Stratford Landing Elementary School

Posted: May 7, 2026

My daughter was so excited and proud to be accepted into the full time AAP program and start 3rd grade at Stratford. What we didn't account for with the transfer was an hour long bus ride in each direction, teaching methods that were much more technology heavy than our base school, and a yearlong feeling of disconnect from what she was learning in the classroom. Over the course of the entire school year, my daughter didn't bring home a single spelling test, worksheet, or graded paper or test... one of the key ways parents can monitor progress and ciricculum. We never saw an art project, or any project for that matter. It's wild that in 3rd grade students can be pushed onto computers so heavily that there is no tangle parts of their education that come home. My daughter boards the bus at 8:05 each morning, and get's dropped off at 5pm each evening... for a standard school day. We have participated in most every major school event, I've volunteered in the classroom and chaparoned school trips, but I never felt that my interaction with other parents or staff members was sincere... it was a big let down. The school lacks warmth. We were expecting something spectacular, and were met with mediocre. Needless to say the transfer forms have been filed.

Posted: May 7, 2026

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Posted: September 20, 2025

We are a family who has seen the best of both worlds, moving from Waynewood to Stratford Landing Elementary, and we couldn't be happier with our decision. While we absolutely loved our time at Waynewood, and it is a fantastic school, there's a unique and special energy at Stratford Landing that has made us feel so at home. From the moment we joined, we were struck by the incredibly welcoming and engaged community. The families here, along with a truly dedicated PTA, create a collaborative spirit that goes far beyond school hours, making it feel less like a school and more like a second home.

The staff at Stratford Landing are nothing short of exceptional. The teachers and administrators are not just educators but true partners in our children's growth, providing a loving and supportive environment where they can thrive. The academic program is rigorous and well-rounded, and our kids are excited to go to school every day. The communication from the school is outstanding, and we always feel in the loop and confident that our children are in the best hands. For any family coming from a great school like Waynewood, rest assured that Stratford Landing Elementary has all the academic rigor you expect, but with a heart and community spirit that truly sets it apart.

Posted: September 20, 2025

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Posted: November 4, 2023

This is our third year at SLES with three children who are attending and this is the best year yet! We have two children with learning differences and they have received more than adequate support in a loving environment. Every extracurricular, resource and classroom teacher we have worked with so far this year has been wonderful. We are communicated with often via newsletters from the teaching staff and admin communication has continued to be clear. The PTA does great things at this school and we've found that there is many opportunities for the kids to volunteer and be involved. Really glad we chose this corner of Northern Va since it brought us to this school.

Posted: November 4, 2023

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Posted: August 30, 2023

Can’t say enough good things about this school. My kids have been here for 6 years and I can’t imagine a better place for academic and social-emotional development. LOVE this place!

Posted: August 30, 2023

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Posted: August 9, 2023

Excellent teachers and challenging advanced academic program

Posted: August 9, 2023

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Posted: July 25, 2023

If your child is neurotypical, or in advanced placement, they'll be fine.
BUT...if he/she has an IEP, 504 or is in any way neurodivergent, don't walk, RUN to another school. The teachers are great, but the administration is awful. The principal is a bully. The teacher turnover in the past several years is an ongoing concern of the parents and PTA. The administrative staff does not know how to properly administer IEPs or provide the supports that children need to succeed.

Posted: July 25, 2023

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Posted: March 10, 2022

I want to start this by saying that I have two kids in this school currently. One in 3rd is in Advance Academic classes and one in 5th in General Ed.
My 3rd grader has had a great teacher and is doing well! My 5th grader, she has been bullied more than I have ever experienced anywhere else! Not just verbally, but she has been attacked physically 3 times! All unprovoked, however anytime we would meet with administration regarding these issues and protecting her they victim blame! My child is not the only one, we know others that have had to file police reports on students just to get the administration to do anything! The principal is delusional and refuses to do anything about these issues! They praise the AAP children, yet the general Ed classes are a free for all! Most teachers in gen Ed classes have no help, are not listened to and have students that are crying and scared to come to school! Administration does not listen to anything parents are saying, in blame everything on the pandemic. Bully and violence have been an issue for this school BEFORE the pandemic! My daughter had a male student jump her in the hall, attempt to choke her in the middle of a class! These students have no real consequences! I would say if you are moving to the Fort Hunt area, got with Waynewood! This school will only cause your child harm!

Posted: March 10, 2022

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Posted: January 5, 2020

My child is thriving at SLES! She’s in Kindergarten and her class has just about 21 students with a teacher and full time aid, which is unbelievable! We are delighted with the class size! Her schedule of activities each day is engaging, stimulating, and full of activity, which suits her learning style very well. She’s spelling, reading, and doing math in her head! She has a huge network of friends and loves the extra-curricular activities that SLES provides. She’s joined the LEGO-robotics club and she participates in a Girl Scout troop at the school. She is incredibly confident about attending school now and wakes up excited to go to every morning. I don’t know what could be a better endorsement of the faculty and programs at SLES than a kid who can’t wait to get there each day! (And who doesn’t want to leave in the afternoons - she always asks to play on the playground for an hour or more after school!)

Posted: January 5, 2020

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Posted: January 5, 2020

Mr. Morris, the new principal is awesome! He is very much available to parents and students - always around the school and engaging with the community.

Posted: January 5, 2020

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Posted: June 15, 2019

Excellent. My children all had great experiences here, in both the gen Ed and AAP programs. Teachers, for the most part, are top notch. 9 out of 10.

Posted: June 15, 2019

No homework policy. If any class work is incomplete, “homework” is to finish at home. Reading and online iReady instruction is encouraged.

Posted: June 15, 2019

All of my children have had positive, engaging teachers who work tirelessly to ensure that students aren’t only making academic gains, but are in a good place socially and emotionally. My children LOVE their teachers.

Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: June 15, 2019

Very welcoming and community-focused, but could be more firm with behavior problems.

Posted: June 15, 2019

Differentiation in instruction is evident in all 3 of my children’s classrooms.

Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: February 8, 2019

We have experienced grades k-5 over the past 3 years and every teacher has exceeded my expectations. They are all excellent teachers as well as genuinely invested in the well-being of our children.

Posted: February 8, 2019

I feel this is more the job of the parents but the school does what it can to instill these important character traits in the students. They have the Dolphin Decree which they are all supposed to follow and it describes these important character traits. It is ultimately up to us, the parents, to make sure our children are kind, respectful members of society.

Posted: February 8, 2019

There are some unique challenges for the administration of SLES but I do feel they do a good job and care about each student.

Posted: February 8, 2019

I love that SLES welcomes inclusive classrooms and our children have friends with learning differences.

Posted: February 8, 2019

This is a huge challenge in any school and the teachers do their best to intervene. There is some discrepancy in punishment depending on the circumstances of the student.

Posted: February 8, 2019

We have had an excellent experience at Stratford Landing for going on 3 years now. There is a strong feeling of community, wonderful parent involvement, caring teachers, amazing advanced academic curriculum, and most importantly happy kids.

Posted: February 8, 2019

There is a "no homework" policy which I love and is supported by recent research.

Posted: September 25, 2017

Posted: September 25, 2017

Posted: September 25, 2017

Posted: September 25, 2017

There is a general "no homework policy" for K-5 grades, students are only asked to complete work that is not completed during the day and study for assessments

Posted: September 25, 2017

In our 8th year at this school, our family has had one great teacher after another. Many give their time to tutor students, lead clubs and programs and are personally invested in their students' success.

Posted: September 25, 2017

This is one of the core values touted by the administration

Posted: September 25, 2017

We have had mostly positive interactions with administration, families and teachers at Stratford Landing. Personally, I think they do their best to welcome all families, to teach the students about respect and responsibility and to prepare them for their brightest futures. I love that the school enrollment has dipped bit over the past few years, setting up smaller class sizes and the renovation will leave the school beautiful and ready to house the next generation of learners!

Posted: September 13, 2017

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Posted: September 13, 2017

Posted: September 13, 2017

We've had a wonderful experience at SLES. There are wonderful teachers, a beautiful new addition and once the renovations are completed this year - a brand new school, a real community feel. In terms of numbers - class sizes vary but we were lucky to get a very small class this year. The PTA is very active and does a ton to raise money for the school. There are so many opportunities at SLES. We feel very lucky we ended up at this school.

Posted: May 22, 2017

Terrific environment. The addition to the school, which should be completed this summer, will be an incredible asset to the school. From what we've seen of it this far, it looks great and should solve the space issues at the school (finally, thanks Fairfax).

Posted: May 22, 2017

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Posted: May 2, 2017

Steer clear of this school! We are so incredibly regretful of our decision to move into this neighborhood. It's gone from a 9 to a 7 rating in 14 months time. Let the parent reviews speak for themselves in the last few years. Once a great school, no longer. Look at attrition rates of families AND teachers leaving. My child was bullied and the administration did not handle it professionally or in a common sense way at all. Multiple families are leaving SLES before AAP program starts in 3rd grade, because how can I child learn when there is 1 teacher, 28-30 kids and no full-time individual assistant for children who need additional assistance? Nightmare. If you try and take on the administration you will see why bullying is not dealt with in a common sense way. Please go rent or buy a house somewhere else. A once happy, confident, very smart child is declining in every way possible-especially emotionally and it's heartbreaking. Can't wait for this school year to end so we can go to another school!

Posted: May 2, 2017

Nope, they don't hire enough individual assistants to support the talented teachers they have to help these students who need additional help. They rely on untrained parent volunteers to teach these children.

Posted: May 2, 2017

Not at all. Lawwwwrd, so far from it, it's comical.

Posted: May 2, 2017

Posted: May 2, 2017

How can they be effective if class sizes are too large to manage? And the administration won't support them with adequate individual assistants?

Posted: May 2, 2017

Some weeks we have it, some weeks we don't. And they want you to use 3 different computer programs for homework. Screen time learning is the solution? Great. Total fail.

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

My child had a teacher (2015-16) who was absent 1-3 days each month and the substitutes were unable to make forward progress in the curriculum. Frequently math homework was sent home to be completed without having been taught the lessons in class first. Teacher repeatedly lied about classroom situation and lessons. Very frustrating! And when we sat down to talk to the powers that be, the answer was that we can practice over the summer. I would have preferred to hear how THEY were going to fix the situation with the new teacher to prevent a reoccurrence. Having said all this, this was our 3rd year at this school and this was by far the worst experience. The other years weren't this terrible.

Posted: February 18, 2016

My family Loves Stratford Landing!

Many of the teachers are passionate about their love for education and children. Excited my child has the opportunity to attend such an excellent school.

This year they cut back on the HW for smaller children as it was taking up too much time in the evenings for both parents and kids. Still just as equally effective!

Posted: January 14, 2016

Great new teachers, everyone is positive (front office folks could still smile more), more administrators who seem to be keeping things in control, homework that makes sense, no more worksheets, kids seem to be doing way more interesting projects this year as compared to previous 2 years and lots of good communication about the renovation.

Posted: October 14, 2015

HUGE turnover (AGAIN) leaves us with teachers trying to please the micro managing administration and experienced teachers are either running for the door or miserably biding their time.

Posted: October 14, 2015

Ridiculous amount of repetition. Homework given as something to do. With later start times kids and families need to take back quality time outside of school.

Posted: October 14, 2015

Responsive classroom is a joke. Puts all discipline in classroom. Let teachers teach and administrators handle issues.

Posted: October 14, 2015

The administration does not meet the needs of the community. Teachers are micro managed and miserable. Responsive classroom is touted as wonderful - it is anything but - ask any kid or parent. High curriculum standard of the past has been replaced with hand holding and extensive rule system with lack of due consequences. Principal does not support higher learning of Center program. Worst the school has been in years.

Posted: June 24, 2015

Posted: June 24, 2015

No homework for the entire year.Teacher was absent 2 months.Was not allowed to transfer to another class.

Posted: June 24, 2015

Posted: June 24, 2015

I had child there she did not receive homework for the entire school the class was out of control.Teacher missed over two months of class unexplained she got demoted.The principal does not listen she thinks she knows everything and talks down to ppl.THIS IS A HORRIBLE REPRESENTATIVE OF A FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL.GET YOUR CHILD OUT OF THIS DUMP IMMEDIATELY! Bellview Elementary School IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF THIS DUMP.

Posted: April 7, 2015

First of all, the enrollment is over 900 so the number listed here is incorrect. Stratford Landing is a VERY large school, that being said, it is a GREAT place. Teachers are happy and communicative, the administrators who are new to the building are upbeat and friendly to the kids and parents -- they are visible daily which makes quick questions possible. There were lots of changes made this year which did not sit well with some parents at the beginning of the year (assigned tables at lunch), this seems to be going well, and after having lunch with my children 2x this year, it is WAY better than last year. Volunteers are amazing. PTA has a great Facebook site. The school website has a new webmaster and it seems to be updated regularly. Overall, we have only been here two years but we are very pleased with what our children are experiencing.

Posted: June 15, 2014

I struggled with this rating. My son is in the AAP and came from a Montessori program. He tested very high on the IQ exam and initially we were thrilled, but this year has not been very good. He started there in 3rd grade. His third grade teacher was great, she really managed the kids, there were no behavioral problems reported by our son. Montessori teaches the kids to be responsible for themselves and their own behavior, it's a student directed progam. Fourth grade has been a different story, the teacher has been ill-equipped to manage the behavioral issues of the kids in her class. My son has been bullied the entire year, by one boy and the two boys that follow him. My son has handled it and has also spoken to the teacher, but she seems to have missed the boat. We have asked that my son not be placed in the same class with this boy for 5th grade. Academically, the AAP is really not all it's cracked up to be. At my son's Montessori as a 2nd grader he was working on 6th grade math concepts and doing well with them. At SLES AAP he is doing 5th grade math using concepts he learned last summer at math camp. It's really disappointing. Classes should be smaller, that is a big problem

Posted: May 9, 2014

We are a military family and moved here just before 1st grade. Right away we were pleased with the school and the ease of registration. We are now at the end of the 2nd grade year and still extremely impressed. Both teachers have been amazing. The new principle seems to be making huge changes within the school, for the better! The PTA is very active. I couldn't be happier and look forward to my second child starting kindergarten here in the fall.

Posted: March 6, 2014

We moved to this area for the stellar reviews of this school. After a year of behavioral issues, disruption and bullying that our children endured on a daily basis, we've pulled them out and have gone private. We took these issues to the Admin Office and they did nothing. Teachers hands are tied and they have no back-up which may be the reason why so many left.. Rooms are overcrowded (29 students in both our children's class with 4-6 being special needs in one room) and only ONE TEACHER! Truly a nightmare for our family.

Posted: March 22, 2013

As a transient military family, we have been absolutely thrilled with our experience at Stratford Landing. The teachers and community are the best in the area. Our kids have excelled beyond our wildest expectations here, and we are thankful for the experience. If you are considering schools in 22308, Stratford Landing is a must!

Posted: March 11, 2013

What a problematic year this has been for our family. No school is perfect, I understand that. However, when there are problems, the administration turns a blind eye to it. The discipline problems with many of the students is enormous. Some of the kids who attend SLES are sadly so damaged that their needs dominate the learning environment. Come to this school only if you are in the area from K-2nd grade OR if your child tests into AAP. Otherwise, it could be the worst mistake of your life. Neighborhing Waynewood does not have the magnitude of problems SLES does. Then again, they have different leadership. This school has been a nightmare. I wish there was a way to rate it in the negative category.

Posted: March 11, 2013

The Gen Ed program at this school is distressed. I echo the sentiments of the previous entry. The school has a practice of 'stacking' all special needs & IEP's in one class creating --a burden to the teacher. If your child is unfortunate enough to be placed in the room with all IEP's, the class will resemble what would have been Special Ed @ 15-20 years ago. It is sad that the county has created a fiasco with their 2-tiered system; AAP & Gen Ed. Instead of AAP being an elite educational experience, it is what Gen Ed should be. Gen Ed then becomes a dumping ground for profound behavior problems, learning challenges, and burdened teachers. It is no wonder that the teacher turnover at this school is so high. The 'supposed' average students are left without an appropriate peer group or educational rigor. Emails to the leadership voicing concern/complaint will go unanswered. It's a sickening situation. I applaud the teaching staff! Parents are involved. I hope that the outcry against the lack of sound leadership increases so that this school can be brought up to the level it should be.

Posted: February 26, 2013

This is our first year at this school and it has been such a great "restart" of my childs elementary school years. The teachers are all Amazing, really care for their students and make learning fun! I do not care for the Vice Principal or the Principal very much, but the fact that the teachers and the other employees are amazing help you forget that not everyone is qualified for a "Higher up" position with children. The office people are a little stuck up or seem like you are bothering them when you have questions... but you can't win them all.