Any good private schools in the Fairfax area? (Oakton, Vienna: elementary schools, price) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Nancy in Nokomis · 02-10-2009, 09:15 PM

I did have a parent/teacher conference and I voiced my concerns to the teacher and the principal and I was told that they test for GT in 2nd grade and handed some other BS and that was that.

Nah - homeschooling is not for me - I would go nuts and so would my son - he needs to be out amoung other children - away from me.

Denton56 · 02-11-2009, 01:52 AM

Nysmith is good, so is Flint Hill. A friend likes Edlin in Reston. I"ve also heard good things about Langley (the little Langley) in McLean. St. Marks in Vienna is well liked too.

About half of my neighborhood in Western Loudoun does home schooling but various people volunteer to teach one day a week, so almost all children take classes in other homes on Fridays.

mlv311 · 02-11-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

I did have a parent/teacher conference and I voiced my concerns to the teacher and the principal and I was told that they test for GT in 2nd grade and handed some other BS and that was that.

I've heard about the testing being in 2nd/3rd grade too. If your concern is that your child is not challenged academically, make sure you ask specific questions about how private schools handle "gifted" children. My cousin has been a teacher in private school her whole career and on her own, she has challenged the gifted children because the school per se didn't offer alternatives to parents. I know my school offered to my parents having me skip a grade, but eventually you end up with a different set of concerns, including the possible "emotional immaturity" of a 16 or 17 year old who is college bound at that young age.

Nancy in Nokomis · 02-11-2009, 08:21 PM

I had another talk with the teacher and pricipal and decided to give public school a chance - see what happens in first grade -
I just wish they tested for GT sooner - but I guess even if he was GT we would have to wait until the 3rd grade anyway -

Yeah - I would hate to see a 16 yr old in college unless he is VERY mature

Denton56 · 02-12-2009, 12:50 AM

College kids have to face so much than we did, I would hate to see any child under 18 or 19 going to college. He will be socially and psychologically overwhelmed. I would NEVER do that to a child, not even a more mature girl. They just don't know what they don't know.

lindakl · 06-07-2009, 01:07 AM

I would like to open a new Montessori school in NOVA. I am looking for space in a church, school or other building that would meet the appropriate building codes and zoning restrictions. I have been the Head of School at top tier Montessori Schools and private schools. If you know of any available space, please let me know. I also offer outstanding Fine Arts Studios and excellent academic preparation for success in later grades. All suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am trying to determine which area would be a good choice and if anyone knows of space that meets zoning and building codes.

Thanks for any help you can provide. Lindakl

fjennell · 06-07-2009, 05:49 AM

I am in MD but in my daughter's K class the "advanced" kids get a different worksheet or get an additional worksheet while the other kids work on the standard worksheet. They don't test here until 2nd also. Do you know if that's something they do where your son is? At least that way it keeps the kid working on an advanced level and is a little more challenging.

michgc · 06-07-2009, 11:20 AM

I don't think you can judge your child's education he will receive in Fairfax County by kindergarten. Yes, they try to get some of the kids up to speed in kindergarten, although that usually slows down by November or so. Then the children should be in separate reading groups based on ability. There may be a GT specialist that vists the classroom to give some of the kids harder work. There may be junior great books that pulls some of the kids out for more challenging work. They did with my daughter. By first grade, they should be separating the kids out not only in reading groups but in math groups as well. My daughter just finished first grade, and that was our experience. She has a November birthday (so she's one of the oldest in her class) and had a preschool teacher who was very challenging in the area of writing. I talked to the teacher and she agreed my daughter needed to be challenged more. Was kindergarten a waste? No. Could she have been more challenged? Probably. Will that affect her long-term success? Not at all. She was 6 years old and I do believe kids need to be kids. There is plenty of time for challenging work and grades and competition.

By first grade they are given homework each week and she goes to another teacher for math class (they give them pretests for each unit to see where students are). They are also tested for reading and put in different groups. The work WILL get harder. I have a neighbor in 3rd grade. She appears to be extremely intelligent - maybe even genius level. She was a bit bored in 2nd grade but is now in the GT program and is being challenged. She'd not going to fall through the cracks. Children who are very smart will be put into GT, and those that are at the upper end of that group will go onto TJ. If you have a smart child, he will not fail in Fairfax County.

Denton56 · 06-07-2009, 11:50 PM

Homeschooling seems to be the alternative that well educated parents are pursuing. Gifted Exchange: Homeschooling on the rise Consortia of home schoolers are common in Loudoun county, with 200 families in each of them. Kids take classes in each others homes so the children can take AP physics from a physics professor in his home. Public schools just aren't offering much any more and it appears they are going to begin to close the GT centers. There will be nothing for the high end learners.

Yes, class sizes will increase next year. The only question is, by how many students? If they increase class size by one child, that really means 3 or 4 more in a regular class. (That's what Dr. Dale said.) If they increase class size by 2, it will be an increase of 5-6, approaching the state max of 34. Although Principals get around that max. With tracking being a bad word, that means teachers will be teaching over 30 kids, with abilities ranging from 2-3 years below grade level, to many years above grade level. It's not a good way to educate anyone and it's awful for teachers.

Denton56 · 06-07-2009, 11:56 PM

Michgc,
Wow. You have a very unusual school. What your daughter receives is far from the norm. As you know, every elementary school is different. Most schools do not do much, if any, ability grouping.

The GT centers will not be around for long. Already the school board will no longer bus kids to a GT center if they are in one of the many elementary schools that have smart classes, or whatever they call them, the supposed local GT class.

For those who want to learn more about GT schools, from the parents in them, I suggest you read this forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FCAG/messages