Arlington magazine - Public school exodus cover

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My high school student hasn't done much in terms of research papers. I do worry about what that means in college.

I definitely remember writing research papers before college, but I was also taught how to make an actual outline. Somewhere along the way, having study skills be an actual independent class that every student had to take went away. Our kids are struggling because of this.

My personal belief is that they will still be able to succeed just fine in college; but they will have a learning curve at the beginning much steeper than they otherwise would. Colleges are well aware that students are coming out of high school less/ill-prepared for college writing. There will be introductory ENG classes where, hopefully, they get caught up; and there are often writing support efforts for those who need extra help learning to write at the college level.

NOVA has an intro ENG course required for all students, as well as a class about basic study skills, etc. I don't think that's entirely unique to NOVA. The fact that even a community college needs to require a student skills class for its students speaks volumes about what our high schools are producing and allowing to graduate.

That's nice and for wealthy students you are right and they can will have time and energy and parent urging to go get help and even pay for tutoring or private essay coaching.

But look at Wakefield. They churn out students who can't read very well and they certainly can't write very well but they manage to get along and they get A's in high school so by all accounts it looks like they are going to be fine in college. Except they get there and they don't. And many of those kids have more limited resources one of them being time. If you are a college student who needs to work and every single class requires some degree of reading and writing and it's struggle to do that then add in doing that for 5 classes and guess what you get? A kid who drops out before fall break. But that's ok because APS can brag about the students that get admitted to college. It doesn't matter that they aren't capable of doing the work to stay there bc their high school education was so lacking.

Please share with us the actual data that you have that shows that Wakefield students “by all accounts look like they are going to do fine in college” but “they get there and they don’t.”

+1 Yes, please share the data. My kids and many of their friends who attend or attended Wakefield have taken advantage of the AP Capstone program offered there, and their AP scores suggest they have the skills they need to be successful in college-level courses:

https://wakefield.apsva.us/ap-network/

oh my god did you seriously ignore the majority of the students in the school who are not taking AP classes? Ohhhh wait that’s right if course you did bc you made sure your kids were segregated and weren’t with “those kind of kids”

DP. OMG. Seriously?!!?? You're blaspheming someone because their kid took AP classes?
I'll assume, then, that you won't allow your children to take advanced classes because you're anti-segregation. Can't imagine the bigotry of those WL parents allowing their kids to take IB classes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Oh good grief. Now we're going to argue about the quality of private schools. arlington truly is the most arrogant elitist mob of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

Oh, so denominational privates don't count. Got it.

[Anonymous]

We pulled our kids out of a NoVA religious k-8 school because the instruction was not consistent especially for math and science. No sense in paying for school if we can do better ourselves or supplement with an after school math tutor Or outschool.

Family friends stayed at the school, despite dissatisfaction, because they live in poorly performing (or title one) FCPS school zones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

What are the good non-denominational privates? Sidwell, St. Albans, and National Cathedral School are all affiliated with religious organizations. You sound like you don’t know what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

Oh, so denominational privates don't count. Got it.

DP. At least the parochial schools. Independent schools with religious origin are usually ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

Oh, so denominational privates don't count. Got it.

DP. At least the parochial schools. Independent schools with religious origin are usually ok.

**Except the extremist ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

And yet most families still go public. Even in the priciest neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I left not because of Covid. Liberals can go f themselves before my dc are anywhere near one of your wack a doodle nut jobs in a classroom. You wanted only those like you. You got it. Enjoy.

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass. We absolutely don’t need your kind and your anti-American values.

Yes we do. Arlington has become an echo chamber and with no dissent there is no discussion and terrible choices are implemented. Fake “ equity” ruins education in Arlington especially for those without money. The rich simply virtue signal and then pay for private support through tutors.

That's how liberal school reform works. The rich push it and then pay whatever it takes to make sure their kids aren't effected by it. You can go all the way back to integration and see liberals moving to districts not effected right up through the current flight to privates

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

BOC is a big school and it’s serving a real community need. APS needs everyone it can get off the rolls. Can you imagine if the whole county went public??? I don’t see what the big deal is and why people need to “rank” it. Be glad it’s there.