Which APS elementary schools should close?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Campbell. This might be sacrilege but I’m not sure there’s any magic to it. (We came from a North Arlington school because the outdoor and experiential learning sounded good.) I do wonder if it’s mostly just a school for South Arlington families to escape to if they don’t like their zoned school.

Yes. It was essentially a default neighborhood option school for Glencarlyn who didn't want to send their kids to Carlin Springs. That neighborhood preference is gone from the admissions process; but clearly many continue to exercise the option to escape Carlin Springs. They will say it's because of the experiential learning program and because it's more walkable.

IME there is a sizeable group of families at every option school who go to that school because it is closer and convenient, not because of the specific program offered.

Yup. That's why Key collectively lost their marbles about moving from Courthouse to the current location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

This is a huge problem for so many aspects of our education system. The county board seems either apathetic or clueless about the problems facing schools. I wish there were a way to fix this in some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

This is a huge problem for so many aspects of our education system. The county board seems either apathetic or clueless about the problems facing schools. I wish there were a way to fix this in some way.

Consider this when you vote for any county officials, not just the school board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has barely any kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

That falls under the category of "politics and optics."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Campbell. This might be sacrilege but I’m not sure there’s any magic to it. (We came from a North Arlington school because the outdoor and experiential learning sounded good.) I do wonder if it’s mostly just a school for South Arlington families to escape to if they don’t like their zoned school.

Cool story. But this isn’t where we have a ridiculous surplus of seats, nor is it a program that is trying to expand and use a large portion of the APS budget to do so. It’s not really relevant to this discussion. Thanks anyway, since I guess you can just go back to your neighborhood school if it’s not what you were hoping for.

DP. It may not be relevant to the point you want to focus on. But it is certainly relevant to the discussion of what schools/programs should be closed/discontinued. The crowding is in SA, so perhaps eliminating an option program in SA would be a relevant consideration. And weighing the value of a particular option school is relevant. And it is clearly relevant to the questions and comments posed by previous posters whether option schools are mainly an escape valve for south arlington families or catering to wealthier white families.

All school N of Langston are an escape valve for wealthier white families, so unless you want to talk about that, too, kindly take a long walk off a short pier. Also, going to Campbell isn’t exactly “escaping” anything, since it’s a Title 1 school where white kids are a racial minority.

This has to be the crappiest take on the issue ever: I don’t love it and wasn’t impressed so let’s toss it, even though it’s not where we need the seats (SE) or where we have a large surplus of seats and overlapping walk zones (NW) and not relevant to the Career Center budget-buster. Come on now. At least read the JFAC reports and understand why we’re having this conversation in the first place. I get it, Nottingham is so very special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

More families with young kids have been moving in. Most are going to options or private. Make Drew a stronger neighborhood school and people will go.
You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has barely any kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has barely any kids.

587 kids in the Drew zone attend an APS elementary school. (358 attend Drew. 229 attend another APS school.) You call that "hardly any kids?" I'll help you out with a list of schools that have fewer kids attending them: Tuckahoe (429), Randolph (391), Nottingham (382), Long Branch (387), Jamestown (436), Innovation (451), Hoffman Boston (483), Glebe (535), Discovery (495), Carlin Springs (486), Barrett (507), Barcroft (432), Ashlawn (530), [b]Arlington Science Focus (558), and Fleet (536). Bolded schools are in north Arlington but have fewer students than live in the Drew zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has barely any kids.

587 kids in the Drew zone attend an APS elementary school. (358 attend Drew. 229 attend another APS school.) You call that "hardly any kids?" I'll help you out with a list of schools that have fewer kids attending them: Tuckahoe (429), Randolph (391), Nottingham (382), Long Branch (387), Jamestown (436), Innovation (451), Hoffman Boston (483), Glebe (535), Discovery (495), Carlin Springs (486), Barrett (507), Barcroft (432), Ashlawn (530), [b]Arlington Science Focus (558), and Fleet (536). Bolded schools are in north Arlington but have fewer students than live in the Drew zone.

So 39% of the kids in Drew zone at an APS school have found a way to not go to Drew. I wonder how many more living in the zone are going to a private school instead of Drew. The point is, APS can redraw the boundaries but if families don't want to go there they will find another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Split ATS and make Drew the S. Arlington version and the current ATS the N. Arlington version, like Key and Claremont. It increases ATS spots, which is extremely popular, and will fill Drew. Then close Nottingham.

Plus a million. Maybe consider making each campus Pk-8, like Montessori.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

Explain why Drew has to stay open when it can't fill itself. Other than politics and optics.

Because the SB is afraid to expand the Drew boundary.

It's not on Drew to "fill itself." The school board sets boundaries and the current boundares maintain segregation and inequities across the county.

Oh puhlease

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has been historically underinvested in for hundreds of years. The whole county, not just the school board, needs to address this.

The neighborhood surrounding Drew has barely any kids.

587 kids in the Drew zone attend an APS elementary school. (358 attend Drew. 229 attend another APS school.) You call that "hardly any kids?" I'll help you out with a list of schools that have fewer kids attending them: Tuckahoe (429), Randolph (391), Nottingham (382), Long Branch (387), Jamestown (436), Innovation (451), Hoffman Boston (483), Glebe (535), Discovery (495), Carlin Springs (486), Barrett (507), Barcroft (432), Ashlawn (530), [b]Arlington Science Focus (558), and Fleet (536). Bolded schools are in north Arlington but have fewer students than live in the Drew zone.

So 39% of the kids in Drew zone at an APS school have found a way to not go to Drew. I wonder how many more living in the zone are going to a private school instead of Drew. The point is, APS can redraw the boundaries but if families don't want to go there they will find another school.

The point is that Arlington as a whole has historically underinvested in Drew. Closing the school would only make things worse. Arlington needs to invest in the community and the school to address whatever the challenges are at Drew.