need this for funding.

Good luck you your move!


Thank you! Your explanation was so helpful! In terms of after school care, do Vienna and Archer both have? If not what does a parent do if they need such care?



Most schools have an afterschool care program called SACC. There is usually a waitlist. I believe that Vienna El. has the shortest waitlist or maybe no waitlist b/c it's a small school. Not sure, this is what I've heard. Pretty sure Archer has SACC too, it's a larger school so most likely if it does have SACC the waitlist will be longer.

There are also private businesses that do pick-ups at schools for aftercare if you prefer or can't get into SACC. There are generally Tae Kwon Do places and daycare facilities that do this. They keep your child until around 6ish.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2012 08:51     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Anonymous wrote:Haycock has a large school library and knowledgable librarian (a better resource than the public library).


I thought the point was that OP was hoping for a community library where she might take a pre-schooler on foot, rather than whether the local school had a good librarian.

The Falls Church City library would be a long walk from most houses in the Haycock district. The Haycock/Longfellow Park would be closer, but I'm not sure that it has any playground equipment.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2012 07:50     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Haycock has a large school library and knowledgable librarian (a better resource than the public library).
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2012 22:41     Subject: Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
There are homes in the Haycock neighborhood that you can walk to the metro and all of Falls Church City from. That's where I would be if money were no object.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2012 22:09     Subject: Re:Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
You can walk to the City of Falls Church library from homes within the Haycock neighborhood.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2012 20:30     Subject: Re:Freedom hill, haycock, archer, or haycock?
Anonymous wrote:Of the options and your desires, I'd go for Vienna Elementary. Most homes that feed into it are walking distance to a lot of amenities. The library, grocery stores, community center, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. It's supposed to be a great school, no personal experience there though.

AAP is Fairfax County's "gifted" program. Some schools have dedicated AAP centers and others have local level IV AAP. Kids can choose to stay at their assigned school or go to the dedicated center school if they are selected for AAP. This happens in 3rd grade. If the school has neither service, then the child can still stay at the assigned school and forego the AAP classes or go the the AAP center school.

Vienna Elementary doesn't have either AAP designation, so if your child were selected for AAP then you would have the option of sending your child to Louise Archer which would be the closest AAP center school or staying at Vienna El. with the regular curriculum.

I wouldn't base where you buy your home on which schools have AAP centers unless you know for a fact that your child will be attending one. If they get in you always have the option of sending them to an AAP center. I'd choose your neighborhood, that's where you will be spending more of your time.

SOLs are Virginia's Standards of Learning test. These are given in certain grades not every grade. They don't really impact your child's grades, they are more for the school to see if everyone is progressing properly. They need this for funding.

Good luck you your move!


Thank you! Your explanation was so helpful! In terms of after school care, do Vienna and Archer both have? If not what does a parent do if they need such care?