Tell me about Arlington Tech

[Anonymous]

I read the website but I still don’t understand. Is it mostly for kids who are really into computer science? Or are we talking about a different kind of “tech”? In my high school, the career-focused high school was for auto mechanics and welding. I don’t think that’s what Arlington Tech is about, right? It’s very hard to tell from website. My daughter went to Campbell, where she thrived with project-based learning. So that part sounds great for her. She’s not into computer science in the least, however.

[Anonymous]

Here is the list of course offerings

https://careercenter.apsva.us/arlington-tech/program-information/

[Anonymous]

I know they have Robitics team and a media television group that has won awards.

[Anonymous]

One of the kids I know there is focusing their electives on the health pathway, aiming for pre-med. All students do take engineering in 9th grade so I think that does make it more appealing to the tech/engineering -oriented student. It's not a vo-tech program. Students take a lot of dual-enrollment classes and can graduate with an AA degree so start college well ahead. But that does make it more appealing to kids aiming for VA state Us

[Anonymous]

This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the kids I know there is focusing their electives on the health pathway, aiming for pre-med. All students do take engineering in 9th grade so I think that does make it more appealing to the tech/engineering -oriented student. It's not a vo-tech program. Students take a lot of dual-enrollment classes and can graduate with an AA degree so start college well ahead. But that does make it more appealing to kids aiming for VA state Us

OP again. If a child starts school with a lot of college credits but starts college at 18 (as opposed to starting college with a lot of credits after spending 2 years at community college), what does that mean for them? Taking a lighter course load in college and still graduating in 4 years? Or graduating early? I don’t think DD is mature enough to go to grad school or start working “early” so I’m not sure what the advantage is to getting a bunch of college credits, but obviously I’m not in that world yet so I need you to educate me please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of the kids I know there is focusing their electives on the health pathway, aiming for pre-med. All students do take engineering in 9th grade so I think that does make it more appealing to the tech/engineering -oriented student. It's not a vo-tech program. Students take a lot of dual-enrollment classes and can graduate with an AA degree so start college well ahead. But that does make it more appealing to kids aiming for VA state Us

OP again. If a child starts school with a lot of college credits but starts college at 18 (as opposed to starting college with a lot of credits after spending 2 years at community college), what does that mean for them? Taking a lighter course load in college and still graduating in 4 years? Or graduating early? I don’t think DD is mature enough to go to grad school or start working “early” so I’m not sure what the advantage is to getting a bunch of college credits, but obviously I’m not in that world yet so I need you to educate me please.

The main advantage is that they would finish college early, saving the cost of two years. Given the cost of vet school for your daughter that's a big plus. My cousin's son in another state went through a similar high school, finished with an AA, spent two years at their flagship and then on to med school.

If maturity is an issue (which it may not be, hard to know what your 13-14 yr old will be like at 18), she might decide on a gap year before college or before grad school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

I’m sorry, not to scuttle her dreams but do you understand the financial pitfalls of being a vet? It is almost as expensive as med school, but requires long hours, and pays less than a nurse; and depression is rife from all the euthanasia performed.

Just make sure you go in with eyes open if you already lining up Tech for path for a vet. Army Vet is good option to reduce cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

I’m sorry, not to scuttle her dreams but do you understand the financial pitfalls of being a vet? It is almost as expensive as med school, but requires long hours, and pays less than a nurse; and depression is rife from all the euthanasia performed.

Just make sure you go in with eyes open if you already lining up Tech for path for a vet. Army Vet is good option to reduce cost.

She’ll figure it out! Let’s just get through high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

As a socially anxious teen I would have loved the built in excuse to not go to those social events and the opportunity for a small cohort of people interested in my niche area of interest!

[Anonymous]

Schedule a tour with your daughter to visit. That will give you a much better sense.

[Anonymous]

If she wants to go to W-L, the Career Center classes are open to all high school students and bus transportation is provided to and from the Career Center. Veterinary science should be one of those classes. Other classes include aviation/flight school, auto tech, EMT training, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

The Animal Science program is really great! But it is not part of Arlington Tech. Animal Science classes are electives. They last for an entire year and there is a lot of hands on opportunity with animals. It is one of the hidden gems of APS. My DD loved the teacher and the course.

https://www.instagram.com/arlington_tech_as/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

The Animal Science program is really great! But it is not part of Arlington Tech. Animal Science classes are electives. They last for an entire year and there is a lot of hands on opportunity with animals. It is one of the hidden gems of APS. My DD loved the teacher and the course.

https://www.instagram.com/arlington_tech_as/

Animal science classes are electives accessible to students at the big HSs but also can be taken as part of Arlington Tech. They can choose any of the pathways listed here for their CTE focus https://careercenter.apsva.us/arlington-tech/program-information/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DD wants to be a vet, and there’s an animal science program, so this seems worth looking into. Does anyone know what it’s like socially? What are most of the kids who choose to go there like? DD cares A LOT about her social life. But she has anxiety. The small school size could be good for her. Having to go back to her home school (which is W-L) for dances or sports wouldn’t be good. She just wouldn’t go, I think, but she would be upset to miss out. She’s academically gifted but gets overwhelmed when she feels like she’s under too much pressure (she still performs well, but she makes herself and everyone around her miserable!). Is Arlington Tech a good fit for a student like her?

I’m sorry, not to scuttle her dreams but do you understand the financial pitfalls of being a vet? It is almost as expensive as med school, but requires long hours, and pays less than a nurse; and depression is rife from all the euthanasia performed.

Just make sure you go in with eyes open if you already lining up Tech for path for a vet. Army Vet is good option to reduce cost.

I asked my vet if she knew about emptying dogs' anal sacs when she dreamed of this career. She said no, that she just liked horses.