HB Woodlawn Lottery results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB is an incredible program and a great size. Just because your kids didn't get in don't mess it up for those that are thriving here.

So my kid and many many others get to survive but not thrive in a massively overcrowded MS and a massively overcrowded HS so that relatively speaking a few kids can thrive by attending the equivalent of private school without paying tuition just because they got lucky? Because that’s exactly what is going on.

Signed,
Parent of 8th grader at Swanson whose HS is W-L and who is 150+ on the waitlist for HB

So give me an idea of what it is like at an overcrowded MS/HS. APS, the School Board and many parents have no issue with being over 100%. My children are younger so we haven't had to deal with this yet. Are we talking standing room only in the cafeteria and classrooms? Impossible to get into classes/sports/clubs? I don't have any perspective on what the real impact is because many people (APS/SB/Parents) seem to have no issues with it.

Trailers for an entire grade with rats running through them.

Lunch at 10am.

Have to share a locker with another student except that both of the students' stuff will not all fit, especially in winter, but you're not allowed to carry around the stuff that does not fit in your backpack because the hallways are too crowded for anyone to wear a backpack during the school day.

Hallways and stairways that are so crowded that god forbid there is an emergency and all the students and staff need to leave the building in a hurry.

Go to the library for "quiet lunch" because the cafeteria is jam-packed but then you get to the library and it is super crowded too.

Join the book club only to see that 40+ other students did too. How do that many kids discuss a book, considering book clubs are supposed to be small and discussion based.

Have to buy or check out from library books for English class because the teachers do not have enough copies.

Have band classes that are so large that it is impossible for the teacher to actually teach every one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster with a couple points:
- At the risk of outing myself, I personally spoke out publicly to increase the size of the HB program to align with percent overcrowding of APS. I know some HB people didn’t like it. I now don’t believe in the conspiracy theory on lottery, because my kid got in. Given what an awful situation the SB has created, we decided to enter the lottery. Believe me, I am not some well-connected person in that commmunkty - quite the opposite. At least 2 of the other kids accepted at our school have zero engagement in APS. The lottery was centrally run this year.

- On use of Wilson for a neighborhood school... doesn’t anyone remember how nasty people from Taylor and Glebe got when that idea was proposed a few years ago? Love that idea, but where were you guys a few years ago? If we hadn’t let the Westover bullies prevail, we could have put HB at Reed (very clear now that we have too many elementaries planned in that quadrant now and I can’t wait to see them advocate to optionize Tuckahoe); opened a neighborhood high school in Rosslyn (although the North haters would have screamed bloody murder) and still have Stratford as a neighborhood school.

Coincidence?

Doubtful. They want to shut down the squeaky wheels.

Is this a joke? If so, it's a funny riff on the paranoia on this topic. Squeaky wheel gets in? They're trying to shut them down. Squeaky wheel doesn't get in? It's because that slot went to some politically connected APS boot licker. A sibling gets in? It was rigged! A sibling doesn't get in? Doesn't prove anything. It's convenient that any outcome can be seen as supporting the conspiracy theories.

Seriously this kind of thinking makes it hard to take the conspiracy theorists seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB is an incredible program and a great size. Just because your kids didn't get in don't mess it up for those that are thriving here.

So my kid and many many others get to survive but not thrive in a massively overcrowded MS and a massively overcrowded HS so that relatively speaking a few kids can thrive by attending the equivalent of private school without paying tuition just because they got lucky? Because that’s exactly what is going on.

Signed,
Parent of 8th grader at Swanson whose HS is W-L and who is 150+ on the waitlist for HB

So give me an idea of what it is like at an overcrowded MS/HS. APS, the School Board and many parents have no issue with being over 100%. My children are younger so we haven't had to deal with this yet. Are we talking standing room only in the cafeteria and classrooms? Impossible to get into classes/sports/clubs? I don't have any perspective on what the real impact is because many people (APS/SB/Parents) seem to have no issues with it.

Trailers for an entire grade with rats running through them.

Lunch at 10am.

Have to share a locker with another student except that both of the students' stuff will not all fit, especially in winter, but you're not allowed to carry around the stuff that does not fit in your backpack because the hallways are too crowded for anyone to wear a backpack during the school day.

Hallways and stairways that are so crowded that god forbid there is an emergency and all the students and staff need to leave the building in a hurry.

Go to the library for "quiet lunch" because the cafeteria is jam-packed but then you get to the library and it is super crowded too.

Join the book club only to see that 40+ other students did too. How do that many kids discuss a book, considering book clubs are supposed to be small and discussion based.

Have to buy or check out from library books for English class because the teachers do not have enough copies.

Have band classes that are so large that it is impossible for the teacher to actually teach every one.

+100 to all of this.

It's far-reaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB is an incredible program and a great size. Just because your kids didn't get in don't mess it up for those that are thriving here.

So my kid and many many others get to survive but not thrive in a massively overcrowded MS and a massively overcrowded HS so that relatively speaking a few kids can thrive by attending the equivalent of private school without paying tuition just because they got lucky? Because that’s exactly what is going on.

Signed,
Parent of 8th grader at Swanson whose HS is W-L and who is 150+ on the waitlist for HB

So give me an idea of what it is like at an overcrowded MS/HS. APS, the School Board and many parents have no issue with being over 100%. My children are younger so we haven't had to deal with this yet. Are we talking standing room only in the cafeteria and classrooms? Impossible to get into classes/sports/clubs? I don't have any perspective on what the real impact is because many people (APS/SB/Parents) seem to have no issues with it.

Trailers for an entire grade with rats running through them.

Lunch at 10am.

Have to share a locker with another student except that both of the students' stuff will not all fit, especially in winter, but you're not allowed to carry around the stuff that does not fit in your backpack because the hallways are too crowded for anyone to wear a backpack during the school day.

Hallways and stairways that are so crowded that god forbid there is an emergency and all the students and staff need to leave the building in a hurry.

Go to the library for "quiet lunch" because the cafeteria is jam-packed but then you get to the library and it is super crowded too.

Join the book club only to see that 40+ other students did too. How do that many kids discuss a book, considering book clubs are supposed to be small and discussion based.

Have to buy or check out from library books for English class because the teachers do not have enough copies.

Have band classes that are so large that it is impossible for the teacher to actually teach every one.

+100 to all of this.

It's far-reaching.

And yet, when the only option to alleviate crowding is being zoned to a less highly rated school, parents pick the overcrowded school every time. They're listening to you and responding to YOU. They can't give you what you want (small non-crowded school in the location of your choice because there are too many of you clustered into a few specific areas), but they are giving you what you've said you prefer among the real choices available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB is an incredible program and a great size. Just because your kids didn't get in don't mess it up for those that are thriving here.

So my kid and many many others get to survive but not thrive in a massively overcrowded MS and a massively overcrowded HS so that relatively speaking a few kids can thrive by attending the equivalent of private school without paying tuition just because they got lucky? Because that’s exactly what is going on.

Signed,
Parent of 8th grader at Swanson whose HS is W-L and who is 150+ on the waitlist for HB

So give me an idea of what it is like at an overcrowded MS/HS. APS, the School Board and many parents have no issue with being over 100%. My children are younger so we haven't had to deal with this yet. Are we talking standing room only in the cafeteria and classrooms? Impossible to get into classes/sports/clubs? I don't have any perspective on what the real impact is because many people (APS/SB/Parents) seem to have no issues with it.

Trailers for an entire grade with rats running through them.

Lunch at 10am.

Have to share a locker with another student except that both of the students' stuff will not all fit, especially in winter, but you're not allowed to carry around the stuff that does not fit in your backpack because the hallways are too crowded for anyone to wear a backpack during the school day.

Hallways and stairways that are so crowded that god forbid there is an emergency and all the students and staff need to leave the building in a hurry.

Go to the library for "quiet lunch" because the cafeteria is jam-packed but then you get to the library and it is super crowded too.

Join the book club only to see that 40+ other students did too. How do that many kids discuss a book, considering book clubs are supposed to be small and discussion based.

Have to buy or check out from library books for English class because the teachers do not have enough copies.

Have band classes that are so large that it is impossible for the teacher to actually teach every one.

+100 to all of this.

It's far-reaching.

And yet, when the only option to alleviate crowding is being zoned to a less highly rated school, parents pick the overcrowded school every time. They're listening to you and responding to YOU. They can't give you what you want (small non-crowded school in the location of your choice because there are too many of you clustered into a few specific areas), but they are giving you what you've said you prefer among the real choices available.

Shut the eff up and stop making assumptions about all of us. I have a Swanson 8th grader who deals with all of the above and will go to a massively overcrowded W-L for the next four years. My planning unit was NOT under consideration for movement to any other MS or HS. And in any event, none of the "solutions" to deal with overcrowding will help my DC at all because they all are effective after she leaves MS and W-L will be massive forever if the School Board has its way.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sad that my child will be going to Swanson next year. I'm a stone's throw away, so moving to another school is ridiculous. I wanted so much better for the MS experience. I wish I could afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sad that my child will be going to Swanson next year. I'm a stone's throw away, so moving to another school is ridiculous. I wanted so much better for the MS experience. I wish I could afford private.

My son is in 7th at Swanson and he has had a great experience. Great teachers for the most part and the school doesn’t seem overcrowded to him. Lunch is kind of crazy, but that’s all I’ve heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HB is an incredible program and a great size. Just because your kids didn't get in don't mess it up for those that are thriving here.

So my kid and many many others get to survive but not thrive in a massively overcrowded MS and a massively overcrowded HS so that relatively speaking a few kids can thrive by attending the equivalent of private school without paying tuition just because they got lucky? Because that’s exactly what is going on.

Signed,
Parent of 8th grader at Swanson whose HS is W-L and who is 150+ on the waitlist for HB

So give me an idea of what it is like at an overcrowded MS/HS. APS, the School Board and many parents have no issue with being over 100%. My children are younger so we haven't had to deal with this yet. Are we talking standing room only in the cafeteria and classrooms? Impossible to get into classes/sports/clubs? I don't have any perspective on what the real impact is because many people (APS/SB/Parents) seem to have no issues with it.

Trailers for an entire grade with rats running through them.

Lunch at 10am.

Have to share a locker with another student except that both of the students' stuff will not all fit, especially in winter, but you're not allowed to carry around the stuff that does not fit in your backpack because the hallways are too crowded for anyone to wear a backpack during the school day.

Hallways and stairways that are so crowded that god forbid there is an emergency and all the students and staff need to leave the building in a hurry.

Go to the library for "quiet lunch" because the cafeteria is jam-packed but then you get to the library and it is super crowded too.

Join the book club only to see that 40+ other students did too. How do that many kids discuss a book, considering book clubs are supposed to be small and discussion based.

Have to buy or check out from library books for English class because the teachers do not have enough copies.

Have band classes that are so large that it is impossible for the teacher to actually teach every one.

+100 to all of this.

It's far-reaching.

And yet, when the only option to alleviate crowding is being zoned to a less highly rated school, parents pick the overcrowded school every time. They're listening to you and responding to YOU. They can't give you what you want (small non-crowded school in the location of your choice because there are too many of you clustered into a few specific areas), but they are giving you what you've said you prefer among the real choices available.

Shut the eff up and stop making assumptions about all of us. I have a Swanson 8th grader who deals with all of the above and will go to a massively overcrowded W-L for the next four years. My planning unit was NOT under consideration for movement to any other MS or HS. And in any event, none of the "solutions" to deal with overcrowding will help my DC at all because they all are effective after she leaves MS and W-L will be massive forever if the School Board has its way.

OK, but open transfers have been available to non-crowded MS and HS during all this time, too. If it's as bad as you say, why wouldn't you get your kid out of that environment?

[Anonymous]

There are 697 juniors and only 542 freshmen at W-L, so the redistricting to Yorktown and Wakefield had a big impact, people have started to vote on APS with their feet, or both.

[Anonymous]

And yet, when the only option to alleviate crowding is being zoned to a less highly rated school, parents pick the overcrowded school every time. They're listening to you and responding to YOU. They can't give you what you want (small non-crowded school in the location of your choice because there are too many of you clustered into a few specific areas), but they are giving you what you've said you prefer among the real choices available.


Shut the eff up and stop making assumptions about all of us. I have a Swanson 8th grader who deals with all of the above and will go to a massively overcrowded W-L for the next four years. My planning unit was NOT under consideration for movement to any other MS or HS. And in any event, none of the "solutions" to deal with overcrowding will help my DC at all because they all are effective after she leaves MS and W-L will be massive forever if the School Board has its way.

Why didn't the anti-overcrowders speak up more at the SB meetings? More importantly why don't the kids speak up at the school board meetings? If a bunch of middle-school kids protested and cried about how bad overcrowding is - the SB would have to do something about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And yet, when the only option to alleviate crowding is being zoned to a less highly rated school, parents pick the overcrowded school every time. They're listening to you and responding to YOU. They can't give you what you want (small non-crowded school in the location of your choice because there are too many of you clustered into a few specific areas), but they are giving you what you've said you prefer among the real choices available.


Shut the eff up and stop making assumptions about all of us. I have a Swanson 8th grader who deals with all of the above and will go to a massively overcrowded W-L for the next four years. My planning unit was NOT under consideration for movement to any other MS or HS. And in any event, none of the "solutions" to deal with overcrowding will help my DC at all because they all are effective after she leaves MS and W-L will be massive forever if the School Board has its way.

Why didn't the anti-overcrowders speak up more at the SB meetings? More importantly why don't the kids speak up at the school board meetings? If a bunch of middle-school kids protested and cried about how bad overcrowding is - the SB would have to do something about it.

No they wouldn’t. Don’t be naive. They don’t listen to anybody. They do what they want every single time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sad that my child will be going to Swanson next year. I'm a stone's throw away, so moving to another school is ridiculous. I wanted so much better for the MS experience. I wish I could afford private.

My son is in 7th at Swanson and he has had a great experience. Great teachers for the most part and the school doesn’t seem overcrowded to him. Lunch is kind of crazy, but that’s all I’ve heard.

Most of the teachers, staff and the principal (and the new one is much better than the one who just moved to Yorktown IMO) try their best to deal with the overcrowding. For the most part I don’t think teaching has suffered and since I’ve had 4 DCs go thru the school over the past 10 years, I’d notice. But there is just no getting around the fact that there are way too many students for the space and all of the consequences the other PPs mentioned are accurate. I also have an 8th grader and he was fine with the overcrowding until this year. Seems like it just finally hit him and he’s had enough. He’s applied to a couple privates for HS so we’ll see what happens bc WL is our HS, which was a great HS when my other DCs went there but that was when the WL graduating classes were the same size as the current 8th grade class at Swanson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why didn't the anti-overcrowders speak up more at the SB meetings? More importantly why don't the kids speak up at the school board meetings? If a bunch of middle-school kids protested and cried about how bad overcrowding is - the SB would have to do something about it.

No they wouldn’t. Don’t be naive. They don’t listen to anybody. They do what they want every single time.

The school board does a little of what potential donors to campaigns want, but mostly what the superintendent wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don't understand is why all Arlington schools can't have a "town hall" like HB Woodlawn. What is preventing them from being similar to that school? Why is there even a need for HB Woodlawn?

Why can’t Arlington use the many years of data about what “works” at the choice schools and apply those principles to ALL of the schools at that level? Why can’t every elementary school be like ATS or ASFS? It’s absurd to have these microcosms of choice and privilege when they’re letting so much flounder.

What works at the choice schools is that parents willing to put effort into their children’s education apply to them. There’s no hocus pocus that makes them great. Make every school an ATS minus the lottery and you’ll have floundering ATS schools.

Hey now, you know that saying "parents willing to put effort into their children's education is a dog whistle for another issue." I don't disagree at all, I think most APS schools are fairly equal with talent and available resources, but I think the difference is what happens at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, ATS and HB have not expanded significantly. Your percentages mean nothing when you are talking about a MIDDLE SCHOOL and HIGH SCHOOL enrollment that is barely bigger than the incoming class of 6th graders at Swanson.
You know what schools HAVE expanded significantly in recent years: Oakridge, McKinley, Ashlawn, Claremont, Swanson, Williamsburg, W-L. Please don't insult our intelligence re: HB and ATS.

Does anyone know how big the incoming 6th Grade class at Swanson will be?