Dranesville Elementary School

Posted: December 26, 2025

Absolutely terrible school - awful principal and guidance counselor - they didn't care about my daughter or her rights in the slightest. There was a trans boy in her class that would scream and curse at her if she did not remember to address his correct pronouns, all kinds of other weird woke stuff in the curriculum. Pretty much sums up Fairfax county in a nut shell.

Posted: December 26, 2025

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Posted: January 21, 2025

This school always say support students with encouragement yet some teacher are not minority friendly .
In addition some teacher would say things to hurt student's feeling .
There is no book to follow with their program . Parent has to find other ways to ensure student is in the right level.
Not satisfied with this school but we live close by had no choice but attend this school.

Posted: January 21, 2025

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Posted: May 24, 2023

Dranesville is a wonderful place for kids. Had kids there since 2015. Teachers are top notch who dedicate their lives to kids, and are there very early and stay very late to be prepared. Special education staff works their butts off to meet the needs of every kid in that building.

Any reference to test scores may just not be educated as to the percentage of students with disabilities who Dranesville serves including several small classes of students with autism and other heavy duty needs. Many of these students are required by the state to take the SOL even though they are well below grade Level and not yet accessing the instructional curriculum. Not to mention students with English as a second language. I’m certain I wouldn’t pass a 6th grade reading SOL given in a foreign language.

There’s always someone with a bad experience. Always. And they’re usually the loudest voice, that I understand. It must be frustrating. But the vast majority of parents at Dranesville are happy their kids are there. PTA works very hard.

Posted: May 24, 2023

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Posted: January 2, 2022

Just a terrible school. Just look at the test score averages on this website. Please give considerable weight, because even the scores on here are inflated. We are basically teaching our own child how to read, do math, and science; and unfortunately, the school is unwilling to provide a lesson plan in advance so that we can collaborate efforts.

The only focus for the school administration is to prepare the kids for the standardized testing. There is no focus on getting gets who do well enough to score above state benchmarks to reach their full potential. In fact, I've noticed a decline in my kid's desire to want to learn. He's bored, and not encouraged by his teacher to learn or do better. Probably the worst teacher that I've encountered, and we have four kids (two older, and one younger). The administration is equally terrible. Non-responsive to calls or emails. Not sure what the heck they do all day!

We are moving solely because of the school. It will add more commute time for us; but that's the sacrifice that we are certainly willing to make to get out of Dranesville ES.

Posted: January 2, 2022

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Posted: April 12, 2021

We moved when my son was halfway through kindergarten, I wish we would have transferred to Dranesville and not kept him at his other school because Dranesville is AMAZING!!!! He started attending Dranesville in 1st grade and it was life changing for him! The teachers cared so much about each and every individual and took the time to see how each child learned and their academic levels. When a kid comes home and says "I love school" after saying for two years that he didn't want to go, that says something about the staff and everyone involved - they care, are kind and love our kids! Yes, the scores could be better but they are improving every year. DES has a decent amount of English Learners and think about if you were just learning a new language and the state made you take a standardized test, odds are you wouldn't pass, hence the 4/10 star rating. I would highly recommend it!

Posted: April 12, 2021

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Posted: August 5, 2019

My son has will be starting his 3rd year, and so far the experience has been good. His teachers have been wonderful and he has not been bored.

Posted: August 5, 2019

The school day ends late, so homework takes up too much time in the evening hours. Reading only assignments would be much more appropriate. As it is, there isn't much time in the evening to unwind, eat dinner and get ready for bed, especially for working parents.

Posted: August 5, 2019

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Posted: October 27, 2017

My daughter has gotten a perfect amount of homework for the past two years. She is challenged to do more reading, math, observation and other activities beyond her regular work.

Posted: October 27, 2017

My daughter has loves her kindergarten, first grade and now second grade teachers. While watching class I see they far surpass the quality teaching and care for all students that I expected.

Posted: October 27, 2017

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Posted: October 27, 2017

I am proud that my daughter has the opportunity to attend a school with a diverse population representing a cross section Fairfax County. The students have dragon pride running through their veins. The non teaching staff has been awarded for standing out as exemplary. Everyone there is happy to be there shaping the brains of the community children. There is ample, special math classes, Grace Art program, field trips, PTA, parent involvement...

Posted: July 11, 2017

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Posted: July 11, 2017

I just counted; my children have had a total of 21 teachers at this school. Of those 18 have been AMAZING. One has been OKAY. And two were not so great. Overall very positive experience. Oh and the two not so great ones were let go of by the school.

Posted: January 12, 2017

My three children have had terrific teachers at Dranesville the past four years, and my wife and I have been impressed by the breadth of after-school activities offered (including plays, sports, and zumba). The administration has been great to us too. I also highly recommend the school's SACC program!

Posted: January 12, 2017

Posted: January 12, 2017

The speech development program at Dranesville is wonderful.

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Posted: October 20, 2016

Dranesville is a great school with wonderful student to teach ratios. The small class size promotes individualize attention for the students. The PTA and teachers provide special afternoon activities (some with a fee) like yoga, zumba and special clubs for activities like running. The school has an AAP program and students start receiving advanced study materials as young as first grade.

Posted: November 24, 2015

For now my 3 grader as enough homework sometimes the reading is a lot but other then that it great

Posted: November 24, 2015

Because dranesville has a great way showing honesty and fairness and everything in students and family I love it

Posted: November 24, 2015

I really like dranesville because it's a great school and I have a 3grader and the staff and family are so wonderful I am so happy there. And I enjoy our son teacher this year for 3 grade

Posted: May 5, 2015

As I review some of the negative comments, I find myself laughing out loud3. I wonder how much time these people, who have so much to complain about, actually spend at the school. I am at Dranesville daily, and volunteer weekly. I have worked for FCPS for many years, spent time in many elementary schools, and wouldn't send my children anywhere, except Dranesville. I am very impressed with Ms. Manoatl's involvement. I visit schools where principals spend most of their time in their office with the door closed. Ms. Manoatl is always visible as well as an active participant in every aspect of the school day, and the myriad of after school activities. Further, Ms. Manoatl doesn't tolerate incompetence; she sets the bar high for herself; she sets the bar high for all of her staff. And unlike many other administrators in the county, she is quick to identify, and get rid of, ineffective teachers. In regards to previous comments made about the numerous non-English speaking students, and not enough staff to support English Language Learners, research shows full immersion is the fastest, and most effective way for children to acquire a new language.

Posted: April 30, 2015

The school is very united they do a lot of great activities great team spirit. The teachers are friendly nice and very involved. I'll three of my children love to go to school each day.

Posted: September 16, 2014

Two of my 3 children have gone through this school and the changes that have taken over the years have been quite shocking. Enough so that I yanked my 3rd out and put him in private school. The principal and now two vice principals appear heavily focused on the students who don't speak English while the average to above average kids are all forgotten. They have added a GT program, but oddly there are kids in there with SIGNIFICANT behavioral problems and causing great disturbances for the others that want to learn. All the schools resources seem go to those students that have difficult with English. (Gotta boost those test scores to save jobs.) When your child is being partnered with another child to teach the other child BASIC ENGLISH something is wrong. My child is supposed to go to school to LEARN, not to be a teacher to someone else who doesn't even want to be there much less understand what's going on. Many of the veteran teachers are running away from the school in droves (or being forced out by the administration) so the turnover rate is high.

Posted: May 28, 2014

My son has been attending Drainsville for the past 3 years. He has loved all of his teachers. The office staff is all very friendly and welcoming. The kids that attend are very polite and thoughtful. I have been volunteering there every weeks for the past three years so I know first had.

Posted: February 4, 2014

This school is great. The teachers are fabulous and caring! The office is helpful and you get the overall feeling that all of the adults care about children.

Posted: February 3, 2014

Dranesville teaches manner but the academic level needed to improve big time. Comparing to the other public school my nephew and nieces attended the level is beyond below...

Posted: January 31, 2014

We love Dranesville! There is a strong history and many veteran teachers that are committed to kids and families. The PTA does a great job, there is significant parent involvement, and great school spirit. The school is clean and well cared for. We are very happy there.

Posted: August 27, 2013

My kids went to this school for a few years and it started fine but ended poorly. Grades 1-3 were fine but grades 4 and 5 were terrible. PTA slaves get special treatment, of course, while teachers struggle to use the hard won equipment purchased through fund raising - smart boards are a joke. The problem in this school is teachers who are not held accountable for their poor work performance. If I performed as poorly, I would have been fired. With a few exceptional teachers aside, this school is terrible. I am considering home school.

Posted: August 17, 2013

My daughter has been very happy going to school here. She's been a student for 3 years now and she (and I) have been very happy with all the teachers she's had. It's a warm, caring environment. I've met with the principal and I think she is very personable and is doing a great job. Very happy that Level IV Academics are coming to Dranesville this fall. The PTA is also great, lots of opportunity for parent involvement.

Posted: March 14, 2013

My child has come home with soiled clothes several times that they didn't even notice had happened. The children noticed but not the two adults in the "small" class. My child says he wasn't able to get their attention to go in time. When he tells them he had an accident they make him fend for himself or even worse once time told him to stand in the sun to dry off. Three hours later when I picked him up he was still wet through his pants & undies & was even bluish, it was a cold winter day. Some power seeking rude staff . They never co-operate with parents. They try to impose new rules like dictators; they try to dominate on Parents like small kids. Teachers are not great, whereas some of them are okay. Some of the good ones cannot even speak up to their co-workers & help the parents. Communication varies greatly.

Posted: January 26, 2013

This school has undergone tremendous changes in the three years my children have been here. There seems to be a BIG problem with overall communication between those in charge and teachers. Principal Manoatl is a very micro managing leader who meddles quite a bit in the curriculum year to year. There is also a mismanagement of funds coming to the school and resources are NOT allocated to the places they need to be. There are many children in the school who do not speak English, and yet there are only two full time ESOL teachers to serve them. Teachers are rightfully annoyed and overall moral is so low, that some fabulous educators are leaving DES. Principal Manoatl concerns herself with aspect of "education" that really are none of her business. This school would be much better off taking a hands off approach to her educators and letting them do what they do best--teach! They know what works, what they need and how best to serve their students. I personally hope that Principal Manoatl gets board and moves on. This school could use some new leadership...pronto!

Posted: June 10, 2011

Four stars out of ten is a gift. Dranesville was not a good school when we were there and I don't suspect much has changed. It is in the Fairfax County system, but don't be fooled. Look at the test scores. My child HATED going to school there. We are in a real school now and both of my children are learning.

Posted: January 25, 2011

We have a new principal and great teachers! They really care about the kids, many of whom have challenges (disability, language, economics, etc). My kids love going to school on most days :) The parents are in the school on a regular basis helping in and out of the classroom. My oldest is in 4th grade and youngest is a kindergartener.