Cunningham Park Elementary School

1001 Park Street

School District

Fairfax County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
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 December 28, 2019

We’ve had a wonderful experience at Cunningham Park for 2nd and 3rd grade.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2019

We've had a wonderful experience at the school. Our kids are routinely challenged in the classroom, especially with the school's focus on concept based learning, as well as offering an AAP program for all levels. CPES encourages students to be the best that they can be and this is evident in the amazing and committed teachers and leadership at the school.
Submitted by parent on March 10, 2018

Our experience has been amazing, the teachers and services we receive from CPES and Fairfax County are exceptional. The education services our son receives keeps us here. We are really happy with CPES!
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2016

To echo the previous comment, the new administration is abysmal. While the previous administration was well-balanced, the new administration can't seem to get it together. It seems normal to lose a lot of staff when new leadership arrives, but telling when they make a break for it two years in. Not good for those of us sending our kids there. The positions have been filled by mostly brand new teachers/staff, which I can only hope breathes new life into the school and not more incompetence. There are some very decent teachers at this school, who care, but the teaching, overall, lacks spark, or going above and beyond. I appreciate diversity, but wish the educational experience would be more diverse and less rote.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2015

I echo the other parents in noting that the curriculum is fair at best. As transfers from out of state, my children had already covered many of the topics the prior year. In the last year, there has been a turnover in the leadership with a new principal and assistant principal. Both of them seem ill equipped to handle their roles and do not seem very engaged with students or families.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2014

Cunningham Park is a wonderful school with caring teachers who are willing to go the extra mile for each student. You don't need to ask for support. The school is very proactive and is looking to add Level IV curriculum for those students who need more challenging work.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2014

The entire focus of this school is on providing remedial services for the underprivileged ESOL community. The academic programs are basic, and the children who need to be challenged are severely disadvantaged at this school. Many parents are frustrated. There doesn't seem to be any real interest on the part of the school to provide more academically challenging programs.
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2014

Our kids started attending Cunningham Park this year and are very happy there. It has an excellent, supportive, spirited community of both staff and parents; and, good extracurricular programs. To our relief, this school doesn't have the awful cliques and snobbery of our former school-- everyone seems to get along and accept each other's differences. We wish the school could further expand its AAP program so kids don't have to go elsewhere to be further challenged, but the benefits of attending a community school are a big draw for us.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2014

Great school with a huge new addition. The teachers and parents seem to care about the kid's education.
Submitted by parent on June 20, 2013

We moved into CPES from out of state and just completed our first year. Teachers are wonderful, the community feel at the school is strong. Academically speaking, not challenging, which was disappointing, although I believe that is more attributable to the Fairfax County curriculum than the lack of challenge specifically at this school. My daughter qualified for GT but I am choosing to keep her at CPES to avoid yet another new school. While the school offers opportunities for kids to grow beyond academics (e.g. Student council, peer mediators, other leadership positions), the rules for holding such positions are created ad hoc and are subjective. The outcome is the kids who have the desire, capacity and capabilitity to take on more opportunities beyond academics are discouraged from the activities that best fit them.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2012

I agree with all the reviews below - it is a small school, neighborhood feel to it, with multicultural students. The principal and the assistant principal are great, they try to get all the parents involved and they will listen to suggestions. My daughter is in 1st grade and so far I have nothing but good words to day. The KG teachers are wonderful. The librarian, the reading teacher... all fabulous and you get to know them all. So far, I ve had nothing but good experiences with the school. My daughter is thriving there and that s all that matters.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2012

CPES gets a bad rating due to multicultural, diverse students. Yes, there are a large number of ESOL students, but that really isn't a big deal. The school is small (around 400) and the teachers and administration are great. The PTA is very involved. My children have had nothing but good experiences in the last 5 years. In fact, one 4th grade teacher in particular is outstanding!
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2012

Great teachers, Very strong principle, teacher quality is high, they let parents get involved, The staff are very friendly, Love the school
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2012

We've been at this school for 3 years, starting in KG and love it. So far the teachers we've had have been wonderful. I especially like the principal, who runs a tight ship giving a feeling a cohesion from classroom to classroom. Love the school-wide homework policy to give meaningful assignments and not just busy work. We have been very pleased with this school and administration.
Submitted by other on January 23, 2012

As a student here the teachers were all nice until around 6th grade but still pretty nice. Although their ideas a A LOT different then most schools they are somewhat working.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2011

Cunningham Park is a great school with a truly neighborhood feel. It's small and you can get to know all of the administration and teachers with little effort. This is our fourth year at CPES and we have been very pleased with our child's growth in all areas. Very strong PTA.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2011

My son is a second grader in CPES and we loved the school all the way. It has a very home like feeling and PTA is very active to support teaching process. The only problem is not enough challenges for some students. Some enrichment activities are definitely in need.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2010

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Submitted by parent on April 20, 2010

This K-6 school has a very dynamic young principal and is becoming a jewel of a school for those in the know. Its a small but growing school where the focus is on the kids with very good caring teachers and an active PTA and involved parents that together are making a difference. Its got very much of a tight knit family feel. The surrounding area is up and coming with much upscale development espe around Glyndon and McHenry Streets. Improving test scores reflect these developments. CPES feeds into well regarded Thoreau MS and Madison HS and gifted and talented kids from CPES feed into Louise Archer.
Submitted by student on August 25, 2009

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