Arlington Tech Lottery Results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly Wakefield students looking for a different environment and didn’t get into IB or HB.

More boys than girls, looking to go into trades

Son is at Tech and I don't get this sense at all. Well, maybe more boys than girls, but it doesn't seem like the student population is coming from the Wakefield zone or that they're looking to go into trades. It's a STEM program with access to the very cool and diverse offerings at ACC. It's project-based learning, so concepts are not taught just in the abstract. We love it so far.

+1
This is not the Career Center program. It is a very rigorous academic program with lots of dual enrollment opportunities. Students also have much more access to the CTE classes at the Career Center because the AT program itself doesn't offer a lot of electives. That's great for the AT students, not so great for the comprehensive high school students who have more limited access to those classes now.

APS has done a terrible job of explaining and promoting this program to parents. It is NOT A TRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. It is NOT a bunch of kids wanting to opt out of Wakefield. Graduates have been going to prestigious colleges (there have only been one or two graduating classes so far); and students can graduate high school with up to 30+ college credits depending on what courseloads they took throughout their 4 years.

Forgot to point out that seniors are required to take a full-time internship; so they are also graduating with genuine work experience beyond the typical summer jobs of grocery baggers and fast food counter workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly Wakefield students looking for a different environment and didn’t get into IB or HB.

More boys than girls, looking to go into trades

Son is at Tech and I don't get this sense at all. Well, maybe more boys than girls, but it doesn't seem like the student population is coming from the Wakefield zone or that they're looking to go into trades. It's a STEM program with access to the very cool and diverse offerings at ACC. It's project-based learning, so concepts are not taught just in the abstract. We love it so far.

+1
This is not the Career Center program. It is a very rigorous academic program with lots of dual enrollment opportunities. Students also have much more access to the CTE classes at the Career Center because the AT program itself doesn't offer a lot of electives. That's great for the AT students, not so great for the comprehensive high school students who have more limited access to those classes now.

APS has done a terrible job of explaining and promoting this program to parents. It is NOT A TRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. It is NOT a bunch of kids wanting to opt out of Wakefield. Graduates have been going to prestigious colleges (there have only been one or two graduating classes so far); and students can graduate high school with up to 30+ college credits depending on what courseloads they took throughout their 4 years.

Forgot to point out that seniors are required to take a full-time internship; so they are also graduating with genuine work experience beyond the typical summer jobs of grocery baggers and fast food counter workers.

Have they made any improvements in the lack of arts programs? This was the big no from my kid who liked other things about it. She wanted to do band.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly Wakefield students looking for a different environment and didn’t get into IB or HB.

More boys than girls, looking to go into trades

Son is at Tech and I don't get this sense at all. Well, maybe more boys than girls, but it doesn't seem like the student population is coming from the Wakefield zone or that they're looking to go into trades. It's a STEM program with access to the very cool and diverse offerings at ACC. It's project-based learning, so concepts are not taught just in the abstract. We love it so far.

+1
This is not the Career Center program. It is a very rigorous academic program with lots of dual enrollment opportunities. Students also have much more access to the CTE classes at the Career Center because the AT program itself doesn't offer a lot of electives. That's great for the AT students, not so great for the comprehensive high school students who have more limited access to those classes now.

APS has done a terrible job of explaining and promoting this program to parents. It is NOT A TRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. It is NOT a bunch of kids wanting to opt out of Wakefield. Graduates have been going to prestigious colleges (there have only been one or two graduating classes so far); and students can graduate high school with up to 30+ college credits depending on what courseloads they took throughout their 4 years.

Forgot to point out that seniors are required to take a full-time internship; so they are also graduating with genuine work experience beyond the typical summer jobs of grocery baggers and fast food counter workers.

Have they made any improvements in the lack of arts programs? This was the big no from my kid who liked other things about it. She wanted to do band.

You can go back to your home school for afterschool arts (e.g., school musical.) However, I did not apply for my music kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly Wakefield students looking for a different environment and didn’t get into IB or HB.

More boys than girls, looking to go into trades

Son is at Tech and I don't get this sense at all. Well, maybe more boys than girls, but it doesn't seem like the student population is coming from the Wakefield zone or that they're looking to go into trades. It's a STEM program with access to the very cool and diverse offerings at ACC. It's project-based learning, so concepts are not taught just in the abstract. We love it so far.

+1
This is not the Career Center program. It is a very rigorous academic program with lots of dual enrollment opportunities. Students also have much more access to the CTE classes at the Career Center because the AT program itself doesn't offer a lot of electives. That's great for the AT students, not so great for the comprehensive high school students who have more limited access to those classes now.

APS has done a terrible job of explaining and promoting this program to parents. It is NOT A TRADE SCHOOL CURRICULUM. It is NOT a bunch of kids wanting to opt out of Wakefield. Graduates have been going to prestigious colleges (there have only been one or two graduating classes so far); and students can graduate high school with up to 30+ college credits depending on what courseloads they took throughout their 4 years.

Forgot to point out that seniors are required to take a full-time internship; so they are also graduating with genuine work experience beyond the typical summer jobs of grocery baggers and fast food counter workers.

Have they made any improvements in the lack of arts programs? This was the big no from my kid who liked other things about it. She wanted to do band.

You can go back to your home school for afterschool arts (e.g., school musical.) However, I did not apply for my music kid.

No. Band is still not an option. However, I believe that could be pushed with advocacy. I think the main reason AT kids can't do marching band is because they miss part of rehearsals due to not getting to their neighborhood school on time. We're at Wakefield, though; and marching band rehearsals didn't start before 4:00; so I don't think that should be a real issue. They already have buses bringing kids back from Career Center classes at the end of the day. They should be able to bring a few more for marching band. That doesn't address concert band and other arts, however. I suspect that its offerings will mimic HB's once the site is re-developed: lots of opportunity for theater and rooms for band/chorus. But still no marching band....it's too small.

Tough choices.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the info, I had never considered Arlington Tech before but my DD (currently in 6th so several years to go) is interested in STEM, maybe we should look into this for her.

[Anonymous]

Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

Can you please help explain what types of kids that it works well for? I would love your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

Can you please help explain what types of kids that it works well for? I would love your thoughts.

You're clearly asking the wrong person for credible information. Please, do not ask anyone describing AT as a "horrible trade school for the poors" ANYthing about AT - or anything else.
Hopefully the more genuine and credible responses in this chain have shown you that AT is a rigorous academic program. Many people confuse it with the vocational-technical training programs at the Career Center because AT is at the Career Center. They are completely different pathways; but coursework (for AT students) overlaps with the CTE courses because those act as their main electives. The CTE students get to work with the AT kids on some projects; but they don't get the reciprocal access to AT curriculum like all the Dual Enrollment courses.

As to the type of student: someone who likes (and learns better with) hands-on, problem-solving group projects; someone who has completed Algebra 2 - or will complete it before 10th grade; someone interested in getting a head start on college credits through dual enrollment classes; someone who likes the opportunity to design their own projects and learn to manage projects (students rotate through the various roles on a team so all have a chance to lead, collaborate, etc.); someone who is willing to give up some other types of opportunities like music/theater/arts - until they get more amenities and grow the program a little more - in order to have the benefits of project based learning and a very small and rather structured program. It's not a STEM program per se; but it definitely leans strongly STEM. Still under the same graduation requirements, so still have opportunity to take language (at least at the beginning until other courses take priority) and much better assistance and access to internships which are required of all students their senior year.

[Anonymous]

^^^ I took that prior comment re "the poors" as sarcasm, i.e. they want space available for their kid so it's all to the good if more people don't understand the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

Can you please help explain what types of kids that it works well for? I would love your thoughts.

You're clearly asking the wrong person for credible information. Please, do not ask anyone describing AT as a "horrible trade school for the poors" ANYthing about AT - or anything else.
Hopefully the more genuine and credible responses in this chain have shown you that AT is a rigorous academic program. Many people confuse it with the vocational-technical training programs at the Career Center because AT is at the Career Center. They are completely different pathways; but coursework (for AT students) overlaps with the CTE courses because those act as their main electives. The CTE students get to work with the AT kids on some projects; but they don't get the reciprocal access to AT curriculum like all the Dual Enrollment courses.

As to the type of student: someone who likes (and learns better with) hands-on, problem-solving group projects; someone who has completed Algebra 2 - or will complete it before 10th grade; someone interested in getting a head start on college credits through dual enrollment classes; someone who likes the opportunity to design their own projects and learn to manage projects (students rotate through the various roles on a team so all have a chance to lead, collaborate, etc.); someone who is willing to give up some other types of opportunities like music/theater/arts - until they get more amenities and grow the program a little more - in order to have the benefits of project based learning and a very small and rather structured program. It's not a STEM program per se; but it definitely leans strongly STEM. Still under the same graduation requirements, so still have opportunity to take language (at least at the beginning until other courses take priority) and much better assistance and access to internships which are required of all students their senior year.

Thank you. This is very helpful. Even though there are no sports or arts/music opportunities, do they have other extracurriculars like student clubs? Is it a close community of students and teachers? It is correct to believe that a student who generally dislikes group projects because they often end up doing the majority of the work would not be a good fit for the school?

[Anonymous]

Can AT students try out for sports at other high schools and if so, which one... home school or closest HS? AT seems to be a good fit for our son but he wants to play HS basketball (and good enough to make the team).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can AT students try out for sports at other high schools and if so, which one... home school or closest HS? AT seems to be a good fit for our son but he wants to play HS basketball (and good enough to make the team).

They go back to their home school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

Can you please help explain what types of kids that it works well for? I would love your thoughts.

You're clearly asking the wrong person for credible information. Please, do not ask anyone describing AT as a "horrible trade school for the poors" ANYthing about AT - or anything else.
Hopefully the more genuine and credible responses in this chain have shown you that AT is a rigorous academic program. Many people confuse it with the vocational-technical training programs at the Career Center because AT is at the Career Center. They are completely different pathways; but coursework (for AT students) overlaps with the CTE courses because those act as their main electives. The CTE students get to work with the AT kids on some projects; but they don't get the reciprocal access to AT curriculum like all the Dual Enrollment courses.

As to the type of student: someone who likes (and learns better with) hands-on, problem-solving group projects; someone who has completed Algebra 2 - or will complete it before 10th grade; someone interested in getting a head start on college credits through dual enrollment classes; someone who likes the opportunity to design their own projects and learn to manage projects (students rotate through the various roles on a team so all have a chance to lead, collaborate, etc.); someone who is willing to give up some other types of opportunities like music/theater/arts - until they get more amenities and grow the program a little more - in order to have the benefits of project based learning and a very small and rather structured program. It's not a STEM program per se; but it definitely leans strongly STEM. Still under the same graduation requirements, so still have opportunity to take language (at least at the beginning until other courses take priority) and much better assistance and access to internships which are required of all students their senior year.

Thank you. This is very helpful. Even though there are no sports or arts/music opportunities, do they have other extracurriculars like student clubs? Is it a close community of students and teachers? It is correct to believe that a student who generally dislikes group projects because they often end up doing the majority of the work would not be a good fit for the school?

I think you really need to make an appointment to talk with the principal and include your child in that meeting. Grading of group projects takes into account the slackers and moochers, as everyone is graded on the part of the project they did. I don't think I, or anyone here, can answer whether your child will be ok with the group work or not. Hopefully most students are hardworking academics pulling their weight. You'll need to ask the principal and other teachers about that. Students are welcomed to start their own clubs of interest - just like at any of the schools, they need to find a sponsor for it. I think some students have found ways to continue pursuing musical interests, for example. And there is ultimate frisbee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all need to talking up ArlTech. It's horrible trade school for the poors. Stay away!

I'm a little disappointed that some people joined the lottery just to do it, with no care, regard or interest in the program.

This program works for particular kids and the spaces should be for them. For goodness sake, if you want AP, don't do AT.

Can you please help explain what types of kids that it works well for? I would love your thoughts.

You're clearly asking the wrong person for credible information. Please, do not ask anyone describing AT as a "horrible trade school for the poors" ANYthing about AT - or anything else.
Hopefully the more genuine and credible responses in this chain have shown you that AT is a rigorous academic program. Many people confuse it with the vocational-technical training programs at the Career Center because AT is at the Career Center. They are completely different pathways; but coursework (for AT students) overlaps with the CTE courses because those act as their main electives. The CTE students get to work with the AT kids on some projects; but they don't get the reciprocal access to AT curriculum like all the Dual Enrollment courses.

As to the type of student: someone who likes (and learns better with) hands-on, problem-solving group projects; someone who has completed Algebra 2 - or will complete it before 10th grade; someone interested in getting a head start on college credits through dual enrollment classes; someone who likes the opportunity to design their own projects and learn to manage projects (students rotate through the various roles on a team so all have a chance to lead, collaborate, etc.); someone who is willing to give up some other types of opportunities like music/theater/arts - until they get more amenities and grow the program a little more - in order to have the benefits of project based learning and a very small and rather structured program. It's not a STEM program per se; but it definitely leans strongly STEM. Still under the same graduation requirements, so still have opportunity to take language (at least at the beginning until other courses take priority) and much better assistance and access to internships which are required of all students their senior year.

Thank you. This is very helpful. Even though there are no sports or arts/music opportunities, do they have other extracurriculars like student clubs? Is it a close community of students and teachers? It is correct to believe that a student who generally dislikes group projects because they often end up doing the majority of the work would not be a good fit for the school?

Keep in mind, IF your child gets into the program and decides to try it, they can always transfer back to their home high school if it turns out to be a bad fit. It's not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ I took that prior comment re "the poors" as sarcasm, i.e. they want space available for their kid so it's all to the good if more people don't understand the program.

You are overly generous and kind.