As a parent of two young boys, one of which will be Kindergarten age next fall, schooling is on the forefront of my mind. Both my wife and I are products of public schooling and want the same for our children.
My family is zoned Jefferson-Houston School. I’ve visited this school and talked with School Board members, as well as members of the administration and staff. The sense of pride that these individuals have for this school is clear. They put the work in day in and day out for the school to succeed and that includes reaching out to parents to lend a hand. Proud parents of Jefferson-Houston School believe their children are thriving.
The merits of the school speak for themselves.
• Jefferson-Houston is a certified International Baccalaureate (IB) school.
• Academically, its gains in SOL pass rates in the areas of Mathematics and Science over the last three years rank in the top two percent of all schools across the entire state.
• Students begin organized music as early as second grade and foreign language as early as kindergarten.
• Jefferson-Houston offers peer mentoring for elementary school students by middle school students.
• Jefferson-Houston offers Robotics learning as well a special curriculum designed for students with special needs.
• The elementary and middle school students enjoy separate learning environments so that they can interact with their own peer groups. In addition, the middle school is smaller creating a close-knit and tailored learning environment for teachers and students.
In addition to academics, Jefferson-Houston appears to be a safe place for my child as well. Campagna offers after-school care five days a week, the PTA has a whole array of after-school clubs and students are, of course, monitored at all times.
I have to wonder what’s holding parents back. On top of that, it is clear to me that while the school is great; it will be even better if we all work together to make that happen. I can’t imagine a better school for my two boys. To me, Jefferson-Houston School is a true community school that offers the very best for my children to succeed at this age.
I ask that you to go visit the school. Talk to School Board members or Principal Phillips or any of the staff. Meet some of the parents and their lovely children at one of the many play dates hosted by the school and take some time for a tour. See for yourself.
Abhisek Mitra
Alexandria