Fairview Elementary School

I agree wholeheartedly with the previous review (dated June 2). I have had three children in the school over the past 6 years, two of them for the past 3 years and have nothing but high praise for their teachers, the administration, and the PTA. My kids absolutely love the school and come home every day excited about what they have learned and what they have been doing in class. High kudos to everyone involved. I am absolutely convinced that the education they have received has prepared them very well for their journey through life. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a world class learning environment. Sure this school is strict. But rather than thinking of it as a "boot camp" as a previous reviewer described it, I think of Fairview as one with very high standards...something that is sorely lacking in many schools today.
--Submitted by a parent

Fairview is a wonderful school with challenging yet caring teachers and a very school focused administration. The PTA is VERY involved and supportive. The school provides the kids with a safe and friendly environment to learn. The teachers are very supportive of the kids even outside of school. On many cases, my son's teachers have come to his athletic events and held movie days for the kids. Many great afterschool programs.
--Submitted by a parent

Admin: Some of the rules and policies are ridiculous. Parental input is often 'politely ignored' or glossed over but that is systematic to FCPS. FCPS: I am very disappointed in the so-called "top rated Fairfax County Schools". The Chinese program is a waste of time & money. 1/2 day kindergarten; 1/2 day Mondays; and Teacher Work Days are a joke. Curriculum is very P.C. & some math concepts are taught in a weird sequence (dictated by FPCS & not teacher preference). The taxpayers do not get the respect and services they deserve from a multi million $ system. School: It is near capacity & fall '11 will get students from the Clifton ES area. It will be overcrowded for some time due to the demo of the area. Kids get little new material after April b/c they must review for the SOLs. Teachers: Some are drones/some are GREAT. They work in grade level teams so the kids can't get too far behind. Parents have to help at home b/c concepts are thrown at kids w/o much follow up in a short span of time & the assumption that all kids "get it". On the bright side, the parents are really active volunteers, the PTA tries very hard. Most parents are very bright, involved and motivated.
--Submitted by a parent

Welcome to boot camp. The academics at this school are great but it is not a very happy place. Your child will learn the basics, and build a very strong academic base. They will certainly score well on the standardized tests and all will "look" good. The problems that the school has are hidden behind its facade. If you keep quiet, conform to the clean cut image, don't challenge any administrator, and keep quiet, you will love this school. If you want to be involved with your child's education and hope your ideas will be considered...good luck with that. It's their way or the highway. Rather than a warm, loving environment it is more of a boot camp. We moved to this area for the schools 100%. Although we absolutely love Robinson Secondary where our two older children attend, we are very disappointed with Fairview and the overwhelming control of the administration.
--Submitted by a parent

Don't be fooled by this school's high test scores. They HEAVILY teach to the test. In third grade, the first year they take the state standardized tests (SOLS), most new learning pretty much stops in March and reviewing for the test takes over for three months. There are teachers who fight this but there isn't much they can do. This is an average school. If you come in knowing that, you will be fine. If you come in thinking this is a stellar Fairfax County school, you will be frustrated.
--Submitted by a parent

Fairview is a wonderful school with an active PTA and great parent volunteers. Top notch teachers too!
--Submitted by a parent

My children have been at Fairview for 2 years now. The fourth grade team is fantastic!! They challenge the children to reach beyond their comfort levels with compassion. The kindergarten team is also great, especially their lead teacher. She is absolutely dedicated to the students. She may not be warm and fuzzy with the parents but she is with the kids. I have seen exceptional academic growth in both K and 4th.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has been going to Fairview for the past three years. We have been extremely pleased with her progress. The school is demanding but fair. That's what our school system needs. Very happy over all.
--Submitted by a parent

This school's atmosphere is negative mainly because the principal is so awful and exudes this incredible phoniness that is transparent and offputting. So far my son has had a very substandard experience in teaching at this school and the environment is non-nurturing. The overall vibe at the school is colored because the principal is concerned with how things appear rather than how they are and will go to great lengths to make herself look good. The environment at the school is poisonous and I haven't met one person that likes this woman. Our son is doing wonderfully academically but this is not a school that cares about children. Very high pressure, little fun or extracurriculars. This was a big mistake and we cannot wait to get our son out of this terrible environment!
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school; wonderful faculty; wonderful administration. Very impressed with their forward thinking and their vision for the school. The fact that they will begin a Chinese language program this year is very progressive.