Belle View Elementary School

Elementary schools are very much a human thing, the culture, values, and attention a school places in its students is a result of the principle setting the direction and engagement, the teachers, and the parents. Both my son's are pupil placed at Belle View because of the strength of their Autism Program. Having my children in other schools within Fairfax County I can say that one of the things that makes Belle View so wonderful is the atmosphere set by the Principal. He is engaged in the culture of the school, in the teachers, and with the PTA. He is always responsive to student and parent needs. From what I can tell he is also responsive to teachers' needs as much as resources allow him to be. The school culture focuses on respect through-out the entire spectrum and this is a huge benefit to those students in the Autism and Learning Disabled programs. Is it perfect; no. Have we had some problems; some. But the fact that we can work with teachers and principal to resolve them and everyone in engaged in the student's well being makes it a great school. It is the only school I've seen where parents, teachers, and principal really do all work together -- for the students!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Belle View for four years. She loves it, and every teacher she's had. Every year during orientation she insists on visiting each of her past teachers. I love the personal attention she gets at this school; the staff in the front office knows everyone, as it seems do the teachers. With a class size of 16 this year, I couldn't be happier. All across the country classrooms are overcrowded, but this year somehow we got lucky at Belle View. Her teacher this year is tremendous. She's smart, dedicated, firm and friendly. My daughter has never been happier at school and I couldn't be more thrilled. Plus, the arts and extracurricular activities that are available are wonderful, including sports programs, foreign language programs, Girls on the Run, orchestra, etc. It's a great place to send your child.
—Submitted by a parent

Belle View is a happy place. When you think of the quintessential all-American grade school, this school comes as close as you can imagine. Like all schools, their hands in the classroom are largely tied to teaching towards the SOLs but there is a deep sense of caring for the students from the front office to the classroom and to all the parents and other volunteers who fill the gap and provide all sorts of "added" activities from field trips to sock hops, sports activities and art experiences. Children of all abilities are respected and the presence of the school within the school that assists childrens with more severe disabilities provides a learning environment for all the students that extends well beyond lessons learned in a book to ones that are learned in life.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two second graders and a third grader who attend Belle View and we love it. The teachers are fantastic, and all of my children have benefited. I have one child in the Special Education Autism-Only class and his teacher is one of the best Special Ed teachers I've ever seen. This school has a very positive enviroment for kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Outstanding diversity and G & T program...now have a 2nd & 3rd grader who have had great experiences throughout.
—Submitted by a parent

Belle View truly is the best kept secret in Fairfax County. The new principal is wonderful and has greatly enhanced the entire school in the past 2 years. Staff are dedicated to the children and go the extra mile. My son's kindergarten class will be performing an opera for the entire school--all because the teacher believes in the kids and in giving them opportunities to grow and shine. They have fully participated in costume and prop development, integrating many skills. Teachers are well-trained to work with all levels of learners. We love BV!
—Submitted by a parent

I am not a parent though I did attend BVES myself and I currently have two younger siblings in attendance there. I can tell anyone reading this my past experiences and what my siblings think. I loved Belle View! I can still remember our school song! I started at BV in preschool and graduated in sixth grade. I loved all my teachers. We as students all thought we had the coolest lunch ladies, the kindest nurse and a wonderful music and P.E. staff. This was back in the 1990's. Today, my brother and sister share the same view. I've never heard them come home crying or upset with a classmate or a teacher/staff member most importantly. Some of a child's most impressionable years are spent in elementary school and I believe Belle View ES left a fine one on me, as it will with my younger brother and sister.
—Submitted by a former student

My son attends Belle View and I am thrilled with his experience thus far. The staff is kind, caring, and dedicated to teaching every child. The ratio is incredible, my son s class has 20 kids - and there is a full time aid assigned to the classroom. The children attend art class once a week, music twice a week and gym twice a week. The media center is very nice, with rows of mac and pc workstations, tons of books, and a few dozen children magazine subscriptions. The older students create a news show that they broadcast throughout the school. Parent involvement is top notch. They lead many enrichment programs including Reflections (a creative competition), Odyssey of the Mind, Foreign language, and a variety of after school sports groups. Belle View should definitely be on every parent s list of schools to tour. My family couldn t be happier with Belle View!
—Submitted by Angie, a parent

Recently I enrolled my child to Bell View Elementry school. My child felt and talked about how the teacher is nice to other kids and gets mad at what he does. Also when he asks his teacher if he could use the restroom she tells him he can hold it. When other kids ask she let's them go use the bathroom. My son's confiedence was really down and he felt like did not like him. Now i took my son out of bell view school and hope this wont happen to other kids. Children learn from their teachers everyday. I don't want my son to learn it's ok to show favorism or it's ok to treat other people differently. Kids are our future.
—Submitted by a parent