Ideas of How APS Can Solve High School Overcrowding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll say out loud and proud I don't want my kids in DCPS. Fuck that shit show

Yup, no issue with telling people we didn't even consider houses in the District because of the schools. They just nod knowingly.

That's what we tell our neighbors about Arlington if it ever comes up, which isn't very often.

You two are such lovely people.

[Anonymous]

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

Touché

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

Another Fairfax resident here. There is land here, plenty of empty office buildings and undeveloped space. If the only impediment to building a fourth high school for APS is land/location, then building it in Fairfax might not be a bad idea. I grew up in a school district with some buildings located across city lines, so that I lived and went to school in one city but in a different district. It's possible there's some rule against it that I don't know of, but if there's no rule, then it seems like an option to explore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll say out loud and proud I don't want my kids in DCPS. Fuck that shit show

Yup, no issue with telling people we didn't even consider houses in the District because of the schools. They just nod knowingly.

That's what we tell our neighbors about Arlington if it ever comes up, which isn't very often.

When it does come up you'll be well prepared from your time spent on APS threads. Good thinking. Way to plan ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

Another Fairfax resident here. There is land here, plenty of empty office buildings and undeveloped space. If the only impediment to building a fourth high school for APS is land/location, then building it in Fairfax might not be a bad idea. I grew up in a school district with some buildings located across city lines, so that I lived and went to school in one city but in a different district. It's possible there's some rule against it that I don't know of, but if there's no rule, then it seems like an option to explore.

It's a lot of acreage for a traditional high school. Like 12 acres - soemthing like that. Fields take up quite a bit of space on there own.
I can't think of tons of space ffx has to spare just over the county line. Seems any space ffx might have to spare is outside the beltway. Not helpful to Arlington.
No, Pat and the SB need to put on their big kid pants and show they will have to have a 4th school in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

Another Fairfax resident here. There is land here, plenty of empty office buildings and undeveloped space. If the only impediment to building a fourth high school for APS is land/location, then building it in Fairfax might not be a bad idea. I grew up in a school district with some buildings located across city lines, so that I lived and went to school in one city but in a different district. It's possible there's some rule against it that I don't know of, but if there's no rule, then it seems like an option to explore.

It's a lot of acreage for a traditional high school. Like 12 acres - soemthing like that. Fields take up quite a bit of space on there own.
I can't think of tons of space ffx has to spare just over the county line. Seems any space ffx might have to spare is outside the beltway. Not helpful to Arlington.
No, Pat and the SB need to put on their big kid pants and show they will have to have a 4th school in Arlington.

Wait, a high school needs 12 acres PLUS more for fields? I thought the 12 acre estimate included field space (else why would we bother to use the 12 acre figure at all, since that amount clearly isn't adequate for a high school?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

That said, is there any legal impediment to APS setting up a new public school in Fairfax? Until recently, Falls Church City's high school was located in Fairfax. And of course we also send kids to TJ in Fairfax. Not sure how much that really improves our options, but it's probably available.

FFX resident here. Um, maybe you haven't noticed, but FFX County is crowded, too. If the county does have any land for school builds, it will use it for its own students, not for Arlington's. The only reason students can go to TJ is because it is a regional magnet that Arlington pays into, as does Loudon Co.

If you want your kids to go to school in Fairfax Co., move here. From reading this thread, it looks like that's what your superintendent wants you to do anyway.

Another Fairfax resident here. There is land here, plenty of empty office buildings and undeveloped space. If the only impediment to building a fourth high school for APS is land/location, then building it in Fairfax might not be a bad idea. I grew up in a school district with some buildings located across city lines, so that I lived and went to school in one city but in a different district. It's possible there's some rule against it that I don't know of, but if there's no rule, then it seems like an option to explore.

It's a lot of acreage for a traditional high school. Like 12 acres - soemthing like that. Fields take up quite a bit of space on there own.
I can't think of tons of space ffx has to spare just over the county line. Seems any space ffx might have to spare is outside the beltway. Not helpful to Arlington.
No, Pat and the SB need to put on their big kid pants and show they will have to have a 4th school in Arlington.

Wait, a high school needs 12 acres PLUS more for fields? I thought the 12 acre estimate included field space (else why would we bother to use the 12 acre figure at all, since that amount clearly isn't adequate for a high school?)

I'm sorry. I wasn't clear. Fields are part of the acreage. 12 acres is a lot of land inside the beltway.

[Anonymous]

The chances of Fairfax allowing Arlington to operate a school in Fairfax are nil. Arlington has to remedy its own atrocious planning.

[Anonymous]

How long have they known this cluster was happening? I have a baby now. I wasn't paying attention before having a kid. I just assumed Arlington had its act together. Can someone give me some back story here.
Fwiw. I live in one of the few ( currently) not crowded pyramids.

[Anonymous]

Not complicated. Seize land by eminent domain if necessary. Build a tall, city-like high school of the old school urban sort. Think vertically, not horizontally. Arlington. Home of so many stupid "smart" people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long have they known this cluster was happening? I have a baby now. I wasn't paying attention before having a kid. I just assumed Arlington had its act together. Can someone give me some back story here.
Fwiw. I live in one of the few ( currently) not crowded pyramids.

The search function is your friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long have they known this cluster was happening? I have a baby now. I wasn't paying attention before having a kid. I just assumed Arlington had its act together. Can someone give me some back story here.
Fwiw. I live in one of the few ( currently) not crowded pyramids.

To be brief, the elementary schools have gotten increasingly crowded the past 5-7 years. Hence the building of Discovery and the new elementary at TJ, the additions at Ashkawn, McKinley and I think Abingdon is next. The overcrowding in turn moved to the middle schools so that now Swanson and Williamsburg are bursting out, with entire grades in trailers this coming school year. So then there was all the drama about whether to build a new middle school or move HB to Roslyn to the old Wilson site and return HB's building to its original purpose as a neighborhood middle school. HB is moving and its old building will revert to its old middle school status in 2019, supposedly. Guess where those kids go to school next - yep, high school. Washington-Lee is going to be the most overcrowded, followed by Wakefield then Yorktown. For example, last year's graduating class from WL was around 420 students and this year's freshman class is close to 700 and the worst of the overcrowding has yet to hit. Meanwhile, the county keeps increasing density and more families are living in apartments/condos. APS has been slow to deal with all of this, partly because their projections for growth have been off, partly because they kept hoping this student growth was just a bubble and other reasons. Then add in how the county handles its debt capacity and now the high school situation is truly going to be dire for the foreseeable future. Which is absolutely nuts considering how new the buildings are.

But really, look at other threads and More Seats on the APS website. You'll find plenty.

[Anonymous]

Is it mostly immigrants making up the majority of the new students who are causing overcrowding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it mostly immigrants making up the majority of the new students who are causing overcrowding?

No