Herndon Elementary School

Communication from School to the parents is very poor. Leadership at this school is very poor. A few teachers are great but most of the teachers my children had were mediocre. The school administration is only focussed on bringing up test scores. They tend to not teach a subject unless there is a Virginia Standard of Learning Test on the topic. Overall, the School only teachesthe minimum for the students to pass tests. The administration does not advocate challenging students and driving for higher standards. There is a good core group of parents that volunteers at everything, but the majority of parents are uninvolved with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

4/26/13: Herndon ES is now a Title 1 school for 2012-13 school year. This is due to the number and percentage (over 50%) of Low Income students who attend this school. FCPS has decided to now phase out the French imm. program at Herndon and replace with Spanish imm. program. That decision is to cater to the LI students, most who speak fluent Spanish in their homes; and also to try to pull up those LI student SOL test scores. The French program students are the kids who pull up the SOL scores for this school. Many non-LI families are not happy with the decision to phase out the French program, and those French program families are now looking to place their student's in other FCPS schools. FCPS tried to keep this info. under the radar and out of the news, but the info. is public, and now spreading in the local community. Too bad, this used to be a really nice - and diverse - school. Our kids all went there (last in 2009), but it looks like Herndon ES may be on the way down.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent, hardworking teachers abound at this school. I have nothing but praise. Our son moved from France, and the Partial Immersion French Program helped him stay on top of it in terms of keeping up with the French he had learned. I just sent my 5 year old girl to school this year, and she comes home every day telling me how much she LOVES school. Academics are quite good. Teachers are excellent. Kids have the opportunity to learn a foreign language from a young age. I really couldn't ask for more.
—Submitted by a parent

My Son attended here only one year. We have to move and are trying to find a home in the school area, but no luck so far. My son loves his teachers and peers. I have nothing but praise for Herndon Elementary. I was a little wary at first because I had not heard anything (good or bad). I decided to give him one year there and see what happened. Oh so glad I did! I wish there were more parents involved in the school, but thats not the schools fault!
—Submitted by a parent

From a parent prospective this is a very good school with very good teachers. It does draw from a very diverse community, but the teachers have effectively provided GT learning and the French and accelerated math program have been great.
—Submitted by a parent

I like that the school has a French program. I love the fact that the teacher is French and promotes that the kids only speak French while they are in the classroom. The teachers have empathy for kids that need a little extra time. They are teaching the kids the school material and what they will need to leave in sociaty, to get along with others. Problem solving, peer relations. The social workers care and follow up with the kids. Teachers invite the parents to volunteer help out and be part of the school experiance the kids go through. I volunteered last year and a parent sent me a note that the day I was there her daughter came home very excited, because I spent time with them and we read and did little projects. I invite the parents to volunteer. I plan on doing it this year aswell. Also, go and join your kids for lunch once in a while. I was privilage to have the time to go every Friday and since right now I have a 2nd grader he loved it and is asking me when I will join him again this year. Enjoy the time you are able to spend with them, and they can see that school is fun and you are able to join them in that part of their day as well.
—Submitted by a parent

The administration is officious and bureaucratic. They are more likely to provide political responses to questions and problems than helpful support.. the French immersion program is excellent and this type of language program should be a staple of US education. Quality of teachers varies widely from OK to outstanding as I am sure it does in every school. Computer labs are good but computer education is not geared toward learning how to research and research tools. It is geared toward the least common denominator with all but the most basic needs studies left board and uninspired. In comparison to other schools in other states and rural areas the academics are very good and resources and opportunities are excellent.
—Submitted by a parent

Academically the school is good. Regarding the school environment, strict rules must be enforced seriously against bullying.
—Submitted by a parent

Though his parents feel that his class is too large, our child loves the French program. The teacher is too overhwelmed to pay attention to individual students and he gets a lot of worksheet time. Despite that though, he has learned a ton of French. He wishes, as we do, that he had more time in G/T pullouts than he does.
—Submitted by a parent

Despite our excitement about the French immersion program, my child has not had a good experience at this school. The quality of the teaching varies greatly. The administrators are much more SOL-focused than child-focused.
—Submitted by a parent

This elementary school is keenly focused on meeting the needs of all students, from G/T to ESL to LD. The immersion program is top notch and the teachers really go the extra mile.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful elementary school. The opportunity for young children to undertake the French immersion program is a tremendous asset. No need for private schools here!
—Submitted by a parent