HB Woodlawn -- High School Only

[Anonymous]

Another thread someone suggested turning HBW into High School only, and the capacity numbers bear it out: it is a GREAT idea.

Middle School (Enrollment/Capacity)
WM 788/997
SW 888/948
DH 866/1000
GN 1099/992
KM 947/1045
TJ 861/1086

Excess MS Capacity: 619

HBW MS 243

HBW HS 457

Heights: 775

Yields: 318 new High School seats, perhaps even more if HS class sizes are bigger than MS class sizes (I can't find APS policy on that).

We could enact this next year, and for almost zero dollars we'll have added 1/2 the high school seats that we just spent $1M on supersizing WL

Added bonus, more Arlington students get a shot at HBW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another thread someone suggested turning HBW into High School only, and the capacity numbers bear it out: it is a GREAT idea.

Middle School (Enrollment/Capacity)
WM 788/997
SW 888/948
DH 866/1000
GN 1099/992
KM 947/1045
TJ 861/1086

Excess MS Capacity: 619

HBW MS 243

HBW HS 457

Heights: 775

Yields: 318 new High School seats, perhaps even more if HS class sizes are bigger than MS class sizes (I can't find APS policy on that).

We could enact this next year, and for almost zero dollars we'll have added 1/2 the high school seats that we just spent $1M on supersizing WL

Added bonus, more Arlington students get a shot at HBW.

Whoops, sorry those WL additional seats cost $37M https://www.apsva.us/education-center-reuse/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another thread someone suggested turning HBW into High School only, and the capacity numbers bear it out: it is a GREAT idea.

Middle School (Enrollment/Capacity)
WM 788/997
SW 888/948
DH 866/1000
GN 1099/992
KM 947/1045
TJ 861/1086

Excess MS Capacity: 619

HBW MS 243

HBW HS 457

Heights: 775

Yields: 318 new High School seats, perhaps even more if HS class sizes are bigger than MS class sizes (I can't find APS policy on that).

We could enact this next year, and for almost zero dollars we'll have added 1/2 the high school seats that we just spent $1M on supersizing WL

Added bonus, more Arlington students get a shot at HBW.

That was my post! Glad someone else is excited about this idea. Any time I brought it up to SB members in the past, I got a lecture about HBW only works if it is 6-12?!?!

[Anonymous]

OP, here's my even crazier idea. If HBW was 9-12 only, then you could also potentially have APS lease an office building nearby and convert to additional classroom space. Then increase the size of the entire program. They already have open lunch for high school kids, so cafeteria capacity should not be an issue-- many kids go off campus for lunch already. It could function as a college-like campus, with multiple buildings. It works because it is in Rosslyn already.

But I'm sure people will say that is crazy-talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, here's my even crazier idea. If HBW was 9-12 only, then you could also potentially have APS lease an office building nearby and convert to additional classroom space. Then increase the size of the entire program. They already have open lunch for high school kids, so cafeteria capacity should not be an issue-- many kids go off campus for lunch already. It could function as a college-like campus, with multiple buildings. It works because it is in Rosslyn already.

But I'm sure people will say that is crazy-talk.

You need to pursue your “crazy talk.” HB started for the kids of Arlington hippies who couldn’t raise the kids to socialize normally. Those old hippies are either fed or haven’t had kids at HB for decades.

The school board is a pawn of the ACB, so that is where you have to push the idea. It would require a good deal of effort, but HB is no longer needed as the hippy high school. Open it to more kids to relieve the continuing overcrowding at WL

[Anonymous]

HB can’t be a fourth comprehensive high school because it has no field space for sports.

The admin makes the HB model work by eliminating non teaching staff like guidance counselors and psychologists etc and having everyone in admin teach classes, including principals etc. (And assigning each kid one teacher per year to be their TA or guidance counselor). That way they keep the school running at slightly smaller class sizes on the same amount of money as other schools because they don’t pay for counselors etc.

I would guess that if you tried to turn everything into a high school HB could lose about a quarter (?) of its teachers right off the bat who focus more on middle school teaching than high school. I think there would also be problems with providing proper guidance by teachers when you don’t have a history with the kids and when you get assigned more kids to counsel because all your classes are now high school size enrollment.

Not to mention the integration the school does at the middle school level with the Shriver program.

Basically you are saying just use HB for its building and strip away the rest of the program that previously gave it purpose and identity.

Man, I fought like hell 10 years ago to get the school board to turn Kenmore into a fourth comprehensive high school but could not make it happen. Now my kid is in middle school at HB and you want to kick him out for this weird idea that clearly comes from a place of not knowing or understanding anything about the philosophy of the school at all, you just want empty seats? I feel for your cause (and I was the one sounding the alarm ten years ago and also tried to get parents of younger kids involved at that time, where were you?) but I do not wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it was only like 4 years ago? 5? Does time have meaning anymore even?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HB can’t be a fourth comprehensive high school because it has no field space for sports.

The admin makes the HB model work by eliminating non teaching staff like guidance counselors and psychologists etc and having everyone in admin teach classes, including principals etc. (And assigning each kid one teacher per year to be their TA or guidance counselor). That way they keep the school running at slightly smaller class sizes on the same amount of money as other schools because they don’t pay for counselors etc.

I would guess that if you tried to turn everything into a high school HB could lose about a quarter (?) of its teachers right off the bat who focus more on middle school teaching than high school. I think there would also be problems with providing proper guidance by teachers when you don’t have a history with the kids and when you get assigned more kids to counsel because all your classes are now high school size enrollment.

Not to mention the integration the school does at the middle school level with the Shriver program.

Basically you are saying just use HB for its building and strip away the rest of the program that previously gave it purpose and identity.

Man, I fought like hell 10 years ago to get the school board to turn Kenmore into a fourth comprehensive high school but could not make it happen. Now my kid is in middle school at HB and you want to kick him out for this weird idea that clearly comes from a place of not knowing or understanding anything about the philosophy of the school at all, you just want empty seats? I feel for your cause (and I was the one sounding the alarm ten years ago and also tried to get parents of younger kids involved at that time, where were you?) but I do not wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Seriously you HBW parents are too much. How about we grandfather in existing HBW MS, so they have guaranteed admission? Will you put down your claws then?

You didn’t drink the Kool-Aid, you are snorting it.

For almost no cost we immediately get half the capacity we spent $37M supersizing WL, and you don’t care about their overcrowded campus but instead worry about too few guidance counselors. We can hire counselors, we just saved $18M. And what is this drivel about counselors that know your through MSMS and HS? Most kids in normal HS barely ever seen their HS counselors, it’s not like they get that personalized service. What privilege HBW students have, private school on public dime indeed.

And wait, HBW has smaller CLASS SIZES as well as a cap on enrollment? Do you guys want everyone to hate you, you have to be flexible here and help the county.

Yes we continue the Kenmore high school option, on that we agree. But all the other high schools are suffering under weight of enrollment, if HBW can modify its program to reduce that suffering it’s a logical approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it was only like 4 years ago? 5? Does time have meaning anymore even?

I’ve been at SB meeting and writing school, CB meetings, and community meetings. I was so vocal that Vihstadt took me aside to discuss my concerns about growth and it’s impact on schools. We didn’t agree on a lot of things, as a Democrat, but I was definitely getting their attention if not action.

[Anonymous]

HBW is untouchable. Always has been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HBW is untouchable. Always has been.

It’s touchable. They were moved against their wishes.

[Anonymous]

I have a middle schooler and HB and this sounds like a good plan to me.

But I have always wondered why we can’t use more office space for schools? Is it the lack of grass? I get we like our green space, but lots of kids in cities have to deal with a lack of green space, and it seems like not having green space is a small price to pay for not having overcrowded schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a middle schooler and HB and this sounds like a good plan to me.

But I have always wondered why we can’t use more office space for schools? Is it the lack of grass? I get we like our green space, but lots of kids in cities have to deal with a lack of green space, and it seems like not having green space is a small price to pay for not having overcrowded schools.

How do you decide which kids get to go to schools with green space and who has to sit in an office building and do recess in a parking lot? That was why HB ended up at the Heights, because people in the surrounding neighborhoods didn’t want their kids to be forced to go to school there, and since HB is an option program no one is forced to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a middle schooler and HB and this sounds like a good plan to me.

But I have always wondered why we can’t use more office space for schools? Is it the lack of grass? I get we like our green space, but lots of kids in cities have to deal with a lack of green space, and it seems like not having green space is a small price to pay for not having overcrowded schools.

How do you decide which kids get to go to schools with green space and who has to sit in an office building and do recess in a parking lot? That was why HB ended up at the Heights, because people in the surrounding neighborhoods didn’t want their kids to be forced to go to school there, and since HB is an option program no one is forced to attend.

Exactly, one solution is to make complelling option schools like HB in a variety of niche office or small lot locations. But Arlington Tech has not drawn students like HBW does, so its a dicey solution -- they could build it and they WON'T come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a middle schooler and HB and this sounds like a good plan to me.

But I have always wondered why we can’t use more office space for schools? Is it the lack of grass? I get we like our green space, but lots of kids in cities have to deal with a lack of green space, and it seems like not having green space is a small price to pay for not having overcrowded schools.

How do you decide which kids get to go to schools with green space and who has to sit in an office building and do recess in a parking lot? That was why HB ended up at the Heights, because people in the surrounding neighborhoods didn’t want their kids to be forced to go to school there, and since HB is an option program no one is forced to attend.

Well, this is high school discussion, so recess is not a thing, but same priciple applies. Who doesn't get a pool, football field, full gymansium, etc.