Orange Hunt Elementary School

We've had our children in this school for 3 years and the teachers have been absolutely awesome. Our kids were behind in reading, and they brought them up to standard. Our oldest is now ahead of her grade-level reading. Our son is autistic, and the teachers and intervention staff have been supportive all along. Bullying is not tolerated. The principal and vice-principal make this school a great place for kids. There are numerous opportunities for parents to be involved.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved here two years ago and I must say that we are very pleased with the teachers and the staff. There are schools across this nation that do not have half of what Orange Hunt offers and provides. Going to meetings, speaking with teachers, asking for and offering suggestions is a yearly process to enhance the school and the students time spent there. My children are very happy and want to go to school everyday.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two girls attending Orange Hunt; one in the German program and one not. The school has been an excellent environment for both my daugthers and I am puzzled by the previous posts regarding the school principal. He is young, energetic, and engaging. He is at every event and has made the school overall less 'clicky' (before there was a sense of having to be in the German program to be special). There were some issues with an under performing Kindergarten teacher, which were addresed and she is no longer employed by the school. My daughters look forward to going to school every day and take pride in being 'Owls.' When my 1st grade daughter had issues adjusting I communicated by email with the teacher and she responded very quickly and resolved the issue. I am confident that OHES is preparing my kids well and giving them a quality education.
—Submitted by a parent

We just recently moved our child out of Orange Hunt elementary school and we discovered that our child does not meet standards at another Fairfax county school. The grades given and feedback from Orange Hunt said that the child exceeded standards, but now the new school is addressing these shortcomings. We find this unacceptable and alarming. There is no relationship between teachers and parents and you are really treated as a hassle. The school principal is living in his own world, does not greet parents and avoids any confrontation. He is so unfit for this position in terms of people skills. The Orange Hunt school also has a really bad environment where any parent whom speaks out or complains in order to address concerns is labeled as going against the family(the school). The school also covers up any problems instead of addressing them and pretends there are no problems. The school is overall hyped up much more than what it really is. Keep your eyes open, proactivity assess your children, stand behind your children and speak out for your child; this school has most people fooled as to what is really going on.
—Submitted by a parent

We had our children in the German immersion program because we thought it would be a good fit for them. They are fluent in German. Being a native German (30years+), one would think that I would know German, but according to the second grade teacher, who is not a German, my word knowledge was not sufficient. Wrong words were taught in math, but according to her, they were correct. English only speaking parents are in the dark due to the lack of understating. Parents should not have to put up with sub-standard teaching just to learn another language. The new principal is a disaster to say the least. This is his first year and one could only hope, for the school s sake, that he finds a new job away from Schools. He lacks any basic proper communicating skills to say the least. Is this school good? Not for parents who are actively involved in their children s education and are asking questions. We have been exposed to other Fairfax county schools and Orange Hunt does not meet the standards by far. There are by far much better schools in this area to choose from. Every school goes through good times and bad times; Orange Hunt is certainly on the down swing for sure.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two children at Orange Hunt. This is the second year for my older child and she loves her teacher and is thriving at school. I will say, her teacher goes out of her way to ensure good communication with the parents, which really helps. I've been in to volunteer and always feel very welcome in her classroom. My younger child is in Kindergarten. The Kindergarten classes are over crowded due to budget concerns, and are only half-day programs, for the same reason. I'm not particularly worried about him, because he's already a strong reader and good at math, but I don't feel he's grown at all from anything done at school. All of his advancement this year is because I spend an hour each day working with him at home. I feel like the teachers are doing the best they can, but really, 27 Kindergartners is just too much for one class. The ones who need extra help or extra challenges are going to fall through the cracks. Other reviewers have mentioned the unfriendly office staff. I will admit, I have found them a bit cold myself, but the more I volunteer and the more they see me, the friendlier they have become. If you're having issues, try to be part of the solution.
—Submitted by a parent

New to Orange Hunt this year. Fairfax County schools are great and my children have great teachers. My problem is with the office staff. They are the most unfriendliest stuck up bunch of people I ever met. They have a cold and callous way about them. At first I thought is was just me, but after reading reviews here I see others have experienced the same thing.
—Submitted by a parent

I've been in the German program since 1st grade. Currently, I'm in 8th. I know that the first grade German teacher can be harsh but she is actually really nice! Make it through that year and you will have the best time of your LIFE in the German. It's like a family. All the kids stick together and there really aren't many bullies. I love this school. I did everything. From Patrols to News Crew. I really stress that THE GERMAN PROGRAM IS GREAT! I'm not even in high school and have 2 language credits.

My daughter is in kindergarten at Orange Hunt. She is vision impaired, and the staff has been excellent. The administration support is fabulous. On the first day of school, the principal rode home on the bus with my daughter to ensure that the bus driver knew which stop my daughter was to get off at, and to assign a student helper. That alone put all of my fears at ease. It is a large school that is small in community. We love Orange Hunt.
—Submitted by a parent

I LOVE orange hunt and i have been here for 7 years. I am a sixth grader and me and all my friends love our school to, And if your to snotty, stuck up, and spoiled to realize that, your loss.Sure they dont have the friendliest office staff, but the age of a teacher doesnt matter! Just beacause they are old doesnt mean they are a bad teacher! Orange hunt is the best elemtary school ever, Those sangster kids think they are so much better than us just cause they are in a gifted school that isnt even any better than orange hunt! Listen to your kids for a change instead of being selfish, your kids will say they love the school, take it from a student that went there for seven years. I LOVE my school

Our son attended for 1st grade after "winning" a spot in the lottery. Although he learned German, his teacher was past retirement age and should have been retired a decade ago. The term "helicopter parents" was probably coined at this school, which we found out when turning in special assignments: the parents had completed them ! The front office staff were miserable, unpleasant at best and were rude numerous times over the nine months that we attended. The kiss and ride line was conducted like a military drill and the chiidren were constantly yelled at and called by a number, not their name. The worst straw that broke the camel's back was the day that - on my son's birthday - they shut the door in his face as he was walking in with arms loaded down with cupcakes...and we weren't even late! Wouldn't go back if you paid us.
—Submitted by a parent

The most unfriendly staff and school! The Kindergarten program is a joke. We are fortunate that our 3rd grader got a good teacher. If I had known what I know now I would not have moved into this neighborhood with this school!
—Submitted by a parent

One of our kids has special education needs and the "teacher" from Orange Hunt didn't help with any progression- didn't even listen when being spoken to! Spoke AT our child and heard what s/he wanted to hear. Administration and environment of the school is overall unfriendly. Our child didn't attend full time, but even with the few amount of visits there we still dreaded it. We recommend Sangster.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Orange Hunt Elementary because it has dedicated teachers and a great learning program, including German immersion. Both my children, one in K and one in 3rd grade, like to go there and have always liked their teachers. The principal is extremely dedicated as well. I can highly recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

The German Immersion program is a big pro. All German after school activities are paid completely by German Club dues and not PTA money like one reader suggested. This school has the most unfriendliest front office staff one can imagine. 'Barracudas' comes to mind. I also agree that the school teaches just for the SOL testing. GT is a joke! Even the kids think so. The school does not put any attention on spelling. No spelling tests what so ever. Worked out great for my oldest who despite 6 years Orange Hunt is now a great speller at Washington Irving MS but is not working at all for my younger two. I had to hire a tutor and hopefully they will catch up. This school does indeed not cater to special needs. They drop kids with reading problems and you have to fight to get them any extra help. Change is needed!
—Submitted by a parent

Teaching to the test, unfriendly staff who prefers to communicate via email, unresponsive leadership. Best features: partial German immersion and art/music. Without that, a pretty mediocre school.
—Submitted by a parent

Last year, our twins went to 1st grade at Sangster Elem; they received a great education and we were most satisfied with the entire staff. Because my wife and I are German speakers, we enrolled our children into the 2nd grade at Orange Hunt to participate in the German Emersion Program. This was a terrible mistake. It seems the culture at Orange Hunt discourages parent involvement. Interactions with our children's teachers are conducted primarily via email. Our children's teachers have also demonstrated an inability and unwillingness to conform to the special needs of one of our children. After speaking with other parents, who expressed similar concerns, we decided to pull our children out of Orange Hunt and put them back in Sangster. BTW, the German teacher's command of German was only mediocre.
—Submitted by a parent

I am very surprised by the high rating on this site when over the past three years, I have heard so many complaints from parents. Of course, these parents do not have children in the German Immersion Program. It is well know through the school that the Germon Immersion parents run the school. I particularly like how they use funds to sponsor German events but say the events are open for 'all the students.' My children have no interest in German events, but they would like to see a Smartboard in their classroom. And we'll celebrate the German holiday Sankt Nikolaus Tag in the classrooms, but forget Christmas. And I will echo the sentiments of others on this site, this school has given up on differentiated learning, or maybe my children have just not had the teachers who demonstrate differentitated instruction to GT learners or special needs.
—Submitted by a parent

We are an AF family and have lived all over the U.S.. Orange Hunt is a good school. Dr. Ryan is nice and some of the office staff are very nice, but I have to say that I have not been pleased this year with a few things. My number 1 complaint: USE BLACKBOARD!!! Kids forget to bring papers home! Parents need to know what's going on! Utilize parent helpers if teacher's don't have time! Esp. in the 6th grade! Responsibility is one thing...Being able to check up on something is crucial. 2. Kiss and Ride needs to be overhauled! Use parent volunteers to help keep the line moving. DON'T lock the doors when you clearly see that someone has held the line up!! Especially when it's raining! It was very, very irrritating and it happened many, many times! 3. Be more welcoming! It makes a difference.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school, particularly for the Partial German Immersion program. The teachers and principal have been great so far, after four years of attendance from our oldest daughter. They definitely drive the academics, but there are also a lot of extra-curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent