Mount Vernon Community School

Posted: February 25, 2022

Our daughter is in 2nd grade and has attended MVCS since Kindergarten. All her teachers have been wonderful -- attentive to her and responsive to any concerns we have. The dual language program was difficult in virtual school but she is accelerating again now that they have been back in person full time this year. We speak English at home, but multiple native Spanish speakers have commented to me that her accent is incredible.

The early grades so far have not focused on homework, which we love -- kids receive books to read and are encouraged to do math activities, but no formal homework is assigned. Our daughter tests well, reflecting the great teachers at this school. MVCS has particularly focused on Social Emotional learning since the pandemic started, and the kids have a lot of tools for recognizing and regulation emotions, particularly stress. We hope this focus remains in place for the long run, as we really like it.

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: February 25, 2022

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

Posted: September 15, 2020

We have had two children graduate from Mount Vernon Elementary School. Both were well-prepared for Middle School and are bi-lingual. Wow. The educators are talented, focused, and caring, too. We highly recommend this wonderful community and school.

Posted: June 11, 2020

My son had a fantastic kindergarten year with amazing teachers. He was reading in English after just a short time and learning Spanish.

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: June 11, 2020

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Posted: March 10, 2019

Our children have received a super education at Mount Vernon. They have wonderful friends and excellent teachers. The community is very supportive AND Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s new innovation campus will be in our neighborhood.

Posted: July 28, 2018

Posted: July 28, 2018

Although I believe Kindergarten should focus more on social development with children rather than academics, I understand that is the "accepted US model". My son had homework everyday, in Kindergarten. He spoke German and English prior to starting and finished Kindergarten nearly fluent in Spanish. This was most likely due to his homework and tremendous teachers.

Posted: July 28, 2018

The Kindergarten teachers were phenomenal! It shows that they care and they always make time to speak with the parents. My son loved his teachers.

Posted: July 28, 2018

Posted: July 28, 2018

Posted: July 28, 2018

Posted: July 28, 2018

Outstanding. I wish they offered more languages other than Spanish, but as an immersion school they are tremendously effective.

Posted: April 3, 2018

Extemeley great! The teachers and staff are well attentive. Offer many after school programs as well as in school tutoring for children who are behind. The entire school is now dual-Spanish/English curriculum.

Posted: April 3, 2018

Posted: April 3, 2018

all the teachers my children have had are always willing to go the extra mile with students. They are in constant communication with parents and work to come up with strategies to help children proper at school as well as in home.

Posted: April 3, 2018

Posted: April 3, 2018

Posted: April 3, 2018

Posted: April 3, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Posted: January 10, 2018

Our family recommends Mount Vernon Elementary very highly. Our daughter is receiving a high-quality education and learning Spanish, too. The facilities are excellent and the educators are talented in so many ways. As a a working parent, it is a pleasure to be part of the school’s positive and supportive PTA and parenting communities, too. This school is a great education option. Go check it out in person and you will be favorably impressed.

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

Posted: December 28, 2017

My first grader is doing very well here. His teachers recognized when there's an issue and address it quickly and effectively. The staff is wonderful and PTA is very involved

Posted: September 14, 2017

I can't say enough amazing things about how glad I am that my family attends MVCS. I have 2 daughters currently there (1st grade and kindergarten) and a 3rd who will be there in a few years.

For context, I grew up in Arlington, attended Arlington public schools and watched Arlington transform into an extremely affluent county that produces amazing test scores. Some parents are only looking for that when considering schools, other of us are looking for an all encompassing experience, diverse student body and enthusiastic (non-competitive) PTA and fellow parents. All of that on top of engaged teachers and a bilingual experience for our kids. Alexandria schools (and this school especially) are all of those things.

There are many affluent families that attend this school (hate to admit i'm in that group, but i am). I mention this because it means there are a ton of incredibly well-educated parents who could afford to send their students to private schools if they really wanted to. But they (I) don't, and there are very compelling reasons why we've chosen send (and keep) our kids at MVCS.

MVCS is the heart of the the Del Ray neighborhood-- the PTA is incredibly supportive, engaged and encouraging of the students and staff at MVCS. The staff responds in kind-- the leadership engages and solicits feedback and responds. They care about all of the students and that shows in the growth i've seen in my own kids.

If you're considering public schools (or questioning them) in Alexandria, talk to other parents, reach out to the PTA at the schools and find out more. You can seriously be a part of something great if you attend-- i'm passionate about getting more families to make the same choice we did because i see how much the school/community have embraced our family and fostered my kiddos' growth and I know other families would feel exactly the same way if they came to MVCS.

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: September 14, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: June 28, 2017

Our child has been at MVCS since kindergarten. Leadership is excellent and these test scores don't really show the improvement that has been made over the last 5-6 years. Teachers and staff are committed and caring. It has very small class sizes and great things like a full time nurse - who is awesome and runs events like the walk to school day, bike rodeo and other health and wellness events. It has a great library, really good music program, a great dance program and things like wonderful math and science fairs. While it is providing a strong academic foundation, it isn't obsessed with test scores. It provides a diverse, rich experience and our child has thrived there.

Posted: June 28, 2017

Posted: April 20, 2017

My kids are in first grade and have not seen a lot bullying however in any of the disagreements that have occurred, I have so appreciated working with Jim Burmudez in handling the discussion with my child and how it needs to be handled.

Posted: April 20, 2017

Posted: April 20, 2017

The leadership, steered by Principal Pete Balas and Vice Principals Lisa and Jim Burmudez, is excellent. They are great listeners, they are so engaged and passionate. They are culturally aware and astute and have a true love of learning and our kids. This naturally is attracted by and mimicked and mirrored in the teaching staff. They are all fantastic.

Posted: April 20, 2017

There are so many activities in school and afterschool to participate and develop amazing values, of which are integrity and compassion. The school is also very diverse and so our kids are exposed to a variety of people, walks of life, abilities, cultures and so they develop sensitiveness to those around them.

Posted: April 20, 2017

The first grade teachers that we had this year are amazing. Ms Mastin and Ms Pendergast are hard working, prepared, responsive, loving, smart, organized and disciplinarians. Our children are thriving in their classes and under their support and leadership.

Posted: April 20, 2017

There are a lot of activities all day long reinforcing knowledge around grade 1 reading, spelling, comprehension, analytics, mathematics and Spanish/English. That said, there is homework for reading and computer based modules for additional work though it is not required. It is a great program and our kids are reading at grade 1-2 levels.

Posted: April 20, 2017

Our twins have been attending MVCS for 1 year. They were at a private parochial school for 2 years before that. The experience at the parochial school was less than stellar (overcrowded class, under experienced teachers and narrow focused Admin and leadership). Our experience at MVCS was the reverse - insightful and forward thinking and engaged leadership, leading to thoughtful, experienced, loving and disciplinary teachers, super special staff for music, arts, PE, Library, etc... fabulously engaged PTA and greater Del Ray community, parents, business association - all working together to support our children and community school. We adore it and recommend it often.

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Posted: February 3, 2017

Our children thrive in this dual-language school. We are so happy they are growing up to be bilingual and to have the family-oriented Del Ray neighborhood community for support. Alexandria schools and the resourceful PTA provide amazing resources for the teachers and make wonderful after-school programs possible.

Posted: November 22, 2016

When you look closely at the test scores of this school, you see great variance, so the "Great School" average should be taken with a grain of salt. You can dig in more on the VDOE website. The teachers are outstanding and the principals have built a great culture from top to bottom. Teachers really tailor to meet kids at their level. The dual language has improved and is stronger for my younger child than my older. We value them knowing a second language and also the development that happens in the brain by learning a language so young. It is truly amazing to see in action. Having talked to people whose kids are older and went to the school, I think the school is much stronger than 5-10 years ago and even in our tenure, I've seen great improvement. Many children in Del Ray now go to the school--vs. private or leaving--and most parents are really pleased. The PTA is very dedicated and the new playground is exciting. It's truly a great school!

Posted: November 22, 2016

The leadership of MVCS really supports their teachers and has great relationships with parents and the larger community.

Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: November 22, 2016

They emphasize effort, responsibility, and kindness and work it into their classes and reward it.

Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: November 22, 2016

Posted: August 14, 2016

The teachers and office personnel are exemplary, but we had unhappy experiences which we will articulate after our child has left this school. Our advice: if you must utilize the public school system, place your child in the Maury School, which is several blocks away, or in the Lyles-Crouch School, which is not too far away. If you can afford to leave the public school system, place your child in one of the private schools on nearby Russell Road.

To give you an example of what they're turning our school systems into, two years ago (prior to a uniform policy being implemented) they sent home a flier asking the children to wear red shirts the next day, to exhibit solidarity with "the workers of the world." The next day was May Day, International Communism Day. I kid you not. If this doesn't make the hair stand up on your neck, nothing will.

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

Posted: July 26, 2016

Mount Vernon Community School is in many ways the center of the vital and engaged neighborhood of Del Ray in Alexandria, VA. The community is extremely supportive of the school, both financially and in terms of their connection to the school. The teachers are dedicated and there is very low staff turnover. A recent survey of staff had extremely high ratings by teachers about how they are supported, by both the school administration and parents. MVCS has a very active PTA. The dual language program is a plus, exposing children to this innovative way of learning. There is still work to do to bridge the socio-economic and other divides that exist among the student population, but there is lots of good will in doing that and creating a cohesive school community.

Posted: June 28, 2015

Posted: June 28, 2015

Posted: June 28, 2015

Posted: August 24, 2014

I chose Mount Vernon Community School because it has a dual language program. My daughter speaks both English and Spanish and I feel it is important to reinforce her Spanish fluency. I drive 20+ minutes every day and that does not bother me at all--I feel we have to give our children the most tools for them to be successful. I am really happy to have found a school where I want my daughter to grow and learn and that school is MVCS! The communication with the parents is wonderful, the PTA is outstanding and the leadership of the school principal, teachers and staff is remarkable. We would be even better if we did not have some very negative parents who seem to object to just about everything--from policies to uniforms. Nevertheless we are really happy to be part of the community of Mount Vernon Community School.

Posted: August 24, 2014

Schools are more than test scores, they've worked hard to accomodate my son's disability. Both kids are happy and learning.

Posted: August 16, 2014

We did our research and decided not to ditch Alexandria City once our daughter was school age and we're so glad/relieved/appreciative we didn't make a mad dash for the suburbs! She just finished her kindergarten year in the Spanish immersion program and we could not have dreamed up better teachers and not just for her, we found that the teachers really brought out the strengths in all of the students. This school really is a real-deal community school with the parents and administration harmoniously involved. Coming from a co-operative preschool, we understand how important community involvement is for our children. It takes a village!

Posted: April 28, 2014

This school is undergoing a lot of change, but has a very dedicated and enthusiastic staff. The principal is very engaged and has a clear vision of where he wants to go, while involving parents and the community in the decision-making.

Posted: July 16, 2011

I am very favorably impressed with the dedication of the schools principal, teachers and other staff members, and also a critical mass of parents and local elected officials. Everybody pulls together to help, and this is especially important because of the year-round calendar. My only concern is with the lack of space to store materials for some of the staff members and for the PTA. My son is doing well, academically and socially, after learning some essential social skills in the early grades.

Posted: April 17, 2011

The comment posted May 25, 2010 could have been written by me. My daughter is flourishing, despite having some personal issues last year that staff were very helpful with. I look forward to my son starting next year. The dual language and intersession programs are both terrific. I'm not a big believer that test scores tell all -- still, I'd like to see the scores for the subgroups getting better. I know they work at it, but clearly haven't found the answers yet.