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FANS are parents, residents and community leaders united in support of
Abingdon Elementary School

Abingdon has been chosen as the "spotlight school" for Arlington County 2008 Walk & Bike to School Day Oct. 8 Find out more

Mark your calendar for Abingdon PTA's annual Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 24. There will be games, prizes, food, beverages, etc. See photos from 2007 Fall Festival

Abingdon's Communications Class has a New Website! Find out more

Abingdon's principal was named '2006 Principal of the Year '! Find out more

Read what parents are saying about Abingdon! See Testimonials

Abingdon is fully accredited in Virginia and met AYP requirements in 2007-08! Find out more

Abingdon has been in the news. Read the articles

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Have you read? Debunking the Middle-Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools are Good for All Kids

Examining caterpillars at a FANS Spring Playdate
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What We Do

  • Draw positive attention to the school by publicizing its activities and strengths

  • Organize get-togethers where current and prospective parents meet each other and learn about the school

  • Create partnerships between the school and its surrounding communities

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    What’s good about a neighborhood school?

    Neighborhood schools foster a sense of place and connection with the community. Kids can walk or ride bikes to school, and spend less time commuting in cars. A good neighborhood school attracts other families, providing a healthy influx of children to the community and preserving property values.

    What about the English as a Second Language children at Abingdon: will my child be challenged?

    English as a Second Language children are taken out of Language Arts for two hours of high-intensity language instruction every day. The remaining children receive very specialized attention from their teachers.

    In addition, Abingdon teachers meet the needs of all learners by using differentiated instruction. Children are assessed at the beginning of the year and are grouped according to ability. Teachers employ many strategies to engage all students including: pacing instruction, varying the depth of the content, widening or narrowing the breadth of topics, altering the complexity of the questions, creating tiered assignments, and designing differentiated learning centers.

    Does Abingdon have a gifted program?

    Children are identified as gifted in 3rd grade, but Abingdon's gifted teacher works with all children and teachers throughout the grades to locate and encourage particular gifts.

    Gifted Services at Arlington Public Schools

    How are the school’s standardized test (SOL) scores?

    In 2007-08: Based on preliminary test results, 100% of Arlington public schools are fully accredited, having met all state standards and 21 Arlington schools (including Abingdon Elementary) met all objectives required by the federal government for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Final results due later this Fall.
     
    In 2006-07, Abingdon's third graders scored 90.0% in English, 91.4 in Math, 100.0 in History, and 96.7 in Science. (Scores went down slightly in 2006-07 due to new federal regulations requiring schools to administer the same tests to all students, including those who have less than a year of English experience.)

    In 2005-06, Abingdon's third graders scored: 97.1 in English, 97.6 in Math, 97.4 in History, and 97.5 in Science. In 2004-05, Abingdon's third graders scored: 95.3% in English, 97.8% in Math, 97.9% in History, and 93.3% in Science.

    FANS encourages using a whole spectrum to judge a school, including less tangible factors such as the school atmosphere and if the children and teachers seem engaged and happy.

    Does Abingdon have a website?

    Yes, follow the links below to the Abingdon Elementary and Abingdon PTA websites.

    Visit Abingdon Elementary's PTA website

    Please get in touch to offer comments and join our mailing list by sending an e-mail to fans@fastmail.net.

    FANS | Friends of Abingdon Neighborhood School | fans@fastmail.net