APS Interesting Responses to Walk Zone Survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How was this communicated? I live in what is considered an ATS walk zone and didn't know this existed for us. It is SO obvious that the ATS walk zone responders are current parents whose students attend ATS and don't want the school to become neighborhood. Way to go, APS!! Representation from the neighborhood? I think not!

It was sent out through PTAs and civic associations. And was discussed extensively here on DCUM.

yes, but did the Bluemont families know they could respond to the ATS survey? Maybe they thought they were only supposed to answer for their neighborhood school. There are a lot of people who would like to see ATS turned back into a neighborhood school. It would be nice to hear from the actual neighborhood if they feel that the ATS site could be turned back into a neighborhood school. ATS parents don't really represent the surrounding neighborhood, given that it is a county wide school.

At a certain point I think people need to take responsibility for their own engagement instead of expecting to be spoonfed. Once you'd been directed to the survey page, it was clear that all of the school surveys were open for anyone to respond.

[Anonymous]

My planning unit was on three surveys and I took all three. I would want input on which situations would be walkable for my family.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s pretty likely that APS staff will recommend that Key be made a neighborhood school. The question is whether they will designate ASFS as an option site for a relatively easy switch since the majority of the kids at ASFS live in Key zone or if they will designate another site and trigger an all out war.

[Anonymous]

APS’ process clearly gives them cover for multiple switches not just one set of one choice school moving. Again parents and community wake up and participate. The surveys are an easy chance to engage. Like the 1:1 classroom technology survey, anyone here take it?!? I’m super super happy my school makes sure we know about these opportunities. If your school leaders aren’t you should be asking what’s more important than engaging in the way our schools work and participating in the process of APS decision making when they ask for our input.

[Anonymous]

You can still send your feedback to [e-mail]. They are taking feedback now but window is closing fast!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s pretty likely that APS staff will recommend that Key be made a neighborhood school. The question is whether they will designate ASFS as an option site for a relatively easy switch since the majority of the kids at ASFS live in Key zone or if they will designate another site and trigger an all out war.

Or have two neighborhood schools in that area (ASFS + Key) to cover some of the densest parts of the county. Put the choice school somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Choice consideration results towards the bottom.

https://www.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/location-review/

The format makes it really to see how many people responded multiple times. "APS must consider......" This was so dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choice consideration results towards the bottom.

https://www.apsva.us/elementary-school-boundary-change/location-review/

The format makes it really to see how many people responded multiple times. "APS must consider......" This was so dumb.

Those form responses were from ATS and Tuckahoe.

[Anonymous]

the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s pretty likely that APS staff will recommend that Key be made a neighborhood school. The question is whether they will designate ASFS as an option site for a relatively easy switch since the majority of the kids at ASFS live in Key zone or if they will designate another site and trigger an all out war.

My vote is for an all out war. My kids are past ES but I’m tired of having an ES in my neighborhood that almost no one who lives within walking distance is allowed to attend. Frankly, I am tired of all the option schools. As many have said, they are a luxury we can no longer afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What? How was this communicated? I live in what is considered an ATS walk zone and didn't know this existed for us. It is SO obvious that the ATS walk zone responders are current parents whose students attend ATS and don't want the school to become neighborhood. Way to go, APS!! Representation from the neighborhood? I think not!

The civic association was heavily involved. Even going from door to door. Guess you were not home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? How was this communicated? I live in what is considered an ATS walk zone and didn't know this existed for us. It is SO obvious that the ATS walk zone responders are current parents whose students attend ATS and don't want the school to become neighborhood. Way to go, APS!! Representation from the neighborhood? I think not!

The civic association was heavily involved. Even going from door to door. Guess you were not home?

Guess you don't live in my neighborhood. Which civic association? If they did so, where was the flyer? Bluemont is not a fan of ATS as a choice school.

Anyway, there is a huge contingent in my neighborhood of families who absolutely want ATS put back as a neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting to see the APS walk zone responses so far. Here is what I noticed thus far:

Tuckahoe vs. Nottingham
Tuckahoe had hundreds of people respond. They are trying to make a land grab for Nottingham’s planning units to increase their walkers.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Tuckahoe-Walk-Zone-Closed.xlsx

Nottingham has fairly low response rate and doesn’t want to expand their walk zone. Appears Tuckahoe May outmobikoxe them.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Nottingham-Walk-Zone-Closed.xlsx

Key vs. Science Focus
Key neighbors appear to want a neighborhood school. Tons of responses indicating it’s walkability. You can see on the map that they could easily have 350 walkers in a neighborhood school. Last year, 569 students in the Key zone transferred out.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Key-Walk-Zone-Closed.xlsx

Meanwhile, almost a third of Science Focus people said not to expand their 150-kid walk zone at all! Most of the rest only suppprted adding a couple of tiny units. Hmmmm... good candidate for an option school? Data seems to support the idea of a switch between ASFS and Key buildings.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Science-Focus-Walk-Zone-Closed.xlsx

ATS
Very low response - fewer than 70 people. But the vast majority of those seemed to want to expand the walk zone by adding a crossing guard at Wilson and George Mason, which would add a lot of walkers. Perhaps ATS is a good site for a neighborhood school after all. I have to wonder if the neighbors around ATS didn’t realize they could fill out the survey. Or since so many neighbors go to ATS, if they don’t ask to expand the walk zone, ATS stays option.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Arlington-Traditional-Walk-Closed.xlsx

Others
Another idea I have been hearing is to put the option programs at schools that are not thriving and that have a lot of transfers out. Barcroft had 297 transfers out. Abingdon 413. Carlin Springs 352.
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transfer-Report-2016-17.pdf


Interested to hear what others are seeing in the data.

I don't think you can go by the current transfer #s. Despite 352 transfers out (primarily to Campbell) Carlin Springs still has a large student body (almost 540, plus over 100 preK). Abingdon's 413 transfers are likely predominantly to Claremont immersion. And they still have 635 students at Abingdon (not including preK) which just got an addition and renovation. Both of these school zones have guaranteed or preferred admission to the respective choice program (Campbell/Claremont). That guaranteed/preferred admission policy is being eliminated, and it remains to be seen how the numbers will ultimately play out over the next several years. Likely, the #s will remain heavy in the existing neighborhoods because proximity helps make the choice school attractive, and there is still sibling preference that will take a while to play out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s pretty likely that APS staff will recommend that Key be made a neighborhood school. The question is whether they will designate ASFS as an option site for a relatively easy switch since the majority of the kids at ASFS live in Key zone or if they will designate another site and trigger an all out war.

My vote is for an all out war. My kids are past ES but I’m tired of having an ES in my neighborhood that almost no one who lives within walking distance is allowed to attend. Frankly, I am tired of all the option schools. As many have said, they are a luxury we can no longer afford.

I hope you will get people to go to open office hours with the school board 5-7 pm on Mondays. And send letters to [e-mail]. They need to hear your voice to recommend change.