Elementary/Middle Schools (Arlington, McLean, Winchester: apartments, rentals, condos) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

chessmom · 07-23-2012, 06:56 PM

Hi everyone. We are moving this month (with very short notice) to the area. We need to urgently find schools four our two boys (7 and 4 yrs old).

First for our rising second grader: We have done some research and found out that public schools in the area are very good. Do you have a good elementary/middle school combination?. We are, most likely, stay very long term and want to plan for the future. We want to aim for TJ high school and through (little) research have found that Longfellow feeds TJ with lots of students constantly every year and that Haycock is a good elementary for it. We will make him take the test to b admitted to AAIV but will most likely keep him in public regardless. Questions:

-Are there Elementary/Middle schools that compete with or are better than Haycock/Longfellow?
-If he does not qualify for AAIV, would a different combination that those above be better?

For our four year old: He is very bright and, like his brother, loves math and chess, and he is thirsty for knowledge. Questions:

-Do you recommend a private school for PK (strong focus in math and science)?. His older brother was taught addition, subtraction, numbers to 100 by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s. I dont know if all schools cover those subjects in NoVa in PK but we would be satisfied if the school of our choice covered them. The school doesnt need to be in NoVa, but within 35 minutes commute (say from McLean/Falls Church). Also it needs to be affordable (hopefully <$1000/month).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

ChessMom

P.S.: I know this is a long shot but... are there apartment buildings within the Haycock Elementary School boundary?

spencgr · 07-23-2012, 07:03 PM

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but you won't find anything under $1K that will fit your family in those districts.

JD984 · 07-23-2012, 07:05 PM

There are more apartment buildings in the Spring Hill and Westgate ES districts. If your kid gets into the advanced academic program and you live in the Spring Hill district, your kid goes to the AAP center at Churchill Road ES and then Longellow MS. If you live in the Westgate district, your kid goes to the AAP center at Haycock and then Longfellow. There are townhouses in the Haycock district itself, but not as many apartment buildings.

All these schools would be great, as would many others in FCPS and neighboring jurisdictions.

Does the $1000/month refer to housing or private schools tuition? If you're referring to housing under $1000/month near Tysons/McLean, you're out of luck. Don't know what private pre-K costs these days.

chessmom · 07-23-2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spencgr

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but you won't find anything under $1K that will fit your family in those districts.

I see. Which schools would fit those requirements regardless of price?. I am willing to go up to Germantowm going north and the same distance south in any direction.

Thanks for your reply

chessmom · 07-23-2012, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEB77

There are more apartment buildings in the Spring Hill and Westgate ES districts. If your kid gets into the advanced academic program and you live in the Spring Hill district, your kid goes to the AAP center at Churchill Road ES and then Longellow MS. If you live in the Westgate district, your kid goes to the AAP center at Haycock and then Longfellow. There are townhouses in the Haycock district itself, but not as many apartment buildings.

All these schools would be great, as would many others in FCPS and neighboring jurisdictions.

Does the $1000/month refer to housing or private schools tuition? If you're referring to housing under $1000/month near Tysons/McLean, you're out of luck. Don't know what private pre-K costs these days.

That's what we were thinking. If he does get accepted in an AAP center then we would have more choices for housing. I will definitely check the schools you mentioned and yes, all schools seem to perform VERY well. I don't think I've ever seen a county like this one. Arlington seems pretty good too. Are there problems with bullying?. If all kids perform this good I don't see how there could be many incidents in that regard.

The $1000/month referred to PK tuition. We are already digesting the fact that rent will be pretty high... but we are trying to find something as affordable as possible to be able to invest more in PK for our little one

Thanks for your reply

choff5 · 07-23-2012, 07:18 PM

I think OP means $1k for preschool costs/month, not housing. As for schools, sounds like a lot of research has already been done on the numbers. I am trying very hard here not to get on a soapbox about focusing on TJ admittance in early elementary school. Look for good schools, challenging programs, my guess is the extra curriculars will also be filled in by a parent who has these interests for their child. There's nothing, or maybe few things, that make me sadder than hearing a second grade student say he's worried about the "GT Test" and has studied all summer for it, or the second grader who wished he or she had done better on the "GT test" so they could go to the "GT center" too. If your child is in FCPS schools, all second graders take an assessment to look at qualification for Advanced Academics Level 4 (AAP level 4) which used to be known as the "GT center". You don't have to "make" them take it. As for TJ admittance, focus on good beginning then by middle school see what your child is interested in. Believe it or not, there is life beyond TJ. Sorry, I'll step down from my box now.

patriot201 · 07-23-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chessmom

I see. Which schools would fit those requirements regardless of price?. I am willing to go up to Germantowm going north and the same distance south in any direction.

Thanks for your reply

spencgr · 07-23-2012, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chessmom

The $1000/month referred to PK tuition.

Oh, thank goodness. While I don't know if that is reasonable or not for tuition, I feel much better about your prospects knowing that it is not your housing budget. Good luck!

patriot201 · 07-23-2012, 07:31 PM

I just saw your update that you meant tuition, not housing. Sorry!

chessmom · 07-23-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choff5

I think OP means $1k for preschool costs/month, not housing. As for schools, sounds like a lot of research has already been done on the numbers. I am trying very hard here not to get on a soapbox about focusing on TJ admittance in early elementary school. Look for good schools, challenging programs, my guess is the extra curriculars will also be filled in by a parent who has these interests for their child. There's nothing, or maybe few things, that make me sadder than hearing a second grade student say he's worried about the "GT Test" and has studied all summer for it, or the second grader who wished he or she had done better on the "GT test" so they could go to the "GT center" too. If your child is in FCPS schools, all second graders take an assessment to look at qualification for Advanced Academics Level 4 (AAP level 4) which used to be known as the "GT center". You don't have to "make" them take it. As for TJ admittance, focus on good beginning then by middle school see what your child is interested in. Believe it or not, there is life beyond TJ. Sorry, I'll step down from my box now.

I couldn't agree more. Although there is no one-answer-fits-all in this matter, I am more of the belief that kids should be pushed all the way until they stop enjoying what they are doing (unless they are doing bad in school at which time I am all for pushing no matter what). Luckily for my seven year old, he enjoys all his activities including school, and he will take the test for educational planning only (ie if he does not do good we will probably move to a more affordable area to register him in a private school, not for the quality of the education but so he can get more one on one time form his teacher - He has attended private up until know as where we live public schools are... how should I say it... sub par?). On the other hand, if he does good then we can probably enjoy the full benefits of extraordinary education in the area, living in a more affordable place