We know ACPS is bad but WHY

[Anonymous]

Is ACPS Alexandria or Arlington public schools?

[Anonymous]

Your kids are very young, you don't actually know what's happening in their classrooms, or you are really lucky and your kids have never actually been in a dysfunctional classroom. When my son was in second grade, kids in the classroom were regularly hit by chairs thrown by other kids. 90% of the school day was spent on calming techniques, sending kids to the principal's office, etc. My kid did all of his lessons on computer apps, because the teacher had no time to teach -- and that's what it really comes down to. You can have the best teachers in the world, but if a class is full of dysfunctional students, they will never have the opportunity to teach, and your kids won't have the opportunity to learn.

My kid is an 8th grader at GW now, he went to Maury/Brooks for elementary. He never had a class full of dysfunctional students during his time at ACPS. GW is really big and overcrowded, and not ideal for that reason, but he has made some good friends and had some good teachers. And yes, I am aware that there have been some fights at GW, but none that involved anyone he knew or that he was in the vicinity of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is ACPS Alexandria or Arlington public schools?

Alexandria. Alexandria City Public Schools. Arlington is APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Your kids are very young, you don't actually know what's happening in their classrooms, or you are really lucky and your kids have never actually been in a dysfunctional classroom. When my son was in second grade, kids in the classroom were regularly hit by chairs thrown by other kids. 90% of the school day was spent on calming techniques, sending kids to the principal's office, etc. My kid did all of his lessons on computer apps, because the teacher had no time to teach -- and that's what it really comes down to. You can have the best teachers in the world, but if a class is full of dysfunctional students, they will never have the opportunity to teach, and your kids won't have the opportunity to learn.

My kid is an 8th grader at GW now, he went to Maury/Brooks for elementary. He never had a class full of dysfunctional students during his time at ACPS. GW is really big and overcrowded, and not ideal for that reason, but he has made some good friends and had some good teachers. And yes, I am aware that there have been some fights at GW, but none that involved anyone he knew or that he was in the vicinity of.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess hes's wealthy, white, and in TAG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some parents have said that if TAG is removed then they would move or go private. TBH, I am not sure TAG really makes a difference now. We are in the camp that our kids will succeed in any school environment despite the curriculum and lack of resources because there are good teachers everywhere. We just supplement and until we're proven wrong, we prefer exposing them to the racial and socioeconomic diversity that attending GW and ACHS provides.

I was in that camp too but eventually it became too much. My child was so stressed out from all the behavior issues in his school. We moved them and it’s much better. FWIW, I spent years teaching in a very high needs school and was transferred to a non-Title I school (on the cusp) and the difference is incredible. When kids aren’t struggling for survival they are so much more available to learn. The extreme behaviors are an outlier now, not the norm.

[Anonymous]

We have kids in all levels of schools. Our eldest is in 4th HS in 4 years (military and COVID). ACHS with classes offered, curriculum, and activities is, sadly (maybe), the best we have encountered. We do discuss how the standards in NOVA are very different for what is a “good” school in so many other parts of the country. First HS is 5/10 on great schools, but only has 5 AP classes and limited school activities. Our child much prefers ACHS. As for college, child is already accepted into a competitive dual degree bs/ms program. With that we do worry our MS child will sink at HS, but since 8th graders are allowed to do HS sports here child is finding a niche. Our freshman is excited to get auto mechanic certification along with the advanced diploma - that child, however, is singularly focused. We are prepared to go private if need be, but the need has not emerged …. Yet. We just have a different perspective, I think, but we are overall happy thus far.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP who wants to give ACPS a try until it is actually failing our kids. We have not experienced dysfunctional students or exhausted teachers. We would rather save for college and leave our kids a little inheritance rather than spend it on private school. As others have noted, if we reach the point where we feel ACPS is not working for our kids, then we probably would go private. But in the meantime, it is good for them to get regular exposure to cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that they would not typically find at a private. And, we are not white but UMC and yes, kids are in TAG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who wants to give ACPS a try until it is actually failing our kids. We have not experienced dysfunctional students or exhausted teachers. We would rather save for college and leave our kids a little inheritance rather than spend it on private school. As others have noted, if we reach the point where we feel ACPS is not working for our kids, then we probably would go private. But in the meantime, it is good for them to get regular exposure to cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that they would not typically find at a private. And, we are not white but UMC and yes, kids are in TAG.

The rich Alexandria parents I met on the playground usually had very positive things to say about the elementary schools but tended to disappear by middle school. As for diversity, consider that it's not very healthy for your child to witness extreme behavioral and economic problems from children of one race. The suburbs in VA and MD are very diverse and your child can interact with POC as equals. Also remember that it's easy for you to just see what happens but it's your child that has to miss out on learning and be stressed for that whole school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP who wants to give ACPS a try until it is actually failing our kids. We have not experienced dysfunctional students or exhausted teachers. We would rather save for college and leave our kids a little inheritance rather than spend it on private school. As others have noted, if we reach the point where we feel ACPS is not working for our kids, then we probably would go private. But in the meantime, it is good for them to get regular exposure to cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that they would not typically find at a private. And, we are not white but UMC and yes, kids are in TAG.

The rich Alexandria parents I met on the playground usually had very positive things to say about the elementary schools but tended to disappear by middle school. As for diversity, consider that it's not very healthy for your child to witness extreme behavioral and economic problems from children of one race. The suburbs in VA and MD are very diverse and your child can interact with POC as equals. Also remember that it's easy for you to just see what happens but it's your child that has to miss out on learning and be stressed for that whole school year.

+1 I have a friend who is black and moved from Old Town to Fairfax County when her children were old enough for school because of this. She specifically chose a school pyramid where black students were doing well and not far behind the white students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often comes down to culture. There’s an interesting new book out on towns that succeed in educating all kinds of kids. Districts that Succeed is the name of the book. We went from a district like this (MCPS) to one that cares and let me tell you it came down to employee culture - ie caring. It starts with this.

DMV districts are all challenged by too much money and not enough caring. MCPS has 3 billion to spend a YEAR - yet cares little for the children under its welfare. Sexual abuse is rampant. Curriculum has been crap: for years they stuck with failing Curriculum 2.0, poor leadership (Jack Smith?). A district can maybe coast with one of these issues but not all of them. Lived in Alexandria for 2 years - guessing it’s similar.

Virginia is on a path toward making the same mistakes.

The Curriculum 2.0 - specifically the MCPS Math 2.0 - was a disaster. It was founded on “equity,” but it was a colossal failure for all students.

Virginia’s Department of Education is now pushing the equity-based VMPI, which waters down (“blending”) or eliminates higher math in Virginia.

I hope, for the sake of our children’s future, that Virginia reconsiders and scraps the VMPI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Often comes down to culture. There’s an interesting new book out on towns that succeed in educating all kinds of kids. Districts that Succeed is the name of the book. We went from a district like this (MCPS) to one that cares and let me tell you it came down to employee culture - ie caring. It starts with this.

DMV districts are all challenged by too much money and not enough caring. MCPS has 3 billion to spend a YEAR - yet cares little for the children under its welfare. Sexual abuse is rampant. Curriculum has been crap: for years they stuck with failing Curriculum 2.0, poor leadership (Jack Smith?). A district can maybe coast with one of these issues but not all of them. Lived in Alexandria for 2 years - guessing it’s similar.

Virginia is on a path toward making the same mistakes.

The Curriculum 2.0 - specifically the MCPS Math 2.0 - was a disaster. It was founded on “equity,” but it was a colossal failure for all students.

Virginia’s Department of Education is now pushing the equity-based VMPI, which waters down (“blending”) or eliminates higher math in Virginia.

I hope, for the sake of our children’s future, that Virginia reconsiders and scraps the VMPI.

Stop with the lies and misinformation. C2.0 was not founded on "equity", in fact it was found to be deficient mostly for disadvantaged students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your kids are very young, you don't actually know what's happening in their classrooms, or you are really lucky and your kids have never actually been in a dysfunctional classroom. When my son was in second grade, kids in the classroom were regularly hit by chairs thrown by other kids. 90% of the school day was spent on calming techniques, sending kids to the principal's office, etc. My kid did all of his lessons on computer apps, because the teacher had no time to teach -- and that's what it really comes down to. You can have the best teachers in the world, but if a class is full of dysfunctional students, they will never have the opportunity to teach, and your kids won't have the opportunity to learn.

My kid is an 8th grader at GW now, he went to Maury/Brooks for elementary. He never had a class full of dysfunctional students during his time at ACPS. GW is really big and overcrowded, and not ideal for that reason, but he has made some good friends and had some good teachers. And yes, I am aware that there have been some fights at GW, but none that involved anyone he knew or that he was in the vicinity of.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess hes's wealthy, white, and in TAG.

Outside of TAG, the whole system is a dysfunctional hot mess.

Discipline problems abound and ruin everything. Special needs kids are not given the separate classes they need, and disrupt everything as a result; no one learns outside of TAG.

[Anonymous]

I actually think TAG is a mess too. Not very meaningful programming or robust curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Often comes down to culture. There’s an interesting new book out on towns that succeed in educating all kinds of kids. Districts that Succeed is the name of the book. We went from a district like this (MCPS) to one that cares and let me tell you it came down to employee culture - ie caring. It starts with this.

DMV districts are all challenged by too much money and not enough caring. MCPS has 3 billion to spend a YEAR - yet cares little for the children under its welfare. Sexual abuse is rampant. Curriculum has been crap: for years they stuck with failing Curriculum 2.0, poor leadership (Jack Smith?). A district can maybe coast with one of these issues but not all of them. Lived in Alexandria for 2 years - guessing it’s similar.

Virginia is on a path toward making the same mistakes.

The Curriculum 2.0 - specifically the MCPS Math 2.0 - was a disaster. It was founded on “equity,” but it was a colossal failure for all students.

Virginia’s Department of Education is now pushing the equity-based VMPI, which waters down (“blending”) or eliminates higher math in Virginia.

I hope, for the sake of our children’s future, that Virginia reconsiders and scraps the VMPI.

Stop with the lies and misinformation. C2.0 was not founded on "equity", in fact it was found to be deficient mostly for disadvantaged students.

Do your research:


“ Equity and Fairness: The district believes that equity is of the utmost importance and that all students and staff should engage inequitable practices in all classrooms.

Curriculum 2.0: In an effort to modernize the school experience,Montgomery County Public Schools’ has a new, fully digital curriculumcalled Curriculum 2.0. It is focused on building knowledge through criticalthinking skills. Piloted in 2011 in Kindergarten and first grade classrooms, itis now being fully implemented across K-5 classrooms in the district. MCPS isreflecting on and upgrading Curriculum 2.0 to meet the needs of all studentsand teachers. A main goal has been to fuse core academic areas such asreading, writing and math with the arts, science, physical education and more,creating opportunities for building creative and critical thinking skills.”

It is right on the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Often comes down to culture. There’s an interesting new book out on towns that succeed in educating all kinds of kids. Districts that Succeed is the name of the book. We went from a district like this (MCPS) to one that cares and let me tell you it came down to employee culture - ie caring. It starts with this.

DMV districts are all challenged by too much money and not enough caring. MCPS has 3 billion to spend a YEAR - yet cares little for the children under its welfare. Sexual abuse is rampant. Curriculum has been crap: for years they stuck with failing Curriculum 2.0, poor leadership (Jack Smith?). A district can maybe coast with one of these issues but not all of them. Lived in Alexandria for 2 years - guessing it’s similar.

Virginia is on a path toward making the same mistakes.

The Curriculum 2.0 - specifically the MCPS Math 2.0 - was a disaster. It was founded on “equity,” but it was a colossal failure for all students.

Virginia’s Department of Education is now pushing the equity-based VMPI, which waters down (“blending”) or eliminates higher math in Virginia.

I hope, for the sake of our children’s future, that Virginia reconsiders and scraps the VMPI.

Stop with the lies and misinformation. C2.0 was not founded on "equity", in fact it was found to be deficient mostly for disadvantaged students.

Do your research:


“ Equity and Fairness: The district believes that equity is of the utmost importance and that all students and staff should engage inequitable practices in all classrooms.

Curriculum 2.0: In an effort to modernize the school experience,Montgomery County Public Schools’ has a new, fully digital curriculumcalled Curriculum 2.0. It is focused on building knowledge through criticalthinking skills. Piloted in 2011 in Kindergarten and first grade classrooms, itis now being fully implemented across K-5 classrooms in the district. MCPS isreflecting on and upgrading Curriculum 2.0 to meet the needs of all studentsand teachers. A main goal has been to fuse core academic areas such asreading, writing and math with the arts, science, physical education and more,creating opportunities for building creative and critical thinking skills.”

It is right on the website.

Reading comprehension is not your forte