Kindergarten Options for 2026-2027

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you’re looking for. Spouse & I are monolingual, so we chose immersion so our kids can acquire a second language. We’ve been super happy with that choice (oldest kid is now in high school). Some people want Montessori, others want ATS, etc.

What issues do you have with your neighborhood school? As I’m sure you know, “better” schools typically means better test scores, which correlates with parent education and income level, not quality of teaching.

You can apply for all the lottery schools if you want and see where your kid gets in then decide how to proceed.

But even the best teacher can only do so much with a problematic group of kids.

No school in Arlington has a classroom full of difficult children. Even the ones that have the least advantaged kids, this problem is way over blown by people who don't even go to the schools they trash. If you actually talk to families who go to these schools you will find they are incredibly happy with their school and are learning and thriving. But sure, go on with your thinly veiled racist notions of what a "good" public school is.

A classroom doesn’t need to be FULL of difficult children. But when 25% understand no English, another 10% have major behavioral issues, another 5% only show up once a month… How does a teacher manage all of that?

They stick the kids capable of learning on iPads to do DreamBox and Lexia. Woo hoo.

(But what really happens is, the kids whose parents realize what’s going on will supplement at home. And the divide keeps growing.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you’re looking for. Spouse & I are monolingual, so we chose immersion so our kids can acquire a second language. We’ve been super happy with that choice (oldest kid is now in high school). Some people want Montessori, others want ATS, etc.

What issues do you have with your neighborhood school? As I’m sure you know, “better” schools typically means better test scores, which correlates with parent education and income level, not quality of teaching.

You can apply for all the lottery schools if you want and see where your kid gets in then decide how to proceed.

But even the best teacher can only do so much with a problematic group of kids.

Which kids are “problematic”?

Chronically absent. Behavior issues. Kids who show up not ready to learn for whatever reason (e.g., tired, no breakfast, clothes that aren't appropriate, etc). All of those disrupt learning.

How do you know a kid is tired or hasn't had breakfast in your child's classroom? I'd love to know.

I'm sure teachers can tell if a child isn't ready to learn. I don't need to know as a parent, but dealing with this stuff is a distraction from learning/teaching and has a real affect.

We used to have foster kids, and those kids certainly weren't ready to learn the morning after a placement. Their world was rocked and they may not have gotten much sleep. Switching schools can compound that and other trauma. And kids can bounce around many times in a school year, so it's not just one day. None of this is good for learning.

Some APS schools have more kids in situations that distract from learning than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you’re looking for. Spouse & I are monolingual, so we chose immersion so our kids can acquire a second language. We’ve been super happy with that choice (oldest kid is now in high school). Some people want Montessori, others want ATS, etc.

What issues do you have with your neighborhood school? As I’m sure you know, “better” schools typically means better test scores, which correlates with parent education and income level, not quality of teaching.

You can apply for all the lottery schools if you want and see where your kid gets in then decide how to proceed.

But even the best teacher can only do so much with a problematic group of kids.

No school in Arlington has a classroom full of difficult children. Even the ones that have the least advantaged kids, this problem is way over blown by people who don't even go to the schools they trash. If you actually talk to families who go to these schools you will find they are incredibly happy with their school and are learning and thriving. But sure, go on with your thinly veiled racist notions of what a "good" public school is.

And you can go on with your virtue signaling while APS keeps promoting kids to the next grade level when they can’t even read. Illiterate graduates, how’s that for equity?

I realize you are you just spewing Fox News talking points at random. Ahhh equity! Hide! So scary! You'll be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you’re looking for. Spouse & I are monolingual, so we chose immersion so our kids can acquire a second language. We’ve been super happy with that choice (oldest kid is now in high school). Some people want Montessori, others want ATS, etc.

What issues do you have with your neighborhood school? As I’m sure you know, “better” schools typically means better test scores, which correlates with parent education and income level, not quality of teaching.

You can apply for all the lottery schools if you want and see where your kid gets in then decide how to proceed.

But even the best teacher can only do so much with a problematic group of kids.

No school in Arlington has a classroom full of difficult children. Even the ones that have the least advantaged kids, this problem is way over blown by people who don't even go to the schools they trash. If you actually talk to families who go to these schools you will find they are incredibly happy with their school and are learning and thriving. But sure, go on with your thinly veiled racist notions of what a "good" public school is.

And you can go on with your virtue signaling while APS keeps promoting kids to the next grade level when they can’t even read. Illiterate graduates, how’s that for equity?

I realize you are you just spewing Fox News talking points at random. Ahhh equity! Hide! So scary! You'll be ok.

Wrong again. I think equity is important! I just think getting kids to actually read, write, and do math is important. Lowering expectations for minority groups isn’t helpful. Kids in these groups are just as talented and capable as their white peers.

[Anonymous]

We switched to MPSA from our neighborhood school and have been very happy. I find there to be less iPads, and the Montessori style definitely has more “traditional” elements that I value like more writing, spelling, more advanced math. Since it is a mixed age classroom I find that my child can work on more challenging work in areas where he is ahead.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

I understand how Montessori and Claremont/Key are different, but what about ATS and Campbell?

Like, ATS gives homework… That’s the difference? Learning that they still rely on Dreambox/Lexia is kind of shocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

I understand how Montessori and Claremont/Key are different, but what about ATS and Campbell?

Like, ATS gives homework… That’s the difference? Learning that they still rely on Dreambox/Lexia is kind of shocking.

They also have to tuck in their shirts, or at least used to. There's really no reason for ATS to exist in it's current form, they've hinted at changing it to something like IB or eliminating it entirely. So far no one has been brave enough to follow through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

I understand how Montessori and Claremont/Key are different, but what about ATS and Campbell?

Like, ATS gives homework… That’s the difference? Learning that they still rely on Dreambox/Lexia is kind of shocking.

They also have to tuck in their shirts, or at least used to. There's really no reason for ATS to exist in it's current form, they've hinted at changing it to something like IB or eliminating it entirely. So far no one has been brave enough to follow through.

IB for elementary school???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

I understand how Montessori and Claremont/Key are different, but what about ATS and Campbell?

Like, ATS gives homework… That’s the difference? Learning that they still rely on Dreambox/Lexia is kind of shocking.

They also have to tuck in their shirts, or at least used to. There's really no reason for ATS to exist in it's current form, they've hinted at changing it to something like IB or eliminating it entirely. So far no one has been brave enough to follow through.

They stopped tucking in shirts a while ago. Sounds like there’s really not much of a difference at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

I understand how Montessori and Claremont/Key are different, but what about ATS and Campbell?

Like, ATS gives homework… That’s the difference? Learning that they still rely on Dreambox/Lexia is kind of shocking.

They also have to tuck in their shirts, or at least used to. There's really no reason for ATS to exist in it's current form, they've hinted at changing it to something like IB or eliminating it entirely. So far no one has been brave enough to follow through.

IB for elementary school???

IB has a primary years programme. Oh god. Can you imagine the fighting that would ensue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

It's totally fine to apply to them all and then do your research if you get a spot. Don't commit until you understand the program, but you don't need to to dig deep only to end up at the bottom of a wait list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

It's totally fine to apply to them all and then do your research if you get a spot. Don't commit until you understand the program, but you don't need to to dig deep only to end up at the bottom of a wait list.

If you get a spot you'll have a few days, maybe a week to decide, so I'd recommend going to the open houses in January/February to learn about the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear OP: before you just shotgun lottery applications, please at least try to learn a little about the pedagogy of the options. This actually matters. For example, you can get to ATS and get homework when you don’t believe in it for your kid (has happened). Or in immersion you may have to supplement over the summer if Spanish isn’t spoken at home (has happened). There are people who pray to God and sacrifice limbs to get into schools and then leave after a few years because they shockingly learned there was a pedagogy that didn’t fit their kid.

It's totally fine to apply to them all and then do your research if you get a spot. Don't commit until you understand the program, but you don't need to to dig deep only to end up at the bottom of a wait list.

If you get a spot you'll have a few days, maybe a week to decide, so I'd recommend going to the open houses in January/February to learn about the schools.

Meh. You can always send your kid to the option school for a month or so to try it out. If you don’t like it, you can always leave and go back to your neighborhood school — they have to take you. 🙂

[Anonymous]

If we had gotten in to ATS, we would not have switched to private. It is elementary school in a more “old school” style and it would have worked well for our kids. I understand it might not have worked as well for some other kids, so go with best fit school for your kids.

If ATS were not getting a bunch of things right, and if it really were just like other APS elementary schools, then there would not be so much demand for ATS and such along waiting list to get in to ATS.