APS Sinking Ship

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

Or this, a prime example: My Guess? your child is in K-2.
-someone who has lives this.

NP SA UMC parent here - Claremont-Gunston and soon-to-be Wakefield. Kids have had a good experience so far (yes, realize we took an option school for ES but there were reasons that had nothing to do with our home school - Oakridge). So that makes 4 of us

Or the people who have fled to North Arlington telling us that's the only way?

Well it appears there are at least 3 of us on this thread. That’s a welcome improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

[Anonymous]

Or there’s one on here that tells us all we’re idiots for not demanding every SA school get turned into a lottery school because the only path to success is making sure well-off white people are comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Which is why people need to speak up more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or there’s one on here that tells us all we’re idiots for not demanding every SA school get turned into a lottery school because the only path to success is making sure well-off white people are comfortable.

I’m that poster, and it’s not about your precious snowflakes. It’s about actually closing the achievement gap for the kids that aren’t umc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or there’s one on here that tells us all we’re idiots for not demanding every SA school get turned into a lottery school because the only path to success is making sure well-off white people are comfortable.

I’m that poster, and it’s not about your precious snowflakes. It’s about actually closing the achievement gap for the kids that aren’t umc.

Sure it is. You always come across as 100% altruistic and would be such a great civic leader if only we were all so lucky!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

And many many others stay and become successful members of society - just like those who bailed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

And many many others stay and become successful members of society - just like those who bailed.

Yup. It’s not something that will decide your kids future. But it is one thing, among others, that is going to shape it. For me it is really a question of the experience. There are definitely trade offs at both high income and low income schools. Middle income schools split the difference but there are precious few of those in Arlington county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

And many many others stay and become successful members of society - just like those who bailed.

Yup. It’s not something that will decide your kids future. But it is one thing, among others, that is going to shape it. For me it is really a question of the experience. There are definitely trade offs at both high income and low income schools. Middle income schools split the difference but there are precious few of those in Arlington county.

Yep. And some of us went to low income schools most of our lives and are making sacrifices to give our kids a different experience. Doesn’t mean you can’t be successful at a low income school. Doesn’t mean low income students are “bad” or that people that send their kids there are making the wrong choice. But to act like there’s no difference between low income and high income schools does a disservice to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

And many many others stay and become successful members of society - just like those who bailed.

Yup. It’s not something that will decide your kids future. But it is one thing, among others, that is going to shape it. For me it is really a question of the experience. There are definitely trade offs at both high income and low income schools. Middle income schools split the difference but there are precious few of those in Arlington county.

This. And, also, please note these emails about various S. Arl. schools being on the verge of a dramatic turnaround and how everything is changing at x school or y school are cyclical. Yet there's been no general turnaround in S. Arl. The disparities, for the most part, are growing. Every 6 year cycle of S. Arl. parents believe it is changing. But after about 3 years you realize it isn't. You either hunker down and tolerate it, or you move or go private. Look back at emails on DCUM. This is the pattern. I think that was the poster's point. That only new parents of young kids have this optimism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid is at a SA Title 1 school frequently posted as a “failing school” on these boards. I can say from first-hand experience the school is anything but failing. Nay, it is thriving under a relatively new powerhouse principal, amazing teachers, and a small but dedicated PTA. My child is learning and interacting daily with people different from our normal social group (UMC) and that is making them a better person. I couldn’t be happier with our choice to send them to the neighborhood school. I add this anecdote here because I fear these boards are often one-sided and I know parents are looking here to help guide tough decisions. Also look to the parents at your neighborhood school. Talk to the PTA. Get a sense for things on your own. I see APS appears to have a lot of serious problems at high-level leadership right now, which I believe is the original point of this thread, but that has not affected the day-to-day life at my child’s school.

More people like you should speak up. I suspect they don't lurk on these boards like the rest of us though.

DP - many of us HAVE spoken up; but we're quickly dismissed, cut-down, criticized, or "that's great BUT it isn't like that for me or the other people I know" etc etc etc. But I do hope this parent is able to speak up within her own neighborhood and school zone and convince more of her like-peers to also attend the school.

It’s great that you’re having a good experience but it doesn’t make you “right.” It just means you like what you have going, it satisfies your expectations and appeals to your moral sensibilities. Other people for whom it doesn’t do those things aren’t “wrong”.

How does PP's experience not make her right? it's her experience! How should her experience stack up against PPs who are projecting from statistical tables to infer classroom conditions? It's not actually evidence-based to look at a stat that a school is 50% ESOL/HILT and state that your kid would be in a class with 2/3 kids who don't speak English. It's fear. as a PP called it, middle-class anxiety. Hey, I feel it too. We're renting and homeownership slips away more each day. But feelings aren't facts.

Her experience is hers alone. It’s not evidence that SA schools are “fine” and everyone should go. You really think that it’s just fear and racism that keeps people from attending schools with these challenges. Get real. Only someone with zero experience of them would say that. They face serious challenges and they have to devote almost all their resources to addressing them. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Many, many people start their kids in these SA schools and bail after finally coming to terms with it.

And many many others stay and become successful members of society - just like those who bailed.

Yup. It’s not something that will decide your kids future. But it is one thing, among others, that is going to shape it. For me it is really a question of the experience. There are definitely trade offs at both high income and low income schools. Middle income schools split the difference but there are precious few of those in Arlington county.

This. And, also, please note these emails about various S. Arl. schools being on the verge of a dramatic turnaround and how everything is changing at x school or y school are cyclical. Yet there's been no general turnaround in S. Arl. The disparities, for the most part, are growing. Every 6 year cycle of S. Arl. parents believe it is changing. But after about 3 years you realize it isn't. You either hunker down and tolerate it, or you move or go private. Look back at emails on DCUM. This is the pattern. I think that was the poster's point. That only new parents of young kids have this optimism.

It takes young couples 10 years to realize that yes, they actually did buy a “starter home”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can’t all go private.
There is literally not enough spaces for that either.
The region isn’t prepared to handle the current density, let alone more.
Of course education is going to suffer.
Everything is going to suffer.

Yeah, a bunch of high income white/Asian engineers' kids are going to make education suffer in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We can’t all go private.
There is literally not enough spaces for that either.
The region isn’t prepared to handle the current density, let alone more.
Of course education is going to suffer.
Everything is going to suffer.

Yeah, a bunch of high income white/Asian engineers' kids are going to make education suffer in the area.

Exactly. Not like they’re going to be sending they’re going to be sending their kids to SA schools, anyway. The Bezos Busses will have their own lane on route 1. Hybla Valley will go Mosaic District by 2030.