school board work session on enrollment and transfers in options schools(and also a new high school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the idea has more to do with providing continuity in educational options (i.e. i.b. technically available from k all the way through 12) than because of specific demand. Also, my understanding is that Montessori does not actually always have a waiting list and the program is already expanding--there will be more seats when they open at Henry. Randolph is under-enrolled because the demographic makeup and test scores scare people away--it's not that people don't want ib. (Although maybe they don't--I just don't think you can say they don't based off of Randolph's enrollment). Right now Campbell is only available for those in S. Arlington. It will now be available for the whole County. My impression is that some (not all) families use it to avoid Carlin Springs. Those in the Carlin Springs neighborhood will eventually be able to try to lottery into Reed (or maybe to Randolph before that is available).

While i.b. does not provide the expeditionary learning model and extra outdoor time that Campbell provides it does include an emphasis on developing inquiry-based learning, encouraging questions and deep engagement, community service, and portfolio projects.

IB seems a reasonable way to go for a school that will probably end up being mostly a neighborhood overflow school. From what I understand of the primary years IB program, it's not that different from a "normal" ES experience. Doing something really specialized in that location would be a big turn-off.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify re Montessori - there has not typically been much of a wait list for elementary Montessori because Drew has had capacity to simply add another Montessori classroom whenever demand exceeded current spaces (and there has been a lot of growth in the elementary program over the last decade). APS has stated that they won't do that next year, and so there will be a wait list (I personally know many families from APS satellite preschool classrooms and private Montessori preschools who are applying next year).

In addition, APS is now proposing that the new Montessori school in the Henry building will go up to 8th grade (moving over the MS students from Gunston). This will stop all growth in the program and may serve to shrink it. Gunston too has been adding MS capacity to meet demand. The Henry building has a capacity of 463 (with 6 trailers it is currently at 615 - at 132.8% capacity). In order to accommodate the MS students and allow all ES students to continue through MS, the Montessori school would need 700 seats. They won't all fit at Henry.

Campbell also has a wait list (I know because my kid is on it). Once admission is opened to countywide, I'm sure demand will increase.

ATS also has a wait list, though that school was scheduled to be expanded a couple of CIPs ago and the ATS community rejected that. So perhaps it's appropriate to leave them as is.

I agree that Reed should probably be a neighborhood school. IB in elementary isn't well established and there is much greater interest in Arlington for other alternative models.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to clarify re Montessori - there has not typically been much of a wait list for elementary Montessori because Drew has had capacity to simply add another Montessori classroom whenever demand exceeded current spaces (and there has been a lot of growth in the elementary program over the last decade). APS has stated that they won't do that next year, and so there will be a wait list (I personally know many families from APS satellite preschool classrooms and private Montessori preschools who are applying next year).

In addition, APS is now proposing that the new Montessori school in the Henry building will go up to 8th grade (moving over the MS students from Gunston). This will stop all growth in the program and may serve to shrink it. Gunston too has been adding MS capacity to meet demand. The Henry building has a capacity of 463 (with 6 trailers it is currently at 615 - at 132.8% capacity). In order to accommodate the MS students and allow all ES students to continue through MS, the Montessori school would need 700 seats. They won't all fit at Henry.

Campbell also has a wait list (I know because my kid is on it). Once admission is opened to countywide, I'm sure demand will increase.

ATS also has a wait list, though that school was scheduled to be expanded a couple of CIPs ago and the ATS community rejected that. So perhaps it's appropriate to leave them as is.

I agree that Reed should probably be a neighborhood school. IB in elementary isn't well established and there is much greater interest in Arlington for other alternative models.

don't think that's true

[Anonymous]

ATS also uses an educational model that has not been proven optimal in recent studies (i.e. assigning large amounts of homework in elementary school). I agree that there is demand and by test scores and from anecdotal feedback it certainly seems like a successful model. No personal experience with the school so can't comment.

[Anonymous]

Randolph is not currently an option school. It's a neighborhood school with an IB program. I don't know whether there's demand for this model, but we can't really know by looking at current demand in a neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ATS also uses an educational model that has not been proven optimal in recent studies (i.e. assigning large amounts of homework in elementary school). I agree that there is demand and by test scores and from anecdotal feedback it certainly seems like a successful model. No personal experience with the school so can't comment.

Do they?

[Anonymous]

I'm an ATS parent, but I'm only a couple of years in. The homework assigned in kindergarten was substantial. Startling, actually, although once we got used to the routine, it was fine. It did require a lot of parent involvement. There is far less homework assigned in first grade. I can't speak to what comes next, but we're certainly prepared for more homework than the average APS elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Randolph is not currently an option school. It's a neighborhood school with an IB program. I don't know whether there's demand for this model, but we can't really know by looking at current demand in a neighborhood school.

Randolph is also projected to reach capacity in 2018, and over capacity from 2019 on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is that the idea has more to do with providing continuity in educational options (i.e. i.b. technically available from k all the way through 12) than because of specific demand. Also, my understanding is that Montessori does not actually always have a waiting list and the program is already expanding--there will be more seats when they open at Henry. Randolph is under-enrolled because the demographic makeup and test scores scare people away--it's not that people don't want ib. (Although maybe they don't--I just don't think you can say they don't based off of Randolph's enrollment). Right now Campbell is only available for those in S. Arlington. It will now be available for the whole County. My impression is that some (not all) families use it to avoid Carlin Springs. Those in the Carlin Springs neighborhood will eventually be able to try to lottery into Reed (or maybe to Randolph before that is available).

While i.b. does not provide the expeditionary learning model and extra outdoor time that Campbell provides it does include an emphasis on developing inquiry-based learning, encouraging questions and deep engagement, community service, and portfolio projects.

IB seems a reasonable way to go for a school that will probably end up being mostly a neighborhood overflow school. From what I understand of the primary years IB program, it's not that different from a "normal" ES experience. Doing something really specialized in that location would be a big turn-off.

Agreed. It will be, in essence, a neighborhood school that is open to transfers. I expect it will fill mostly with kids in adjacent overcrowded schools living close by, but have the flexibility to be a relief valve for the other schools in that zone, too, if needed. Best to keep it a program that isn't too "out there."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^They will. You are the smart ones.

Not too sure about that ( tangent alert)

The county has back peddled pretty much all of the promises they've made to south Arlington. Streetcar? Nope. Improved bus service at least? Nope. Working to improve demographics with HS boundary change last fall? FUCK NO.
More affordable housing targeted at the three elementary schools that are already majority poor! YEP!
They have grand plans for 4 mile run but I'm skeptical we'll see that in the next 15 years.
We've been living down here for 15 years, and have watched our local school get worse not better.
I'm not feeling particularly smart right now.
I hope this dog and pony show produces enough smoke to allow us to sell and get out. Arlington has nice dog parks, and some great county services. It's nice knowing ya'll.

Enjoy Centreville.

[Anonymous]

So much overthinking and paralysis by analysis with this county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^They will. You are the smart ones.

Not too sure about that ( tangent alert)

The county has back peddled pretty much all of the promises they've made to south Arlington. Streetcar? Nope. Improved bus service at least? Nope. Working to improve demographics with HS boundary change last fall? FUCK NO.
More affordable housing targeted at the three elementary schools that are already majority poor! YEP!
They have grand plans for 4 mile run but I'm skeptical we'll see that in the next 15 years.
We've been living down here for 15 years, and have watched our local school get worse not better.
I'm not feeling particularly smart right now.
I hope this dog and pony show produces enough smoke to allow us to sell and get out. Arlington has nice dog parks, and some great county services. It's nice knowing ya'll.

Enjoy Centreville.

We will thanks.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone planning on attending the two work sessions?

March 30, 7 pm at Wakefield
April 4, 7 pm at Yorktown

[Anonymous]

These are not work sessions. They are community meetings. They are the only meetings planned for the public to ask questions and weigh in - both about the Enrollment Policy changes and the plans for the new high school. They are stuffing both (huge) topics into one meeting and trying to bulldoze this all through.

It is critical that members of the public attend and weigh in. This may be the only real opportunity to do so.

[Anonymous]

Please spread the word to your friends and communities. Thanks!