Arlington magazine - Public school exodus cover

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

BOC is a big school and it’s serving a real community need. APS needs everyone it can get off the rolls. Can you imagine if the whole county went public??? I don’t see what the big deal is and why people need to “rank” it. Be glad it’s there.

I agree. We know families who go to BOC for the Muller Center, which offers a level of support that is not available in the APS public high schools.

[Anonymous]

We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

BOC is a big school and it’s serving a real community need. APS needs everyone it can get off the rolls. Can you imagine if the whole county went public??? I don’t see what the big deal is and why people need to “rank” it. Be glad it’s there.

What is BOC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a status symbol thing - as wealthier and wealthier families move into ARL, they'll shift more and more to private. I don't know why this isn't obvious to you.

but most of the good non-denominational privates are not close to Arlington. So if your kid doesn't get into Potomac or it's not a great fit, there isn't another good K-12 option. If anything I think that is what keeps a lot of wealthy people in upper NW DC or Bethesda.

Oh, so denominational privates don't count. Got it.

NP here. Yes, they count (eg, St. Albans, Georgetown Prep), just wouldn't put Bishop O'Connell (or other Arlington religiously-affiliated privates) in the same tier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

Seems like that's an even bigger problem. Their 4-years college didn't fix the problem either?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just can't get super worked up about this. A bunch of things going on. A huge factor is Arlington is getting wealthier and wealthier. More people CAN afford private school than ever before. Covid, some left and won't ever come back. And yes, the equity dog whistle. There is a lot of misrepresentation I see on this board about how there is no homework (not true), no one is allowed to fail any more (not true), everyone gets an A (not true), no rigorous content for more advanced students (not true), blah, blah. High school is plenty rigorous in APS if your student is capable and on that track. Intensified content is back in middle school. And if you want your kid pulled out for gifted services in APS, well we never did that so move to Fairfax and enjoy all that comes with that.

Many kids are still going public in Arlington and my genuine reaction is I'm glad for anyone to leave. More space for my kids and I hope it siphons off the more extreme wealth, which I don't want my kids around anyway.

I agree with the part about Arlington getting wealthier. I think that’s the main driver. If you aren’t happy with the product that APS offers for your child, and you can easily afford it, why not go private? In an overcrowded school district, you’re really not hurting anyone. Plenty of families will still choose public. The schools won’t be hurting for good studenfs.

Arlington doesn’t have good privates nor is it convenient for reaching most of the good privates, so if parents are sending their kids to privates that’s not a positive reflection on APS even if pockets of the county are getting wealthier.

Tons of people go to Bishop O’Connell which is literally across the street from an APS school. The “good privates” you speak of are reasonably convenient to anyone living near the Key or Chain Bridge. In fact, parts of Arlington are more convenient to those schools than parts of DC. So I’m not sure it really says anything other than the fact that people are resourced enough to pay tuition and drive.

It appears “desperate enough” would be a better description than “resourced enough.”

Haha I don’t think people choosing between Yorktown and a 50k (or more) annual tuition payment are desperate. But maybe you and I have different definitions of desperate.

Let’s face it. O’ Connell is weak academically and other areas are far more convenient to privates. If families eschew Yorktown it’s more despair than conspicuous consumption.

It's the 4th public in Arlington.

And it’s the #4 on the list.

BOC is a big school and it’s serving a real community need. APS needs everyone it can get off the rolls. Can you imagine if the whole county went public??? I don’t see what the big deal is and why people need to “rank” it. Be glad it’s there.

What is BOC?

Bishop O'Connell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

Seems like that's an even bigger problem. Their 4-years college didn't fix the problem either?

PP here. I guess not. I just don’t understand how someone can get into law school with such poor writing skills. My worry is that if these are the “best of the best” when it comes to writing, what is everyone else’s writing like? Maybe students come to college with such poor writing skills that colleges have to dumb down the curriculum? I honestly have no idea what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

Seems like that's an even bigger problem. Their 4-years college didn't fix the problem either?

PP here. I guess not. I just don’t understand how someone can get into law school with such poor writing skills. My worry is that if these are the “best of the best” when it comes to writing, what is everyone else’s writing like? Maybe students come to college with such poor writing skills that colleges have to dumb down the curriculum? I honestly have no idea what’s going on.

Or they re-wrote their essays many more times than what they send their employers. I know I spent more time on my law school essays than I'd ever spent revising anything else (graduated law school in 2008).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

Seems like that's an even bigger problem. Their 4-years college didn't fix the problem either?

Learning to write well is like a foreign language. It’s much easier to learn as a young kid. Public schools have it backwards in both respects - serious grammar/writing and foreign language should begin in elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Its

Yes. I’m an attorney and we have interns coming to us from Georgetown Law and they can barely write a paragraph.

Seems like that's an even bigger problem. Their 4-years college didn't fix the problem either?

PP here. I guess not. I just don’t understand how someone can get into law school with such poor writing skills. My worry is that if these are the “best of the best” when it comes to writing, what is everyone else’s writing like? Maybe students come to college with such poor writing skills that colleges have to dumb down the curriculum? I honestly have no idea what’s going on.

Or they re-wrote their essays many more times than what they send their employers. I know I spent more time on my law school essays than I'd ever spent revising anything else (graduated law school in 2008).

Maybe they aren't the ones writing their essays at all. Then it shows when they actually have to do their own writing on the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

I’m the attorney who posted
about our interns at Georgetown law. I feel that it is imperative that colleges begin communicating this to schools. Schools need to know that even their brightest aren’t prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

I’m the attorney who posted
about our interns at Georgetown law. I feel that it is imperative that colleges begin communicating this to schools. Schools need to know that even their brightest aren’t prepared for college.

How are you hiring? Are they submitting writing from the law school year?

Are you looking beyond Georgetown or just relying on the reputation of the school? These students aren’t the brightest if they can’t write, no matter what school they come from. The smartest lawyers I know didn’t come out of the big-name schools- that’s just an anecdote of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had great experience w APS re class size. However my kid who transitioned from Arlington public to private found he was ahead in math and behind in reading/writing.

My sibling who is a college professor says it’s shocking how many kids at selective colleges can’t write these days. APS should up it’s game in that regard.

Lol. You mean up “its” game. Practice what you preach, sister.