What is really going on at GWMS?

[Anonymous]

My son attends. There is definitely a big problem with vaping in the bathroom. There are some fights, he has only seen one minor one (a student shoving another student in the cafeteria) himself in two years there (one year was virtual), but has seen videos of others.

There are definitely some problems with lack of teachers. One of his friends did not have a permanent science teacher this year until 1/3 through they year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends whose kids are fine there. Ours are in private. We also have friends whose kids are so traumatized that the parents are can't really afford privates are focused on doing so. I just don't know.

I can say that the families of kids there we know are the most wonderful nicest people. Their kids are great. In ES, they were all honors kids. So I don't know if there's a correlation there. They tend to be "perfect" kids in that they are very balanced, know right from wrong/good from bad, strong sense of self, no learning disabilities, etc. Families are well travelled, well rounded, solidly upper middle class. T

The friends whose kids are terrified have kids who are similar, but maybe not honors academically and as well travelled. The stories I've heard from them would lead me to question how any good parent would allow their kid to go there but again, my other friends are great parents and obviously, their kids are fine. Now, I have heard from them that their kids tell them stories that align to the kids who are traumatized daily, yet on some level I suppose those kids are able to cope.

I would worry about my 2 kids which is why we did not want to chance going at all. They could have been OK at GW, but I know how happy they are in the school they are currently in, so for my peace of mind, it's worth the cost of private. But I do wonder what it really is like and whether my kids would have made it

WTH did I just read?

DP: I think what you read is a description of the paradox of ACPS. Students from affluent families without special needs can succeed in ACPS (including at GWMS). Parents of students who do not fall into that specific category are much more likely to have significant concerns about ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends whose kids are fine there. Ours are in private. We also have friends whose kids are so traumatized that the parents are can't really afford privates are focused on doing so. I just don't know.

I can say that the families of kids there we know are the most wonderful nicest people. Their kids are great. In ES, they were all honors kids. So I don't know if there's a correlation there. They tend to be "perfect" kids in that they are very balanced, know right from wrong/good from bad, strong sense of self, no learning disabilities, etc. Families are well travelled, well rounded, solidly upper middle class. T

The friends whose kids are terrified have kids who are similar, but maybe not honors academically and as well travelled. The stories I've heard from them would lead me to question how any good parent would allow their kid to go there but again, my other friends are great parents and obviously, their kids are fine. Now, I have heard from them that their kids tell them stories that align to the kids who are traumatized daily, yet on some level I suppose those kids are able to cope.

I would worry about my 2 kids which is why we did not want to chance going at all. They could have been OK at GW, but I know how happy they are in the school they are currently in, so for my peace of mind, it's worth the cost of private. But I do wonder what it really is like and whether my kids would have made it

WTH did I just read?

DP: I think what you read is a description of the paradox of ACPS. Students from affluent families without special needs can succeed in ACPS (including at GWMS). Parents of students who do not fall into that specific category are much more likely to have significant concerns about ACPS.

The most accurate, concise summary you will find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends whose kids are fine there. Ours are in private. We also have friends whose kids are so traumatized that the parents are can't really afford privates are focused on doing so. I just don't know.

I can say that the families of kids there we know are the most wonderful nicest people. Their kids are great. In ES, they were all honors kids. So I don't know if there's a correlation there. They tend to be "perfect" kids in that they are very balanced, know right from wrong/good from bad, strong sense of self, no learning disabilities, etc. Families are well travelled, well rounded, solidly upper middle class. T

The friends whose kids are terrified have kids who are similar, but maybe not honors academically and as well travelled. The stories I've heard from them would lead me to question how any good parent would allow their kid to go there but again, my other friends are great parents and obviously, their kids are fine. Now, I have heard from them that their kids tell them stories that align to the kids who are traumatized daily, yet on some level I suppose those kids are able to cope.

I would worry about my 2 kids which is why we did not want to chance going at all. They could have been OK at GW, but I know how happy they are in the school they are currently in, so for my peace of mind, it's worth the cost of private. But I do wonder what it really is like and whether my kids would have made it

WTH did I just read?

Seriously…why are you even posting here if you aren’t an ACPS parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends whose kids are fine there. Ours are in private. We also have friends whose kids are so traumatized that the parents are can't really afford privates are focused on doing so. I just don't know.

I can say that the families of kids there we know are the most wonderful nicest people. Their kids are great. In ES, they were all honors kids. So I don't know if there's a correlation there. They tend to be "perfect" kids in that they are very balanced, know right from wrong/good from bad, strong sense of self, no learning disabilities, etc. Families are well travelled, well rounded, solidly upper middle class. T

The friends whose kids are terrified have kids who are similar, but maybe not honors academically and as well travelled. The stories I've heard from them would lead me to question how any good parent would allow their kid to go there but again, my other friends are great parents and obviously, their kids are fine. Now, I have heard from them that their kids tell them stories that align to the kids who are traumatized daily, yet on some level I suppose those kids are able to cope.

I would worry about my 2 kids which is why we did not want to chance going at all. They could have been OK at GW, but I know how happy they are in the school they are currently in, so for my peace of mind, it's worth the cost of private. But I do wonder what it really is like and whether my kids would have made it

WTH did I just read?

Seriously…why are you even posting here if you aren’t an ACPS parent?

Not the PP but they can have their say because they live in Alexandria and pay for the schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, there are fights, kids vaping, vandalism, and other problems. However, these issues are usually confined to a small group of kids. It’s possible your kid might witness something, but they are unlikely to get involved. Also, the reports of violence are often exaggerated. (Last month’s DCUM post on the staff member who was attacked was far from the truth of what actually happened.) Just get your kid in the honors classes, since those attract better students.

Teacher retention is not just a problem at GWMS; it’s a national issue. You don’t have to read far into DCUM to realize that teachers are not respected. Even if the majority of kids and parents are great, it only takes a few bad apples to make a teacher’s life miserable. GWMS is particularly challenging because it draws from Alexandria’s richest and poorest neighborhoods, which have competing priorities. Teachers have to instruct the affluent kid who travels to Europe and whose parents expect them to attend an Ivy League college, as well as the student five grade levels behind whose single parent doesn’t speak English and is struggling to put food on the table. Obviously those are extreme examples, but it is hard to meet everyone’s needs, and the differences have become more pronounced in the last few years. There are lots of easier jobs out there that pay a lot more.

-ACPS staff member

The Alexandria way...segregation is the solution. Always.

Not only that, it’s endorsed and promoted by an “ACPS staff member”. On brand.

You realize black folk can enroll in honor's classes, don't you?

[Anonymous]

I’m a 7th grader at gwms and honestly it’s a good school. i’ve never smelled weed in the bathroom (and i’ve been to dc so i know what it smells like) but there have been a lot of fights but the teachers are doing the best they can. Also the teachers are very observant and they're doing their best. also as far as i know there are not any gangs but? hope this helps!