APS Duran School Performance Email - Is Long Branch a Failing School?

[Anonymous]

Not sure if people think this is a nothing burger, but the idea that there are 7 APS elementary schools that are in the "Needs Intensive Support" category is alarming. Have there always been issues with non-English learners, overlaid with socio-economic factors, sure, but the latest reports from the DOE website shows enough data, imo, to ask whether some of these schools are simply failing. Take Long Branch Elementary, for example. President Obama famously visited the school over a decade ago. I know many in the neighborhood who LOVE the school and the community. If you look at their data, they have the lowest percentage of students who are "exceeding growth" in Math, and the second lowest in Reading - and it's not that close. Maybe you think this isn't a great isolated figure to consider. Well, the school as a whole is one of the Needs Intensive Support schools, so this is suggesting that the students who need the most help aren't getting it.....and the students who are or who could become high performers aren't growing.

Is this just the long-term impact of having a Duran-led philosophy at the top of the schools system? Is there something with the principal?

[Anonymous]

What do you want him to do? He’s not a magician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you want him to do? He’s not a magician.

Is he doing anything? That's a starting point. If he is having an impact effecting and causing these outcomes, then what is he doing? Should/Can he do anything different? Or is this just more of the same? Your question is a great one. Would love to hear ideas or suggestions for what he could/should be doing - and what the principal(s) at these schools can/should do. If it's really that hopeless, then that says a lot too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if people think this is a nothing burger, but the idea that there are 7 APS elementary schools that are in the "Needs Intensive Support" category is alarming. Have there always been issues with non-English learners, overlaid with socio-economic factors, sure, but the latest reports from the DOE website shows enough data, imo, to ask whether some of these schools are simply failing. Take Long Branch Elementary, for example. President Obama famously visited the school over a decade ago. I know many in the neighborhood who LOVE the school and the community. If you look at their data, they have the lowest percentage of students who are "exceeding growth" in Math, and the second lowest in Reading - and it's not that close. Maybe you think this isn't a great isolated figure to consider. Well, the school as a whole is one of the Needs Intensive Support schools, so this is suggesting that the students who need the most help aren't getting it.....and the students who are or who could become high performers aren't growing.

Is this just the long-term impact of having a Duran-led philosophy at the top of the schools system? Is there something with the principal?

'

Its a completely different rating scale now. So take it for what its worth. Did you read his whole email?

[Anonymous]

Arlington has to pay its teachers more. How do we compete if Loudoun pays more? Although it won’t solve these problems, it will help new problems from developing.

[Anonymous]

I work at another school that is on the list and IMO it’s justified. I am neither a fan or huge critic of Duran though I feel he is partially responsible for some of what is happening. When I talk to friends across the county they have similar concerns. The way we are educating special education students and ELs is not supportive in many cases. At the same time there have been huge cultural shifts in parenting that are impacting achievement.

[Anonymous]

Longbranch is very similar to Ashlawn when it comes to community support and socio eco profile. Yet Ashlawn is on track. What's the difference?

[Anonymous]

Is there a summary of which need assistance? Or do we have to click on each one individually?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a summary of which need assistance? Or do we have to click on each one individually?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/arlington-county-public-schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Longbranch is very similar to Ashlawn when it comes to community support and socio eco profile. Yet Ashlawn is on track. What's the difference?

Could it be the Principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if people think this is a nothing burger, but the idea that there are 7 APS elementary schools that are in the "Needs Intensive Support" category is alarming. Have there always been issues with non-English learners, overlaid with socio-economic factors, sure, but the latest reports from the DOE website shows enough data, imo, to ask whether some of these schools are simply failing. Take Long Branch Elementary, for example. President Obama famously visited the school over a decade ago. I know many in the neighborhood who LOVE the school and the community. If you look at their data, they have the lowest percentage of students who are "exceeding growth" in Math, and the second lowest in Reading - and it's not that close. Maybe you think this isn't a great isolated figure to consider. Well, the school as a whole is one of the Needs Intensive Support schools, so this is suggesting that the students who need the most help aren't getting it.....and the students who are or who could become high performers aren't growing.

Is this just the long-term impact of having a Duran-led philosophy at the top of the schools system? Is there something with the principal?

'

Its a completely different rating scale now. So take it for what its worth. Did you read his whole email?

Yes, it is a completely different rating scale, but it still offers a comparison to other APS schools. And as another post pointed out, there are peer or similar schools to Long Branch that have different performance outcomes. Without turning this into a debate about the merits of the new assessment/rating system (not saying that you are), I think there's enough here to compare to other schools within the system and within the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at another school that is on the list and IMO it’s justified. I am neither a fan or huge critic of Duran though I feel he is partially responsible for some of what is happening. When I talk to friends across the county they have similar concerns. The way we are educating special education students and ELs is not supportive in many cases. At the same time there have been huge cultural shifts in parenting that are impacting achievement.

Would love to hear more about cultural shifts in parenting as I think that could be understated factor. I have some ideas, but not sure if they are the same as how you are seeing it from your vantage point.

[Anonymous]

Its hard to see that EVERY single North Arlington elementary schools are distinguished. Its a hard fact of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a summary of which need assistance? Or do we have to click on each one individually?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/arlington-county-public-schools

Thank you! Duh, I missed that when viewing on my phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its hard to see that EVERY single North Arlington elementary schools are distinguished. Its a hard fact of life.

Agreed! But close to 1/3 of all APS elementary schools Needs Intensive Support? We're not even close to talking about Distinguished. Is it too much to ask that a school like Long Branch is On Track?