TJMS vs WMS - WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Just got the email about a slot from the waitlist at Williamsburg and we are zoned to Jefferson for 6th grade? Would you take it? Smart kid, outgoing, and we could have him take Metrobus or commute with us.

I feel like Jefferson has good stuff, but looking at the stats, Williamsburg would be a step up?

My son is at a option school now so he knows kids going there, so he wouldn't be alone.

[Anonymous]

Go to Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

If you go to Williamsburg, you can always change your mind and go to TJ later.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t, it’s middle school. Jefferson is fine and much more convenient.

[Anonymous]

WMS stats are skewed because it’s all rich white kids. The schools offer the same thing and there are plenty of smart kids at Jefferson. You’re wasting your kid’s time making him commute. It’s not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t, it’s middle school. Jefferson is fine and much more convenient.

This was me, also adding that most of Williamsburg will go to Yorktown for HS, and you are not zoned to Yorktown. You're adding another friend transition on top of the inconvenience. I would recommend you look at the test score for kids at both middle schools specifically for kids like yours.

[Anonymous]

We were really happy at Williamsburg, but I would stick with your neighborhood school. Most kids from Williamsburg go on to yorktown, and his friends would go on to there. Logistically it could be a pain to manage this for seven years.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I appreciate the insights.

The kid is already at an option school and has friends going to both WMS and TJMS, but his best buddies are going to WMS. One is another transfer from another different middle school.

I was fine with Jefferson, but when we sat him down to talk about it, he was over the moon to be with his best friends, none of whom are white and neither is he. According to School Quality, WMS is *only* 72% white now. Still just 2% low income compared to Jefferson where 45% of the school is, but not as lacking in diversity as I worried. So not lily white, but still the whitest school, if you compare all of them.

I'm the pickup parent right and my other kid is at an option school, so WMS only adds 5 minutes on my drive home from work, though if I didn't have the kids in an option school, I'd be on the Metro.

It's too far off on my spouse's way to work in the AM, but they wouldn't be able to be lazy about mornings anymore.

We're going to apply for all the options for HS too, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Kid wants to go to Arlington Tech.

I had heard way back the problem at WMS was rich kids doing drugs? Has that changed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I appreciate the insights.

The kid is already at an option school and has friends going to both WMS and TJMS, but his best buddies are going to WMS. One is another transfer from another different middle school.

I was fine with Jefferson, but when we sat him down to talk about it, he was over the moon to be with his best friends, none of whom are white and neither is he. According to School Quality, WMS is *only* 72% white now. Still just 2% low income compared to Jefferson where 45% of the school is, but not as lacking in diversity as I worried. So not lily white, but still the whitest school, if you compare all of them.

I'm the pickup parent right and my other kid is at an option school, so WMS only adds 5 minutes on my drive home from work, though if I didn't have the kids in an option school, I'd be on the Metro.

It's too far off on my spouse's way to work in the AM, but they wouldn't be able to be lazy about mornings anymore.

We're going to apply for all the options for HS too, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Kid wants to go to Arlington Tech.

I had heard way back the problem at WMS was rich kids doing drugs? Has that changed?

This is so typical of DCUM: posters burying the lead. NOW you tell us his best buddies are all going to WMS. Now you tell us your kid isn't white. Now you tell us it's only 5 minutes out of your way from work. Etc.

In any event . . .

72 percent white is white AF. Rich white kids rule the school. TJ has no majority race. It's much more diverse. Much more of a melting pot. Much more real world.

We raised our kids in North Arlington. Over the years we had kids at two neighborhood elementary schools, one choice elementary school, Swnason, H-B and Williamsburg middle schools, and Yorktown and H-B for high schools. Of all of these schools, the only place where any of our kids were less than thrilled was WMS. And our kids were rich white kids.

I would never subject an out of neighborhood minority kid to WMS. No way.

[Anonymous]

My freshman has a new group of friends this year from all different middle schools. They all agree that their middle school was the worst, so it does not really matter. Middle school starts early, and if you are riding a bus even earlier. I liked tjms, but all middle schools will be similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I appreciate the insights.

The kid is already at an option school and has friends going to both WMS and TJMS, but his best buddies are going to WMS. One is another transfer from another different middle school.

I was fine with Jefferson, but when we sat him down to talk about it, he was over the moon to be with his best friends, none of whom are white and neither is he. According to School Quality, WMS is *only* 72% white now. Still just 2% low income compared to Jefferson where 45% of the school is, but not as lacking in diversity as I worried. So not lily white, but still the whitest school, if you compare all of them.

I'm the pickup parent right and my other kid is at an option school, so WMS only adds 5 minutes on my drive home from work, though if I didn't have the kids in an option school, I'd be on the Metro.

It's too far off on my spouse's way to work in the AM, but they wouldn't be able to be lazy about mornings anymore.

We're going to apply for all the options for HS too, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Kid wants to go to Arlington Tech.

I had heard way back the problem at WMS was rich kids doing drugs? Has that changed?

This is so typical of DCUM: posters burying the lead. NOW you tell us his best buddies are all going to WMS. Now you tell us your kid isn't white. Now you tell us it's only 5 minutes out of your way from work. Etc.

In any event . . .

72 percent white is white AF. Rich white kids rule the school. TJ has no majority race. It's much more diverse. Much more of a melting pot. Much more real world.

We raised our kids in North Arlington. Over the years we had kids at two neighborhood elementary schools, one choice elementary school, Swanson, H-B and Williamsburg middle schools, and Yorktown and H-B for high schools. Of all of these schools, the only place where any of our kids were less than thrilled was WMS. And our kids were rich white kids.

I would never subject an out of neighborhood minority kid to WMS. No way.

Sorry - I wanted the version of what people would say, not knowing all the details, just the basics.

When did you go? Was it 30% minority then too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I appreciate the insights.

The kid is already at an option school and has friends going to both WMS and TJMS, but his best buddies are going to WMS. One is another transfer from another different middle school.

I was fine with Jefferson, but when we sat him down to talk about it, he was over the moon to be with his best friends, none of whom are white and neither is he. According to School Quality, WMS is *only* 72% white now. Still just 2% low income compared to Jefferson where 45% of the school is, but not as lacking in diversity as I worried. So not lily white, but still the whitest school, if you compare all of them.

I'm the pickup parent right and my other kid is at an option school, so WMS only adds 5 minutes on my drive home from work, though if I didn't have the kids in an option school, I'd be on the Metro.

It's too far off on my spouse's way to work in the AM, but they wouldn't be able to be lazy about mornings anymore.

We're going to apply for all the options for HS too, so I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Kid wants to go to Arlington Tech.

I had heard way back the problem at WMS was rich kids doing drugs? Has that changed?

This is so typical of DCUM: posters burying the lead. NOW you tell us his best buddies are all going to WMS. Now you tell us your kid isn't white. Now you tell us it's only 5 minutes out of your way from work. Etc.

In any event . . .

72 percent white is white AF. Rich white kids rule the school. TJ has no majority race. It's much more diverse. Much more of a melting pot. Much more real world.

We raised our kids in North Arlington. Over the years we had kids at two neighborhood elementary schools, one choice elementary school, Swanson, H-B and Williamsburg middle schools, and Yorktown and H-B for high schools. Of all of these schools, the only place where any of our kids were less than thrilled was WMS. And our kids were rich white kids.

I would never subject an out of neighborhood minority kid to WMS. No way.

Sorry - I wanted the version of what people would say, not knowing all the details, just the basics.

When did you go? Was it 30% minority then too?

WMS demographics have been what they are for decades and if anything are skewing only in a more affluent direction. You're also inflating or not really analyzing its minority enrollment statistics. First, you're rounding up to 30. Second, half of the "minority" enrollment is actually mixed race and who really knows what that means -- I'm betting most are pretty damned white. The school is less than 3 percent black and less than 8 percent Latino in an otherwise very diverse school district. WMS demographics have been what they are forever.

But, hey, if you want to "bus" your minority kid to a largely white and affluent school with a notoriously challenging social scene even for the majority when you have a great school at your doorstep have at it.

[Anonymous]

WMS no doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were really happy at Williamsburg, but I would stick with your neighborhood school. Most kids from Williamsburg go on to yorktown, and his friends would go on to there. Logistically it could be a pain to manage this for seven years.

This is an interesting angle. Would he plan to go to HB or Wakefield or W&L since he's not zoned for YHS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WMS no doubt.

Why? Fewer brown kids?