Are APS all about politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think to make that comparison is an insult to those who suffered under apartheid. I was in Kenmore Middle school recently and am pretty sure it is nothing like Soweto.

Wakefield - almost all minorities, declining enrollment, last to be renovated, highest dropout rate in NoVa. All of which is just fine with people in Yorktown district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do I have it right that Arlington Public Schools are all about politics? Must one volunteer for everything, be active in the PTA, etc. in order to have any clout in getting what you want for your child? Is it better in the privates? Catholics?

Yeah, I don't know. I have noticed that at our school a disproportionate number of those getting the Montessori slots seem to be children of teachers at the school and/or those very involved in PTA and other school activities. At first I thought it was just coincidence but lately I'm not so sure...

this is a serious accusation even for the internet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do I have it right that Arlington Public Schools are all about politics? Must one volunteer for everything, be active in the PTA, etc. in order to have any clout in getting what you want for your child? Is it better in the privates? Catholics?

Yeah, I don't know. I have noticed that at our school a disproportionate number of those getting the Montessori slots seem to be children of teachers at the school and/or those very involved in PTA and other school activities. At first I thought it was just coincidence but lately I'm not so sure...

this is a serious accusation even for the internet

Calm down! It's just a question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think to make that comparison is an insult to those who suffered under apartheid. I was in Kenmore Middle school recently and am pretty sure it is nothing like Soweto.

Wakefield - almost all minorities, declining enrollment, last to be renovated, highest dropout rate in NoVa. All of which is just fine with people in Yorktown district.

Please stop projecting your frustrations over T.C. Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do I have it right that Arlington Public Schools are all about politics? Must one volunteer for everything, be active in the PTA, etc. in order to have any clout in getting what you want for your child? Is it better in the privates? Catholics?

Yeah, I don't know. I have noticed that at our school a disproportionate number of those getting the Montessori slots seem to be children of teachers at the school and/or those very involved in PTA and other school activities. At first I thought it was just coincidence but lately I'm not so sure...

this is a serious accusation even for the internet

Calm down! It's just a question.

where's the question mark in the highlighted sentence then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wakefield - almost all minorities, declining enrollment, last to be renovated, highest dropout rate in NoVa. All of which is just fine with people in Yorktown district.

Please stop projecting your frustrations over T.C. Williams.

Please stop claiming APS is so wonderful when the disparities within are so glaring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is the pro-Arlington, anti-Alexandria City Public Schools poster when you need him?

I'm reading the thread. Why would you bring that up? Were we talking about ACPS? No, we were not. What is your problem?

Have fun with Alicia Hughes on your school board though. Yee-haw.

If you think that GOP toolbox is going to win, think again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wakefield - almost all minorities, declining enrollment, last to be renovated, highest dropout rate in NoVa. All of which is just fine with people in Yorktown district.

Please stop projecting your frustrations over T.C. Williams.

Please stop claiming APS is so wonderful when the disparities within are so glaring.

(how) can Wakefield be fixed IYO? serious question.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the reason there is a high proportion of active PTA members and children of teachers getting these Montessori spots is b/c they simply apply at a higher rate that other groups? As people involved in the PTA and teachers at the school they may be more keenly aware of deadlines for applications and the options available to them vs people who work FT unrelated to school/and or multiple PT jobs who simply just don't have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think to make that comparison is an insult to those who suffered under apartheid. I was in Kenmore Middle school recently and am pretty sure it is nothing like Soweto.

Wakefield - almost all minorities, declining enrollment, last to be renovated, highest dropout rate in NoVa. All of which is just fine with people in Yorktown district.


new to this conversation, but it doesn't really matter if every student. parent, and teacher at Yorktown makes Wakefield's issues their number one priority -- if the parents at WAKEFIELD don't care enough to try to do something about it, nothing will change. lack of parental involvement is the biggest hurdle in any kind of education.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don't know. I have noticed that at our school a disproportionate number of those getting the Montessori slots seem to be children of teachers at the school and/or those very involved in PTA and other school activities. At first I thought it was just coincidence but lately I'm not so sure...

They do the lottery in public -- anyone who wants can watch them do the drawing. There's no way to game it.

[Anonymous]

The lottery system is fair, from what I understand. A teacher at Barrett told me that she put in an application for her son and he was waitlisted. Only 1/3 of the slots are for those who make above $84,800 - so it is very hard to get a slot. I think it is more likely that the PP was accurate - teachers and PTA parents are aware of the deadlines and the program and therefore apply in larger numbers. Parents at Barrett do not volunteer for extra perks - they do it to be involved in their child's school.