Is APS middle school less rigorous?

[Anonymous]

I have heard from two neighbors that while APS elementary schools are great, the greatness drops off in middle school.

They have said there is a lot less work and overall instruction but that their kids are still happy because they are with their friends.

Are you hearing this too?

[Anonymous]

That has absolutely not been my experience. We are zoned for an elementary with a no-homework policy. Only one kid is in middle but it was a really rough transition going from no homework to being asked to do homework every night for six different classes.

I am committed to APS but I don't think you can really call anything about it "great," not in broad terms. I think that for most people it's "good enough."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That has absolutely not been my experience. We are zoned for an elementary with a no-homework policy. Only one kid is in middle but it was a really rough transition going from no homework to being asked to do homework every night for six different classes.

I am committed to APS but I don't think you can really call anything about it "great," not in broad terms. I think that for most people it's "good enough."

What makes it not great but good enough in your opinion?

[Anonymous]

1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That has absolutely not been my experience. We are zoned for an elementary with a no-homework policy. Only one kid is in middle but it was a really rough transition going from no homework to being asked to do homework every night for six different classes.

I am committed to APS but I don't think you can really call anything about it "great," not in broad terms. I think that for most people it's "good enough."

What makes it not great but good enough in your opinion?

It's just the same issues as a lot of public schools have. Not enough resources for special needs so then the teachers are overextended, the elementary curriculum is sort of meh, teachers aren't trained well in teaching programs so a lot of it they have to learn on the job (luckily my kids have had amazing teachers), writing composition isn't taught rigorously enough, they outsource things like times tables and spelling to apps that the kids are supposed to do on their own time rather than make sure the kids have mastered it, there is a big disparity in resources between north and south Arlington, etc.

But a lot of kids graduate from APS and thrive, and all the kids my teachers have had genuinely care about the kids. Plus it is a lot better than a lot of other public school districts. And they finally got rid of balanced literacy (now it's just a matter of hoping the teachers adjust to a phonics-based approach).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help). On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help). On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.

Infuriating. Race to the bottom. Equity is supposed to be about giving support to bring up those who need it. This approach is about squishing everyone down.

Parents with resources will supplement so their kids will have homework anyway. Maybe I’m cynical but schools really can’t equalize for all the disparities in life.

[Anonymous]

We are at a 22207 no homework APS, and it has not been great at all. Far from it.

[Anonymous]

Some researchers argue that homework improves equity. APS cited this article when discussing other issues related to homework.

https://www.educationnext.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ednext_xix_1_bempechat.pdf

"Many low-income parents value homework as an important connection to the school and the curriculum—even as their children report receiving little homework."

"research shows that low-income parents who are unable to assist with homework are far from passive in their children’s learning, and they do help foster scholastic performance. In fact, parental help with homework is not a necessary component for school success."

"Indeed, greatly reducing or eliminating homework would likely increase, not diminish, the achievement gap. ... Children in higher-income families benefit from many privileges, including exposure to a larger range of language at home that may align with the language of school, access to learning and cultural experiences, and many other forms of enrichment, such as tutoring and academic summer camps, all of which may be cost-prohibitive for lower-income families. But for the 21 percent of the school-age population who live in poverty— nearly 11 million students ages 5–17—homework is one tool that can help narrow the achievement gap."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some researchers argue that homework improves equity. APS cited this article when discussing other issues related to homework.

https://www.educationnext.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ednext_xix_1_bempechat.pdf

"Many low-income parents value homework as an important connection to the school and the curriculum—even as their children report receiving little homework."

"research shows that low-income parents who are unable to assist with homework are far from passive in their children’s learning, and they do help foster scholastic performance. In fact, parental help with homework is not a necessary component for school success."

"Indeed, greatly reducing or eliminating homework would likely increase, not diminish, the achievement gap. ... Children in higher-income families benefit from many privileges, including exposure to a larger range of language at home that may align with the language of school, access to learning and cultural experiences, and many other forms of enrichment, such as tutoring and academic summer camps, all of which may be cost-prohibitive for lower-income families. But for the 21 percent of the school-age population who live in poverty— nearly 11 million students ages 5–17—homework is one tool that can help narrow the achievement gap."

Why in the world then is APS eliminating homework in most schools?

[Anonymous]

Good question. APS cited two articles in its homework review; one argued homework is inequitable, the other (this one) argued that it is equitable. Presumably, APS agreed with the former.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help). On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.[/quote]

So the solution to the achievement gap is to lower the achievement of the higher-performing students who may have helping parents at home.

Nope. I don't believe the goal of eliminating the achievement gap should be to lower the achievement of any student. It should be to raise the achievement of the lower-performing students.

What is "inequitable" is not ensuring that every student achieves their potential. If one student's potential is lower than another's, so be it. You don't lower the opportunities and expectations of students in order to limit their achievement to the level of lower-performing students. You don't think those same students aren't going to get extra enrichment and supplemental academics no matter what APS' homework policy is? It's far better to just not include homework as part of the student's grade.

I'm sick of people mistaking "equitable" for "equal." "Equitable" is giving individual students the resources and opportunities they need to achieve the same highest level (aka their personal potential). It is NOT to ensure everyone gets equal results (aka grades).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help). On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.

Infuriating. Race to the bottom. Equity is supposed to be about giving support to bring up those who need it. This approach is about squishing everyone down.

Parents with resources will supplement so their kids will have homework anyway. Maybe I’m cynical but schools really can’t equalize for all the disparities in life.

YES!
And nor SHOULD schools be expected to equalize for all life disaparities. Education is a tool and a pathway to opportunity and overcoming economic, social, and academic disparities. But every person is not equally talented in all areas - there are, and always will be, differences. Part of life - and an aspect of life all kids need to learn to deal with and try to overcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Starting in 2023-24, they will be offering more advanced options for middle school. (So not accelerated content but going deeper on content.)

2. It was not less rigorous than my elementary, which had a no-homework policy. I'm personally in favor of no homework in elementary.

3. Middle school is a tough age. Greatness drops off for sure because...puberty. Kids going through puberty on different timetables under one roof.

As noted by another PP, I think giving some homework in the later grades of elementary is helpful to prepare students for suddenly getting homework in 6 classes in middle school. On the other hand, APS is solving that issue by significantly limiting homework in middle school and subsequently in high school.

So, yeah, "greatness" definitely takes a nose-dive and it has nothing to do with puberty.

Homework is fundamentally inequitable.

Many students don't have stable environments at home to perform homework, no quiet space, no desk, maybe bad internet, or their parents aren't home or speak english so can't help (and you know some parents DO help). On top of that, many are caring for younger children, or working in the family business in the afternoon/evenings.

Because of this, homework has been shown to increase the achievement gap, and thus will be eliminated throughout APS eventually.

Infuriating. Race to the bottom. Equity is supposed to be about giving support to bring up those who need it. This approach is about squishing everyone down.

Parents with resources will supplement so their kids will have homework anyway. Maybe I’m cynical but schools really can’t equalize for all the disparities in life.

YES!
And nor SHOULD schools be expected to equalize for all life disaparities. Education is a tool and a pathway to opportunity and overcoming economic, social, and academic disparities. But every person is not equally talented in all areas - there are, and always will be, differences. Part of life - and an aspect of life all kids need to learn to deal with and try to overcome.

Public schools have to be equitable or they will be sued nonstop. Colleges have a lot of latitude in admissions and that is the time when differentiation can start.