APS Homework in middle school

[Anonymous]

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

Oh, come on. APS has an inferior reputation because it is falling apart at the seams. Parents who hyper-value sports are just taking advantage of the current state of affairs. What’s happened to APS in a relatively short period of time is pretty distressing to a lot of people. I guess I’m glad there’s an upside for somebody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

Oh, come on. APS has an inferior reputation because it is falling apart at the seams. Parents who hyper-value sports are just taking advantage of the current state of affairs. What’s happened to APS in a relatively short period of time is pretty distressing to a lot of people. I guess I’m glad there’s an upside for somebody.

How exactly is APS falling apart? It’s always been less intense than the pressure cooker counties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

Oh, come on. APS has an inferior reputation because it is falling apart at the seams. Parents who hyper-value sports are just taking advantage of the current state of affairs. What’s happened to APS in a relatively short period of time is pretty distressing to a lot of people. I guess I’m glad there’s an upside for somebody.

How exactly is APS falling apart? It’s always been less intense than the pressure cooker counties.

Less intense, yes. Completely abandoning anything resembling rigor in early/middle grades? That’s much more recent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

Oh, come on. APS has an inferior reputation because it is falling apart at the seams. Parents who hyper-value sports are just taking advantage of the current state of affairs. What’s happened to APS in a relatively short period of time is pretty distressing to a lot of people. I guess I’m glad there’s an upside for somebody.

How exactly is APS falling apart? It’s always been less intense than the pressure cooker counties.

Less intense, yes. Completely abandoning anything resembling rigor in early/middle grades? That’s much more recent.

But it’s what most parents want. No one wants homework in elementary, it’s clear. That’s not falling apart.

[Anonymous]

Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DHMS mom here - while there is homework 6th grade is focused on getting the kids to organize and study. The grades don’t count but do reflect whether the kid is working on those two elements. Since the school day ends around 2:45, that’s plenty of time to study before evening sports. The first semester of middle school will be a transition but 2nd half is going swimmingly! Good luck!

What does it mean if the homework doesn’t count? If it isn’t checked and graded what is the consequences for not doing it

It doesn’t count towards a gpa but it is graded and counts on their report card

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

Yes

Certainly not at WL where college placement metrics remain strong. But people on this forum complain that college placement at Yorktown should be much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

Yes

Certainly not at WL where college placement metrics remain strong. But people on this forum complain that college placement at Yorktown should be much better.

Yorktown was a pioneer in the no/reduced homework movement a decade ago. Not sure if that correlates with college placement or not. But the shifting pedagogy there was parent driven. Over the past couple decades Yorktown has shifted into a more sports oriented culture (not purposefully). The school does place emphasis on the social and emotional well being of its students while still supporting academic rigor. How homework factors into that is still debatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

Yes

Certainly not at WL where college placement metrics remain strong. But people on this forum complain that college placement at Yorktown should be much better.

Are you looking at absolute or percentage placements? With 200+ more students per year, but steady placement performance it’s actually a decline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Similar situation and we specifically chose to stay in APS (over private) because of the lower homework requirements.

No wonder APS has an inferior reputation. It's parents like these who value sports over academics.

Oh, come on. APS has an inferior reputation because it is falling apart at the seams. Parents who hyper-value sports are just taking advantage of the current state of affairs. What’s happened to APS in a relatively short period of time is pretty distressing to a lot of people. I guess I’m glad there’s an upside for somebody.

How exactly is APS falling apart? It’s always been less intense than the pressure cooker counties.

Less intense, yes. Completely abandoning anything resembling rigor in early/middle grades? That’s much more recent.

But it’s what most parents want. No one wants homework in elementary, it’s clear. That’s not falling apart.

I’m not sure why people equate elementary homework with rigor. The vast majority of it has always been busy work at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct. It's what parents want. That's one reason why Fairfax has better schools.

So a school board listening to its parents is failing? Have any real metrics dropped, like college placement?

Yes

Certainly not at WL where college placement metrics remain strong. But people on this forum complain that college placement at Yorktown should be much better.

Are you looking at absolute or percentage placements? With 200+ more students per year, but steady placement performance it’s actually a decline.

It might have to do with the boundary change shifting affluent neighborhoods to Yorktown. I wouldn’t see it as a long term trend of decline. Academic rigour at WL is strong and is part of the culture there.

[Anonymous]

But it’s what most parents want. No one wants homework in elementary, it’s clear. That’s not falling apart.



I’m not sure why people equate elementary homework with rigor. The vast majority of it has always been busy work at that age.

The last few posts, at least, are clearly not talking about elementary school. They are talking mainly about the lack of homework in MS, and in HS to some degree.