Arlington School Choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To give some perspective, my now-K son was around #200 on the ATS waitlist this year. The schools are overcrowded so they were very strict about transfers this year - I wouldn't count on a transfer that isn't part of an application/lottery process, and those are a crapshoot. The Spanish immersion schools usually have the best odds.

Pick a house with a school you could live with - in reality, they're all pretty good. Don't let the S. Arlington haters convince you that they're bad schools and your kid is relegated to being a sanitation engineer if they wind up zoned for Wakefield.

I'd wait for the redistricting before buying there. That will reveal whether the Wakefield avoiders are some rare species found only on DCUM or are instead most of N. Arlington.

LOL.

A part of me actually WANTS to be redistricted to Wakefield, because I want to show I am willing to put my money where my mouth is! Alas, we live a block from one of the other high schools, so the chances of that happening are very slim indeed.

[Anonymous]

(^^I say "a part of me" because we are quite happy with our school and I would be sad to leave it. But I also believe strongly that we could be happy at Wakefield as well.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd wait for the redistricting before buying there. That will reveal whether the Wakefield avoiders are some rare species found only on DCUM or are instead most of N. Arlington.

wake up! it's never about education; it's about property values, always has, always will.

[Anonymous]

OP, If I understand, you'd like Claremont. I was on the waiting list and got in eventually to the montesorri program, but you should really apply when your child is 3-years old. After you finish the montesorri program (after kindergarten), you would have the option of continuing at Claremont. I was really impressed with the montesorri program at Claremont, and the school is popular with some people because of the spanish immersion program. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(^^I say "a part of me" because we are quite happy with our school and I would be sad to leave it. But I also believe strongly that we could be happy at Wakefield as well.)

Why can't you transfer? Wakefield has space and the other schools are overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, If I understand, you'd like Claremont. I was on the waiting list and got in eventually to the montesorri program, but you should really apply when your child is 3-years old. After you finish the montesorri program (after kindergarten), you would have the option of continuing at Claremont. I was really impressed with the montesorri program at Claremont, and the school is popular with some people because of the spanish immersion program. Good luck!

I don't think I realized that claremont has a montessori program? Do they start spanish immersion there? Isn't pre-school in Arlington income based?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, If I understand, you'd like Claremont. I was on the waiting list and got in eventually to the montesorri program, but you should really apply when your child is 3-years old. After you finish the montesorri program (after kindergarten), you would have the option of continuing at Claremont. I was really impressed with the montesorri program at Claremont, and the school is popular with some people because of the spanish immersion program. Good luck!

I don't think I realized that claremont has a montessori program? Do they start spanish immersion there? Isn't pre-school in Arlington income based?

Also, the montessori program follows the school yr right? So I would need to find alternative care over the summer?

[Anonymous]

The Montessori programs at APS reserve two-thirds of the spots for children of low-SES families so others have to compete for a spot via the lottery process. There are only so many spots available so it's quite difficult to get into a program. For Claremont, children completing the Montessori program can automatically transfer into first grade without the need to reapply. Only Campbell Elementary School offers Extended Day care for 3yr olds. Many of the other programs offer Extended Day for 4 yr olds. Also, if going the Montessori route, you would need to find summer care as well. You can learn more at the link -
http://www.arlingtonmontessori.org/montessori-education/arlington-montessori-faq

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(^^I say "a part of me" because we are quite happy with our school and I would be sad to leave it. But I also believe strongly that we could be happy at Wakefield as well.)

Why can't you transfer? Wakefield has space and the other schools are overcrowded.

Well, we could and actually we discussed it, because two of DC's close friends go to Wakefield. But DC would have a ~35 minute commute by metro/ART bus, including a transfer. Or, DC could walk one block to his assigned school. It really wasn't much of a competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(^^I say "a part of me" because we are quite happy with our school and I would be sad to leave it. But I also believe strongly that we could be happy at Wakefield as well.)

Why can't you transfer? Wakefield has space and the other schools are overcrowded.

Well, we could and actually we discussed it, because two of DC's close friends go to Wakefield. But DC would have a ~35 minute commute by metro/ART bus, including a transfer. Or, DC could walk one block to his assigned school. It really wasn't much of a competition.

Wakefield has bus routes throughout Arlington for all transfer students. There are a few students in Lyon Village that take the bus to Wakefield for language immersion. But walking a couple blocks to school is hard to beat.