um, do you even know where Gunston or Wakefield is? the only place for WF to be 2x further than GMS would be Crystal/Pentagon City... but last I checked that is not 1/2 mile from WL. but no, please stay where you are and don't come close to either Gunston or Wakefield. |
Key word = almost; 5 miles vs 8.5 miles Many people in Arlington, my family included, prioritize short commutes & walkability. I'd strongly prefer to have my kid walk or bike to school instead of sitting on a long bus ride (even to Gunston). Not sure why that's such a tough concept for you to grasp. Or why you're so combative. |
If you're half a mile from W-L, can't your kid walk or bike to at least one school at one point in 13 years? I understand wanting your kid to walk (it's not the be-all and end-all to me, but I get it). But I don't think getting to walk in every grade is a reasonable aspiration. Are you saying it is? |
oh sure i understand your preference, but where is this neighborhood that is 1/2-mi from WL, but 5-mi from Gunston and 8.5-mi from Wakefield? Because Google tells me WL is close to WF (3.6-mi) than GMS (4.4-mi). Can you help me out? |
Gah. You are right. We are in Cherrydale. 5 miles to Gunston. 6 miles to Wakefield. I did a quick map directions earlier and the fastest route to Wakefield was GW to 395 (8.5 miles). Not sure how you're getting 3.6 miles between WF and WL though - is that as the crow flies? We were able to walk for ES (lotteried to closer school), now taking bus for MS. Would really love to walk/bike to HS since it's so close. Anyway, my whole point is that I have no issues with Wakefield other than the distance. Which is why I wouldn't have wanted my kids to do immersion for MS - too far based upon my neighbor's experience. We also chose not to look at ATS or Drew for ES - too far. Didn't Wakefield have better college matriculation results than Yorktown one year? Maybe that was just one college...I'll need to dig that up. |
So it's not meaningful statistically at all but I was impressed that the only APS kid accepted to Stanford in 2016 was at Wakefield. Generally had more admits/applications too from a quick glance.
(Arlington magazine) |
Again with the statistics. I don't have to convince you of anything. My kids are pretty good - not great - students, and happy at school. And this whole peer group argument is ridiculous: exactly how many "high achievers" does your kid need to be surrounded by to succeed in life? And if peers are that much of an influence on your child, they're going to have a hard time turning down all the drugs being passed around. |
An all too rare positive, inclusive comment like this should be celebrated. Thank you! |
Yes, coz even the crows know to avoid GW Parkway and 395 https://maps.google.com/maps?safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&fb=1&gl=us&entry=s&sa=X&saddr=Washington+Lee+High+School,+1301+N+Stafford+St,+Arlington,+VA+22201&geocode=KTO_vMwutLeJMT8O3NGJbXBo;KZfcqML7s7eJMS0afFvZ8_a3&daddr=Wakefield+High+School,+1325+S+Dinwiddie+St,+Arlington,+VA+22206&dirflg=d Head south on N Stafford St toward 13th St N 0.2 mi Turn left onto Washington Blvd 417 ft Slight right toward N Quincy St 381 ft Turn right onto N Quincy St 0.7 mi Continue onto N Henderson Rd 0.2 mi Turn left onto N George Mason Dr 2.4 mi Turn left onto S Dinwiddie St 394 ft Wakefield High School, 1325 S Dinwiddie St, Arlington, VA 22206 |
Why doesn't WF have Nat'l Merit Scholars? Why don't their students represent AT ALL (forget proportionally) in national, state, even countywide academic awards? Why can't we look at the numbers and work to improve that school rather than denying or rationalizing? Why does S. Arl. put up with (or actively encourage) this? |
NMSF correlates with the education level of the parents. If WF doesn't have NMSF, it's because educated parents are sending their kids elsewhere. WF could be doing an incredible job and it wouldn't matter...if educated parents send their kids elsewhere, WF won't have NMSF. |
Stanford kid was a URM/athlete |
It might help if WF would provide an SAT tutoring program at the school, the type of thing more affluent families routinely pay for. As the recent NYT article pointed out, affluent families approach the SAT a lot differently than less affluent families who often don't know what they are missing. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/opinion/how-i-learned-to-take-the-sat-like-a-rich-kid.html?_r=0 |
For those who don't know, URM = Unreinforced Masonry |
How expensive would it be to provide an SAT tutoring program? I wonder if we could create an overarching PTA program that can help close the gaps for our schools. Our PTA raised a lot of money - exceeding budget needs - and IMO I'd love to see some of that wealth shared across the county. |