T.C. Williams HS in Alex

[Anonymous]

I am looking at real estate in Alexandria. TC Williams is rated very poorly on the "great schools" rating. Is it really that bad? In what way is it bad? My daughter is just in preschool now but we'd like to have the option of staying long term where ever we buy.

[Anonymous]

See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

[Anonymous]

There are lots of TC Williams kids in my neighborhood, and they're super smart, talented and on track to head off to some excellent colleges. I think the stereotype for TC is "Yale or Jail." You either do really well or really struggle, but there's not much of a middle ground.

[Anonymous]

Most of the families I have met have been happy with their choice to send their kids to TC. There are haters on this board but I often wonder if they have any direct experience or if they are just repeating what they read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

Meh, people were saying that 20 years ago. I know I was. We moved.

To OP: Short version is a white, bright upper MC and self-motivated student can do well at TC. But unless s/he subsists in a bubble, s/he will be immersed in challenging situations. School should not be something one has to overcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the families I have met have been happy with their choice to send their kids to TC. There are haters on this board but I often wonder if they have any direct experience or if they are just repeating what they read.

Hater here. Direct experience, as both employee and parent. I personally wouldn't do either again if I had the choice.

[Anonymous]

My kids are doing fine. Lots of amazing course options, and they've made a good group of friends. New principal is well liked and committed to long tenure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

Meh, people were saying that 20 years ago. I know I was. We moved.

To OP: Short version is a white, bright upper MC and self-motivated student can do well at TC. But unless s/he subsists in a bubble, s/he will be immersed in challenging situations. School should not be something one has to overcome.

I really don't get the bolded part. I'm not sure what challenging situations you are referring to. My kids haven't been bullied or harassed, they pretty much just do the typical high school things. There are students attending that have more challenging backgrounds than others. Many are minorities and have lower incomes. Some of those kids may not go to college, but that doesn't make them bad people. Many of those minorities with lower incomes will go to college, and they are attending the same classes as my kids, and my kids are friends with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

Meh, people were saying that 20 years ago. I know I was. We moved.

To OP: Short version is a white, bright upper MC and self-motivated student can do well at TC. But unless s/he subsists in a bubble, s/he will be immersed in challenging situations. School should not be something one has to overcome.

I really don't get the bolded part. I'm not sure what challenging situations you are referring to. My kids haven't been bullied or harassed, they pretty much just do the typical high school things. There are students attending that have more challenging backgrounds than others. Many are minorities and have lower incomes. Some of those kids may not go to college, but that doesn't make them bad people. Many of those minorities with lower incomes will go to college, and they are attending the same classes as my kids, and my kids are friends with them.

Referring to the day care for children of students and the gang activity, although I admit the gang activity might be no longer a problem as my experience is about 8 years old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

Meh, people were saying that 20 years ago. I know I was. We moved.

To OP: Short version is a white, bright upper MC and self-motivated student can do well at TC. But unless s/he subsists in a bubble, s/he will be immersed in challenging situations. School should not be something one has to overcome.

I really don't get the bolded part. I'm not sure what challenging situations you are referring to. My kids haven't been bullied or harassed, they pretty much just do the typical high school things. There are students attending that have more challenging backgrounds than others. Many are minorities and have lower incomes. Some of those kids may not go to college, but that doesn't make them bad people. Many of those minorities with lower incomes will go to college, and they are attending the same classes as my kids, and my kids are friends with them.

Referring to the day care for children of students and the gang activity, although I admit the gang activity might be no longer a problem as my experience is about 8 years old

Do any other high schools in the area have this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/709108.page

The short version is that ACPS as a whole has major issues, many of which come to a head at TC. It's waaaaay too big, it's overcrowded, hasn't had long-term, stable leadership for a while, etc, etc. Maybe in 10 years it'll have sorted itself out...

Meh, people were saying that 20 years ago. I know I was. We moved.

To OP: Short version is a white, bright upper MC and self-motivated student can do well at TC. But unless s/he subsists in a bubble, s/he will be immersed in challenging situations. School should not be something one has to overcome.

I really don't get the bolded part. I'm not sure what challenging situations you are referring to. My kids haven't been bullied or harassed, they pretty much just do the typical high school things. There are students attending that have more challenging backgrounds than others. Many are minorities and have lower incomes. Some of those kids may not go to college, but that doesn't make them bad people. Many of those minorities with lower incomes will go to college, and they are attending the same classes as my kids, and my kids are friends with them.

Referring to the day care for children of students and the gang activity, although I admit the gang activity might be no longer a problem as my experience is about 8 years old

Well I have two kids there now. I have explicitly asked kids about gang activity, and also inquired on my own. It just doesn't seem to be an issue. I'm not saying I haven't heard about some fights, but it not a constant occurrence, and not really directly connected with gangs. My kids aren't afraid, and don't know anyone else who is.
As for a day care, it doesn't seem to be a dominant topic of conversation, so I really can't speak to it. I do know the teen preganancy rate in the city has declined significantly, so presumably it's different than it was 8 years ago.
Are you upset that there is one? Are you upset that the school provides a resource that allows teen mothers to continue school and get a diploma? While I certainly hope my daughter doesn't become a teen mom, and further that she doesn't have sexual relations in high school, I am aware that teenagers do have sex. Do we just write those kids (and their kids) off? Seem extremely uncaring and foolish to me.

[Anonymous]

We've lived in Alexandria City a long time. Our kids went through ACPS and graduated, finishing in 2012.

OP, you ask a tough question not because of "gangs" (few if any) or so much "bad influence" (not a major presence), but in my opinion because in spite of huge support for ACPS all these decades (taxes as well as volunteering), ACPS never goes up in state ranking thus showing academically, we aren't succeeding so buyers are hesitant to buy. Can you imagine if we had the level of academic success present in Arlington? Alexandria would do nothing but benefit all across the board. ACPS has had a confluence of different Superintendents and visions over the last 15 years, as well as an increase of per student money ($19K per kid now) and lots of community support. So, what indeed is going on that we are viewed so far down academically and repetitively get questions as to the "Yale or jail". Just mind boggling really. We should be way past that as well as way pass 4 probationary/non accredited schools.

If the taxpayers in Alexandria could rally around a single ACPS point, I'd suggest it be to demand rigor of academics, as that's what kids need to survive and use in real time life and to get businesses to move here in our very competitive northern Virginia climate.

I truly hope residents in Alexandria can face these facts. It's not buildings that educate, it's teachers with supportive admin. Support academic rigor and the rest in Alexandria will come along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've lived in Alexandria City a long time. Our kids went through ACPS and graduated, finishing in 2012.

OP, you ask a tough question not because of "gangs" (few if any) or so much "bad influence" (not a major presence), but in my opinion because in spite of huge support for ACPS all these decades (taxes as well as volunteering), ACPS never goes up in state ranking thus showing academically, we aren't succeeding so buyers are hesitant to buy. Can you imagine if we had the level of academic success present in Arlington? Alexandria would do nothing but benefit all across the board. ACPS has had a confluence of different Superintendents and visions over the last 15 years, as well as an increase of per student money ($19K per kid now) and lots of community support. So, what indeed is going on that we are viewed so far down academically and repetitively get questions as to the "Yale or jail". Just mind boggling really. We should be way past that as well as way pass 4 probationary/non accredited schools.

If the taxpayers in Alexandria could rally around a single ACPS point, I'd suggest it be to demand rigor of academics, as that's what kids need to survive and use in real time life and to get businesses to move here in our very competitive northern Virginia climate.

I truly hope residents in Alexandria can face these facts. It's not buildings that educate, it's teachers with supportive admin. Support academic rigor and the rest in Alexandria will come along.

There are no good or bad school districts
School performance is directly correlated to income level period
T C Williams is fine. The top classes are just as good as any other school in the region

To actually "fix" things aka boost test scores

You need to convince more of the higher income people to embrace the school instead of choosing private school or leaving the district
UnPC throwing in more Asians would help too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've lived in Alexandria City a long time. Our kids went through ACPS and graduated, finishing in 2012.

OP, you ask a tough question not because of "gangs" (few if any) or so much "bad influence" (not a major presence), but in my opinion because in spite of huge support for ACPS all these decades (taxes as well as volunteering), ACPS never goes up in state ranking thus showing academically, we aren't succeeding so buyers are hesitant to buy. Can you imagine if we had the level of academic success present in Arlington? Alexandria would do nothing but benefit all across the board. ACPS has had a confluence of different Superintendents and visions over the last 15 years, as well as an increase of per student money ($19K per kid now) and lots of community support. So, what indeed is going on that we are viewed so far down academically and repetitively get questions as to the "Yale or jail". Just mind boggling really. We should be way past that as well as way pass 4 probationary/non accredited schools.

If the taxpayers in Alexandria could rally around a single ACPS point, I'd suggest it be to demand rigor of academics, as that's what kids need to survive and use in real time life and to get businesses to move here in our very competitive northern Virginia climate.

I truly hope residents in Alexandria can face these facts. It's not buildings that educate, it's teachers with supportive admin. Support academic rigor and the rest in Alexandria will come along.

There are no good or bad school districts
School performance is directly correlated to income level period
T C Williams is fine. The top classes are just as good as any other school in the region

To actually "fix" things aka boost test scores

You need to convince more of the higher income people to embrace the school instead of choosing private school or leaving the district
UnPC throwing in more Asians would help too

Prior pp here. The expected push back begins. Approximately 11% of Alexandria City residents attend ACPS. Arlington County attendance by it's residents is not much higher (I think somewhere around 15%). Yet people buy in Arlington County for the excellence of it's school system. No one in Alexandria buys for the excellence of ACPS. You got it wrong pp: that's why the parents send their kids to private schools.

All I'm saying is we homeowners in Alexandria City should wise up: push academic instillation over other and you will see us flourish. Average buildings are okay, btw. We don't need over budget bells and whistles: just look at Jefferson Houston Elementary as proof.

[Anonymous]

“The weight of this sad time we must obey,/ Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.”

King Lear, Act 5, Scene 3
(V.iii.323–324).