Positive Momentum in Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

As an ACPS parent of a Kindergardner, I'm excited that more and more parents with choices are choosing the city's public schools rather than private schools or movng to Fairfax County, particularly on the eastern side of the city (Del Ray, Rosemont, Old Town, Beverly Hills, etc.). Consider that from 2005-06 until 2011-12, we've seen:

Maury Elem. go from 160 students (67% Economically Disadvataged) to 396 student (33% Economically Disadvantaged).
Mt. Vernon Elem. go from 457 students (67% E.D.) to 713 students (58% E.D.)
McArthur Elem go from 517 students (30% E.D.) to 643 students (25% E.D.)
Lyles-Crouch go from 293 students (27% E.D.) to 415 students (27% E.D.)
Barrett Elem. go from 243 students (30% E.D.) to 392 students (30% E.D.)
George Mason go from 350 students (31% E.D.) to 472 students (31% E.D.)

Conventional wisdom says that this momentum just won't carry over into Middle School. I'm curious to see if that will be true. The vanguard of families that led the enrollment growth at these elementary schools starting 5-6 years ago are only just now starting to hit middle school. Will we slowly see more middle class/affluent families choosing George Washington Middle School over the next few years? The percentage of E.D. students has already dipped slightly from 51% in 2005-06 to 48.8% at GWMS.

If you're one of these families of 5th graders, what are you and your friends/neighbors planning for middle school next year? If you're on the fence about GWMS, what are your concerns, and what changes would you like to see to win your loyalty? If you're not an ACPS parent, please ignore this thread. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think that might just be a reflection of the housing bubble burst and the economy problems. People couldn't afford to move to better districts and couldn't afford to send their kids to privates.

[Anonymous]

I've heard similar speculation, but the real-world experience doesn't bear that out. The middle school question is a nightly discussion in ACPS households starting around 2nd Grade -- everyone I knew there was stressed about it. Most people started moving or going private by 4th or so. I don't think that will change.

ACPS has fundamental problems that begin with the board and the administration, and there's a great deal of frustration with them. Sherman has made it clear he doesn't intend to compete with private schools to attract/retain high-achieving students, so the culture is oriented to teaching to the lowest common denominator.

I think the demographics in the city are shifting, but I don't think there will be a sea change in the school quality.

Another strike is that there's only two middle schools and one high school -- nowhere to go if you run into trouble (which you will).

[Anonymous]

BTW, pp here. We moved to Arlington. It's been a bit of a shock to encounter as many families who did the same thing. It's like ACPS refugee center over here.

[Anonymous]

As an Alexandria parent who at this time doesn't plan on moving, I guess my question to those who moved, whether to Fairfax or Arlington, is what quantifiable improvement you've experienced for your child's education? At this point, my kids are certainly at a higher level academically than many of their peers (who have a host of challenges in terms of achievement gap) and my probably will "above the ACPS average" as they move through the schools, but so far we've experienced real individualized attention on making sure they are getting challenging, appropriate work. There aren't tons of other kids that are at their level, but there are enough that they have a social circle. I sometimes hear rumors about discipline problems going up significantly in middle school, but I've had difficulty getting details. Since discipline offences often get more serious as kids get older, I'm having trouble getting a handle on what discipline problems in Alexandria are unique and far worse compared to discipline problems with older kids in Arlington or Fairfax. I hope I don't sound hopelessly optimistic or naive. It's just that I feel like there's a bit of a vicious circle going on here. Someone from 5 years ago says "the middle school is bad and none our of kids and their friends went there." So parents with current 5th graders think, "okay, we better move" and they don't have ready access to someone with a family currently in the middle or high school. What RECENT experience/incident demonstrates that your child will get a worse education in Alexandria middle and high schools? Would obviously be GREAT to have a parent with a middle or high school kid weigh in at this point!

[Anonymous]

To the pp. A brief list:

-- In my dd's ACPS school in second grade, they wrote books and stapled together. At dd's Arlington school, they write books on Ipads.
-- White boards in every classroom and teachers trained to use them in my Arlington school. Our ACPS school (one of the best) had a single white board and it was collecting dust.
-- Spanish three times a week as part of the curriculum for both 1st and 3rd. ACPS is was a poorly run after-school elective.
-- A library policy that allows kids to check out any book they wish, versus a policy at my old school of rigidly restricting kids to grade-appropriate shelves.


Those are just the things that immediately spring to mind.

[Anonymous]

Clearly, APS & FCPS do more foreign language work at the elementary level, but how does that impact the kids when they hit secondary school? Do the kids who studied these languages in elementary get to skip directly into Spanish II, French II, etc. and accelerate through the World Language curriculum? Or does their earlier work just make it easier for them when they take Spanish I, etc. in Junior High?

When it comes to earning actual HS credits in foreign language, it would seem that Alexandria is equal to Arlington (8th graders in ACPS can take Spanish II, German II ,Latin II, Chinese II, & French II), and superior to FCPS, where kids appear to take an exploratory course in 7th, and Spanish I, French I, etc. in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Oh, stapled books versus iPads. You're right, that seals it right there!

[Anonymous]

If Jefferson-Houston becomes K-8 AND they do not allow parents to opt out, THEN George Washington Middle school will likely become marginally better in a few years.

[Anonymous]

The lack of regular foreign language instruction in elementary really bothers me and is causing me to consider a private. I really think it is important for kids to study a foreign language as early as possible.
The lack of ipads, not so much. DS spends enough time on that thing at home anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, stapled books versus iPads. You're right, that seals it right there!

I am sorry you are so jealous but your snide remark is just pitiful. So much about this example encapsules the difference in quality between the two school systems.

[Anonymous]

I'm not PP, but I'm not jealous at all. I think Russell Kirk spoke to this issue best, way back in 1983. Things have only gotten worse sense then:

"One of the grave faults of American schooling, at every level, is the eagerness to embrace the newest gadget (mechanical or intellectual) at the expense of the tested tools of learning. Some will remember how, during the 1950’s and 1960’s, we were told that audio-visual aids would supplant the teacher for most purposes. At gigantic public expense, film-projectors, sound systems, and other impedimenta virtually were thrust upon every school. Most of this hardware soon was locked away in closets, where it reposed until obsolete. Some firms made a great deal of money from selling it.

Like birds, boys and girls flit from flower to flower, watching the flickering screen, never settling long enough to learn anything important.
Effective teaching still is done by effective live teachers. “Programmed learning” was another step toward the vaunted Information Revolution. By and large, programmed learning did not work well. A human being talking with other human beings, and an antiquated tool called a book, have had more satisfactory results as far as genuine development of young intellects is concerned. Television certainly worked a revolution. But does anyone still maintain that the boob-tube has improved the minds of the young? Certainly, television opened the way for an even fuller Information Revolution. The apologists for television used to tell us that their darling has moulded the minds of “the best informed generation in the history of America.” Also, it has moulded the minds of the most ignorant generation in America, if we are to judge by the much-applauded recent report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, “A Nation at Risk.” As a witty friend of mine says, “This is the bird-brained generation.” He does not mean that young people have brains the size of birds; instead, that like birds, boys and girls flit from flower to flower, watching the flickering screen, never settling long enough to learn anything important.

For information is not knowledge, and knowledge is not wisdom."

[Anonymous]

We're a family that is likely going to choose private over ACPS. I find it interesting that the City offers virtually of foreign language on el outside of limited immersion offerings; doesn't have SmartBoards in each class; has almost nothing in terms of magnet programs; and the list goes on....
These are just a few of the reasons we're considering private.

Unlike others we live on the west end of the City - the forgotten zone- that hasn't experienced the gentrification that took place in Del Ray. As a result, we're basically screwed.

So, OP, I don't know about this momentum you're referencing. On this side of town, things continue to look pretty dismal. After all, the school board seems to have little interest in the neighborhoods and schools in the West End.

GL.

[Anonymous]

*in elementary*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not PP, but I'm not jealous at all. I think Russell Kirk spoke to this issue best, way back in 1983. Things have only gotten worse sense then:

"One of the grave faults of American schooling, at every level, is the eagerness to embrace the newest gadget (mechanical or intellectual) at the expense of the tested tools of learning. Some will remember how, during the 1950’s and 1960’s, we were told that audio-visual aids would supplant the teacher for most purposes. At gigantic public expense, film-projectors, sound systems, and other impedimenta virtually were thrust upon every school. Most of this hardware soon was locked away in closets, where it reposed until obsolete. Some firms made a great deal of money from selling it.

No, I don't accept this claptrap from a conservative. The conservatives gave us No Child Left Behind. They have backwards ways of thinking about education. Most conservatives would abolish public education. Pray tell why do you think Russell Kirk's words are so sage? That's the most idiotic thing I have ever heard.

Would you like to go back to slates and abacuses?

This is an information economy. Writing a book with an iPad is far more relevant than stapling a bunch of pages together.

You are free to rationalize all you want, but you don't get to suggest that technology doesn't play a role in education. ACPS is behind the times. That's the truth.