Arlington Science Focus -- feedback, experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will find ASFS is one of the most diverse elementary schools in Arlington. It has sizable populations black and asian populations (but very few hispanic b/c of the obvious draw of key school which shares its boundary).

http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Domain/11/civilrights/Memo-Supt-10-31-13.pdf

Diversity is important, b/c it defines the comfort level and interaction that kids will grow up with. If they only see one race or ethnicity, they will tend to self segregate later in life.

And since OP is a minority, this is even greater issue to not feel out of place.

Ashlawn, Long Branch, and Henry might offer similar diversity, but you should consider which middle school you want the school to feed into. We've heard great things about Ashlawn and Long Branch personally.

Don't Long Branch and Henry both feed into Jefferson? Everyone we know with kids at Jefferson is/had been very happy with the school. If diversity is a desirable attribute, I would strongly consider Jefferson for middle school.

OP, what's your neighborhood school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based purely on appearances (may not be accurate), I'd say that my son's 1st grade class about half is Caucasian. The other half included some mixed heritages, some foreign born, AA, Hispanic. I appreciate that my son's peers don't all look like him.

Based on the link someone posted above, ASFS is 51.75 white, 20.6% Asian, 12% African American, 6.7 Hispanic. So, yes it probably is the most diverse school in N. Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:last year all 11 or 12 kids on ASFS 3rd grade boys basketball team were white. out of the 14 or so teams i saw i think it's the only team like that. Perhaps the Jamestown team too, but i'm not certain.

My blonde kids look like they were photoshopped into their class photos this year. Their classes are about 80% non-caucasian....mongolian, korean, hispanic, inidan, etc.

I think it is true with some of the sports teams because the kids on those tend to be from the same neighborhood---but it is NOWHERE true for the school which is highly diverse--esp. in comparison to all other N.Arlington schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
read 21:30 on ASFS's all-white bb team.

Yeah that is weird but prob a factor of economics of which families can support a traveling ball player. Sure there is economic diversity and unfortunately it may track racial ethnic diversity.

this was county ball - everyone can play. fee's about $75 i think.

(that team did kick butt and was fun to watch)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
read 21:30 on ASFS's all-white bb team.

Yeah that is weird but prob a factor of economics of which families can support a traveling ball player. Sure there is economic diversity and unfortunately it may track racial ethnic diversity.

this was county ball - everyone can play. fee's about $75 i think.

(that team did kick butt and was fun to watch)

Actually I'm sure the white team results from the fact the only basketball court which is not swamped with adult players would be Lyon village. And that section of he ASFS district is pretty uniformly white. The minorities in TH and condos are competing with urban ball players for time on court.

[Anonymous]

Science Focus is a very nice school with strong teachers and active parents. I think the "Science" aspects are cosmetic at best since (1) great majority of time is still spent preparing kids for standard SOL subject matter , and (2) kids have a normal science and math knowledge/background. For example, if your child is learning addition, they might get a problem about adding atom, without any discussion of the atoms/bonds (e.g., 3 carbons atom plus 7 carbon atoms is 10 carbon atoms).