Success in switching middle schools in Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been able to convince Arlington to allow their child to attend a middle school outside of their boundary? Our home is in the Kenmore boundary, but we're much closer to Swanson (and of course, Swanson is a better school). How difficult will it be to convince the school district to let our child attend Swanson? Any tips?

[Anonymous]

Extremely difficult to zero.

People buy into zones for the school. They won't let people switch just at whim.

Our school requires mortgage records or a lease and utility bills in your name. Proximity to school carries now weight if you aren't zoned for it...or then everyone would be trying to switch from an inferior school to a better one.

[Anonymous]

I'm zoned for Wakefield. How do I get my kids into Yorktown?

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with PPs. It might be different if you were trying to do it the other way around, because I know the south Arlington schools are in general less crowded and also it wouldn't be setting a bad precedent. But if they let you send your kid to Swanson just because it's convenient and a better school, don't you think every other Kenmore parent is going to be clamoring for the same thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone been able to convince Arlington to allow their child to attend a middle school outside of their boundary? Our home is in the Kenmore boundary, but we're much closer to Swanson (and of course, Swanson is a better school). How difficult will it be to convince the school district to let our child attend Swanson? Any tips?

we're zoned for kenmore. how is swanson better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone been able to convince Arlington to allow their child to attend a middle school outside of their boundary? Our home is in the Kenmore boundary, but we're much closer to Swanson (and of course, Swanson is a better school). How difficult will it be to convince the school district to let our child attend Swanson? Any tips?

we're zoned for kenmore. how is swanson better?

What is it this week? All the Arlington posters are tearing apart each other's schools on almost every topic. The Arlington moms (and dads) on this forum used to be very supportive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone been able to convince Arlington to allow their child to attend a middle school outside of their boundary? Our home is in the Kenmore boundary, but we're much closer to Swanson (and of course, Swanson is a better school). How difficult will it be to convince the school district to let our child attend Swanson? Any tips?

we're zoned for kenmore. how is swanson better?

It's not. Jay Matthews wrote something for the Post about great middle schools and mentioned Kenmore. Not Swanson.

We're at Swanson, and it's great. But Arlington schools are great. Some parents chase test scores, and I understand the impulse, but it's not doing your kids any favors to fall into that trap.

[Anonymous]

Kenmore is more ethnically diverse and has a higher FARMS rate than Swanson. Its test scores aren't as strong. On paper, to some this means that Swanson is the stronger school. I don't have a child in middle school and haven't yet taken the time to evaluate them all myself yet.

OP, there is a process for transferring schools, but it's not about "convincing" the school system. Requirement #1 is that the school have the excess capacity to take transfers from other schools. Swanson doesn't have that option next year. Here is the APS's website on the topic of transferring between middle schools: http://www.apsva.us/Page/3014