Can we spreadload FRL% across APS? Arlington / Education Newbie here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Explain it to me like I'm 5 and know nothing about APS, districting, education theory, etc. Why can't we set a standard FRL % at every school to guarantee the same education experience across Arlington? I'm new to this but Arlington is kinda small - why can't this happen for the good of everyone? Is it because the idea of bussing kids around has a history? I'm sure there's a way to do it equitably.

I read everyone being up in arms about school redistricting in Arlington and it just seems like this is the answer. Why have schools 70 to 80%FRL and others like 15%? Sure, north Arlington blah blah blah paid higher costs, but honestly south Arlington will probably catch up in costs because it's closer to Amazon and the airport. It's already getting pretty expensive and will one day will catch up. Why not catch up the schools ahead of time?

I can’t add more than what’s been said re: history. I wonder if they will address it when they are forced to. At some point, given all the push for density in certain parts of the county, they’re going to be forced to shift things around and certain schools in NA will be relatively empty. Maybe that’s the plan? I don’t know I’m just wondering aloud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because redlining. Cue the MONA pearl clutching.

Put AH in North Arlington. Moratorium on AH in SA.

All of the APAH folks live in NA. Most of CB too. Good luck with your advocacy.

Better luck opening a private school in Arlington. Put it along 50. You will succeed.

agree with this

-NA

Same here. I live in NA and I’m so tired of houses being torn down and replaced with McMansions. DH and I have decent jobs, but it still took a stretch to buy a small, older home we are fixing up. I’d welcome some garden apartments, duplexes, etc. near SFHs and more apartments near transit lines.

[Anonymous]

There are just so many factors pertaining to why this has failed here. Many people in Arlington that bought their homes in specific places so their kids could go to certain schools, and i don't just mean in N. Arl as some assume. Many choose to live in more diverse parts of the county and if they were bussed to Yorktown, parents would be pissed. Some families want to live close to their schools because they do not have cars or other transportation. While their kids could get bussed, how would they attend meetings with teachers, PTA or volunteer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

Exactly. I used to work at Randolph, very few car riders in general and many families have 1 car or none at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

They need to think holistically. Bus lines can be added anywhere. We aren’t there yet so your comment is true today, but they need to be thinking beyond existing public transit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

They need to think holistically. Bus lines can be added anywhere. We aren’t there yet so your comment is true today, but they need to be thinking beyond existing public transit.

Think about parents picking up their kids from extended day.

How many parents want to take a multi-bus route home at dinner time with a hungry, tired Kindergartener?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

They need to think holistically. Bus lines can be added anywhere. We aren’t there yet so your comment is true today, but they need to be thinking beyond existing public transit.

So it's realistic to think that a parent is going to tote multiple children on an ART bus, potentially 20+ minutes away, for a 10 minute parent teacher conference? Would you? No offense to PP, but when we think about these situations from positions of privilege, many important factors get overlooked. There's reasons why having your school in walking distance is a better solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

They need to think holistically. Bus lines can be added anywhere. We aren’t there yet so your comment is true today, but they need to be thinking beyond existing public transit.

So it's realistic to think that a parent is going to tote multiple children on an ART bus, potentially 20+ minutes away, for a 10 minute parent teacher conference? Would you? No offense to PP, but when we think about these situations from positions of privilege, many important factors get overlooked. There's reasons why having your school in walking distance is a better solution.

Hi- you’re replying to me. I agree walking is great! But we are going to get to a point where some neighborhoods are really overcrowded and long term planning should account for this. Just my thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it takes a long time to get from Drew/Randolph/Carlin Springs to Discovery/Jamestown/Taylor, especially during rush hour. There is no appetite from parents on either end of the spectrum to mix it up, even without looking at the difficulty of planning and staffing bus routes. There's no opportunity to just shift the edges at the schools in the middle because those are already well balanced.

+1 Randolph is also a true neighborhood school. There is no bus loop and the location makes it pretty much impossible to add one. Lots of poverty is concentrated there but also strong community that probably wouldn’t want to be broken up.

And how would families/guardians without transportation get to Discovery/WMS/Yorktown where there is no good public transportation nearby. You essentially cut them out of any involvement in their kids schools.

They need to think holistically. Bus lines can be added anywhere. We aren’t there yet so your comment is true today, but they need to be thinking beyond existing public transit.

So it's realistic to think that a parent is going to tote multiple children on an ART bus, potentially 20+ minutes away, for a 10 minute parent teacher conference? Would you? No offense to PP, but when we think about these situations from positions of privilege, many important factors get overlooked. There's reasons why having your school in walking distance is a better solution.

NP. Just have teacher conferences virtual/via phone like they are right now. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
NP. Just have teacher conferences virtual/via phone like they are right now. Problem solved.

What about the school play, or evening band concert, or volunteering at the class holiday party? All the things that make school a community.


OP, go search the APS website. All the data is there, but I don't have time to search for you. Start with the Engage website and move backwards.

[Anonymous]

It's not going to happen. Everyone is ok with the status quo except for the people who bought SFHs zoned to Drew, Barcroft, Randolph, or Carlin Springs and didn't get into an option school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NP. Just have teacher conferences virtual/via phone like they are right now. Problem solved.

What about the school play, or evening band concert, or volunteering at the class holiday party? All the things that make school a community.


OP, go search the APS website. All the data is there, but I don't have time to search for you. Start with the Engage website and move backwards.

Or even just picking your kid up from extended day every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
NP. Just have teacher conferences virtual/via phone like they are right now. Problem solved.

What about the school play, or evening band concert, or volunteering at the class holiday party? All the things that make school a community.


OP, go search the APS website. All the data is there, but I don't have time to search for you. Start with the Engage website and move backwards.

Or transportation from extended day, having to get your kids when school closes early or they get sick. People, please think outside of your own reality.