My New Favorite Anger at APS: XXL WL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move to the Wakefield zone.

Yeah moving is so easy and cheap.

I don't know who the OP is anymore and if this is just one person intent on being contrary. But if so, OP, you've lost any empathy I had for you with all of your fault-finding in every single comment and suggestion made to you. If you truly are so upset about the size of your kid's high school and it really is going to be a horrible, failing experience for your child, then I can't help but believe you would figure out a way to move to a school more to your liking. You gotta give something - either a longer commute or a bigger high school. If you insist on being in Arlington, these are your choices. It's a hassle; but it is far from impossible to move to the Wakefield zone. Your home will sell in a heartbeat in the WL district and you can surely find a comparable home somewhere in south Arlington. Or don't. I no longer care. But if you're unwilling to do something about your undesirable situation, then stop with all the "woe is me" complaining here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got waitlisted with a end of tail number for HBW, so my kid is destined for XXL WL, with all 3000 unmanageable students (which the Superintendent admitted in his slide package last week, it was too big to effectively manage, good times).

I seriously want to stab a straw into a box of wine and squeeze box it like a pre-schooler. My kid already felt overwhelmed at Williamsburg with 800 kids, like no one really care what they did or even who they were. All her close friends moved away with the pandemic or went private, and she says there is so much more disruption now then she even saw in elementary school (she's in 8th).

Sure, I means not like its a bad school, but as an average bright student, I think she will be marginalized with no one looking out for her, no space for her to find activities she likes to do (apparently every club is swamped with duplicate people for every role) and likely never make the cut for any sport she likes (I guess she can't take up frisbee golf, which last I know was only played by drunk potheads).

XXL WL forever, cause you know we ain't never getting a 4th high school.

I think she will love high school. I wouldn't worry. High school is way better than middle school for girls.

This. It will be OK OP. I know lots of bright, involved girls at WL who are happy and thriving. If she's interested in a sport, have her look at crew.

I thought there was a no cut sport every season at w-l (and every highschool). Is that not true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^is that really true. I hear a lot about turnover and staffing issues and unexperienced teachers teaching advanced courses that are not in their background at all.

Also, the crowding effects so many different aspects of the school, from hallways to lunch room to sports and activities to attention from counselors and help during college application time.

I get trying to make the best of a rotten situation, but some people are really in denial. And, many of the people that I know that were happy have kids that have already graduated from college--or there now. The clogged pipe that is rumbling is about to burst in the next few years. The real problems haven't arrived yet. Take a look at the coming years. Next year's entering class is just the tip of the very large iceberg set to emerge.

Don’t expect ANY help. The counselors are beyond awful even now. I can’t imagine how bad it will be in a few years.

Public school counselors are not hand-holders in the college process. If you aren't going to get educated so you can provide direction or have a go-getter kid, you should look into private counseling.

While I agree that public school counselors are not hand-holders in the college application process, my 4th DC is a senior at WL and we have now gone through the process at WL 3 times. As a whole, the counseling office has an excellent system in place for explanations of the process, financial aid, deadlines, expectations of parents v. kids and Saturday morning help for students who need help applying to college. I have also been pleasantly surprised at individual counselor's availability to meet with parents and how well they knew most of my DCs. But if you're expecting the counselor to help strategize over SAT v. ACT, content of personal essays and spend hours helping your DC figure out where to apply, that is not going to happen in public school. It also did not happen at my one DC's excellent private HS.

You kind of missed the point. Your kids were all outside the population bubble. Each year starting with entering Freshmen, the number of students is exponentially rising. 200+ next year and so on. The biggest classes are not in MS yet.

Their numbers are off due to the pandemic. So many families moved out of Arlington once it became obvious that wfh is probably a permanent thing now. No elementary school is over capacity. It’s very possible those highschool numbers will be very wrong too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought WL was preferable to Yorktown. I'd still prefer my kid goes to WL, even if WL is going to be bigger. WL has a significantly higher minority population and you don't hear as much about drug problems. I have always liked the WL buildings and think the school has a nice vibe. My kid is serious about sports and doesn't really want to leave her friends, so HB and Tech would not be a good fit. Maybe Wakefield would also work; I don't hear much about drugs there, either. (But we are zoned close to border between Yorktown and WL, so Wakefield isn't an option.)

This isn’t true. You can apply to the lottery to Wakefield for its “AP network.” And anyone can apply for a neighborhood transfer, too. So you child might not have to attend W-L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought WL was preferable to Yorktown. I'd still prefer my kid goes to WL, even if WL is going to be bigger. WL has a significantly higher minority population and you don't hear as much about drug problems. I have always liked the WL buildings and think the school has a nice vibe. My kid is serious about sports and doesn't really want to leave her friends, so HB and Tech would not be a good fit. Maybe Wakefield would also work; I don't hear much about drugs there, either. (But we are zoned close to border between Yorktown and WL, so Wakefield isn't an option.)

This seems to be the common preference. Which is why WL is getting bigger. Parents pitch a fit about being zoned away from WL to either of the other schools.

Right and if parents zoned WL don’t like the large size, they can always transfer to Yorktown or Wakefield

No, that's not true. There are limited transfer seats at Wakefield for the AP Network program; but there is no program transfer route to Yorktown. As long as those schools are above capacity, there will be no open transfers available.

Aren’t they moving a ton of kids to the Ed center which will make other schools under capacity

Ed Center is being rebuilt for a capacity of 500 students is my understanding and designed in such a way that it could relatively easily be converted to an ES if needs change down the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move to the Wakefield zone.

Yeah moving is so easy and cheap.

I don't know who the OP is anymore and if this is just one person intent on being contrary. But if so, OP, you've lost any empathy I had for you with all of your fault-finding in every single comment and suggestion made to you. If you truly are so upset about the size of your kid's high school and it really is going to be a horrible, failing experience for your child, then I can't help but believe you would figure out a way to move to a school more to your liking. You gotta give something - either a longer commute or a bigger high school. If you insist on being in Arlington, these are your choices. It's a hassle; but it is far from impossible to move to the Wakefield zone. Your home will sell in a heartbeat in the WL district and you can surely find a comparable home somewhere in south Arlington. Or don't. I no longer care. But if you're unwilling to do something about your undesirable situation, then stop with all the "woe is me" complaining here.

For someone worried about academic rigor, I hardly see Wakefield as an answer to OP? https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/132-Wakefield-High-School/ Sure you can say its fine for the top students, but its clear the focus of the school will not be for challenging and differentiating for the kids that are already doing well. Its also overcrowded. It seems like OP would do better at a Mclean or W school, but I think prices in Mclean and Bethesda have actually risen faster than Arlington (partly because of the mess that is APS?).

[Anonymous]

I just saw this and didn’t read through the whole thread, but I recall that feedback from the W-L zoned neighborhoods and the W-L PTA favored expanding the school into the Ed Center administration building, with the flexibility to repurpose it for another program when the population dips again, or a new hs program is built elsewhere, etc. Probably neighborhoods didn’t want to be rezoned out of the school, hence the support for growing the school, which would also accommodate any neighborhoods recently zoned out of W-L. . . . On the plus side, a large school can support more electives (like foreign and classical languages) and extracurriculars. The music programs have also benefited. The sports teams and number of sports (both club and varsity) have grown. Including no cut sports like ultimate frisbee.

[Anonymous]

The WL PTA also argued the administration building renovation would bring facilities at W-L up to par with the newer high schools that had more flexible common areas and classroom layouts, black box theaters, classrooms with windows. The classroom trailers could finally go as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move to the Wakefield zone.

Yeah moving is so easy and cheap.

I don't know who the OP is anymore and if this is just one person intent on being contrary. But if so, OP, you've lost any empathy I had for you with all of your fault-finding in every single comment and suggestion made to you. If you truly are so upset about the size of your kid's high school and it really is going to be a horrible, failing experience for your child, then I can't help but believe you would figure out a way to move to a school more to your liking. You gotta give something - either a longer commute or a bigger high school. If you insist on being in Arlington, these are your choices. It's a hassle; but it is far from impossible to move to the Wakefield zone. Your home will sell in a heartbeat in the WL district and you can surely find a comparable home somewhere in south Arlington. Or don't. I no longer care. But if you're unwilling to do something about your undesirable situation, then stop with all the "woe is me" complaining here.

For someone worried about academic rigor, I hardly see Wakefield as an answer to OP? https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/132-Wakefield-High-School/ Sure you can say its fine for the top students, but its clear the focus of the school will not be for challenging and differentiating for the kids that are already doing well. Its also overcrowded. It seems like OP would do better at a Mclean or W school, but I think prices in Mclean and Bethesda have actually risen faster than Arlington (partly because of the mess that is APS?).

If it's fine for the top students and they do well, why wouldn't it be fine for OP's kid and concerns? So what if they put more effort into their minority students who have different needs to prepare them for, and get through the application processes to college? The school has a significant focus on other students' needs because they have so many more of those students with needs. But it's not like they are completely neglecting the UMC native English speakers who are already academically successful and preparing for college. Great Schools is hardly a comprehensive picture or evaluation of what a school offers or what it's like to attend. If you had to reach to Great Schools to discredit Wakefield, you clearly have no direct experience in the school and were making a concerted effort to discredit the school, discredit anyone recommending the school, and to tell OP Wakefield is inadequate. I guess the admissions offices at USC, Stanford, Northwestern, and a myriad of other top colleges failed to check Wakefield's Great Schools ratings before admitting Wakefield seniors.

Besides, OP was lamenting WL's size and whining about how moving (to Wakefield zone) isn't easy or cheap, not about Wakefield's academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move to the Wakefield zone.

Yeah moving is so easy and cheap.

I don't know who the OP is anymore and if this is just one person intent on being contrary. But if so, OP, you've lost any empathy I had for you with all of your fault-finding in every single comment and suggestion made to you. If you truly are so upset about the size of your kid's high school and it really is going to be a horrible, failing experience for your child, then I can't help but believe you would figure out a way to move to a school more to your liking. You gotta give something - either a longer commute or a bigger high school. If you insist on being in Arlington, these are your choices. It's a hassle; but it is far from impossible to move to the Wakefield zone. Your home will sell in a heartbeat in the WL district and you can surely find a comparable home somewhere in south Arlington. Or don't. I no longer care. But if you're unwilling to do something about your undesirable situation, then stop with all the "woe is me" complaining here.

For someone worried about academic rigor, I hardly see Wakefield as an answer to OP? https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/132-Wakefield-High-School/ Sure you can say its fine for the top students, but its clear the focus of the school will not be for challenging and differentiating for the kids that are already doing well. Its also overcrowded. It seems like OP would do better at a Mclean or W school, but I think prices in Mclean and Bethesda have actually risen faster than Arlington (partly because of the mess that is APS?).

If it's fine for the top students and they do well, why wouldn't it be fine for OP's kid and concerns? So what if they put more effort into their minority students who have different needs to prepare them for, and get through the application processes to college? The school has a significant focus on other students' needs because they have so many more of those students with needs. But it's not like they are completely neglecting the UMC native English speakers who are already academically successful and preparing for college. Great Schools is hardly a comprehensive picture or evaluation of what a school offers or what it's like to attend. If you had to reach to Great Schools to discredit Wakefield, you clearly have no direct experience in the school and were making a concerted effort to discredit the school, discredit anyone recommending the school, and to tell OP Wakefield is inadequate. I guess the admissions offices at USC, Stanford, Northwestern, and a myriad of other top colleges failed to check Wakefield's Great Schools ratings before admitting Wakefield seniors.

Besides, OP was lamenting WL's size and whining about how moving (to Wakefield zone) isn't easy or cheap, not about Wakefield's academics.

+1

We are in the Wakefield pyramid and while my kids are still in middle and elementary, all my neighbors' kids love Wakefield. No way would I move out of this pyramid to change high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just saw this and didn’t read through the whole thread, but I recall that feedback from the W-L zoned neighborhoods and the W-L PTA favored expanding the school into the Ed Center administration building, with the flexibility to repurpose it for another program when the population dips again, or a new hs program is built elsewhere, etc. Probably neighborhoods didn’t want to be rezoned out of the school, hence the support for growing the school, which would also accommodate any neighborhoods recently zoned out of W-L. . . . On the plus side, a large school can support more electives (like foreign and classical languages) and extracurriculars. The music programs have also benefited. The sports teams and number of sports (both club and varsity) have grown. Including no cut sports like ultimate frisbee.

Of course the WL PTA Endorsed it; it meant the neighborhoods could stay and no boundary changes would be on the table for THEIR kids; it’s only future students that have to deal with the oversized school. They will be long gone by the time the drives arrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move to the Wakefield zone.

Yeah moving is so easy and cheap.

I don't know who the OP is anymore and if this is just one person intent on being contrary. But if so, OP, you've lost any empathy I had for you with all of your fault-finding in every single comment and suggestion made to you. If you truly are so upset about the size of your kid's high school and it really is going to be a horrible, failing experience for your child, then I can't help but believe you would figure out a way to move to a school more to your liking. You gotta give something - either a longer commute or a bigger high school. If you insist on being in Arlington, these are your choices. It's a hassle; but it is far from impossible to move to the Wakefield zone. Your home will sell in a heartbeat in the WL district and you can surely find a comparable home somewhere in south Arlington. Or don't. I no longer care. But if you're unwilling to do something about your undesirable situation, then stop with all the "woe is me" complaining here.

For someone worried about academic rigor, I hardly see Wakefield as an answer to OP? https://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/132-Wakefield-High-School/ Sure you can say its fine for the top students, but its clear the focus of the school will not be for challenging and differentiating for the kids that are already doing well. Its also overcrowded. It seems like OP would do better at a Mclean or W school, but I think prices in Mclean and Bethesda have actually risen faster than Arlington (partly because of the mess that is APS?).

If it's fine for the top students and they do well, why wouldn't it be fine for OP's kid and concerns? So what if they put more effort into their minority students who have different needs to prepare them for, and get through the application processes to college? The school has a significant focus on other students' needs because they have so many more of those students with needs. But it's not like they are completely neglecting the UMC native English speakers who are already academically successful and preparing for college. Great Schools is hardly a comprehensive picture or evaluation of what a school offers or what it's like to attend. If you had to reach to Great Schools to discredit Wakefield, you clearly have no direct experience in the school and were making a concerted effort to discredit the school, discredit anyone recommending the school, and to tell OP Wakefield is inadequate. I guess the admissions offices at USC, Stanford, Northwestern, and a myriad of other top colleges failed to check Wakefield's Great Schools ratings before admitting Wakefield seniors.

Besides, OP was lamenting WL's size and whining about how moving (to Wakefield zone) isn't easy or cheap, not about Wakefield's academics.

+1

We are in the Wakefield pyramid and while my kids are still in middle and elementary, all my neighbors' kids love Wakefield. No way would I move out of this pyramid to change high schools.

We'll be happy to have you when your kids reach high school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move or go private.

Oh, buy another house or hemorrhage money in private.

Please note, I alluded to boxed wine -- we don't have the money to go private, and moving means a long drive to our jobs which has its own compounding costs.

All because school board is holding out hope it can make WL miserable enough to have people move away or go private.

A long drive from south of Route 50?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out page 5

HB has “1” class over 27 students.

Other HS each have close to 100

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021-22-Class-Size-Report.pdf

But at least we have equity?

Is that true?! If so, that’s total bulls—t. APS teacher with 30 in every class but one.

Are you kidding? Of course it’s true. HBW spins a yarn they can’t be over crowded because of their model.

What is the largest class sizes at WL? All they report is greater than 27.

Their model is they don't have as many admin positions, they have teachers. For example, they don't have any guidance counselors, so with seven grades there, that is seven more teachers. And the principal and 2 assistant principals also all teach at least one period a day. So they have more teachers per student than the other schools because that is how they allocate their positions. Other schools can't do that because they need guidance staff and more admins....in part because of their size. It would be harder to do the model with 3,000 kids, at some point you need more admin staff and supervisors just to keep track of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then move or go private.

Oh, buy another house or hemorrhage money in private.

Please note, I alluded to boxed wine -- we don't have the money to go private, and moving means a long drive to our jobs which has its own compounding costs.

All because school board is holding out hope it can make WL miserable enough to have people move away or go private.

Ok. Then don’t sacrifice for your child.