Arlington Science Focus - What options are there for younger sibling - Pre-K

[Anonymous]

The PreK and PreS thing must be DC terminology. The rest of the world calls preschool anything before Kindergarten. Most preschools have 3 year old classes, 4 year old classes, and PreK classes (which are reserved for kids who miss the cutoff for K or need an extra year before K).

Why the huge interest in Arlington Science Focus?
Have you visited it?
When my sister was 7-9 she wanted to be a marine biologist. When she was 10-15 she wanted to go into astronomy/robotics. She ended up at a liberal arts school majoring in religion and philosophy.

Definitely nurture your child's interests, but at this age it seems a bit extreme to move specifically for a science focus elementary school that may or may not be much more focused on science than other schools in the area.

[Anonymous]

21:10, are you in DC? I live in Arlington and I had NEVER heard the term "PS" until the this post.

Maybe in DC private schools draw the distinction when they're telling parents to redshirt their kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:21:10, are you in DC? I live in Arlington and I had NEVER heard the term "PS" until the this post.

Maybe in DC private schools draw the distinction when they're telling parents to redshirt their kids?

Ditto, but I assumed it was just DC public school terminology. I had never heard of "free" preschool at public elementary schools before a coworker was immersed in lottery madness. I actually assumed he was special needs for about a year just because that is the only "free" preschool in Virginia at elementary schools. I'm sure it is just what you are used to--but the idea of little 3 year olds at school all day with big kids is so odd to me.

[Anonymous]

First, Arlington County does not offer pre-K (any type of pre-K) unless you qualify as 'low income'. Even then--there are very limited spots.

Regarding ASFS---it is a great, well-rounded school. They have a fantastic literacy program in addition to their math and science. The reading and writing skill program is top-notch. There are social studies, art, music, geography---all the traditional basics.

I am a Scientist, myself. I have a PhD in immunologyl/genetics. I am so impressed that a school offers science at a young age which is what this country needs. My children come home bubbling with facts about pollution in the ocean, electricty, the problem with gas cars, etc. They have 'Science Wednesdays'. I have boys and they are eating this stuff up. They also have a 3D-lego design class, etc.

There was an article in the Washington Post recently which said what I always thought----you need to introduce science young. It is not usual for a liberal arts major to suddenly turn into a scientist later in life---but it frequently happens that an engineer goes into literary analysis or a chemist becomes a chef, etc. They need the science taught at a young age in a non-threatening, fun way. The US has fallen behind so dramatically in the sciences/math. A good majority of kids that attend ASFS may not end up going into a scientific field, but at least they will have the basics so they are not turned off by science when it is introduced in HS like most American kids that did not have that early exposure.

This is not a pressure-cooker school like T.Jefferson HS. It is very much like a traditional elementary school with a touch more science than we ever saw as kids...which is a great thing. I know its been said a million times before--but this is where the Sec.of Education sends his kid.

Just make sure you are actually zoned for the school--they are cracking down on false residency claims big time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PreK and PreS thing must be DC terminology. The rest of the world calls preschool anything before Kindergarten. Most preschools have 3 year old classes, 4 year old classes, and PreK classes (which are reserved for kids who miss the cutoff for K or need an extra year before K).

Why the huge interest in Arlington Science Focus?
Have you visited it?
When my sister was 7-9 she wanted to be a marine biologist. When she was 10-15 she wanted to go into astronomy/robotics. She ended up at a liberal arts school majoring in religion and philosophy.

Definitely nurture your child's interests, but at this age it seems a bit extreme to move specifically for a science focus elementary school that may or may not be much more focused on science than other schools in the area.

There is no school before Kindergartner in Arlington for any family that does not qualify as 'low income/special needs'. 4-year olds and below need to pay for private preschool up until they enroll in Kindergarten. This is unlike DC.

[Anonymous]

Arlington's Montessori preschool program starts at age 3. Two-thirds of the slots are for low-income families, which means that one-third are open to other families. However, if you're interested in ASFS, you're probably not going to be interested in Montessori's more self-directed approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PreK and PreS thing must be DC terminology. The rest of the world calls preschool anything before Kindergarten. Most preschools have 3 year old classes, 4 year old classes, and PreK classes (which are reserved for kids who miss the cutoff for K or need an extra year before K).

Why the huge interest in Arlington Science Focus?
Have you visited it?
When my sister was 7-9 she wanted to be a marine biologist. When she was 10-15 she wanted to go into astronomy/robotics. She ended up at a liberal arts school majoring in religion and philosophy.

Definitely nurture your child's interests, but at this age it seems a bit extreme to move specifically for a science focus elementary school that may or may not be much more focused on science than other schools in the area.

OP Here - My DC loves science and math and her teachers have told me that she shows an interest in these 2 areas. My brother - now a Biology Professor, PhD in molecular genetics - knew that he wanted to be a scientist from very young age, and never waivered. If she has the science bug (which I do not at all) then I need to do what I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, Arlington County does not offer pre-K (any type of pre-K) unless you qualify as 'low income'. Even then--there are very limited spots.

Regarding ASFS---it is a great, well-rounded school. They have a fantastic literacy program in addition to their math and science. The reading and writing skill program is top-notch. There are social studies, art, music, geography---all the traditional basics.

I am a Scientist, myself. I have a PhD in immunologyl/genetics. I am so impressed that a school offers science at a young age which is what this country needs. My children come home bubbling with facts about pollution in the ocean, electricty, the problem with gas cars, etc. They have 'Science Wednesdays'. I have boys and they are eating this stuff up. They also have a 3D-lego design class, etc.

There was an article in the Washington Post recently which said what I always thought----you need to introduce science young. It is not usual for a liberal arts major to suddenly turn into a scientist later in life---but it frequently happens that an engineer goes into literary analysis or a chemist becomes a chef, etc. They need the science taught at a young age in a non-threatening, fun way. The US has fallen behind so dramatically in the sciences/math. A good majority of kids that attend ASFS may not end up going into a scientific field, but at least they will have the basics so they are not turned off by science when it is introduced in HS like most American kids that did not have that early exposure.

This is not a pressure-cooker school like T.Jefferson HS. It is very much like a traditional elementary school with a touch more science than we ever saw as kids...which is a great thing. I know its been said a million times before--but this is where the Sec.of Education sends his kid.

Just make sure you are actually zoned for the school--they are cracking down on false residency claims big time!

I am certainly going to do it by the book w hen it comes to residency, but I need to figure out wha tht boundary is. I have looked at the boundary map, but I can't really figure it out.

[Anonymous]

On this map, look for the "Key" boundary:
http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/166/Elementary_Schools_Boundary_Map_2008.pdf

That is the same as the ASFS boundary. So if you live right next door to ASFS, you can't go there.

You can plug in specific addresses here:
http://gis.arlingtonva.us/schoolmap/WebPages/Map/FundyViewer.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On this map, look for the "Key" boundary:
http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/166/Elementary_Schools_Boundary_Map_2008.pdf

That is the same as the ASFS boundary. So if you live right next door to ASFS, you can't go there.

You can plug in specific addresses here:
http://gis.arlingtonva.us/schoolmap/WebPages/Map/FundyViewer.aspx

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. Why would "right next door" neighbors not be able to go to ASFS? This is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On this map, look for the "Key" boundary:
http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/166/Elementary_Schools_Boundary_Map_2008.pdf

That is the same as the ASFS boundary. So if you live right next door to ASFS, you can't go there.

You can plug in specific addresses here:
http://gis.arlingtonva.us/schoolmap/WebPages/Map/FundyViewer.aspx

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. Why would "right next door" neighbors not be able to go to ASFS? This is different.

It is weird, but houses right next to ASFS are zoned for Taylor Elementary School. Like the PP said, you want to live in an area that feeds into Key Elementary, and then you can elect to go to ASFS if you don't want the immersion at Key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here - My DC loves science and math and her teachers have told me that she shows an interest in these 2 areas. My brother - now a Biology Professor, PhD in molecular genetics - knew that he wanted to be a scientist from very young age, and never waivered. If she has the science bug (which I do not at all) then I need to do what I can.

Look up Hoffman Boston too as it'll be a STEM school next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On this map, look for the "Key" boundary:
http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/166/Elementary_Schools_Boundary_Map_2008.pdf

That is the same as the ASFS boundary. So if you live right next door to ASFS, you can't go there.

You can plug in specific addresses here:
http://gis.arlingtonva.us/schoolmap/WebPages/Map/FundyViewer.aspx

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. Why would "right next door" neighbors not be able to go to ASFS? This is different.

It is weird, but houses right next to ASFS are zoned for Taylor Elementary School. Like the PP said, you want to live in an area that feeds into Key Elementary, and then you can elect to go to ASFS if you don't want the immersion at Key.

This is correct. Taylor kids (I think) can apply to ASFS but there is a lottery and it's not guaranteed. Admission to ASFS is only guaranteed to kids in the Key district who don't want the immersion program.

You also got correct information (though snarkily) about the preschool situation in Arlington. It's not like DC - public preschool is not guaranteed. It is hard to find and hard to get into, although in my experience, it seems something always works out for everyone in the end. But now is the time for registration/lotteries for both the public Montessori (next to impossible unless you are low-income) and the private mostly-church-based programs, which can also be hard to get into. If you miss the boat on these registration processes, which have probably already begun to fill classes for September, then you may want to just wait until your younger child is kindergarten age.