APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan

[Anonymous]

I just read the draft CIP. My take is that the proposed focus is on adding ES capacity and that parents whose kids will be in MS or HS in 5-10 years are screwed. There are no real plans to deal with the projected MS and HS overcrowding and the biggest "solution" to deal with a fraction of the HS overcrowding, Arlington Tech, is unattractive and poorly articulated.

[Anonymous]

I agree 10:26. I think it's especially bad for people who have kids in ES right now. There are a lot of kids in ES and these steps won't get close to addressing the problem. I think spending so much putting ANOTHER ES in N. Arlington is crazy when they HS problem is going to be so much worse!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds awful to me. We moved to Arlington for the more personal touch, not so our kids could attend high school factories with 2600-3000 students. The plans for Arlington Tech also make no sense. Is it supposed to be like TJ or is it just a plan to segregate kids on the non-college track?

When was this? Because if it was in the past five years, you didn't do your due diligence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds awful to me. We moved to Arlington for the more personal touch, not so our kids could attend high school factories with 2600-3000 students. The plans for Arlington Tech also make no sense. Is it supposed to be like TJ or is it just a plan to segregate kids on the non-college track?

Arlington Tech is not supposed to be a TJ. Appears to be both vocational and college prep, though no AP or IB will be offered.

Hmm. Sign me up (not).

I think blurring the line between vocational and college prep makes sense, but I can't imagine a college-bound student who's going to be OK with no AP classes. Is that really the plan?

Yes, that really is the plan, according to the website. They propose that Arlington Tech students can get college credit through dual enrollment, presummably with NOVA, or through CTE classes.

As a parent, I would prefer that actually.

[Anonymous]

They should not build any actual buildings for schools. They need to start buying and re purposing office building space. There is enough office space vacancy that is not going to be filled by businesses that could be used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree 10:26. I think it's especially bad for people who have kids in ES right now. There are a lot of kids in ES and these steps won't get close to addressing the problem. I think spending so much putting ANOTHER ES in N. Arlington is crazy when they HS problem is going to be so much worse!!

The MS situation in South Arlington won't be much better. They need to get off their asses and start figuring out where and how they are going to build the new schools that are clearly needed. It won't get any easier playing games with the ACB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should not build any actual buildings for schools. They need to start buying and re purposing office building space. There is enough office space vacancy that is not going to be filled by businesses that could be used.

There are lots of vacant office buldings. Would buying/leasing one and retrofitting it be more cost-effective than buying the land and building? If so, then they should get started right away on that.

[Anonymous]

APS can't use CIP funds to renovating leased space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should not build any actual buildings for schools. They need to start buying and re purposing office building space. There is enough office space vacancy that is not going to be filled by businesses that could be used.

There are lots of vacant office buldings. Would buying/leasing one and retrofitting it be more cost-effective than buying the land and building? If so, then they should get started right away on that.

During the SAWG process, it became apparent that the cost of converting office building space to classrooms is prohibitive, unless we found an unusual deal, like a building in foreclosure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds awful to me. We moved to Arlington for the more personal touch, not so our kids could attend high school factories with 2600-3000 students. The plans for Arlington Tech also make no sense. Is it supposed to be like TJ or is it just a plan to segregate kids on the non-college track?

Yeah, you and five thousand other families. I love how everyone wants to move here when they have kids and then shut the door behind them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?

If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.

Where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?

If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.

Where?

The Henry/Fenwick area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?

If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.

Where?

Turn the Fort Scott Park site into a high school. It could even be called Fort Scott HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?

If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.

Where?

Long Bridge. Combine it with an aquatics center or better yet replace it.

[Anonymous]

We live in Bluemont. DS is 8. We are zoned for W-L. What are the chances that we will be rezonednl for Wakefield? Need to know whether to start saving for private school.