Gunston Middle School

We moved to this neighborhood specifically to attend Charles Barrett and we couldn't be happier about it. CBES is such a special school. The teachers go out of their way to communicate with parents and the kids feel supported and cared for. The integration of the arts makes learning fun and exciting. Also, having an after school program in the adjacent Rec Center is a lifesaver.

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.

My child looks forward to school every day. I am very pleased with learning progress in Kindergarten. My child went from not knowing how to read and write to reading on her own. Communications and processes are straightforward. Overall, it’s great!

The overcrowding has impacted the learning environment of the school. If your child needs a smaller than regular class setting this school is not a good choice. Overall this school needs upgrading and expansion to address many issues.

My daughter attended Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School during the year 2025. In general, we believe Arlington Public Schools are good, and we wanted this school to be a positive experience for our child. Unfortunately, we had a serious incident that changed our trust in the school.One day, our daughter came home with a large bruise on her face. We immediately reached out to the school to understand what happened. We asked teachers, staff, and even met with the principal. The only answer we received was that they “didn’t know what happened.”We understand that accidents can happen and that sometimes kids might accidentally hit each other. If the school had given us a clear explanation or at least some information, we would have understood. What concerned us most was the lack of communication and the fact that no one could tell us how a child was injured so noticeably while in their care.Because we weren’t able to get a clear answer, we made the decision to move our daughter to another school. We still believe Arlington Public Schools overall are good, but our personal experience at Drew left us feeling unsure about the supervision and communication regarding student safety.

There were several instances where I felt unsafe for children at Oakridge and recently had to withdraw my son because a child in his class repeatedly touched my son in his private parts without any repercussions. The administration team is laughable. The principal wouldn’t even come into a meeting to address the sexual abuse that was taking place at HER school. Shame on her. I have called CPS and the superintendent, but I would steer clear of this school.