Overcrowding at Arlington Traditional School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

Maybe. I'm coming around to this idea. I like it more than moving ATS (or any program) to Tuckahoe, which is too far for economically disadvantaged kids to have access. But I don't think Fleet/Randolph could take an influx of all the current Barcroft kids. Some would have to be moved to another nearby school, maybe Barrett? Reunite N and S Arlington Forest at least.

I don't think too many current Barcroft families would be devastated, especially if they are moved to Fleet. And so many already transfer out, they won't be upset if the neighborhood school they don't attend is turned into an option school. But the neighborhood old timers, they will not like this one bit. Traffic, and who knows what else. They'll find something to grumble about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

Maybe. I'm coming around to this idea. I like it more than moving ATS (or any program) to Tuckahoe, which is too far for economically disadvantaged kids to have access. But I don't think Fleet/Randolph could take an influx of all the current Barcroft kids. Some would have to be moved to another nearby school, maybe Barrett? Reunite N and S Arlington Forest at least.

I don't think too many current Barcroft families would be devastated, especially if they are moved to Fleet. And so many already transfer out, they won't be upset if the neighborhood school they don't attend is turned into an option school. But the neighborhood old timers, they will not like this one bit. Traffic, and who knows what else. They'll find something to grumble about.

First of all, I doubt that many north Arlington families will stop seeking the ATS program because it gets located to Barcroft. It's only a mile or so straight down George Mason.

But even so, do you realize Barcroft has a capacity of only 460 and is landlocked with little room for expansion? The school is accessible from only one side in the middle of a residential neighborhood that is already tight for the morning and afternoon drop-offs and pick-ups. There isn't enough parking for staff. And this is at a school where there are a lot of kids/families who really DO walk to school each day and for the special events.

Besides, I'll bet with the smaller enrollment and new principal, the school's attractiveness will increase again. High-poverty schools do better with smaller enrollment.

If you want to move ATS south, Carlin Springs is much more accessible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS --> Barcroft; Barcroft --> Randolph/Patrck Henry/Fleet.

Why would they take capacity out of south Arlington and add more to north Arlington? That makes no sense. Even with Fleet opening, south Arlington will need another elementary school in less than ten years.

Kinda does make sense. Except for Henry and Oakridge in pretty every other non-option elementary is under enrolled, for obvious reasons. Just because your house is zoned for a a poor, segregated elemntary doesn't mean you have to send your kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

I don’t. The Barcroft building (and site) is even smaller, by a lot, than the current ATS building.
I thought y’all wanted to grow enrollment at ATS to 700+ students?

Also - Barcroft is far more walkable than ATS. You would be taking a walkable neighborhood school away. Not smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

I don’t. The Barcroft building (and site) is even smaller, by a lot, than the current ATS building.
I thought y’all wanted to grow enrollment at ATS to 700+ students?

Also - Barcroft is far more walkable than ATS. You would be taking a walkable neighborhood school away. Not smart.

APS Walkability Algorithms: # of Million Dollar homes in boundary divided by boundary distance from 22207

So, no, Bluemont is actually far more 'walkable' than Barcroft in APS world. Sorry.

(I'm only half joking)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

I don’t. The Barcroft building (and site) is even smaller, by a lot, than the current ATS building.
I thought y’all wanted to grow enrollment at ATS to 700+ students?

Also - Barcroft is far more walkable than ATS. You would be taking a walkable neighborhood school away. Not smart.

APS Walkability Algorithms: # of Million Dollar homes in boundary divided by boundary distance from 22207

So, no, Bluemont is actually far more 'walkable' than Barcroft in APS world. Sorry.

(I'm only half joking)

Yes, all those "walkable" cars dropping off kids on their way to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ATS@Barcroft would put a lot of N Arlington ATS kids back to their neighborhood schools, while adding even more S Arlington kids to its classrooms. It'd be a win-win and make everyone feel less pissed about everyone else (except ATS and Barcroft communities). The Arlington Way.

Can’t agree more!

I don’t. The Barcroft building (and site) is even smaller, by a lot, than the current ATS building.
I thought y’all wanted to grow enrollment at ATS to 700+ students?

Also - Barcroft is far more walkable than ATS. You would be taking a walkable neighborhood school away. Not smart.

APS Walkability Algorithms: # of Million Dollar homes in boundary divided by boundary distance from 22207

So, no, Bluemont is actually far more 'walkable' than Barcroft in APS world. Sorry.

(I'm only half joking)

Yes, all those "walkable" cars dropping off kids on their way to work.

Just wait til Reed opens. All those civic associations that have been selling the area as a 100% walkable school better be prepared for the lines and lines of cars dropping kids off.

[Anonymous]

Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

Just more fake news...yeah some cars will pull up just like every other elementary school for about 15 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

Just more fake news...yeah some cars will pull up just like every other elementary school for about 15 minutes.

How many do you the no “some” will be? After all this push for 100% walkability and the horrible design for drop off and pick up in any of the designs, it will be a disaster. Wait til back to school night when parents coming from work have to drive straight there. Or any school wide event. The whole area will be a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

Just more fake news...yeah some cars will pull up just like every other elementary school for about 15 minutes.

How many do you the no “some” will be? After all this push for 100% walkability and the horrible design for drop off and pick up in any of the designs, it will be a disaster. Wait til back to school night when parents coming from work have to drive straight there. Or any school wide event. The whole area will be a mess.

Since it is so walkable that should help minimize traffic and it is on a major bus line. Maybe Reed can plan those events on a night when the library is closed. Like I said fake news...somehow schools like McKinley and Discovery can manage. Get over yourself, the sky is not falling chicken little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

Just more fake news...yeah some cars will pull up just like every other elementary school for about 15 minutes.

How many do you the no “some” will be? After all this push for 100% walkability and the horrible design for drop off and pick up in any of the designs, it will be a disaster. Wait til back to school night when parents coming from work have to drive straight there. Or any school wide event. The whole area will be a mess.

Since it is so walkable that should help minimize traffic and it is on a major bus line. Maybe Reed can plan those events on a night when the library is closed. Like I said fake news...somehow schools like McKinley and Discovery can manage. Get over yourself, the sky is not falling chicken little.

Last time I checked, Discovery and McKinley weren’t across the street from active commercial property. And I beg you to find parents at those schools who take the bus to events. Horrible comparison. Parents at my N Arlington ES who live maybe six blocks away drove and parked maybe three blocks away because it was pouring rain the night of an event.

When there aren’t events, the streets around those schools are empty. That’s not the case within three blocks of Reed. And it will be much more than the times around pick up and drop off that will cause problems.

Given the situation with crowding and lack of land, should there be an ES there? Absolutely. But I think folks are kidding themselves if they don’t think it will create a traffic nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. True dat. Don't go near Westover between 2-4. It's gonna be wild between Swanson dismissal (already wise to avoid) and Reed dismissal. And Reed dismissal will bring cars. Loads and loads of cars.

Just more fake news...yeah some cars will pull up just like every other elementary school for about 15 minutes.

How many do you the no “some” will be? After all this push for 100% walkability and the horrible design for drop off and pick up in any of the designs, it will be a disaster. Wait til back to school night when parents coming from work have to drive straight there. Or any school wide event. The whole area will be a mess.

Since it is so walkable that should help minimize traffic and it is on a major bus line. Maybe Reed can plan those events on a night when the library is closed. Like I said fake news...somehow schools like McKinley and Discovery can manage. Get over yourself, the sky is not falling chicken little.

Last time I checked, Discovery and McKinley weren’t across the street from active commercial property. And I beg you to find parents at those schools who take the bus to events. Horrible comparison. Parents at my N Arlington ES who live maybe six blocks away drove and parked maybe three blocks away because it was pouring rain the night of an event.

When there aren’t events, the streets around those schools are empty. That’s not the case within three blocks of Reed. And it will be much more than the times around pick up and drop off that will cause problems.

Given the situation with crowding and lack of land, should there be an ES there? Absolutely. But I think folks are kidding themselves if they don’t think it will create a traffic nightmare.

Yeah overcrowded? I have always found parking in the commercial lot. Maybe you can open up Westover Valet if it will be so busy. What happened to the car free diet? Oh yeah just another BS North Arlington virtue signal for when they think they might walk.