Moving from the Middle East to North VA (Arlington, Alexandria: home, neighborhood)

[Manisa]

Hi,
My husband, three kids (6 1/2, 5 and 2 1/2) and I may be moving to the DC/North VA area in September (we are currently in Bahrain) and I had a few questions about schooling in the NOVA area.

As per my research online, my two eldest children (Kindergarten + Grade 1) will have to take a test of English at an Intake Center after we arrive in the US. Does anyone know what this process includes? How are children placed in public schools in the NOVA area? Are the placed based on our address/where we live? Will Sept be too late to get them into a school!?

Also, when does school start in the NOVA area for the new academic year?

And finally, does anyone have any advice on the best option for public schools in this area for their grade (Kinder + G1), keeping in mind my children come from a multicultural background? (I am Irish/Bahraini and my husband is Bahraini, but we both are graduates from US universities in NOVA area)

[michgc]

I know nothing about the Intake Center but I can address some of your other questions.

Your children will be placed in a school based on your living address. It is never too to get them into school. You can register them at any time throughout the school year whenever you arrive.

The academic year for public schools begins after Labor Day. For most of the schools around here it is Tuesday, September 7 for this year.

Being that your children are from a multicultural background, they will feel right at home here. There are people from hundreds of different countries, and the Middle East is well-represented. They should have no problem fitting in.

Originally Posted by Manisa

Hi,
My husband, three kids (6 1/2, 5 and 2 1/2) and I may be moving to the DC/North VA area in September (we are currently in Bahrain) and I had a few questions about schooling in the NOVA area.

As per my research online, my two eldest children (Kindergarten + Grade 1) will have to take a test of English at an Intake Center after we arrive in the US. Does anyone know what this process includes? How are children placed in public schools in the NOVA area? Are the placed based on our address/where we live? Will Sept be too late to get them into a school!?

Also, when does school start in the NOVA area for the new academic year?

And finally, does anyone have any advice on the best option for public schools in this area for their grade (Kinder + G1), keeping in mind my children come from a multicultural background? (I am Irish/Bahraini and my husband is Bahraini, but we both are graduates from US universities in NOVA area)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by michgc

Being that your children are from a multicultural background, they will feel right at home here. There are people from hundreds of different countries, and the Middle East is well-represented. They should have no problem fitting in.

I'll second that. The schools here in Mount Vernon have kids from all over the world and they're very used to helping little ones from other places get acclimated and into the flow. You probably couldn't have picked a better place in the U.S. for them to go to public school.

[claremarie]

If your children are not sufficiently fluent in English, they will be placed in an ESL program, which may or may not be located in your neighborhood elementary school. You can check the Fairfax County Public Schools website for further info on the ESL programs.

[Manisa]

Thank you very much for your replies. I have been looking at the Arlington County Schools and fine Abingdon very good so far. Have not looked at Fairfax yet.

But I noticed CAVA1990 and claremarie mentioned an area that is part of Fairfax, is that correct? Mt Vernon is not in the Arlington county, or is it?

Both my children speak English very well as we speak English at home and both went to a bilingual Arabic/English preschool.

[Caladium]

Hi! The others have given you good information, but I just wanted to say welcome to Northern Virginia!

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Manisa

Thank you very much for your replies. I have been looking at the Arlington County Schools and fine Abingdon very good so far. Have not looked at Fairfax yet.

But I noticed CAVA1990 and claremarie mentioned an area that is part of Fairfax, is that correct? Mt Vernon is not in the Arlington county, or is it?

Both my children speak English very well as we speak English at home and both went to a bilingual Arabic/English preschool.

Mount Vernon is in Fairfax County just South of Old Town Alexandria. Our postal address says Alexandria but we're not part of the City of Alexandria. Are you also aware that we have the International Saudi Academy here out on Route 1? It's a private school partially funded by the Saudi government I believe but they educate kids from all over the Middle East and elsewhere. They might be a useful resource for you. Here's a link to their site:

Untitled Document

However, the public schools will do an excellent job of educating your children.

Here's a map that may help orient you:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Mount+Vernon&state=VA

[Manisa]

So are schools in Mt Vernon part of the Arlington County or Fairfax county? Thanks!

[Manisa]

Thank you for the welcome We are looking forward to it, but my husband and I need to remember that this time around we have three kiddies with us and its not just us two! But we hope to meet and get to know families from various backgrounds in the area and set up a network of freinds to do fun stuff with like biking and other activities.

What is the Arab families population like? Are they active in the community?

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Manisa

So are schools in Mt Vernon part of the Arlington County or Fairfax county? Thanks!

Fairfax County.