August 22, 2002
There are four middle schools in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County.
Carl Sandburg Middle School
8428 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22308, 703-799-6100.
There are a total of 1,191 students, of which 972 are in general education, 113 are in the gifted center and 106 are in the special-education, self-contained program.
The school encompasses grades seven and eight.
There are four administrators, 95.3 teachers and specialists, 4.5 guidance counselors, one safety and security staff, 10 instructional assistants/attendants, six office support staff and 11 custodians.
Students at Carl Sandburg Middle School attend West Potomac High School.
“Carl Sandburg Middle School, opened over a decade ago, enjoys and celebrates the diversity of its student population and community,” said principal Donna G. Pasteur. “It is a vibrant place. Working together, we have forged an instructional program that stimulates the development of a wide range of abilities and interests and promotes excellence in all facets of our educational program. We are committed to ensuring that our students acquire the skills and knowledge they need to become well-adjusted, responsible, contributing adults in the 21st century.”
Mark Twain Middle School
4700 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310, 703-313-3700.
There are a total of 968 students at Mark Twain Middle School. There are 749 students in general education, 111 in the gifted center and 108 in the special-education, self-contained program.
The school encompasses grades seven and eight.
There are seven administrators, 88.7 teachers and specialists, five guidance counselors, three safety and security staff, 15 instructional assistants/attendants, seven office support staff and eight custodians.
Students at Mark Twain Middle School attend Edison High School.
“Mark Twain Middle School provides a positive educational environment for a diverse student body,” said the principal, Carol L. Robinson. “Faculty, staff members, and the community work together to provide each student with the opportunity to grow and develop to his or her greatest potential. Teaming is the instructional organization used at Twain. Students are organized into core teams of approximately 125 students who share the same English, mathematics, science, and social studies teachers. The school’s motto, “Committed to Excellence,” exemplifies life at Mark Twain.”
Walt Whitman Middle School
2500 Parker’s Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306, 703-660-2400.
There are a total of 941 students at Walt Whitman Middle School. Of those, 836 are in general education and 105 are in the special-education, self-contained program.
The school encompasses grades seven and eight.
There are three administrators, 85 teachers and specialists, 3.5 guidance counselors, two safety and security staff, six instructional assistants/attendants, six office support staff and 7.5 custodians.
Students at Walt Whitman Middle School attend Mount Vernon High School.
“The school has implemented many innovative programs, practices, and strategies to address the school’s changing demographics and students with special needs,” said the principal, Otha Davis. “School-wide blocking and a 12-week exploratory wheel for students in grade seven were implemented in 1998. The English-for-Speakers-of-Other-Languages program creates an opportunity to support bilingualism in our global society. Whitman is preparing students through its design of a balanced structured curriculum that meets the needs of a diverse student population.”
Hayfield Secondary School-Middle
7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315, 703-924-7522.
There are a total of 1,364 students at the school. Of those, 1,241 are in general education, and 123 are in special-education, self-contained.
Hayfield Secondary School encompasses grades seven-12. The middle school, while on the same campus, is in a separate building and includes grades seven and eight.
There are three administrators, 92.4 teachers and specialists, 5.5 guidance counselors, one safety and security staff, four instructional assistants/attendants, four office support staff and 10 custodians.
“Hayfield Secondary School is a six-year comprehensive secondary school with approximately 3,300 students in grades seven through 12,” said the principal, Glynn Bates. “At Hayfield, students in grades seven and eight are grouped into teams with four core teachers who are familiar with the needs of young adolescents. The teams strive to improve the connection between families and teachers, promote cooperative learning, coordinate interdisciplinary units with elective teachers, strengthen problem-solving skills, and help students develop positive attitudes about themselves and others. The collective energies of a dedicated school community enable Hayfield students to achieve academically, socially, and personally.”