APS: Washington Liberty will be minimum 2700 students by 2025

[Anonymous]

We are looking at homes in WL and Yorktown and came across an article in ArlNow they added 600 seats to WL to bump the capacity to 2700, but Yorktown is capped at 2100 because of something with its lot coverage?

When they added those 600 seats, did they add another cafeteria, and build more field space? I have no idea how common space would be reallocated but I guess they did it last year and it seems to be working well? Any current parents want to share how it is at a nearly 3000 student school?

[Anonymous]

I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

+1. My DD just graduated and loved it there. She never complained about the size at all. The only time it may be an issue is when your kid is trying to make a sports team - there are only so many slots available, but that’s the issue with all the high schools in this area.

There are differences between WL and Yorktown, but size is usually not the one people focus on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

+1. My DD just graduated and loved it there. She never complained about the size at all. The only time it may be an issue is when your kid is trying to make a sports team - there are only so many slots available, but that’s the issue with all the high schools in this area.

There are differences between WL and Yorktown, but size is usually not the one people focus on.

OP is confused. WL is only 2300 and in fact is smaller than Wakefield.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/U-MEM_281_Membership-Summary-All.pdf

The plan is to move students from Wakefield to address overcrowding their, until WL is 2700 or so and Wakefield is at 2100 — both schools at their capacity.

So no one can speak to how a large WL will operate because it only has the added seats but not the butts for those seats.

Im sure it will be immaterial, whether 2100 or 2700, it’s a big school. I think they did add a second cafeteria, right?

[Anonymous]

I've had children at both YHS and WL and prefer WL hands down, no question. Despite the fact that it is larger than YHS, your child may have a chance at making a sports team if they weren't travel everything from 3rd grade on. The entitlement of the YHS students and their parents is just gross.

[Anonymous]

So Yorktown parents are “entitled,” but W-L is soon going to be a factory like Alexandria City? Pick your poison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Yorktown parents are “entitled,” but W-L is soon going to be a factory like Alexandria City? Pick your poison.

I love how all Yorktown parents are entitled when many of us live in the same neighborhood. Must be that imaginary line of entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Yorktown parents are “entitled,” but W-L is soon going to be a factory like Alexandria City? Pick your poison.

I love how all Yorktown parents are entitled when many of us live in the same neighborhood. Must be that imaginary line of entitlement.

I would have thought all the entitled parents went private years ago. Many elementary and middle schools split WL and YHS. Are there divided factions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

+1. My DD just graduated and loved it there. She never complained about the size at all. The only time it may be an issue is when your kid is trying to make a sports team - there are only so many slots available, but that’s the issue with all the high schools in this area.

There are differences between WL and Yorktown, but size is usually not the one people focus on.

OP is confused. WL is only 2300 and in fact is smaller than Wakefield.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/U-MEM_281_Membership-Summary-All.pdf

The plan is to move students from Wakefield to address overcrowding their, until WL is 2700 or so and Wakefield is at 2100 — both schools at their capacity.

So no one can speak to how a large WL will operate because it only has the added seats but not the butts for those seats.

Im sure it will be immaterial, whether 2100 or 2700, it’s a big school. I think they did add a second cafeteria, right?

According to your link, W&L has more kids than Wakefield (2381 vs 2333).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

+1. My DD just graduated and loved it there. She never complained about the size at all. The only time it may be an issue is when your kid is trying to make a sports team - there are only so many slots available, but that’s the issue with all the high schools in this area.

There are differences between WL and Yorktown, but size is usually not the one people focus on.

OP is confused. WL is only 2300 and in fact is smaller than Wakefield.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/U-MEM_281_Membership-Summary-All.pdf

The plan is to move students from Wakefield to address overcrowding their, until WL is 2700 or so and Wakefield is at 2100 — both schools at their capacity.

So no one can speak to how a large WL will operate because it only has the added seats but not the butts for those seats.

Im sure it will be immaterial, whether 2100 or 2700, it’s a big school. I think they did add a second cafeteria, right?

According to your link, W&L has more kids than Wakefield (2381 vs 2333).

Oh yeah 50 students. Doesn’t matter they are moving 400 Wakefield students to WL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've got a rising 10th and senior there. It's big, but my kids really like it. They don't complain about crowding except if you want a locker, it's far away. They both play sports and neither are college recruit material. My kids have engaged teachers, for the most part, and get their first choice of classes unless there is a scheduling conflict. Not sure what else to say. We feel fortunate to have our kids there.

+1. My DD just graduated and loved it there. She never complained about the size at all. The only time it may be an issue is when your kid is trying to make a sports team - there are only so many slots available, but that’s the issue with all the high schools in this area.

There are differences between WL and Yorktown, but size is usually not the one people focus on.

OP is confused. WL is only 2300 and in fact is smaller than Wakefield.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/U-MEM_281_Membership-Summary-All.pdf

The plan is to move students from Wakefield to address overcrowding their, until WL is 2700 or so and Wakefield is at 2100 — both schools at their capacity.

So no one can speak to how a large WL will operate because it only has the added seats but not the butts for those seats.

Im sure it will be immaterial, whether 2100 or 2700, it’s a big school. I think they did add a second cafeteria, right?

According to your link, W&L has more kids than Wakefield (2381 vs 2333).

DP But Wakefield is/will be the most crowded because of the additional seats being opened at WL.

[Anonymous]

Yes. W&L has been built for 2700. That’s been the plan for years. It will be bigger than the other high schools by quite a bit. This is a consequence of no one wanting to be moved out of that district and no one wanting to truly address the need for a high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. W&L has been built for 2700. That’s been the plan for years. It will be bigger than the other high schools by quite a bit. This is a consequence of no one wanting to be moved out of that district and no one wanting to truly address the need for a high school.

Yep!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. W&L has been built for 2700. That’s been the plan for years. It will be bigger than the other high schools by quite a bit. This is a consequence of no one wanting to be moved out of that district and no one wanting to truly address the need for a high school.

So replicating TC Williams model and success?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at homes in WL and Yorktown and came across an article in ArlNow they added 600 seats to WL to bump the capacity to 2700, but Yorktown is capped at 2100 because of something with its lot coverage?

When they added those 600 seats, did they add another cafeteria, and build more field space? I have no idea how common space would be reallocated but I guess they did it last year and it seems to be working well? Any current parents want to share how it is at a nearly 3000 student school?

No, although they did add some common area in the annex. I know some of DD's senior friends would hang out there during their "flex" period.

My youngest just graduated and both kids had a good experience. Very happy with the teachers. Both have 504s for ADHD and did not have issues with accommodations. Our counselor was awesome but I know there's a lot of inconsistency there. DD said her friends started asking DD's counselor for help for some things because their counselors were not helpful.

The biggest downside according to DD with the annex is that she was constantly going back and forth between the buildings and up and down stairs. Started the day on the top of the main building, go down and over to the annex up two flights for the next class, then back down and over to the main building and up to the top floor again for the third class, back down for lunch and so on and so on. On the plus side she got a ton of exercise! It's also very crowded and loud.

It will get harder to participate in some sports teams and other activities. DS wanted to do theater tech but they had so many kids signed up for it he didn't actually work much. It was easier for DD who was in band, providing a built in social group.