Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 20:49     Subject: APS
I will be the one detractor here on W&L.

It is way over crowded- by about 400-500 students because they allow Yorktown to waiver in no questions asked. Used to be for IB but now it is an open door.

Combine that with the explosion of condos and building on orange line the school kind of sucks.

Meanwhile, Yorktown is at like 70% capacity.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2026 14:50     Subject: Re:APS
Anonymous wrote:The only pool that has such an excessive wait list is Overlee. Many people get into the pools suggested above in a more reasonable time frame and Knights of Columbus does not have a regular membership you just have to sign up every year for the summer. Yes, you have to be paying attention and sign up pretty quickly when the registration opens. Lots of families in Arlington use KoC.

Arlington Forest has a similar waitlist as well. But lots of Mclean pools with short waitlists.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 20:58     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.


+1 this is a really helpful and accurate answer in my opinion.


A lot of ARlington residents would not agree that APS does a good job maintaining facilities. I could give you lots of examples of the complete opposite.


I think PP meant that *relative* to DCPS. Yes, the bar is low, but that’s the comparison we’re working with here.


Is it better than DCPS though?
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 18:33     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.


+1 this is a really helpful and accurate answer in my opinion.


A lot of ARlington residents would not agree that APS does a good job maintaining facilities. I could give you lots of examples of the complete opposite.


I was going to say the same. Maintenance is not APS’ strong suit! Though I’m sure elsewhere it could be worse yet!
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 18:31     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


I believe APS is a lot better, for several reasons, but don’t underestimate the poverty here. There is a lot, about 35% and increasing, across the entire school district, and some elementary schools are 80%+ (all English learners, most Hispanic). The vast economic discrepancies between the elementary schools even out somewhat for the large high schools, though there are the demographic differences. And size-wise all our middle schools are 1000-1200 each.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 18:03     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.


+1 this is a really helpful and accurate answer in my opinion.


A lot of ARlington residents would not agree that APS does a good job maintaining facilities. I could give you lots of examples of the complete opposite.


I think PP meant that *relative* to DCPS. Yes, the bar is low, but that’s the comparison we’re working with here.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 15:55     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.


+1 this is a really helpful and accurate answer in my opinion.


A lot of ARlington residents would not agree that APS does a good job maintaining facilities. I could give you lots of examples of the complete opposite.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 14:24     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.


+1 this is a really helpful and accurate answer in my opinion.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2026 14:16     Subject: Re:APS
Anonymous wrote:The only pool that has such an excessive wait list is Overlee. Many people get into the pools suggested above in a more reasonable time frame and Knights of Columbus does not have a regular membership you just have to sign up every year for the summer. Yes, you have to be paying attention and sign up pretty quickly when the registration opens. Lots of families in Arlington use KoC.


Overlee blows. It ain't no WGCC!!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 13:08     Subject: APS
Some of the middle school buildings are in rough shape. WMS, TJ and Swanson.

I would avoid Gunston based on what I have heard, but maybe it's better now with the new principal.

The WMS principal is not well liked either.
Anonymous
Post 01/06/2026 10:42     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Long Branch ES, TJ MS, then W-L is another popular, walkable pyramid all the way through high school. TJ is one of the larger middle schools I think and has a well-regarded IB middle program.

We're less than a mile from Ballston metro and my kids are walkers to Glebe, Hamm and W-L.

Nearly all of Glebe is walkers, with only one bus. It's fun to see the ant trails of kids and parents every morning. It builds a lot of community.


With a start time of 9am do a lot of kids do before care? When do doors open? How have things changed with more restrictions on telework?
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 23:08     Subject: Re:APS
Anonymous wrote:The only pool that has such an excessive wait list is Overlee. Many people get into the pools suggested above in a more reasonable time frame and Knights of Columbus does not have a regular membership you just have to sign up every year for the summer. Yes, you have to be paying attention and sign up pretty quickly when the registration opens. Lots of families in Arlington use KoC.


+1

We didn’t even bother with Overlee, but got into Tuckahoe post COVID after about 3 years on the WL.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 23:02     Subject: APS
Back to schools ... seems like Dorothy Hamm, Williamsburg and Swanson are good. What about the other three (immersion aside)?
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 13:00     Subject: Re:APS
The only pool that has such an excessive wait list is Overlee. Many people get into the pools suggested above in a more reasonable time frame and Knights of Columbus does not have a regular membership you just have to sign up every year for the summer. Yes, you have to be paying attention and sign up pretty quickly when the registration opens. Lots of families in Arlington use KoC.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 12:58     Subject: APS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow this is very helpful. It sounds like all the middle schools above are good. Any that have more substantial challenges?

What makes aps better than upper nw dcps? Is it a more affluent population that is easier to educate? A better run school system? Higher expectations of students?


There is a strong community culture in Arlington where neighborhood kids grow up together all the way through high school, since more students stick with APS through grade 12. Of course, some do leave for private or boarding school, but much less than in DC.

If you can join a pool, or buy a house with a community pool membership, that would be an ideal way to meet other families. The membership wait lists typically span multiple years.

The school system is also better run than DCPS. Principals tend to stay at schools for many years, even multiple decades like the recently retired principals at Science Focus, Arlington Traditional, Wakefield, or W-L. Satisfaction surverys are also high. In terms of facilities, APS does a better job of maintaining them. The Wilson / Jackson-Reed HS pool was closed for many years due to inadequate maintenance.



Pools are a new thing to us. How do you find out about them? And is it hard to break in if one of the kids is upper elementary?


FYA since we also had zero idea - the pool club waitlists are brutal post COVID. We moved into a house maybe 200 feet from one of the previously listed clubs last year and the current waitlist is 10-12 YEARS. People are moving and not giving up their membership in case they move back or their kid ends up buying in Arlington 10 years from now. It sucks because all summer you see the rest of the neighborhood families all walking there to hang and it’s clear that’s where a lot of the community bonds / friendships are made.


lol pool lists have been like this in Arlington long before Covid. Are you new around here?


Have a friend who did this when they moved here when their oldest was in K. They are now freshman in high school. Might get into the pool next year.


Unlikely. 70-80% of people w mortgages having sub 3% interest rates means we’re in the great hunkering down and we won’t see nearly as much waitlist movement as in the past as families moved more. Plus much more old people are aging in place. Combine that with people not giving up their membership when they sell anyways and it’s a mess. Overlees waitlist is 1500+ I believe. AF around 600. It’s a mess. Should have limited new memberships to people in the preferred zones exclusively once the waitlists started to get unmanageable.