Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?

[Anonymous]

As an Old Town resident and lover of our vibrant city of Alexandria, I am so heartbroken by our public school system. We love and support our schools but wow it's like our school board refuses to make anything better and we all suffer as a result. Staying isn't safe and kids are segregated in our upper schools. Only the blind dispute this. It's just frustrating to know we need to move from this otherwise amazing place.

I'm sure there will be plenty of posters chiming in, finding ways to make fun of this and pick me apart. But, I think many others actually living and witnessing this know it's very much real.

[Anonymous]

You have it right. I would add that ACPS can be a nightmare for some students with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, OP, although I don’t know that I’d use the word heartbroken, but certainly incredibly disappointed and frustrated and looking to move - longtime Old Town residents with elementary aged kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an Old Town resident and lover of our vibrant city of Alexandria, I am so heartbroken by our public school system. We love and support our schools but wow it's like our school board refuses to make anything better and we all suffer as a result. Staying isn't safe and kids are segregated in our upper schools. Only the blind dispute this. It's just frustrating to know we need to move from this otherwise amazing place.

I'm sure there will be plenty of posters chiming in, finding ways to make fun of this and pick me apart. But, I think many others actually living and witnessing this know it's very much real.

Not a very nuanced comment. Are you just stirring the pot? Did you vote in the School Board election? Do you have students in ACPS schools? What are you upset about?

[Anonymous]

Move. Many of us have. I don’t know anyone who regrets that decision. There’s no sense stressing over things you can’t change. There are other nice neighborhoods in the DC metro area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an Old Town resident and lover of our vibrant city of Alexandria, I am so heartbroken by our public school system. We love and support our schools but wow it's like our school board refuses to make anything better and we all suffer as a result. Staying isn't safe and kids are segregated in our upper schools. Only the blind dispute this. It's just frustrating to know we need to move from this otherwise amazing place.

I'm sure there will be plenty of posters chiming in, finding ways to make fun of this and pick me apart. But, I think many others actually living and witnessing this know it's very much real.

Not a very nuanced comment. Are you just stirring the pot? Did you vote in the School Board election? Do you have students in ACPS schools? What are you upset about?

ACPS apologist appears. Why does it matter if the OP voted? Anyone who follows ACPS knows there are serious problems.

[Anonymous]

I live in Alexandria and I have a group of moms who all had babies around the same time period who have kept in touch. We all got together recently, as our oldest kids are about to finish 2nd grade. When the kids were little, we had all planned to send them to our local, relatively well-regarded ACPS elementary, but I realized that now, not a single one will still have a kid in ACPS by the start of 3rd grade. Everyone has either moved or switched to private. It’s sad and I don’t see a lot of willingness on the part of the city to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, OP, although I don’t know that I’d use the word heartbroken, but certainly incredibly disappointed and frustrated and looking to move - longtime Old Town residents with elementary aged kids

This. (Though we live in a different neighborhood.)

[Anonymous]

The public school system is just one of ma y problems op it's time to move.

[Anonymous]

We moved. Similar to a PP, every single family we knew when our kids were little has either switched to a private school or moved.

ACPS doesn’t need to fix anything because the squeakiest wheels simply leave the system.

[Anonymous]

We moved but missed old town so much we moved back and just bite the billet and pay for private. It makes me sad that Alexandria throws all of this money away on a disastrous public school system that seems to be getting worse and worse and sad for the kids who have no choice and are stuck in systemic failures.

[Anonymous]

We have our kids in private school. We moved from Fairfax county where i think public is a viable option, but…. Not sure how many incidents with violence, drugs, etc. it’s going to take before they address the ACPS issues. I wish voters were more education on the issues for the local elections. It’s sad to see the direction things are headed. I don’t think metal detectors were the change that was needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Alexandria and I have a group of moms who all had babies around the same time period who have kept in touch. We all got together recently, as our oldest kids are about to finish 2nd grade. When the kids were little, we had all planned to send them to our local, relatively well-regarded ACPS elementary, but I realized that now, not a single one will still have a kid in ACPS by the start of 3rd grade. Everyone has either moved or switched to private. It’s sad and I don’t see a lot of willingness on the part of the city to change.

OP here. I assume this will be us in a few years. Parents often reassure themselves by saying they're in "the best/one of the best" elementaries in town, but I feel like we will see a drop off after 3rd. We love the school right now - had wonderful K and 1st teachers, but can see how much more disruptive the classes are getting. DC complains that she's bored and I don't blame her, as it appears much of the reading/math isn't much of a step up from preschool. We're focused on social/emotional development now but soon enough those academics are going to play a more important role and it won't be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved but missed old town so much we moved back and just bite the billet and pay for private. It makes me sad that Alexandria throws all of this money away on a disastrous public school system that seems to be getting worse and worse and sad for the kids who have no choice and are stuck in systemic failures.

This is one of my fears. It's hard to beat the lifestyle in Old Town, particularly walkability with young kids. Unfortunately private isn't an option for us due to one of our kids being in special Ed. So it looks like moving is the only path. It's such a ridiculous situation. Agree that it seems to be worsening every year.

[Anonymous]

^OP again