5 E Howell Ave
Alexandria, VA 22301

Our daughter is in 2nd grade and has attended MVCS since Kindergarten. All her teachers have been wonderful -- attentive to her and responsive to any concerns we have. The dual language program was difficult in virtual school but she is accelerating again now that they have been back in person full time this year. We speak English at home, but multiple native Spanish speakers have commented to me that her accent is incredible. The early grades so far have not focused on homework, which we love -- kids receive books to read and are encouraged to do math activities, but no formal homework is assigned. Our daughter tests well, reflecting the great teachers at this school. MVCS has particularly focused on Social Emotional learning since the pandemic started, and the kids have a lot of tools for recognizing and regulation emotions, particularly stress. We hope this focus remains in place for the long run, as we really like it.

Terrible school!! Please do your research before enrolling in this High School! Terrible teaching, very Unsafe environment and careless administration!! You brilliant son or daughter will turn to a below average!!

From firsthand knowledge, it is regrettable to report that George Washington Middle School is grappling with significant challenges. The school's environment, instead of fostering learning and development, is often dominated by unruly and occasionally violent behavior.The administration, tasked with managing these issues, appears to provide insufficient support to teachers to address these challenges effectively. Their unresponsiveness not only intensifies the burden on those dealing with these behavioral problems daily but also significantly hinders the overall learning process.Moreover, the school faces additional systemic issues. The misuse of electronic devices, insufficient interdisciplinary collaboration among teachers, and a flawed approach to student recognition all contribute to a disheartening environment that calls for decisive intervention and transformation.One issue that merits particular attention is the handling of the honors program. What should be an emblem of academic achievement has become disappointingly disconnected from genuine merit. The school's (and ACPS's) focus on critical race theory seems to have driven this shift, leading to a disturbing trend of recognizing underachievement and distorting the true purpose of the honors program. Instead of distinguishing high-achieving students, it appears that virtually anyone can be designated an honors student, thus undermining the program's credibility and devaluing the accomplishments of truly deserving students.In light of the existing challenges, George Washington Middle School may benefit from an external intervention by the state. A comprehensive transformation focusing on reestablishing discipline, educational excellence, and genuine merit-based recognition is urgently needed.Put plainly, the situation at George Washington Middle School is a cause for concern. As someone intimately familiar with the school's inner workings, it is my hope that bringing these issues to light will help trigger the necessary reforms. This is a critical step in ensuring that the school can fulfill its central role in educating and preparing our future generations.