Another choice school in N Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the next choice school should be named Choice Elementary. It's mascot could be the Fighting Nerds.

Why fighting nerds?

[Anonymous]

As another upper middle class south arlington parent here, we need more county wide choice schools. No more neighborhood schools. Each of those choice schools siphons off students from all the other overcrowded schools. Two more choice schools adds capacity across the county. This is not a north south issue.

And, for those of your thinking the real issue is over crowding in north arlington schools, have you looked at the planned affordable housing family development plans for south arlington? You all passed a plan to add what, 17,000 more mostly family units in the next few decades? Hell, just in the west pike along there are plans for 1,000 units, 300 of which will break ground within a year. These kids in affordable housing will need to most academic resources just to get by. Has the county even considered that? Nope

There are a lot of middle to upper middle class families in south arlington who are pissed off. It isn't the low performing schools, meaning that SOL scores are low for the entire school. It is thst scores are low for kids in their kid's same demographic. Thst is a problem. Many parents complain of low expectations. The school activities are sub par with those same few parents participating. Don't even ask about PTA activities.

If anyone complains, they are labeled racists, classist and what ever. AH advocates love to point out how we middle class parents are blaming children. In a way, of course we are. And their families. They are poor, uneducated and often have low expectations for their own kids. They probably work several jobs yet don't bring in the same money as other families who may work long hours too, but make six figures doing it. It isn't the schools, it is the kids in the schools. Just admit it. I do and people call me classist, then fine, be pc about it and nothing will change.

The county board and many south arlington residents (not of course the same south arlington residents who complain about schools) have taken steps to ensure that much of south Arlington will never gentrify, ever. They don't want it that way. Columbia pike is intended to be poor and the county board wants to keep it that way, period.

And by the way, some of the most vocal pro affordable housing name calling folks, send their kids to ATS!!

Sorry for the lack of hyphens.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could it possibly be that a more traditional school is actually better for kids in early elementary?

I think it depends on how you're defining better. For people who like the tidy evaluation SOL scores provide, a highly structured, drill-and-kill approach delivers. But if you're looking for something longer term and harder to define (resilience, critical thinking, emotional development), it doesn't seem as though the ATS model is going to get you there.

That said, "more traditional" is pretty hazy, too. I went to elementary school in the 70s, and we had some old-school memorization of times tables and spelling words. But we also had loads of recess, free time in the classroom, and virtually no time spent on standardized testing.

It worked great for neurotypical kids from stable backgrounds. We were a homogeneous bunch.

[Anonymous]

12:25, I agree that choice schools can help to alleviate crowding, but some schools need much more relief from crowding than others.

Perhaps if a choice school pulled from the most overcrowded schools first that would help, but that arrangement would not be popular with those looking to escape underperforming schools that are less crowded.

[Anonymous]

Any choice school must have a1/4 mile or so walk zone. The SB knows this and have gone on the record in support.

Even if under performing schools each send 10 students, that still makes a difference. It is the cumulative effect of several more choice schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any choice school must have a1/4 mile or so walk zone. The SB knows this and have gone on the record in support.

Even if under performing schools each send 10 students, that still makes a difference. It is the cumulative effect of several more choice schools.

Arlington county is very small with very few remaining options for school buildings, and those options need to be spread between elementary, middle and high schools. There won't be several more choice schools.

[Anonymous]

well then even one more choice school. He school board is already committed to building 2 more elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As another upper middle class south arlington parent here, we need more county wide choice schools. No more neighborhood schools. Each of those choice schools siphons off students from all the other overcrowded schools. Two more choice schools adds capacity across the county. This is not a north south issue.

And, for those of your thinking the real issue is over crowding in north arlington schools, have you looked at the planned affordable housing family development plans for south arlington? You all passed a plan to add what, 17,000 more mostly family units in the next few decades? Hell, just in the west pike along there are plans for 1,000 units, 300 of which will break ground within a year. These kids in affordable housing will need to most academic resources just to get by. Has the county even considered that? Nope

There are a lot of middle to upper middle class families in south arlington who are pissed off. It isn't the low performing schools, meaning that SOL scores are low for the entire school. It is thst scores are low for kids in their kid's same demographic. Thst is a problem. Many parents complain of low expectations. The school activities are sub par with those same few parents participating. Don't even ask about PTA activities.

If anyone complains, they are labeled racists, classist and what ever. AH advocates love to point out how we middle class parents are blaming children. In a way, of course we are. And their families. They are poor, uneducated and often have low expectations for their own kids. They probably work several jobs yet don't bring in the same money as other families who may work long hours too, but make six figures doing it. It isn't the schools, it is the kids in the schools. Just admit it. I do and people call me classist, then fine, be pc about it and nothing will change.

The county board and many south arlington residents (not of course the same south arlington residents who complain about schools) have taken steps to ensure that much of south Arlington will never gentrify, ever. They don't want it that way. Columbia pike is intended to be poor and the county board wants to keep it that way, period.

And by the way, some of the most vocal pro affordable housing name calling folks, send their kids to ATS!!

Sorry for the lack of hyphens.....

Where is the new building going? Is it by the Carlyle house?
You hit the nail on the head. That part of Arlington will never gentrify. They don't want it to gentrify. Promises were made to keep that area " affordable". The immigrant communities have been promised that corner of the county. They have very strong and influential advocates.
Best case scenario is that the food star development will signal a penrose style transformation of the central pike. I think the west end is a lost cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As another upper middle class south arlington parent here, we need more county wide choice schools. No more neighborhood schools. Each of those choice schools siphons off students from all the other overcrowded schools. Two more choice schools adds capacity across the county. This is not a north south issue.

And, for those of your thinking the real issue is over crowding in north arlington schools, have you looked at the planned affordable housing family development plans for south arlington? You all passed a plan to add what, 17,000 more mostly family units in the next few decades? Hell, just in the west pike along there are plans for 1,000 units, 300 of which will break ground within a year. These kids in affordable housing will need to most academic resources just to get by. Has the county even considered that? Nope

There are a lot of middle to upper middle class families in south arlington who are pissed off. It isn't the low performing schools, meaning that SOL scores are low for the entire school. It is thst scores are low for kids in their kid's same demographic. Thst is a problem. Many parents complain of low expectations. The school activities are sub par with those same few parents participating. Don't even ask about PTA activities.

If anyone complains, they are labeled racists, classist and what ever. AH advocates love to point out how we middle class parents are blaming children. In a way, of course we are. And their families. They are poor, uneducated and often have low expectations for their own kids. They probably work several jobs yet don't bring in the same money as other families who may work long hours too, but make six figures doing it. It isn't the schools, it is the kids in the schools. Just admit it. I do and people call me classist, then fine, be pc about it and nothing will change.

The county board and many south arlington residents (not of course the same south arlington residents who complain about schools) have taken steps to ensure that much of south Arlington will never gentrify, ever. They don't want it that way. Columbia pike is intended to be poor and the county board wants to keep it that way, period.

And by the way, some of the most vocal pro affordable housing name calling folks, send their kids to ATS!!

Sorry for the lack of hyphens.....

Where is the new building going? Is it by the Carlyle house?
You hit the nail on the head. That part of Arlington will never gentrify. They don't want it to gentrify. Promises were made to keep that area " affordable". The immigrant communities have been promised that corner of the county. They have very strong and influential advocates.
Best case scenario is that the food star development will signal a penrose style transformation of the central pike. I think the west end is a lost cause.

Also- why are sorry for lack of hyphens?

[Anonymous]

The sense of entitlement among S Arlington folks who want gentrification is unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Why? why is wanting to be able to walk down the street at night without getting groped or robbed wrong? What is wrong with not wanting to shop at the cheap stores on the pike? What is wrong with not wanting half drunk men hanging out drinking beer and smoking cigarettes when i go to certain places on the pike. Oh, and I would like to go to a Burger King that has not had more than one murder in the couple years I have lived here? Oh, and one gets tired of getting hit up for money while INSIDE a fast food store like Wendy's, Boston market

I make good money and have paid my dues. I have a nice house. Why am I not entitled, if that is the word, to have services and stores near me I wish to patronize? You sound like there is something wrong with making money and being successful?

Why do you feel people who are poor and/or immigrants are entitled to have taxpayers pay a large portion of their rent, food and have their children educated on the public's dime? Why do you feel there is any entitlement to keep the western end of the pike the poorest part of the county?

Seriously, careful accusing anyone who has worked their ass off and entered the middle class, or higher, as being having some wrongful sense of entitlement. I personally do support helping out those who have less then me. Hell, if that were not a priority for many communities my family would have remained poor immigrant. What I do not support is making block after block of the pike affordable housing. We were promised mixed income on the pike. We did not get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? why is wanting to be able to walk down the street at night without getting groped or robbed wrong? What is wrong with not wanting to shop at the cheap stores on the pike? What is wrong with not wanting half drunk men hanging out drinking beer and smoking cigarettes when i go to certain places on the pike. Oh, and I would like to go to a Burger King that has not had more than one murder in the couple years I have lived here? Oh, and one gets tired of getting hit up for money while INSIDE a fast food store like Wendy's, Boston market

I make good money and have paid my dues. I have a nice house. Why am I not entitled, if that is the word, to have services and stores near me I wish to patronize? You sound like there is something wrong with making money and being successful?

Why do you feel people who are poor and/or immigrants are entitled to have taxpayers pay a large portion of their rent, food and have their children educated on the public's dime? Why do you feel there is any entitlement to keep the western end of the pike the poorest part of the county?

Seriously, careful accusing anyone who has worked their ass off and entered the middle class, or higher, as being having some wrongful sense of entitlement. I personally do support helping out those who have less then me. Hell, if that were not a priority for many communities my family would have remained poor immigrant. What I do not support is making block after block of the pike affordable housing. We were promised mixed income on the pike. We did not get it.

Preach.

You know who has a problem with affordable housing?
The people living in it...
https://www.arlnow.com/2016/05/13/nauck-apartment-residents-demand-better-living-conditions/#disqus_thread


Guess what? With tons of afford housing comes tons of problems. The people currently living in it have asked that the concentration be stopped. They were hoping to raise their children in a more intergrated community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As another upper middle class south arlington parent here, we need more county wide choice schools. No more neighborhood schools. Each of those choice schools siphons off students from all the other overcrowded schools. Two more choice schools adds capacity across the county. This is not a north south issue.

And, for those of your thinking the real issue is over crowding in north arlington schools, have you looked at the planned affordable housing family development plans for south arlington? You all passed a plan to add what, 17,000 more mostly family units in the next few decades? Hell, just in the west pike along there are plans for 1,000 units, 300 of which will break ground within a year. These kids in affordable housing will need to most academic resources just to get by. Has the county even considered that? Nope

There are a lot of middle to upper middle class families in south arlington who are pissed off. It isn't the low performing schools, meaning that SOL scores are low for the entire school. It is thst scores are low for kids in their kid's same demographic. Thst is a problem. Many parents complain of low expectations. The school activities are sub par with those same few parents participating. Don't even ask about PTA activities.

If anyone complains, they are labeled racists, classist and what ever. AH advocates love to point out how we middle class parents are blaming children. In a way, of course we are. And their families. They are poor, uneducated and often have low expectations for their own kids. They probably work several jobs yet don't bring in the same money as other families who may work long hours too, but make six figures doing it. It isn't the schools, it is the kids in the schools. Just admit it. I do and people call me classist, then fine, be pc about it and nothing will change.

The county board and many south arlington residents (not of course the same south arlington residents who complain about schools) have taken steps to ensure that much of south Arlington will never gentrify, ever. They don't want it that way. Columbia pike is intended to be poor and the county board wants to keep it that way, period.

And by the way, some of the most vocal pro affordable housing name calling folks, send their kids to ATS!!

Sorry for the lack of hyphens.....

Yes. That's why I chose to buy a smaller house in N Arl v a larger one in S Arl. Schools/crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sense of entitlement among S Arlington folks who want gentrification is unbelievable.

That's rich. People who owned property in the neighborhoods prior to adoption of the Pike Neighborhoods Plan are "entitled" for being mad that they were given a bait and switch? They agreed to far more than their share of committed affordable housing based on the premise that the streetcar was going to bring gentrification that was sure to push out their neighbors. And now, not only is the gentrification not going to happen for some of the neighborhoods, but hundreds of units of committed affordable housing (mostly for families) are coming on line anyway with no new transit plan for the increased population density, no plan for the overcrowding of the schools (because one new school in south Arlington isn't going to address it), and a couple neighborhoods targeted for a lot of the affordable housing planed in Arlington. Every time a unit gets torn down in Westover, it gives the AH developers another justification for more infill development in Arlington Mill, which is now 40% committed affordable housing and can't even attract a new Subway restaurant to open up because, SURPRISE, businesses do their market research and realize that the neighborhood can't support any new businesses. I don't live in the neighborhood, but I absolutely understand how people of modest economic means, whose only real investment might have been a condo that is now worth $40,000 less than when they bought it 10 years ago, are justified in being upset. Is that selfish? Maybe, but certainly no more selfish than everyone in this thread who's made six figures or more in equity in the same period of time, but who feels like they are the ones getting the shaft because they can't walk their kids to a small, neighborhood school and instead have to put them on a bus for a 10 minute ride to one of the "best" elementary schools in the state. Okay.

It's called perspective, and some people need to get some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sense of entitlement among S Arlington folks who want gentrification is unbelievable.

I want gentrification? How about I don't want the county board and the school board to support policies that maintain or extend historical patterns of segregation? How about no child in one of the wealthiest counties *in the country* should live in a ghetto or go to a school rated 2 on a scale of 1 to 10?