APS — love our elementary but not excited about middle and high school options

[Anonymous]

None of the middle or high school options seem stellar (as in, I know at least a couple of people who have had significant problems at each). Is that just what middle and high school are like EVERYWHERE, or is this an Arlington problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the middle or high school options seem stellar (as in, I know at least a couple of people who have had significant problems at each). Is that just what middle and high school are like EVERYWHERE, or is this an Arlington problem?

Everywhere

[Anonymous]

I’m opposite. Not a fan of our ES, but happy with MS (3rd year with 2 kids) and its a good HS.

[Anonymous]

My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the middle or high school options seem stellar (as in, I know at least a couple of people who have had significant problems at each). Is that just what middle and high school are like EVERYWHERE, or is this an Arlington problem?

Everywhere

Are you kidding, people love the entire McLean, Langley pyramid, and the W schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the middle or high school options seem stellar (as in, I know at least a couple of people who have had significant problems at each). Is that just what middle and high school are like EVERYWHERE, or is this an Arlington problem?

Everywhere

Are you kidding, people love the entire McLean, Langley pyramid, and the W schools.

Do they? I feel like everyone complains about all schools on DCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the middle or high school options seem stellar (as in, I know at least a couple of people who have had significant problems at each). Is that just what middle and high school are like EVERYWHERE, or is this an Arlington problem?

Everywhere

Are you kidding, people love the entire McLean, Langley pyramid, and the W schools.

Do they? I feel like everyone complains about all schools on DCUM

What I know is that people target those neighborhoods because of the high schools and accept the elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

Sure but it’s still a non magnet non competitive vocational school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

Sure but it’s still a non magnet non competitive vocational school

Arlington Tech and the career center are different programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

Sure but it’s still a non magnet non competitive vocational school

Arlington Tech and the career center are different programs.

So there’s an entrance requirements like TJHS? That would make Tech much more attractive and draw students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

Sure but it’s still a non magnet non competitive vocational school

Arlington Tech and the career center are different programs.

So there’s an entrance requirements like TJHS? That would make Tech much more attractive and draw students.

No, not sure why that matters. It’s an option program that people can choose over their zoned school.