APS: Cardinal Elementary (considering transfer) - how is it going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do wonder what APS is up to with this. But as you noted OP, who knows because it changes month to month and year to year.

Regardless, Cardinal is getting blown up in next year's boundary process. It seems this is a strong signal they are going to send all the walkable units there (as they should have in the first place). So we are a Tuckahoe family and I think going to stick it out at Tuckahoe (which we love) and then take the transition to Cardinal if it comes and make the best of it. As opposed to going next year to Cardinal only for kids to make friends who might not even be at Cardinal the following year after the next boundary process.

Wait there is another boundary process next year? I thought they offered voluntary Abingdon Drew transfers last year but I couldn’t tell if they actually redrew the boundary when that option failed miserably.

The entire County is on the table next fall for all elementary. It's what they declined to do last year because they said it would be too hard during a pandemic. They have been clear all planning units are in play.

Watch the most recent school board work session- no boundary change next year unless a school has an unexpected jump in enrollment. Reid was the only one pushing to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do wonder what APS is up to with this. But as you noted OP, who knows because it changes month to month and year to year.

Regardless, Cardinal is getting blown up in next year's boundary process. It seems this is a strong signal they are going to send all the walkable units there (as they should have in the first place). So we are a Tuckahoe family and I think going to stick it out at Tuckahoe (which we love) and then take the transition to Cardinal if it comes and make the best of it. As opposed to going next year to Cardinal only for kids to make friends who might not even be at Cardinal the following year after the next boundary process.

Wait there is another boundary process next year? I thought they offered voluntary Abingdon Drew transfers last year but I couldn’t tell if they actually redrew the boundary when that option failed miserably.

The entire County is on the table next fall for all elementary. It's what they declined to do last year because they said it would be too hard during a pandemic. They have been clear all planning units are in play.

This is great news if true! Cannot endure another hideous process.
Watch the most recent school board work session- no boundary change next year unless a school has an unexpected jump in enrollment. Reid was the only one pushing to do it.

[Anonymous]

Another parent who has experienced the giant school vs small school. You kind of don't know what you're missing until you have a small school experience.

I wouldn't base any decision on whether my kids could walk or not, personally. Pick based on where you want your child to go to school.

[Anonymous]

We were at McK as it rose in enrollment. The difference before the misguided boundary change that caused McK to balloon and after was stark. Go with a smaller school, if you can.

[Anonymous]

The new Cardinal building is beautiful, but not cozy. It feels more like a high school building. And the lack of field space for the next two years is a serious bummer. If I had a kid starting K and I was walkable, then I would probably put my kid there to avoid a redistrict in another 2-3 years. But if my kid was already at Tuckahoe or Glebe, I probably wouldn't move them. Once the pandemic enrollment changes level off, I think the elementary school boundary changes could be more dramatic than people are expecting. Reid is pushing boundary changes now because he is correctly observing that there is still not enough capacity in the South Arlington ES buildings to hold all of the projected enrollment from planned new housing development south of Route 50. Now that both the old ATS building and the old McKinley building are option schools, it means that any extra kids from south of 50 are going to have to push further north-- possibly creating a domino effect where kids on the edge of Ashlawn boundary get moved to Cardinal, kids on the edge of Cardinal get moved to Nottingham, etc. This is especially true if all the North Arlington families who fled to private don't come back and there remains extra space to fill at Jamestown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - thanks to all for your helpful input, specific and general. You've given me more to think about. Any feedback on what age kids usually start walking to school alone (and/or with an older sibling)?

Kids can walk alone starting in 3rd grade. They cannot walk younger siblings if those siblings are below 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

I think you should try to talk to some of the parents of the kids you know from the park, and to the Tuckahoe assistant principal. We moved from Tuckahoe to Cardinal this year and I'm not sure all of the comments on here about the school ring true to me or reflect what I've heard from my kids (for example, the last comment about the building being unsuitable or not "cozy"- my kids love it, and my only complaint is that it's much more vertical than Tuckahoe so there is less opportunity for ad hoc outdoor time).

If it's important to you, I would make note of the middle school alignment at the two schools.

Also in our experience this year (and from what I hear from our friends still at Tuckahoe, the homework policies differ.

We have not had the need to directly interact much with the front office at either school and while I agree that the tone seems to differ a bit, it's not something that has affected our experience. I get the feeling that at our smaller school, it was easier for squeaky wheels to seek out grease- preferred teachers, etc. I also know of people who elected to stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services. But I would really try to speak to people and learn more about how this year has gone for the 40-50 kids who moved.

[Anonymous]

Find the Cardinal school PTA website to get a more personal feel for the school and its parents. Also, you will find after hours school events to attend. Pretty sure there is a science fair coming up. Before covid, McKinley held plays and a few concerts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should try to talk to some of the parents of the kids you know from the park, and to the Tuckahoe assistant principal. We moved from Tuckahoe to Cardinal this year and I'm not sure all of the comments on here about the school ring true to me or reflect what I've heard from my kids (for example, the last comment about the building being unsuitable or not "cozy"- my kids love it, and my only complaint is that it's much more vertical than Tuckahoe so there is less opportunity for ad hoc outdoor time).

If it's important to you, I would make note of the middle school alignment at the two schools.

Also in our experience this year (and from what I hear from our friends still at Tuckahoe, the homework policies differ.

We have not had the need to directly interact much with the front office at either school and while I agree that the tone seems to differ a bit, it's not something that has affected our experience. I get the feeling that at our smaller school, it was easier for squeaky wheels to seek out grease- preferred teachers, etc. I also know of people who elected to stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services. But I would really try to speak to people and learn more about how this year has gone for the 40-50 kids who moved.

Why did families stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services? Was it just wanting consistency for their children with special needs, or does one school have a better reputation in that department than the other? Not OP but also interested in knowing about how schools right in that area compare. TIA for any information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you should try to talk to some of the parents of the kids you know from the park, and to the Tuckahoe assistant principal. We moved from Tuckahoe to Cardinal this year and I'm not sure all of the comments on here about the school ring true to me or reflect what I've heard from my kids (for example, the last comment about the building being unsuitable or not "cozy"- my kids love it, and my only complaint is that it's much more vertical than Tuckahoe so there is less opportunity for ad hoc outdoor time).

If it's important to you, I would make note of the middle school alignment at the two schools.

Also in our experience this year (and from what I hear from our friends still at Tuckahoe, the homework policies differ.

We have not had the need to directly interact much with the front office at either school and while I agree that the tone seems to differ a bit, it's not something that has affected our experience. I get the feeling that at our smaller school, it was easier for squeaky wheels to seek out grease- preferred teachers, etc. I also know of people who elected to stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services. But I would really try to speak to people and learn more about how this year has gone for the 40-50 kids who moved.

Why did families stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services? Was it just wanting consistency for their children with special needs, or does one school have a better reputation in that department than the other? Not OP but also interested in knowing about how schools right in that area compare. TIA for any information.

Read earlier posts. Someone addressed this.

[Anonymous]

If you have a Special Ed kid of any sort except speech therapy, avoid Cardinal.

If you have a child that might require you to consult with admin, avoid Cardinal.

If you do not do well with people who waste your time with word salad, avoid Cardinal.

I too moved from a mega school to a smaller one and the differences were amazing.

Many families have filed complaints against cardinal and some have sewed. Many others have transferred out. So choosing to go there is an interesting choice in my experience.

[Anonymous]

^^ I mean sued...but likely knitted during meetings to keep themselves calm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you should try to talk to some of the parents of the kids you know from the park, and to the Tuckahoe assistant principal. We moved from Tuckahoe to Cardinal this year and I'm not sure all of the comments on here about the school ring true to me or reflect what I've heard from my kids (for example, the last comment about the building being unsuitable or not "cozy"- my kids love it, and my only complaint is that it's much more vertical than Tuckahoe so there is less opportunity for ad hoc outdoor time).

If it's important to you, I would make note of the middle school alignment at the two schools.

Also in our experience this year (and from what I hear from our friends still at Tuckahoe, the homework policies differ.

We have not had the need to directly interact much with the front office at either school and while I agree that the tone seems to differ a bit, it's not something that has affected our experience. I get the feeling that at our smaller school, it was easier for squeaky wheels to seek out grease- preferred teachers, etc. I also know of people who elected to stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services. But I would really try to speak to people and learn more about how this year has gone for the 40-50 kids who moved.

Why did families stay at Tuckahoe because of special ed services? Was it just wanting consistency for their children with special needs, or does one school have a better reputation in that department than the other? Not OP but also interested in knowing about how schools right in that area compare. TIA for any information.

Because McK is beyond awful for special Ed. I can’t imagine it’s any better now since it’s the same people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a Special Ed kid of any sort except speech therapy, avoid Cardinal.

If you have a child that might require you to consult with admin, avoid Cardinal.

If you do not do well with people who waste your time with word salad, avoid Cardinal.

I too moved from a mega school to a smaller one and the differences were amazing.

Many families have filed complaints against cardinal and some have sewed. Many others have transferred out. So choosing to go there is an interesting choice in my experience.

We were there when the speech therapist would never show up even though she was a full time employee. We went weeks without seeing her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a Special Ed kid of any sort except speech therapy, avoid Cardinal.

If you have a child that might require you to consult with admin, avoid Cardinal.

If you do not do well with people who waste your time with word salad, avoid Cardinal.

I too moved from a mega school to a smaller one and the differences were amazing.

Many families have filed complaints against cardinal and some have sewed. Many others have transferred out. So choosing to go there is an interesting choice in my experience.

THIS!!! I'd say avoid Cardinal if you are the sort of parent who will advocate for your kid or prepare yourself for the wrath of CB. I am non-confrontational, soft-spoken but even I managed to set off sparks with CB, for something fairly innocuous. His hostility towards me was so unprofessional but I didn't dare escalate and further impact our kids in the school.