Gang issues/discussion (Alexandria, Dale City, Annandale: apartments, homes, neighborhoods)

[Nancy in Nokomis]

Nitrovic -
In which schools are the kids shaking in fear of the gangs? I would like to know so I dont send my kids there.
It is hard to believe that kids are in fear - most neighborhoods around her are million dollar mansions - I dont see how gang families can afford to live here.

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Nitrovic -
In which schools are the kids shaking in fear of the gangs? I would like to know so I dont send my kids there.
It is hard to believe that kids are in fear - most neighborhoods around her are million dollar mansions - I dont see how gang families can afford to live here.

I can only speak for Prince William County. I don't see many million dollar homes in the Rt.1 or Eastern Dale City homes. Fairfax has a big MS13, SSL and SUR13 problem as well. Again, it just depends where you live. I used to buy drugs all the time in Fairfax (along Rt.1 just north or Prince William). Freedom High School and Potomac High School have had large problems with gangs as has Gar-Field. A lot of white parents don't see what a lot of hispanic kids have to put up with these days. Gangs like MS13,SSL and SUR13 make these kids join in middle school. It's either that or they get beat up or live in fear everyday. As a white kid in a rich Fairfax neighborhood you probably won't have to worry about that, but it is going on in the ower income areas.

[LLD]

I've moved these posts from the "general pointers" topic that is stickied because this is a separate topic and not really a general pointer.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Nitrovic -
In which schools are the kids shaking in fear of the gangs? I would like to know so I dont send my kids there.
It is hard to believe that kids are in fear - most neighborhoods around her are million dollar mansions - I dont see how gang families can afford to live here.

not very many. I'd say the lower income schools in Fairfax Co (Annandale, Edison, Mount Vernon, etc) close to Alexandria have a noticable amount of gang activity.

[Yankeesfan]

The gangs are mostly comprised of lower-income Spanish students (or dropouts), who target other low-income Spanish students and pressure and them to join. So non-Spanish students in a particular school might not be experiencing the fear and intimidation that some of their classmates are. And it doesn't seem to be a problem for the large number of middle and upper income Spanish students -- it's mainly those in low-income areas whose parents are too busy working multiple jobs to be as involved in their children's lives as most of us are.

[alexandrian]

Most high schools in Fairfax and Prince William have 2,000 or more students. With that many kids, it's inevitable that there is going to be a bad element...the flipside is that with schools that size, I think most kids are pretty insulated from it if they want to be.

I don't think any of the schools in Fairfax (I don't know too much about Prince William, other than that Potomac has a really good football team this year) have a big enough gang problem that you'd be worried about sending your kid there for that reason, unless you think your kid is likely to join one...

[Nancy in Nokomis]

My son would be going to Robinson -
We are not rich - just middle class and my son is not white -

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

The gangs are mostly comprised of lower-income Spanish students (or dropouts), who target other low-income Spanish students and pressure and them to join. So non-Spanish students in a particular school might not be experiencing the fear and intimidation that some of their classmates are. And it doesn't seem to be a problem for the large number of middle and upper income Spanish students -- it's mainly those in low-income areas whose parents are too busy working multiple jobs to be as involved in their children's lives as most of us are.

I agree. It's more a neighborhood issue than a school issue. If you are a Latino male and live in one of the high-density low-slung garden-style apartments in select parts of Bailey's Crossroads, Seven Corners and a handful of other areas, then yes, you may feel pressured to join a gang. For everyone else, including non-Latinos in these neighborhoods, Latinos who don't live in these neighborhoods, and girls, generally it isn't an issue; who comprise probably 99% of the students in northern Virginia (although less in some areas), it's not much of an issue thankfully.

[beth ann]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

My son would be going to Robinson -
We are not rich - just middle class and my son is not white -

Robinson has a good reputation and good SAT scores. It is pretty much middle class, but also has significant minorities. I think the gang situation, if it exists there, is fairly minimal and more of a "gang-wanna-be" mentality.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

Nitrovic -
In which schools are the kids shaking in fear of the gangs? I would like to know so I dont send my kids there.
It is hard to believe that kids are in fear - most neighborhoods around her are million dollar mansions - I dont see how gang families can afford to live here.

i am unfamiliar with your area, but a general statement is public school.
40% of public school teachers send their kids to private school.
greenspan gave a wonderful talk long ago at the commonwealty club on the voucher system.. i am a believer. thank you for caring.