APS Middle School Boundaries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

It's very different than when the kids all live in the same area. By middle school they can all walk to see each other etc. In elementary you're talking about easy drives and play dates. I'm not saying it's not community, but it's not the same feel at all. Had kids do both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What imaginary plan are people talking about and what diagram? A plan that creates a swirl of kids (per some PP who first floated this whole magical plan) who get bused to Williamsburg while Hamm and Swanson walk zones don't get touched will in fact create isalnds. So which is it?

Correct walk zone islands, but bused PU will be contiguous for each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

It's very different than when the kids all live in the same area. By middle school they can all walk to see each other etc. In elementary you're talking about easy drives and play dates. I'm not saying it's not community, but it's not the same feel at all. Had kids do both.

Okay, so they will ride the bus home with a huge population of kids and then walk to see each other. It’s no different than current middle schools where a friend could live on one end of boundary and the other — they would be bused and still far from each other. Nothing changes for bused students except destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

I bet you're talking about elementary option schools. Things get different in middle school when your parents aren't scheduling playdates, and option schools have made an effort to build community. A non-options school isn't going to do that.

Why sort of community do you even talk about in middle school or high school? Our kids stay on campus for activities and then take late bus home. Or they walk to get some food and then take ART home. It’s not like the whole families get together, and these schools are HUGE — so kids come from miles apart no matter what you do. Parents just aren’t in the picture that much.

Where do your kids go? We have kids at Swanson and this doesn't describe our experience at all. The kids start to get a lot of independence in middle school and they meet up frequently outside of school on foot or on bike. The kids have community and it's easy for them to see each other. None of them get on an ART bus, that's for sure. Also, the Arlington middle schools are not that big and kids don't come from miles apart. My kid can walk or bike to every friend he has through school. But other than that, what you're saying is spot on. Ha.

[Anonymous]

WHERE IS THIS PLAN OR DIAGRAM

Cough it up or people are arguing over something that doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

It's very different than when the kids all live in the same area. By middle school they can all walk to see each other etc. In elementary you're talking about easy drives and play dates. I'm not saying it's not community, but it's not the same feel at all. Had kids do both.

Okay, so they will ride the bus home with a huge population of kids and then walk to see each other. It’s no different than current middle schools where a friend could live on one end of boundary and the other — they would be bused and still far from each other. Nothing changes for bused students except destination.

You really can't see how bused kids on the outer rings of a boundary but still contiguous would be having a different experience if they are bused to a school and don't live near their classmates. Your suggestion is they should just be friends with the kids on the bus with them. So basically the school will have 2 groups...the walkers and the busers. Keep in mind in most of these schools the busers will be the minority. But that's okay for them is what you're saying. No big deal.

[Anonymous]

What happens to the elementary school feeder patterns in this magical plan where walk zones are never ever bused? Is the same rule going to apply to the elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

I don't know if any of this is to be believed, but this is why APS annoys me.

I am in the Swanson walk zone and would prefer to go to Williamsburg with the rest of the elementary school. Most families I've talked to feel this way. But according to this unsubstantiated plan, you're going to bus some kids from TJ and Kenmore to fill Willamsburg? Huh?

I think this is all probably fake news, but it's like because some group of very loud Hamm people are not okay with taking a bus the new plan is that walk zones will be preserved at all costs. There is a diagram! That's the plan! They saw the diagram in the secret diagram room!

The sad part is if the loud people didn't always get listened to in the past, I might feel certain this is all a bunch of BS. But you can never be sure with APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if any of this is to be believed, but this is why APS annoys me.

I am in the Swanson walk zone and would prefer to go to Williamsburg with the rest of the elementary school. Most families I've talked to feel this way. But according to this unsubstantiated plan, you're going to bus some kids from TJ and Kenmore to fill Willamsburg? Huh?

I think this is all probably fake news, but it's like because some group of very loud Hamm people are not okay with taking a bus the new plan is that walk zones will be preserved at all costs. There is a diagram! That's the plan! They saw the diagram in the secret diagram room!

The sad part is if the loud people didn't always get listened to in the past, I might feel certain this is all a bunch of BS. But you can never be sure with APS.

If there are PUs at Swanson that want to go to WMS, they should raise their hands. There is zero reason for APS not to move them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They paused the boundaries discussion for a year according to the new board docs.

Why do they do things like this? Get everyone riled up and then punt. Awful.

https://www.apsva.us/engage/2023-ms-boundaries/

Their reasoning..

This statement can’t say this out loud but this also allows them to move elementary boundaries around at the same time if Nottingham closes. So this would seem to indicate they are full speed ahead on that.

They are implementing full option for all schools, like San Francisco.

That's merely wishful thinking!

I am curious what that would look like, hypothetically. Like the DC lottery for elementary schools. I’m guessing a huge preference for the closest elementary school to your house, which would keep bus routes pretty efficient.

MontCo uses this for parts of its system. But Cambridge MA is the typical standard reference.
The vast majority get their first or second choice; but they also use balancing criteria to achieve economic diversity and can also balance boy/girl ratios. They can set it up however they want (barring race and religion, of course).

It a great way to address overcrowding, nothing will empty our schools out faster for FFX and private than this.

So be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latest proposal I saw was basically preserving walk zones, and then just rotating bused PUs to balance enrollment. Seems likely they are ignoring alignment since it’s too difficult without more capacity in upper schools.

Where did you see this? How do they fill Williamsburg without dipping into some walk zones? There's nowhere to go but Swanson or Hamm walk zones. They need a lot of PUs to move to Williamsburg.

The diagram I saw imagined he bused PUs as a river, flowing around the walk zone islands. Basically bus for WMS could be coming from what used to be a Kenmore or TJ PU even, and just flow up to WMS around walkzones. It actually reduced the overall demand for buses in the system because the routes allowed for more effective utilization for each bus.

Dumb ass idea.

All this would do is increase the competition and prices for houses in the perceived immutable walk zones.

[Anonymous]

Back to Gunston. It’s still overcrowded or did everyone forget that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Latest proposal I saw was basically preserving walk zones, and then just rotating bused PUs to balance enrollment. Seems likely they are ignoring alignment since it’s too difficult without more capacity in upper schools.

Where did you see this? How do they fill Williamsburg without dipping into some walk zones? There's nowhere to go but Swanson or Hamm walk zones. They need a lot of PUs to move to Williamsburg.

The diagram I saw imagined he bused PUs as a river, flowing around the walk zone islands. Basically bus for WMS could be coming from what used to be a Kenmore or TJ PU even, and just flow up to WMS around walkzones. It actually reduced the overall demand for buses in the system because the routes allowed for more effective utilization for each bus.

Dumb ass idea.

All this would do is increase the competition and prices for houses in the perceived immutable walk zones.

APS has already said it will try to preserve walk zones. It's nothing new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

I bet you're talking about elementary option schools. Things get different in middle school when your parents aren't scheduling playdates, and option schools have made an effort to build community. A non-options school isn't going to do that.

Nonsense. Every single school in APS tries to build community.
At some point, kids should and do take on some responsibility for their own social lives. They don't have to have playdates arranged for them all through middle school. They can get involved in school activities, clubs, extracurriculars; they meet and make new friends; then they do it again in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's refresh everyone on what a neighborhood-school is supposed to be about. We are all supposed to live near each other and its supposed to be a community. If I am in a PU that gets bused to TJ I don't want to now get bused to freaking Williamsburg and not be with any people near me just so some N Arlington jerks can still walk to school.

I'm sure that's just a rumor but it's freaking outrageous.

Yeah it is hard for kids to remain friends with other kids who live close by when they go to different schools. This would be awful.

The community is defined by the boundaries drawn by by APS. Your neighbors would still go to the same school, unless you happen to be right on a boundary. And boundaries have to be somewhere. It's not really a change from the status quo. It's just a question of what methodology and inputs APS uses to decide the boundary map.

When boundaries are not contiguous there is no community. Sorry but some bused island over by TJ or Kenmore is not going to be part of the school community no matter how you spin it.

That's crazy. Option schools have plenty of community. And MS and HS boundaries are already large. APS has already said it won't create small islands of PUs. Trying to preserve walk zones shouldn't do anything crazy.

It's very different than when the kids all live in the same area. By middle school they can all walk to see each other etc. In elementary you're talking about easy drives and play dates. I'm not saying it's not community, but it's not the same feel at all. Had kids do both.

Okay, so they will ride the bus home with a huge population of kids and then walk to see each other. It’s no different than current middle schools where a friend could live on one end of boundary and the other — they would be bused and still far from each other. Nothing changes for bused students except destination.

You really can't see how bused kids on the outer rings of a boundary but still contiguous would be having a different experience if they are bused to a school and don't live near their classmates. Your suggestion is they should just be friends with the kids on the bus with them. So basically the school will have 2 groups...the walkers and the busers. Keep in mind in most of these schools the busers will be the minority. But that's okay for them is what you're saying. No big deal.

Have you ever been to middle school?
Have you ever had a friend who didn't live in your neighborhood?
Just how much do you think friends have to get together outside of school and their extracurricular activities anyway?