How hard it is to get into Arlington Traditional?

[Anonymous]

I couldn't find any information on how many people enter the lottery vs. acceptances.

Is it like, a ton of people apply and you will most likely not get in type of thing, or is there a reasonable chance? We are considering moving into the area and my child is entering preschool, so we would be able to apply next year for K. Wondering if there would be any reason at all to try to live in that area with the optimistic hope that we could go to that school. Or if it's wishful thinking.

TIA

[Anonymous]

If you aren't from the area, I'm curious why are you dead set on ATS? There are many other wonderful schools in Arlington.

We did enter the lottery when our youngest was in K since it was actually closer to walk than our assigned elementary (Ashlawn) and we thought why not as it has a good reputation. We didn't get in but we got a call halfway through K offering us a spot. We declined it, as our kid was already acclimated at Ashlawn. I don't regret it for a second.

I'll say back then (2015ish) you had to visit both your assigned school AND option school (e.g. ATS) in person and get a sign off from your assigned school principal that you attended. This was limiting for many families as the sessions were held during the workday. That requirement has been eliminated so many more families are able to apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you aren't from the area, I'm curious why are you dead set on ATS? There are many other wonderful schools in Arlington.

We did enter the lottery when our youngest was in K since it was actually closer to walk than our assigned elementary (Ashlawn) and we thought why not as it has a good reputation. We didn't get in but we got a call halfway through K offering us a spot. We declined it, as our kid was already acclimated at Ashlawn. I don't regret it for a second.

I'll say back then (2015ish) you had to visit both your assigned school AND option school (e.g. ATS) in person and get a sign off from your assigned school principal that you attended. This was limiting for many families as the sessions were held during the workday. That requirement has been eliminated so many more families are able to apply.

Not dead set. I'm sure other schools are great. Just curious so thought I would ask.

[Anonymous]

For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

There were 305 applicants for 92 slots, but not applicants are treated equally. VPI (39 students) and Siblings (37 students) get priority, so at a minimum 39 of the slots were already spoken for before the lottery even started. Since there isn’t 100% overlap between the siblings and VPI groups the actual number is higher. Let’s say there were a total of 50 applicants who were VPI, Siblings or both(the real number is probably higher). That means the remaining 255 applicants are actually competing for 42 slots.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

Sibling and VPI preference accounts for a number of the spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

You can watch the video of the lottery for yourself:

https://vimeo.com/704163847

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

There were 305 applicants for 92 slots, but not applicants are treated equally. VPI (39 students) and Siblings (37 students) get priority, so at a minimum 39 of the slots were already spoken for before the lottery even started. Since there isn’t 100% overlap between the siblings and VPI groups the actual number is higher. Let’s say there were a total of 50 applicants who were VPI, Siblings or both(the real number is probably higher). That means the remaining 255 applicants are actually competing for 42 slots.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

You know what confuses me about this? APS send out communication that the “VPI lottery” will be held the day after the Kindergarten lottery for ATS, but that doesn’t make sense if VPI is guaranteed a spot at ATS, or did I misread? Or did it refer to the new entering ATS as VPI class?

[Anonymous]

Traditionally you used to have to visit both the option school and your neighborhood school for an information session and get it signed off. Now the applications for options are online and done in seconds without ever visiting or knowing anything about the programs. I imagine applications are up across the board, though I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

There were 305 applicants for 92 slots, but not applicants are treated equally. VPI (39 students) and Siblings (37 students) get priority, so at a minimum 39 of the slots were already spoken for before the lottery even started. Since there isn’t 100% overlap between the siblings and VPI groups the actual number is higher. Let’s say there were a total of 50 applicants who were VPI, Siblings or both(the real number is probably higher). That means the remaining 255 applicants are actually competing for 42 slots.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

You know what confuses me about this? APS send out communication that the “VPI lottery” will be held the day after the Kindergarten lottery for ATS, but that doesn’t make sense if VPI is guaranteed a spot at ATS, or did I misread? Or did it refer to the new entering ATS as VPI class?

Your wording is a tad confusing.... VPI lottery is for Pre-K, that is on May 3rd. The ATS Kindergarten Lottery is May 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

There were 305 applicants for 92 slots, but not applicants are treated equally. VPI (39 students) and Siblings (37 students) get priority, so at a minimum 39 of the slots were already spoken for before the lottery even started. Since there isn’t 100% overlap between the siblings and VPI groups the actual number is higher. Let’s say there were a total of 50 applicants who were VPI, Siblings or both(the real number is probably higher). That means the remaining 255 applicants are actually competing for 42 slots.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

You know what confuses me about this? APS send out communication that the “VPI lottery” will be held the day after the Kindergarten lottery for ATS, but that doesn’t make sense if VPI is guaranteed a spot at ATS, or did I misread? Or did it refer to the new entering ATS as VPI class?

Your wording is a tad confusing.... VPI lottery is for Pre-K, that is on May 3rd. The ATS Kindergarten Lottery is May 2nd.

Oh thanks, I’m sorry, it was confusing because I misread it and hence misunderstood. Does anyone know how competitive the VPI pre-K lottery is?

[Anonymous]

Just understand that getting into ATS isn’t an achievement. So the construct of your question is a little strange.

It’s also not even all that coveted, except in some south Arlington zones for reasons that have nothing to do with ATS’s academic approach or philosophy.

Many schools in APS have a “focus” be it language immersion, STEM, whatever. There’s nothing inherently special about ATS. In fact many families are put off by it. You certainly don’t see parents in North Arlington who are zoned for Jamestown, Taylor, Nottingham etc. clamoring to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For ATS Last year there were 92 seats for Kindergarten and 212 waitlisted.

Thank you!

1:3 ratio? I… doubt those numbers only because my children had a b4% shot and a 6% shot. Never a 30 percent shot. Did I do my math wrong?

There were 305 applicants for 92 slots, but not applicants are treated equally. VPI (39 students) and Siblings (37 students) get priority, so at a minimum 39 of the slots were already spoken for before the lottery even started. Since there isn’t 100% overlap between the siblings and VPI groups the actual number is higher. Let’s say there were a total of 50 applicants who were VPI, Siblings or both(the real number is probably higher). That means the remaining 255 applicants are actually competing for 42 slots.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/school-transfer-data-2/pre-k-elementary-options-transfers-application-data-school-year-2022-23/

You know what confuses me about this? APS send out communication that the “VPI lottery” will be held the day after the Kindergarten lottery for ATS, but that doesn’t make sense if VPI is guaranteed a spot at ATS, or did I misread? Or did it refer to the new entering ATS as VPI class?

Your wording is a tad confusing.... VPI lottery is for Pre-K, that is on May 3rd. The ATS Kindergarten Lottery is May 2nd.

Oh thanks, I’m sorry, it was confusing because I misread it and hence misunderstood. Does anyone know how competitive the VPI pre-K lottery is?

It varies by school/program. The option school lotteries (ATS, Campbell, Key, Claremont) are pretty tough. For the neighborhood schools, not surprisingly there is more demand in lower-income neighborhoods.