If ATS is so popular, why not create two of them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

It’s obvious from your post that you aren’t assigned to a high-poverty low-score school in Arlington. Send your kids to one of those schools and then come back here and tell us about your values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As much as this forum talks about ATS, you know they are doing something right. Ha!

Knowing what we know now, I wish instead of the Spanish immersion program, we would have at least tried for the lottery at ATS. C'est la vie!

Same. I wouldn’t do immersion again and we won’t do it for middle school even though that is where it’s supposedly starts to come together for kids . APS needs to be more upfront about that.

Then I hope you don't care if your kids learns Spanish, because regular high school Spanish instruction in APS is horrible.

Lots of ways to proficiency In foreign languages. Not just immersion. Seems like a great opportunity for those it works out for. But a lot leave it at the higher levels.

In other foreign languages in APS? Yep. In Spanish in other school districts? Yep. In Spanish in APS? Don't count on it.

DP. Not being fluent in Spanish is not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

And there are ways to connect with your neighborhood community so your kids still know the other kids and "wander the streets" with them. Does your neighborhood have community events like holiday parades, block parties, community service in the park days, babysitting co-op, parent group? Or you get to know your neighbors, host pot-lucks in the front or back yard, take walks with your kids and talk to the others out in their yards, etc? Just because your kid goes to an option school doesn't mean they can't also have friends and know the people in the neighborhood. My neighborhood is full of kids going to several different schools (every option school you can list as well as different private schools); yet we and our kids still know those kids and their parents - or at least several of them....we don't know everyone in the neighborhood and now that we're in high school, we're learning about others we didn't even know lived in our neighborhood.

That flew right over your head. Many kids are assigned to schools with multi family housing or in busy areas where they can’t wander the streets. As a PP said, not every neighborhood in Arlington is Mayberry.

My point is, there are other ways to get to know your neighbors and have the sense of safety the PP says is a priority for her over the "best" school. It sounded to me, from the comment about being able to wander the streets with your friends, they're in more of a Mayberry set-up than not. But even in multi-family housing neighborhoods, friends can wander the streets together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

It’s not resentful to call someone out for calling other choices “stupid.” We don’t use the option schools and have never applied to the lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

I see what you’re saying- I’m walking my comment back. I do think though that the SFH neighborhoods are a lot less transient and probably safer than some of the neighborhoods near busier arteries. It’s just a diff setup.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

And there are ways to connect with your neighborhood community so your kids still know the other kids and "wander the streets" with them. Does your neighborhood have community events like holiday parades, block parties, community service in the park days, babysitting co-op, parent group? Or you get to know your neighbors, host pot-lucks in the front or back yard, take walks with your kids and talk to the others out in their yards, etc? Just because your kid goes to an option school doesn't mean they can't also have friends and know the people in the neighborhood. My neighborhood is full of kids going to several different schools (every option school you can list as well as different private schools); yet we and our kids still know those kids and their parents - or at least several of them....we don't know everyone in the neighborhood and now that we're in high school, we're learning about others we didn't even know lived in our neighborhood.

That flew right over your head. Many kids are assigned to schools with multi family housing or in busy areas where they can’t wander the streets. As a PP said, not every neighborhood in Arlington is Mayberry.

My point is, there are other ways to get to know your neighbors and have the sense of safety the PP says is a priority for her over the "best" school. It sounded to me, from the comment about being able to wander the streets with your friends, they're in more of a Mayberry set-up than not. But even in multi-family housing neighborhoods, friends can wander the streets together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

I see what you are saying now.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

And there are ways to connect with your neighborhood community so your kids still know the other kids and "wander the streets" with them. Does your neighborhood have community events like holiday parades, block parties, community service in the park days, babysitting co-op, parent group? Or you get to know your neighbors, host pot-lucks in the front or back yard, take walks with your kids and talk to the others out in their yards, etc? Just because your kid goes to an option school doesn't mean they can't also have friends and know the people in the neighborhood. My neighborhood is full of kids going to several different schools (every option school you can list as well as different private schools); yet we and our kids still know those kids and their parents - or at least several of them....we don't know everyone in the neighborhood and now that we're in high school, we're learning about others we didn't even know lived in our neighborhood.

That flew right over your head. Many kids are assigned to schools with multi family housing or in busy areas where they can’t wander the streets. As a PP said, not every neighborhood in Arlington is Mayberry.

My point is, there are other ways to get to know your neighbors and have the sense of safety the PP says is a priority for her over the "best" school. It sounded to me, from the comment about being able to wander the streets with your friends, they're in more of a Mayberry set-up than not. But even in multi-family housing neighborhoods, friends can wander the streets together.

[Anonymous]

The scarcity of options is, in my opinion, what drives their desirability. Its not that hard to “opt” into the lottery in Arlington and then parents get all hot and bothered about being in or being out.

If the emphasis was neighborhood schools, perhaps the overall public education system would be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

DP, I felt that same way about that post, and it's not resentment, its annoyance at the people who are like "neighborhood schools have tremendous value." I live in Green Valley and sent my kids to Drew, because we walk the walk. If you live north of Lee Highway, you paid three times as much as me for the same size house and lot in the same school system and basically the same commute to DC but a much different "neighborhood school." Other things I'm tired of hearing: "I don't care about test scores"--generally only said by highly educated upper middle class people who have lots of privileges, including the privilege of not having to worry about things like the quality of their neighborhood school because exclusionary zoning and small neighborhood boundary zones mean only the children of other highly educated upper middle class people will be there, and test scores don't signify anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The scarcity of options is, in my opinion, what drives their desirability. Its not that hard to “opt” into the lottery in Arlington and then parents get all hot and bothered about being in or being out.

If the emphasis was neighborhood schools, perhaps the overall public education system would be better.

I would say that the emphasis IS neighborhood schools and that's why we have such a segregated system. If we weren't so "neighborhood" focused, we'd have boundaries or rank choice admissions that "equalize" all the schools and there wouldn't be as much "need" or desire for options beyond actual pedagogically different programs like immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

DP, I felt that same way about that post, and it's not resentment, its annoyance at the people who are like "neighborhood schools have tremendous value." I live in Green Valley and sent my kids to Drew, because we walk the walk. If you live north of Lee Highway, you paid three times as much as me for the same size house and lot in the same school system and basically the same commute to DC but a much different "neighborhood school." Other things I'm tired of hearing: "I don't care about test scores"--generally only said by highly educated upper middle class people who have lots of privileges, including the privilege of not having to worry about things like the quality of their neighborhood school because exclusionary zoning and small neighborhood boundary zones mean only the children of other highly educated upper middle class people will be there, and test scores don't signify anything.

It just read to me like someone who's bitter they're in a high-poverty neighborhood school district. (I am as well, btw. And our kids have attended our assigned Title I schools since kindergarten. One graduating Wakefield this year.) I actually know a lot of highly educated upper middle class people in south Arlington who profess their preference for their Title 1 neighborhood school's diversity over the academic focus of other schools. The vast majority of parents in Arlington, however, do not share that preference and fight tooth and nail to make sure the current neighborhood system remains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

DP, I felt that same way about that post, and it's not resentment, its annoyance at the people who are like "neighborhood schools have tremendous value." I live in Green Valley and sent my kids to Drew, because we walk the walk. If you live north of Lee Highway, you paid three times as much as me for the same size house and lot in the same school system and basically the same commute to DC but a much different "neighborhood school." Other things I'm tired of hearing: "I don't care about test scores"--generally only said by highly educated upper middle class people who have lots of privileges, including the privilege of not having to worry about things like the quality of their neighborhood school because exclusionary zoning and small neighborhood boundary zones mean only the children of other highly educated upper middle class people will be there, and test scores don't signify anything.

It just read to me like someone who's bitter they're in a high-poverty neighborhood school district. (I am as well, btw. And our kids have attended our assigned Title I schools since kindergarten. One graduating Wakefield this year.) I actually know a lot of highly educated upper middle class people in south Arlington who profess their preference for their Title 1 neighborhood school's diversity over the academic focus of other schools. The vast majority of parents in Arlington, however, do not share that preference and fight tooth and nail to make sure the current neighborhood system remains.

I’m that poster. I don’t live in a high poverty neighborhood. We can afford (nice) a house in any school pyramid in the DMV, btw, so no I am not bitter. Some people actually care about parity in public education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

DP, I felt that same way about that post, and it's not resentment, its annoyance at the people who are like "neighborhood schools have tremendous value." I live in Green Valley and sent my kids to Drew, because we walk the walk. If you live north of Lee Highway, you paid three times as much as me for the same size house and lot in the same school system and basically the same commute to DC but a much different "neighborhood school." Other things I'm tired of hearing: "I don't care about test scores"--generally only said by highly educated upper middle class people who have lots of privileges, including the privilege of not having to worry about things like the quality of their neighborhood school because exclusionary zoning and small neighborhood boundary zones mean only the children of other highly educated upper middle class people will be there, and test scores don't signify anything.

It just read to me like someone who's bitter they're in a high-poverty neighborhood school district. (I am as well, btw. And our kids have attended our assigned Title I schools since kindergarten. One graduating Wakefield this year.) I actually know a lot of highly educated upper middle class people in south Arlington who profess their preference for their Title 1 neighborhood school's diversity over the academic focus of other schools. The vast majority of parents in Arlington, however, do not share that preference and fight tooth and nail to make sure the current neighborhood system remains.

I’m that poster. I don’t live in a high poverty neighborhood. We can afford (nice) a house in any school pyramid in the DMV, btw, so no I am not bitter. Some people actually care about parity in public education.

^ equity not parity!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to state my personal desire to not turn APS into a lottery of ATS, specialized school options. Neighborhood schools have tremendous value and having your children be able to wander the streets with their friends and knowing the families in each house is worth a lot more to me than these specialized options and knowing that MY school is the BEST scoring elementary school in Arlington is so stupid to me I can’t even tell you.

You do realize that some neighborhoods are split up and not everyone is assigned to a school full of SFHs where the kids can just wander the streets, right?

I don’t obviously. Logically, we should tear apart neighborhood schools as a result. And it was wrong of me to suggest they have value. Sigh.

I value play over scores and I value my child’s independence over the “top elementary environment.” But, my values are less important in APS/public school where testing gods reign and we should all have access to the best of everything.

Also adding that the option schools are a way to provide a better education for families who can’t afford to buy into YOUR neighborhood. You bought your way into a school you’re happy with; you don’t get to judge people who don’t have that option, or who have kids with more at stake with respect to their educational opportunities. You don’t get to come on here and call them “stupid.”

DP. WOW. I guess your resentment was triggered! Enjoy your option school.

DP, I felt that same way about that post, and it's not resentment, its annoyance at the people who are like "neighborhood schools have tremendous value." I live in Green Valley and sent my kids to Drew, because we walk the walk. If you live north of Lee Highway, you paid three times as much as me for the same size house and lot in the same school system and basically the same commute to DC but a much different "neighborhood school." Other things I'm tired of hearing: "I don't care about test scores"--generally only said by highly educated upper middle class people who have lots of privileges, including the privilege of not having to worry about things like the quality of their neighborhood school because exclusionary zoning and small neighborhood boundary zones mean only the children of other highly educated upper middle class people will be there, and test scores don't signify anything.

It just read to me like someone who's bitter they're in a high-poverty neighborhood school district. (I am as well, btw. And our kids have attended our assigned Title I schools since kindergarten. One graduating Wakefield this year.) I actually know a lot of highly educated upper middle class people in south Arlington who profess their preference for their Title 1 neighborhood school's diversity over the academic focus of other schools. The vast majority of parents in Arlington, however, do not share that preference and fight tooth and nail to make sure the current neighborhood system remains.

Concentrating poverty isn’t the way to close the achievement gap in education. This is shown in studies. It’s not really about your highly educated friends and their preferences. It’s about all the kids including the kids who are starting school behind. Does that make sense?