Arlington Traditional School - did anyone get a spot?

[Anonymous]

When I toured the school I saw behavior charts with color coded cards. Green, yellow, red. (You don't want to be on red) Each child had their own set of cards and it was hanging up in the room for everyone to see. So, your whole class knows how "good" you've been. Humiliating, in my opinion.

No affiliation with ATS but this is a very common discipline/behavior tool used in many schools.

And I agree it's humiliating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When I toured the school I saw behavior charts with color coded cards. Green, yellow, red. (You don't want to be on red) Each child had their own set of cards and it was hanging up in the room for everyone to see. So, your whole class knows how "good" you've been. Humiliating, in my opinion.

No affiliation with ATS but this is a very common discipline/behavior tool used in many schools.

And I agree it's humiliating.

You are exactly right about this being true at many schools. This is one of the reasons my kids go to a private school where there are no behavior charts.

[Anonymous]

I find it ironic that when ATS parents stand up for their school it is considered cult-like, but when other school PTAs stand up for their schools it is considered "community."

I think what is weird about ATS parents' devotion to their school is their panic when any change, however minor, is proposed. ATS is, I think, the only elementary school in Arlington that doesn't allot any spaces to kids in the neighborhood, and whenever someone suggests that maybe it would be nice to do so, the screeching from ATS parents is almost comical. Move the school (wouldn't be the first time it's been moved)? More screeching.

Yes, parents at other schools don't want boundaries changed, and they make a lot of noise when it's suggested, even though they also don't want overcrowded schools. But they don't tend to issue overwrought e-mails about the danger of a potential taint to their sacred school's specialness. And when ATS tries to talk about what makes it special, it's either things the other Arlington schools have too, or it's minor crap that really isn't all that special, at least not in a good way.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I didn't mean for this to become a debate on ATS. Obviously people feel strongly about it, but enough already - I think we've gone through this in plenty of other discussions.

To answer my own question (and satisfy anyone else's curiosity) I have learned there were 187 applicants for 69 slots. Of those, 39 had automatic admission through siblings or because they already attend preschool at ATS. So basically 148 children were vying for the remaining 30 spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I didn't mean for this to become a debate on ATS. Obviously people feel strongly about it, but enough already - I think we've gone through this in plenty of other discussions.

To answer my own question (and satisfy anyone else's curiosity) I have learned there were 187 applicants for 69 slots. Of those, 39 had automatic admission through siblings or because they already attend preschool at ATS. So basically 148 children were vying for the remaining 30 spots.

we haven't gotten any notification yet. odd?

[Anonymous]

OP here - I do think it's odd. We got ours quite a while ago - right after whenever I first posted. They mailed it in a letter to the home. If you haven't gotten any notification, you should definitely call and find out what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I do think it's odd. We got ours quite a while ago - right after whenever I first posted. They mailed it in a letter to the home. If you haven't gotten any notification, you should definitely call and find out what's going on.

i called today and was told my kid got in. the letter apparently has gotten lost...

[Anonymous]

15:52 described the reputation of ATS quite accurately. 16:00 may be as liberal as she described, but she is not the stereotypical ATS family. (Note, I did not say "typical", but "stereotypical.")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:52 described the reputation of ATS quite accurately. 16:00 may be as liberal as she described, but she is not the stereotypical ATS family. (Note, I did not say "typical", but "stereotypical.")

I don't know ATS that well, except through our neighbors - who are quite liberal. I can see how "traditional" might appeal to more "conservative" families but, apart from all the homework and a few other unique things, I don't know that ATS is all that different from other Arlington schools.