Frequently Asked Questions

Is the school accredited?
Yes, ACDS is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The School is also a member of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), The Parents Council of Washington, the Black Student Fund, the Emerging Scholars Program, the Educational Records Bureau Testing Service, School and Student Scholarship Service, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Virginia Mathematics League, National Councils of Teachers of English, Mathematics, and Social Studies, the Johns Hopkins Gifted and Talented Search Program, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the National Council of Student Councils.

What about admissions?
Our school offers a challenging academic program in a nurturing and supportive environment. Children who succeed at our school are those who thrive in a challenging learning environment, and who are willing to meet high standards of personal conduct and to wholeheartedly contribute their unique talents and gifts to the life of our school community. Our student body is intentionally reflective of the diverse economic, cultural, and racial backgrounds mandated by the school’s philosophy and mission.

Applications for admission are accepted beginning September 1 for the following school year. Parents who wish to learn more about our programs should call to schedule a tour. Open Houses are conducted in the fall and early winter. To apply at any grade level, parents should submit completed application forms and nonrefundable fee of $75. Admissions materials are due January 31. Applicants for each grade level are required to have an admissions visit and screening or testing. Student visits will be scheduled for January and February.

What about financial aid?

The Financial Aid Committee meets each year in March. Applications for tuition assistance must be received not later than February 15 for the school year starting the following September.

How does the school operate?

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the school and exists to ensure the long-term viability of Alexandria Country Day School. The Head of School is charged with the day-to-day operations and management of the school. The administration of the school consists of the management team and the administrative team. The role of the management team is to shape vision, mission, pedagogy, strategy, philosophy, and the use of data to effect change. The administrative team's focus is the management of school operations. Members of the administrative team are all members of the management team, together with the primary, elementary, and middle school division coordinators, the Director of Technology, the Athletic Director, the Director of Communications and Marketing, and the Executive Assistant.

What about standardized testing?

ACDS administers the ERB (Educational Records Bureau) CTP4 test each fall to grades three through eight. This is a battery of assessments designed to provide instructionally useful information about student performance in key areas of student achievement: listening, reading, vocabulary, writing, and mathematics. These tests measure both verbal and quantitative reasoning, as well as achievement.

What is the advisory system?

The middle school uses the advisory system to ensure that each of our students has a strong advocate at school who can assist students with academic and social concerns. Advisory groups promote teamwork, community service, communication, self-esteem, and citizenship. Groups generally contain six to nine students. Advisories meet every day for thirty minutes. Advisories will also develop their own community service projects throughout the year.

What is the homework policy?

If a child is out sick, the parents should call the receptionist by 10:00 a.m. to notify the teacher that they, a sibling, or a carpool member will be picking up the day ’s homework assignments.

Tell me about your library.

Grades K–5 have regularly scheduled classes in the library. During these classes, students are exposed to various types of literature. In addition, they learn how to find books using the Dewey Decimal System and online card catalog to strengthen their research skills by utilizing primary print sources and online sources.

Grades 6–8 do not meet for regularly scheduled library classes. However, their teachers may elect to bring them to the library to do research, to work with the librarian, and to check out books.

Beginning in kindergarten, each student is issued a library card and has the opportunity to check out books. The library seeks to help students learn to be responsible for the books they have checked out. In kindergarten the students will keep the book they have checked out in their classrooms for the week. Later in the year, they may take books home.

Students in grades 1–8 may check out one book each week as long as they return their previously checked-out book on time during their library class period. If a student is working on a research project for a class, more than one book may be checked out with the permission of the librarian.

Are conferences available?

Conference days are built into our school calendar. Additional conferences can be arranged with individual teachers or through the Main Office when parents are requesting a meeting involving more than one teacher. Unscheduled, informal conferences do not do justice to the effective exchange of information between the school and the parents. If you have any questions or concerns about your child, the classroom, or the school, please discuss them with the appropriate teacher. If you feel a need for further discussion after addressing your issues with the teacher, you should discuss the issues with the appropriate division head. If your questions still remain unresolved, please contact the Head of School. Your concerns will always receive a prompt and thoughtful response.

How do I pay my child's tuition?

In addition, preauthorized automated payments can be made conveniently from one’s checking or savings account, or by way of MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

FACTS fits well with ACDS’ emphasis on community in that if a family is experiencing financial challenge, they need only contact the school and any adjustment can be made —free of charge.

Is tuition inclusive of all fees?

Additional fees that may apply are:

ACDS charges a one-time $350 fee to new families to fund the continuing beautification of the ACDS property. Maintaining the ACDS campus is an ongoing endeavor and one that is important to the community; it reflects the commitment we share toward providing a quality education and experience at ACDS.
ACDS provides pre-packaged back-to-school supplies for the school year. You are of course welcome to shop for the school supplies yourself; however, if you are interested in avoiding the back-to-school rush, you can complete an order form, submit a check payable to ACDS by June 15, and on the first day of school, the supplies will be waiting for the student on his/her desk. In 2008–2009, back-to-school supplies will range in cost from $10.10 for kindergarten to $94.08 for 8th gradel.
ACDS also provides a hot-lunch program with a menu that changes each trimester. A five-day plan for a trimester costs about $185. We also have a milk program to cater to dedicated brown-baggers. The milk program costs about $17 per trimester.
ACDS provides before-school and after-school (AM and PM) care on a drop-in basis ($10/hour) and on a trimesterly contract basis. In 2008–2009, AM and PM Care contract costs for the first trimester will range from $451 for AM Care only (5 days per week) to $1351 for PM Care (5 days per week). No child may attend PM Care if the child was not in attendance at school during the day.
Bus transportation is available and for the 2008–2009 school year, cost $1,000 for one-way services and $1700 for round-trip service.

Is lunch provided?

There is a hot lunch program available for a fee five days a week. Children may choose to participate as many days as they like. See above.

Is there transportation available?

There is both one-way and round-trip bus transportation available for a fee. See above.

Are there uniforms?

All students must wear the school uniform, which consists of a dark green (hunter green) or white knit shirt (polo shirt) with a collar and long or short sleeves, or a turtleneck. Students may wear a white or dark (hunter) green sweater in colder weather. In addition, a plain hunter green, gray, or white sweatshirt or the official ACDS sweatshirt with logo may be worn as part of the winter uniform. Students must wear well-fitting khaki or tan pants, walking shorts, skirts, culottes, jumpers, overalls, or skorts. Shorts, skirts, culottes, jumpers, and skorts must be no more than 4 inches above the knee. Students must wear an enclosed shoe with a soft sole and socks or hose.

What is the policy for school closings due to weather?

Fairfax

County

schools

If you feel that conditions are unsafe, please keep your child at home or pick them up early; they will not suffer any consequences.

If Fairfax County schools announce a delayed school opening, ACDS will open one hour late, regardless of the length of the Fairfax County delay. (On scheduled early dismissal days, ACDS will have school even if we open one hour late.)

If Fairfax County schools announce an early closing due to weather, we will also close early. When an emergency closing is announced, ALL functions of the school cease —no clubs, no sports, no PM Care. Parents should have a plan in place to cover these emergency situations. A faculty member will remain at the school until the last student is picked up.

Exception: If Fairfax has been closed due to snow, ice, etc., one full day, then the ACDS administration will review local road and weather conditions and the condition of the school parking lot in order to determine if opening of our school is possible. If the decision is made to open school, then the room parents will be called to contact their parents by phone and/or e-mail. The school may also utilize InfoXchange to get the word out. The message on the school’s telephone will be updated to reflect any such changes as well. Under most circumstances, ACDS will follow Fairfax County’s decision; no calls will be made when we are following Fairfax. If in doubt, call the school to hear the recorded message.

How many days of school are there in the school year?

173

How often will my child receive instruction in art? music? computers? language? physical education? library skills?

Students visit specials instructors each week; the frequency depends upon grade level. Please visit the section on Academics and Programs for more detailed information.

What is the earliest that you start teaching a foreign language?

Instruction in Spanish begins in kindergarten and continues through grade eight. In addition, eighth grade students participate in an exchange program with the Olinca School in Mexico City and enjoy ten days attending school, visiting historical sites, and living with Olinca families. Students from the Olinca School visit Alexandria Country Day School in the spring.

How much time do middle school students spend on academics each day?

Each school day has seven periods of forty-five minutes each. Typically, five periods are academic subjects, and two are “specials” (physical education, art, music, drama, or computers). Students meet with their advisories from 10:30-11:00 each day.

After attending ACDS, what about high school?

We work closely with families in the seventh and eighth grades to find the right match for high school. We pride ourselves in preparing our graduates to excel in whatever high school they attend.

Recent graduates were admitted to the honors and IB programs in public high schools in the metropolitan area; Catholic schools such as Bishop Ireton, Georgetown Visitation, Gonzaga, and Pope Paul VI; boarding schools like Foxcroft, the Madeira School, Mercersburg Academy, St. James, Westtown School, Episcopal High School, and Oldfields; and independent day schools such as National Cathedral, St. Albans, Potomac, St. Andrew’s, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes, Field School, Sidwell Friends, Washington International, Flint Hill, Cushing Academy, and Loomis Chaffee, and Edmund Burke.

See the full list..

What do the high schools say about ACDS graduates?

Admissions directors continuously tell us how impressed they are by our graduates. We hear that ACDS graduates are actively involved with class discussions and class projects, that they take on leadership roles, and are comfortable in public-speaking roles. We attribute this to the small class size, where everyone is expected to participate, and to the fact that we offer so many opportunities for our students to be leaders: Honor Council, Student Council, outdoor education, musical productions, and team sports. Students begin public speaking in our Speeches & Sweets program in fifth grade, and by eighth grade, our students are speaking at open houses and Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day.

Former ACDS students go on to receive honors and academic awards, athletic awards, and reave reviews in dramatic productions. See Alumni

What is the ratio of student to teacher?

The ratio of student to teacher is 8/1.

Tell me about the faculty?

Alexandria Country Day School has a faculty of twelve men and twenty-six women. Nineteen have master’s degrees and a number are in the process of finishing course work toward advanced degrees. Their backgrounds include diplomas from the University of Virginia, Duke, Smith, Harvard, Wake Forest, Miami University, the University of Wisconsin, Loyola, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Middlebury, Davidson, Penn State, Oxford, Columbia Teacher's College and George Washington University, among others. The average teaching experience of our faculty is nine years, and the average tenure at ACDS is five years.

Why go to a K-8 school?

A K–8 school is a great environment in which to begin; it affords growth in a comfortable place. Lower school classes focus on building a strong foundation and social development. The opportunities for leadership and the ability to serve as a role model for younger students build confidence and leadership skills in the upper divisions. Further, all of the school’s resources, attention, support, and energy go toward our K–8 students.

How can I participate in the life of my child at ACDS?

We like to describe the basic relationship at ACDS as being that of a triangle, a union of parents, students, and teachers, all working for the child. Parents are encouraged to become involved in their child ’s school life. In the early grades, parents may, for example, arrange with the teacher to have lunch with their child, read a story to the class, or assist in a classroom project. Parents also have opportunities to attend student performances such as plays and concerts, and participate in special events such as “math nights” or Speeches & Sweets. In all grades, parents with expertise relevant to curriculum may be asked to share their knowledge and skills. Parents are full participants in the education of their child. We look to you to volunteer as room parent, field trip or dance chaperone, gala committee participant, Country Market organizer, PTL Board member, library aid, admissions open house tour guide, or Field Day referee. We want you to come into the classroom to read, talk about your work, or demonstrate a special talent. And, if you can’t be here physically, we encourage you to participate by way of our many communications venues.

Do you have athletic teams?

We are a part of the ABC Interscholastic Athletic League. Our program runs during the fall, winter, and spring seasons, and is offered to all of our middle school students, and all students are guaranteed playing time, regardless of ability. We are constantly striving to build and develop our program according to our students’ interests.

Our school is committed to ensuring that we offer the best possible experience for everyone involved with our program. The primary goal of our program is to support our students and coaches with a positive learning environment that is respected throughout the league, and the community.

What about an honor code?

The Honor Code helps students develop a sense of individual and group responsibility in a moral community. All middle school students read and discuss the Honor Code at the beginning of the school year in their advisories. Teachers and advisors emphasize the Honor Code throughout the year. Students are expected to uphold the following five obligations of the Honor Code:

to neither give nor receive unauthorized assistance during examinations or tests;
to never plagiarize, which is defined as using material written by someone else without giving that person formal credit;
to never take property belonging to others without the expressed consent of the rightful owners;
to always tell the truth; and
to take action after witnessing a violation of the Honor Code.

When a student is accused of violating the Honor Code, they must go before the Honor Council. The Honor Council is selected by the faculty and consists of seventh and eighth grade students who have demonstrated a strong sense of honor. The Honor Council hears from all parties involved and decides whether or not the Honor Code has been violated. If the Code has been violated, they recommend appropriate disciplinary action to the faculty advisor. The faculty advisor attends all meetings, and offers advice, but does not vote on honor cases.

Do students participate in community service?

We believe that service to others is an important part of the educational process. During the school year, students will participate in various community service projects, either as part of the curriculum or as an independent project conducted in coordination with the student council.

In addition, each year the faculty and staff participate in a project with Rebuilding Together Alexandria.

What is the Festival of Learning?

The Festival of Learning is a special tradition at ACDS, introduced in 1990 as an opportunity for our students to learn about other cultures and the countries and peoples they represent. Through the years, we have celebrated a wonderful variety of themes from around the world, among them Mexico, Japan, Russia, Australia, the Middle East, Germany, Spain, Native Americans, Islands of the Caribbean, the ’50s, Colonial America, China, and the National Parks. Through the weeklong Festival events (normally held in March), our students broaden their world views and come to understand how other cultures differ from our own. By accepting these differences, we come to appreciate the rich and diverse contributions of other peoples to our world community.

Do you offer field trips?

Field trips serve as an extension of classroom instruction and as enrichment both in community service and the fine arts. The cost of most field trips and transportation is included in the annual tuition; however, on occasion, a longer trip may be offered to older students and may necessitate an additional charge. Whenever students go on a trip, they represent Alexandria Country Day School and are expected to dress and behave according to the school ’s standards.

Students in fifth through eighth grades take a one- to three-day overnight trip. The trip for each grade level focuses on a specific area of study such as history, literature, science, or team building. Most trips take place in the fall. The class trip is considered outdoor educaiton and is part of the school curriculum and all students are expected to attend. Additionally, the eighth graders travel to the Southwest in the spring.

Is there a parent-teacher association?

The Parent-Teacher League (PTL) is the organization of parents, teachers, and friends who support Alexandria Country Day School in efforts to provide the best possible education for its students. You are a member of the PTL if you have a child at the school. Each family is asked to pay dues of $25 annually to support PTL efforts throughout the year. Please visit the section on the Parent-Teacher League for more information about our PTL.

What is Speeches & Sweets?

Beginning in fifth grade and each year thereafter, students will be asked to plan, write, and deliver a speech on a specified subject or topic. Each class will deliver speeches to their peers and to their parents during an evening program. This excellent speech-writing and oratorical program is an important part of the ACDS English curriculum. In sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, three prizes are awarded. A boy and girl winner from the eighth grade will compete in an oratorical contest sponsored by the Optimist Club. Winners go on to compete at various levels and are eligible to receive the grand prize of a $1,500 college scholarship. In 2008 an ACDS 8th grader won the top prize in the Alexandria Optomist Club.

Is there a student council?

Yes, the ACDS Student Council consists of four officers elected by the student body: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Class representatives from grades five through eight are elected by their grade. Elections are held in the spring for the following year. Students elected to office participate in a leadership training workshop. The Student Council provides leadership and service to both the school and the larger community and provides an important link between the student body and the administration. Members of the Student Council have agreed that as leaders of the school, they should be held to a higher standard. If they receive three detentions in a trimester, they are asked to step down from the Student Council.

Are there other extracurricular activities besides athletics?

ACDS offers a wide range of afterschool activities for students of every age. The activities vary by trimester and may include book clubs, chorus, ping pong, yoga, stitchign, and gardening.

What support do you offer for students who need academic help?

Resource teachers are available in grades K through five to work with students who may need assistance in a particular subject. The school does not have a learning specialist to accommodate students with severe learning disabilities. Tutorials are available everyday after school to students in grades six through eight.

How can I find out more about the school?

Please visit the Admissions page or call 703-548-4804 to request information .