Braddock Elementary School

7825 Heritage Drive

Annandale, VA 22003

School District

Fairfax County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:9
Type

public

School Map for Fairfax County Public Schools

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 06, 2020

We experienced the great school rating for Braddock drop in 2013 and now in 2020 it's rose from a 2 to a 5. That's amazing and I applaud the school staff for their efforts. Personally, we've had nothing but positive experiences with the advanced academics offerings at the school for both children. I love the fact that the school offers two-way immersion (Spanish/English) and fosters a positive environment for learning. The math curriculum is great as well.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2018

We are finishing up our second year at Braddock. I am so impressed with the dedication of the staff, administration, and teachers to this community. The students share a pride in their school. The programs, like Robotics, offered to the students (most for a very minimal or NO cost) are amazing. This school is one of the only in FCPS to offer Spanish-immersion starting in kindergarten. I cannot say enough good things about what Braddock has to offer. My son is very happy there.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2016

Both of my kids went there for all of their entire elementary years. All of the teachers were great, and both are now in Honors/IB courses. My youngest graduated 3 years ago.The only reason I gave it a 4 is because of the horrible traffic, something that every Fairfax County school has. Perhaps if FFC staggered arrival and departure times a bit and allowed more flexibility for parents, it wouldn't be so bad.
Submitted by parent on December 09, 2015

The new Principal Jackson-Muir is fantastic and really cares about the kids and encourages everyone to participate within the school: parents, grandparents, etc. She has ensured that kids with allergies are protected by informing parents and teachers that children with allergies are in their classrooms. They also have a special nut-free table in the cafeteria or a kid can eat lunch with a few friends in the library if the allergy is severe. I really appreciate Principal Jackson-Muir and the wonderful teachers involved in my child's life.
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2015

There has been a big Shake-Up at Braddock Elementary School in the past year or two. I will admit that based on previous school ratings (test-scores) and limited opinions online, I was nervous to enroll my children. However, I did enroll my children and have had nothing but a positive experience. School ratings are such a double-edged sword- there is just so much that can't be condensed down to a single number- for example: the types of teachers that elect to work in Title One schools, the support that FCPS (in terms of programs and funding) grants to lower income schools as well as the compassion and world view that children learn when diversity surrounds them daily. Braddock Elem. has an amazing staff and hallways full of amazing students.
Submitted by other on November 15, 2015

The former principal, Cynthia Botzin, retired in school year 2013-14. In school year 2014-15, a new principal arrived. At the end of school year 2014-15, 43 teachers left Braddock Elementary. Parents should ask why so many teachers left the school.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2015

If I was able to rate this school a 0, I would. Today I went to go pick up my 1st grader and all the parents had to wait in a line. One for 1st & 2nd grade and the other line for 3rd-5th grade. I was the first one to get to the line and a women with her baby was the second to get behind me. It was a very hot day and we had been waiting to get our kids for 40 minutes. The school tells us to get there no later then 3:20 but they don't give us our kids until 3:40 ( and that was only today cause yesterday I didn't get my girl until 4). When the time came for us to get our kids, they tell the lady with her baby (which had moved to the side of the building for shade) that she couldn't get her kid cause she was out of line. When I heard that, I got extremely upset. First because she was being rude and second of all cause she didn't even let the lady explain. So I spoke up and tell her that she's been waiting here for 40 minutes for you people to open the doors which it's actually pretty sad. I tell her that she had moved to the side for shade because you had us waiting out here in this heat for a extreme amount of time. She didn't care at all and made the lady and baby move all the way to the back of the line. Meanwhile she was talking rudely to all the parents, there was another stuff member screaming at the children inside, which by the looks of it was not needed. Its a terrible school with terrible staff. I was not pleased at how rudely the staff are to the parents as well to the children.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2015

One of the bright spots at Braddock Elementary is the Assistant Principal Lisa McNamee. She is an administrator that "gets" kids, especially kids who need special services and supports. We experienced serious issues with the school counselor at Braddock but we had strong support from Mrs. McNamee.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2015

I wrote a glowing review in 2013, and am disappointed at the decreased quality of Braddock since Mrs. Botzin retired. In spite of the size of the school, it used to feel like a warm and welcoming community in which each individual child was important. Now it feels like a large institution, with the children as its unwelcome inmates. There is a clear, almost obsessive, focus on test scores, rather than the focus of a healthy school on love of learning and exploration. I am relieved that we will be leaving Braddock after this year, but sad that our community has lost a great neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2015

I cannot wait to have my child taken out of this school. It's for that reason alone that I am moving further away. Teachers are careless, the administration treats these kids like criminals. I've had countless experiences watching and listening to how all the staff speak to these kids, and it is just terrible! There is no sense of community, but there is a definite feeling that comes from the administration that the families and children are "less than". Academically this school does so poorly, I don't know how students will have a fighting change against other schools that push for academic excellence.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2015

This school is going downhill quickly. And it all started when Cynthia Botzin stepped down as principal , and Ms. Jackson took over. When my kids first started there, under principal Botzin, we LOVED it there. Never had any issues at all. But the last couple of years have been AWFUL. Oddly enough, they are lacking and inconsistent with how they treat bullying, at the same time, over-sensitive when a kid just sings a funny song that happens to have the word 'die' in it. I would have been thrown out of school for saying the things I said as a kid, as harmless as I was. Test scores are WAY down, and we've had to spend $ on tutoring just to get them caught back up to where they SHOULD be. Since we're moving, we won't have to deal with them any longer, but I'm worried that my kids are going to be behind the kids in their new school. Hopefully, they're young enough to bounce back and not be ruined for the rest of their academic lives.
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2013

Terrible school, non help what so ever for kids with disabilities. The staff is not caring and dismiss parents with sarcasm. The lack of efficiency and poor performance is a mayor problem. My child was severely wounded at play ground, the didn't update my information with my new phone number, that I promptly give to them, and they didn't even call any of my emergency contacts. On top of everything, they sent me a letter home, asking me to cooperate with the school. I have found myself frustrated as I have contacted the school several times, went there in person, sent letters, asking for their cooperation with no response what so ever. My child is disable and is showing miss behaviors that affect her life, and they don't want to help her at all. I have several paperwork with her diagnosis, and still "she's not eligible, even if she is struggling. I'm moving out of here in two months, and I CAN'T WAIT. If your planning to move here, DO NOT. This is my personal experience. Also, they're over populated, and the building is to small for that many children.
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2013

I agree with the previous reviewer about issues with IEPs and 504s. My child attended this school and we had a terrible experience with the teacher, the principal as well as the school counselor. My child was bullied at this school and still has nightmares about what happened on the playground at recess. The school is also very overcrowded and the school system projects that it will be even worse in the future.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2013

Honestly, I am questioning many of these reviews. I have had a horrible experience with this school. Many of the teachers here are pleasant but it's the administrative staff that I worry about. The principle does not seem engaged with the students and their academic success. My child tends to have trouble in school and much of it has to do with his struggle with impulse. The teacher has been kind enough to "allow" an evaluation to take place but I have had so much push-back from the staff. I understand that it costs the school a great deal of money when doing an IEP, but it's for the benefit of the child! I just want to ensure that my child is getting the specialized instruction he needs in order to be confident in school. The year prior, he came home comfortable with the idea that he is just "not smart".That shouldn't ever be the case. However, Braddock ES has stated that this is due to the fact that he gets too much attention? What? I want to give them the benefit of a doubt- but it's been a few years and I am starting to feel that if your child has any type of disorder, language barrier, or disability- you're in for a world of grief here.
Submitted by parent on November 10, 2012

Braddock Elementary is a wonderful school. It has dedicated teachers, staff, and parents. It is a friendly, warm, caring neighborhood school. Lots of children walk to school with their parents. Braddock Elementary has excellent "specials" teachers like Mr. W. and Mr. Jackson for PE, Ms. Newham for Music, and Ms. Ahner for Art. The librarian Ms. Foley is a great favorite of all. Ms. Botzin, the principal, knows all of the students and most of the parents. The PTA is very welcoming and always wants volunteers. We love Ms. Rauer for Kindergarten, Ms. Davis and Mrs. Wheat for 1st grade. Wonderful teachers who understand children, who are motivating and great eager learners.