Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not the OP, but one of the main commenters on that post absolutely hates MSPA (no judgement from me either way). But the background is interesting: their home was rezoned away from Fleet to Drew when MPSA moved into Henry. There’s lots of animosity still about that and also with the Career Center not becoming a neighborhood school, which would have benefited that family, but rather a choice school open to all regardless of boundaries. Interestingly, their child was allowed a transfer to Fleet and never attended Drew even after the reasoning. But that poster is really angry because other parents also attend schools that aren’t their assigned one. So, anyway, some of us didn’t forget about that.
Boundaries are the problem. Our neighborhoods are segregated base on our racial past (redlining, etc.), and so neighborhood schools are also segregated.
Forcing everyone to attend their assigned schools will not solve the problem in any meaningful way, and it will also remove choices from all those who can’t make “checkbook” choices like wealthy families can, to live in certain neighborhoods or to pay for private schools.
It’s not a solvable problem, so it’s better to just worry about yourself. If you’re a white (or even non-white) family of means really not comfortable with the neighborhood school for whatever reason, you’re not going to send your kids to the school even if they take away option schools. You’re going to go private or move to a different zone.
Actually, it is. Ranked choice admissions countywide.
What if everyone’s rankings are similar? Who gets left out?
A district I used to work for does this now. It seems to work well and many people get a school they rank highly
https://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/o/schoolchoice/page/about
But like… who is going to Drew? Do you really see it becoming more diverse? (I’m not implying it’s a bad school, just that low test scores mean very few people aren’t going to have it at the bottom…)
But people would be assigned there anyway. Eventually, it will develop the student body needed to not scare so many away. Randolph isn't going to be high on many peoples' list, either, except the bArcroft Apt families who are happy to walk to the nearest school with their entire homogenous community. Not any different than Nottingham in that regard.
Yeah, well, “everyone gets a school near the top of their list” is a farce then. Forcing families into Drew/Randolph/wherever would only result in more families going private.
I never said everyone gets a school near the top of their list. NEvertheless, in the Cambridge MA model, the vast majority of people get their #1 or #2 choice. That means the rest do not. But this model isn't only based on the preferences parents list. It includes male/female ratios, geographic proximity, and economic status.
I woud love to know more about this. Is Cambridge MA as unbalanced as Arlington? Are there schools there as different as Jamestown and Carlin Springs? Nottingham and Drew? Or are the schools there more or less equally desirable>
Not sure who would opt into Drew and Randolph other than the poor kids already there.
I remember someone in the AEM thread asking if anyone had administratively transferred to CS or Randolph, and a few people replied. I can’t find that comment anymore, but when threads get too long, often comments disappear in Facebook.
I think it’s a valid point. A lot of people commented in AEM that they go to option schools because of the diversity. Nah. The diversity is an excuse to make you feel good. You did it for the outcomes for your own kids. Own it.
My kids go to a choice school more diverse than our neighborhood school. The diversity was a bonus to us, but it wasn't the driving factor in transferring. Two things can be true at the same time.
So true. Most people I know are happy to have more diversity in their children’s schools, as long as school performance is top-notch.
People want quality instruction and good outcomes. Period.
I think the point was if diversity was the only factor, you’d have no problems administratively transferring your kid to Carlin Springs. It’s not the only consideration though. There’s a reason why options programs exist. All children should be in an environment with the best learning outcomes. Including those at Drew and Carlin springs.
It’s not the parent’s fault though that structural racism exists. If we had stronger APS and County leadership, maybe we can start addressing the issue. JF’s post was self serving though.
Of course diversity isn’t the only factor! Honestly, I think for most people it’s just a nice little add on when it exists.
Good test scores? Great!
Good test scores AND diversity? Super!
Bad test scores and (insert whatever you want)? That’s a tough sell.
And I don’t blame people for it!
Want actual change? Stop building affordable housing south of 50 and shift it up north. That will actually move the needle.
DP. I don’t think that OP is disagreeing with you. You owned your decision to send your children to option schools. They’re just commenting that high FARM schools should be great schools too. But that’s a school board and county leadership problem. Stop blaming parents for their own institutional inaction and neglect.
All of our schools can be good — I agree. Create opt-in programs (ATS style) within each school. This is a PARENTING problem, too! Get family buy in. Just because something is harder for you than a millionaire on the other side of the county doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
Fifty books over the summer is less than a book per day after all.
Expect more from your kids and let their teachers have high expectations, too. If that’s too hard, well then, stop whining.
Not all poor people are disengaged or don't "buy in" to their kids' education. Not all people who don't "buy in" are minorities or poor. Many minority communities value education more than some white folks and are far more invested and engaged. It isn't about "buy in." When you have high concentrations of underprivileged kids starting behind and add in high proportions of those students learning English, you are not going to get the same test scores everyone at ATS is expected to achieve. Period.
Not once did I mention race in all of this. ATS has proven kids of all races and income level can be high achievers.
I’m sure there are many, many black and Hispanic children on the ATS waitlist. It isn’t just white families that believe in the program. So why not create an opt-in version at EVERY school. You get the benefits of staying in your neighborhood school while having access to higher expectations (if you desire it).
ATS has successful outcomes for kids of all socioeconomic levels and races b/c all those kids have one thing in common- parents who are invested in their kids education. Everyone there had to opt in. Its not the 'education model' its the invested parents. In general lower socioeconomic status is just a proxy for less involved parents, there certainly are parents of lower socioeconomic status who are invested in their kids education. If you created an "ats" in every school, all you would be doing is further segregating the involved parents from the less involved parents.
I have many friends in south arlington who tried their neighborhood school for a year- they had rose colored glasses- "I'm going to be an involved parent," etc. For a variety of different reasons, it didn't work. Some of them lotteried their children into an option school. Some of them went private. Some of them homeschooled. I don't know what the answer is- Of course the option schools are contributing to the economic segregation in Arlington. Would getting rid of the option schools reduce that economic segregation??? maybe? maybe more families would go private or move?? maybe some combination??? FWIW, my family was in immersion and pulled out after a couple of years b/c it was not a good fit. We returned to our North Arlington neighborhood school. The immersion school had a vastly more involved parent community then the north arlington neighborhood school, even though the neighborhood school was 'richer.' Option schools do attract a more involved parent.
If you separate the kids with involved parents from the general population (by having them opt in), it would demonstrate how a child can succeed regardless of race or income level. Perhaps more families would opt in over time.
"Involved parents" = those who are stay at home moms/work from home
Sucks to have three jobs, a couple of preschool kids at home, and unreliable transportation.
All students at ATS have stay at home mothers?
Keep digging for excuses!
No I don't. I've observed all of the "involved" parents at my schools all work from home or are "ladies that lunch". You know, the people who have time to take on all of that volunteer work. Also, not every parent at ATS is "involved".
Involved enough to enter their child into the lottery and make sure the homework gets done. Involved enough to back the school up when it comes to discipline.
One doesn’t have to volunteer in the classroom to be involved.
That's true for every APS option school. But none of them have the results ATS has.
People are talking about different kinds of parent involvement. Not every parent has time to be on the PTA or room parent. But most parents want more information on what their kids are learning in school and if they are struggling. Every ATS parent has access to that every single week. It's hit or miss at other schools.
ATS parents have bought into strict rules regarding behavior. No excuses for your kid being a turd.
ATS parent. Not sure what these "strict" rules for behavior are. Our kids don't even tuck their shirts in anymore.
Right, but are kids permitted to stay if they throw a chair at a teacher? Don’t turn in their homework? Constantly disrupt the class?
I don’t think ATS is super strict, but behavior in some of our other schools is SO low. And teachers can’t do anything about it because admin doesn’t back them up.
Nothing like a kid kicking desks in the background but mom/dad make excuses for it.
This is a huge admin problem! Is this at a 70% FRL school or one of the opposites?
I think this could happen at any school,
but how the parents may respond (or not) is what may differ.
Sure. The rich white north Arlington parent would throw their own hissy fit about discipline; but the poorer south Arlington parent would be supportive of the teacher and admin and helpful. I'm sure that's what you mean.
Please. Some SA families don’t even care if their kid goes to school at all. Look at chronic absenteeism rates.
that has nothing to do with South or North. I'm a YHS teacher and the lack of discipline regarding attendance is nonexistent.
Rates of chronic absenteeism by school are easily found online. You’re saying they’re the same all over the county?
“I’m a teacher at Yorktown and I don’t have a clue.”
I’m saying that chronic absenteeism is a major problem at all of the schools, and if you think data isn’t fudged you’re kidding yourself.
Here are the full set of numbers for 2022-2023
Arlington Community High 59.07
Wakefield High 27.63
Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary 23.66
Randolph Elementary 21.76
Abingdon Elementary 21.12
Campbell Elementary 19.41
Washington-Liberty High 18.85
Claremont Immersion 18.83
Kenmore Middle 16.42
Barrett Elementary 15.54
Barcroft Elementary 15.15
Yorktown High 14.65
Jefferson Middle 13.39
Carlin Springs Elementary 12.84
Oakridge Elementary 12.8
Innovation Elementary 12.67
Alice West Fleet Elementary 12.18
Hoffman-Boston Elementary 10.7
Gunston Middle 10.43
Long Branch Elementary 10.31
Discovery Elementary 9.94
Glebe Elementary 7.46
Swanson Middle 6.18
Dorothy Hamm Middle 6.01
Montessori Public School of Arlington 5.01
Williamsburg Middle 4.48
Taylor Elementary 4.02
Jamestown Elementary 3.65
Ashlawn Elementary 3.02
Escuela Key Elementary 2.93
Arlington Science Focus School 2.51
Cardinal Elementary 2.14
Tuckahoe Elementary 1.86
Arlington Traditional 1.77
Nottingham Elementary 0.52
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}