Current APS MS parents who are staying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to post in the FCPS forums. Anyone who is paying massive tuition bills will twist themselves into a pretzel to justify it.

DH is much more comfortable with FCPS, so I don't need to hear from them. I appreciate PP who is staying, but really seems to be pinning it on HB or the smaller IB program insulating her student from the oversized WL.

FCPS doesn't have the same problem of trying to squeeze 3500 students into a campus designed for 2000 -- they open new high schools and have much more land. And they aren't moving towards standards based grading I think, another point my DH and I argue about.


A few questions about IB. 1) I hear there is talk to move it to Wakefield, but I think that was put on hold? 2) Are the class sizes of IB actually smaller than mainstream classes? 3) If you are zoned for WL, than IB is automatic right?

My son was an IB transfer from YHS. I had not heard that the IB program may be moving to Wakefield and that surprises me; I thought the W-L addition was going to allow for more IB transfers. We no longer have a need to follow this issue, though, so I may be hopelessly out of the loop.

Re: class sizes, no, they are not per se smaller. Not everyone is full IB - I think typically there are 100 or fewer full IB grads in a class - but IB classes are open to everyone. The classes may end up being smaller in some instances dues to a lack of interest in a specific class, but you certainly can't count on it.

As for 3, I believe there is a basic language requirement for full IB. I don't think you can start your language in 9th grade.

My son had an easy transition to college, and we credit IB for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

[Anonymous]

Both my kids had good experiences at W-L. My eldest just graduated from college and was well- prepared for it and very successful there. My younger kid is a freshman in college, also feels well-prepared and has done well on the first round of tests and papers. No regrets whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

W-L is getting bigger next year and they likely will be expanding the IB program. They plan to basically take most kids who apply. IB will stay at W-L.

As for your original question, I feel your pain. We have oldest at Wakefield now and it's been fine, but student is not a super achiever. Younger kid in MS we went private because of COVID, and it's been eye opening. I think we will send back to public for HS but push for AP classes and other things to strengthen the experience.

But like you we stayed in Arlington for commute and schools. I really think APS is declining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might want to post in the FCPS forums. Anyone who is paying massive tuition bills will twist themselves into a pretzel to justify it.

DH is much more comfortable with FCPS, so I don't need to hear from them. I appreciate PP who is staying, but really seems to be pinning it on HB or the smaller IB program insulating her student from the oversized WL.

FCPS doesn't have the same problem of trying to squeeze 3500 students into a campus designed for 2000 -- they open new high schools and have much more land. And they aren't moving towards standards based grading I think, another point my DH and I argue about.


A few questions about IB. 1) I hear there is talk to move it to Wakefield, but I think that was put on hold? 2) Are the class sizes of IB actually smaller than mainstream classes? 3) If you are zoned for WL, than IB is automatic right?

I don't know where you heard that rumor about IB moving to WHS. That has never been part of the conversation. Wakefield has the immersion program - they're not going to put two programs at one school.

If you are zoned for WL, yes you automatically have access to the IB program and can take full IB or just individual IB classes. (THAT'S something that should be changed; but that's another conversation.)

[Anonymous]

Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids had good experiences at W-L. My eldest just graduated from college and was well- prepared for it and very successful there. My younger kid is a freshman in college, also feels well-prepared and has done well on the first round of tests and papers. No regrets whatsoever.

+1. Great experience with W-L.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids had good experiences at W-L. My eldest just graduated from college and was well- prepared for it and very successful there. My younger kid is a freshman in college, also feels well-prepared and has done well on the first round of tests and papers. No regrets whatsoever.

+1. Great experience with W-L.

I think folks are really worried about WL when they cram in 600 more students into an undersized campus.

School board has said they aren’t building a 4th high school, so night school shifts and distance learning could be on the docket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids had good experiences at W-L. My eldest just graduated from college and was well- prepared for it and very successful there. My younger kid is a freshman in college, also feels well-prepared and has done well on the first round of tests and papers. No regrets whatsoever.

+1. Great experience with W-L.

I think folks are really worried about WL when they cram in 600 more students into an undersized campus.

School board has said they aren’t building a 4th high school, so night school shifts and distance learning could be on the docket.

+1. If my kids were in HS today I'd want them at WL. A few years from now, my hope is that isn't where they are. 600 more kids on an overcrowded campus, but also that many more kids vying for the same extracurricular opportunities will diminish the experience for everyone. How many trombone players does one band need? How many writers for a school newspaper? How many coxswains on a crew team, or actors in a school play? These have always been among my biggest concerns with APS's decision not to build a 4th HS. Programs like HB and Tech don't actually help, since those kids get to participate at their home schools.

As a family who sees high school on the horizon, we are seriously discussing private or moving. We discussed it for this year but our kids begged to return to school with their friends so we acquiesced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

For what it’s worth, DD is in 7th at HB and her only challenging core class is math. Science and civics are decent, language arts is way too easy. I hope that things will get better in high school. As far as overcrowding goes, it’s not an issue at HB but that’s not really fair so I wouldn’t be surprised if they increased class sizes. They really should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids had good experiences at W-L. My eldest just graduated from college and was well- prepared for it and very successful there. My younger kid is a freshman in college, also feels well-prepared and has done well on the first round of tests and papers. No regrets whatsoever.

+1. Great experience with W-L.

I think folks are really worried about WL when they cram in 600 more students into an undersized campus.

School board has said they aren’t building a 4th high school, so night school shifts and distance learning could be on the docket.

+1. If my kids were in HS today I'd want them at WL. A few years from now, my hope is that isn't where they are. 600 more kids on an overcrowded campus, but also that many more kids vying for the same extracurricular opportunities will diminish the experience for everyone. How many trombone players does one band need? How many writers for a school newspaper? How many coxswains on a crew team, or actors in a school play? These have always been among my biggest concerns with APS's decision not to build a 4th HS. Programs like HB and Tech don't actually help, since those kids get to participate at their home schools.

As a family who sees high school on the horizon, we are seriously discussing private or moving. We discussed it for this year but our kids begged to return to school with their friends so we acquiesced.

Oh, the school board had an answer for limited extracurricular slots. With a larger school, they can over a greater diversity of activities, like parking lot broomball (I mean, they can't make more field space and football/soccer have first dibs), and a blackbox theater in one of the supply closets. I jest about the selections, but that was their answer: students may not get to participate in the normal extras they want, but they'll have something to chose from. But as my in jest examples highlight, after school space is still at a premium, and theres only so much you can do in spare classrooms and such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

Metro? No one is ever riding metro again in any numbers. It's a dead dinosaur. People will not want to cram in with strangers unless taxis and ubers are triple digit prices.

So Arlington will have worse school, more office vacancy, and declining property values, and then will cut budget to schools which are already over crowded.

How do we stop this downward cycle?

[Anonymous]

So basically anyone staying in APS is really aiming for IB/HB as their savior? What if they change the program and you can't get in, would you leave? Is that the sole saving grace of the HS program in APS?