Did ACPS remove entire classrooms at your school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has devolved into useless shouting match.

Some ACPS testing info:

(1) 38% of disadvantaged students scored at the 40th percentile (nationally) or more on MAP language arts assessment (MAP is a test that aligns with the Common Core, and it covers more ground in that it measures more than what is covered on the SOL, which is grade specific. The MAP growth statistic is not one I understand although it is the number that ACPS seems to care more about).
(2) 80% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.
(3) 31% of disadvantaged students scored 40th percentile (nationally) or more on the MAP math assessment.
(4) 72% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.

I don't know how this compares to other school districts but something tells me that the percentage of non-disadvantaged students meeting the 40th percentile on the MAP math assessment could be higher. The percentage of disadvantaged students needs to be significantly higher and the district is certainly failing them.

Change for the better will be slow coming in the district. I don't count on any of it making a difference during the course of my children's tenure in the district. For many families, moving is a realistic option. What families need are realistic strategies for helping their students in their early elementary years - concrete advice on how to access inexpensive supplementation at home. It should be okay to direct, even encourage kids to watch certain YouTube series and play on free educational apps.

PP - I meant to say:

For many families, moving is NOT a realistic option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has devolved into useless shouting match.

Some ACPS testing info:

(1) 38% of disadvantaged students scored at the 40th percentile (nationally) or more on MAP language arts assessment (MAP is a test that aligns with the Common Core, and it covers more ground in that it measures more than what is covered on the SOL, which is grade specific. The MAP growth statistic is not one I understand although it is the number that ACPS seems to care more about).
(2) 80% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.
(3) 31% of disadvantaged students scored 40th percentile (nationally) or more on the MAP math assessment.
(4) 72% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.

I don't know how this compares to other school districts but something tells me that the percentage of non-disadvantaged students meeting the 40th percentile on the MAP math assessment could be higher. The percentage of disadvantaged students needs to be significantly higher and the district is certainly failing them.

Change for the better will be slow coming in the district. I don't count on any of it making a difference during the course of my children's tenure in the district. For many families, moving is a realistic option. What families need are realistic strategies for helping their students in their early elementary years - concrete advice on how to access inexpensive supplementation at home. It should be okay to direct, even encourage kids to watch certain YouTube series and play on free educational apps.

Yes, PP. Although I'd encourage parents to take an active role in supplementation. There are apps that will translate book levels for you, you just scan the book's barcode. Have your kid read a book out loud to you and see what level they are really at (there are guidelines about how many words they get wrong/struggle with that helps you level). If you must do free educational apps vs. an actual curriculum, sit down and do it with them. Buying hard copy curriculum and doing it with your kids isn't free but most are not expensive. And you don't have to put in a ton of time in the elementary years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread has devolved into useless shouting match.

Some ACPS testing info:

(1) 38% of disadvantaged students scored at the 40th percentile (nationally) or more on MAP language arts assessment (MAP is a test that aligns with the Common Core, and it covers more ground in that it measures more than what is covered on the SOL, which is grade specific. The MAP growth statistic is not one I understand although it is the number that ACPS seems to care more about).
(2) 80% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.
(3) 31% of disadvantaged students scored 40th percentile (nationally) or more on the MAP math assessment.
(4) 72% of non-disadvantaged students meet the above criteria.

I don't know how this compares to other school districts but something tells me that the percentage of non-disadvantaged students meeting the 40th percentile on the MAP math assessment could be higher. The percentage of disadvantaged students needs to be significantly higher and the district is certainly failing them.

Change for the better will be slow coming in the district. I don't count on any of it making a difference during the course of my children's tenure in the district. For many families, moving is a realistic option. What families need are realistic strategies for helping their students in their early elementary years - concrete advice on how to access inexpensive supplementation at home. It should be okay to direct, even encourage kids to watch certain YouTube series and play on free educational apps.

PP - I meant to say:

For many families, moving is NOT a realistic option.

I agree with you that parents should not be criticized for either: (1) choosing private school if they have the means or (2) staying in ACPS and advocating for change as necessary.

I do disagree on any suggestion that current testing suggests that ACPS is moving is the right direction. Having seen how bad the instruction was in math in math during the virtual year (and my child elementary’s school’s administration’s unwillingness to work with us on my child’s clear failure to learn the material), I think ACPS’s administration lack credibility on academic issues and need to be challenged by the Board rather than the Board always try to grasp at straws for some purported positive.

[Anonymous]

To answer OPs question, this is how it works.

If your elementary school had 61 kids registered for kindergarten in 2021, they had 3 classes of 20 or 21 kids. Class sizes were small and everyone was happy!

In 2022, if the same school had 59 kindergarteners register, the school lost a K teacher and now has two classes of 29 or 30 kids.

It's just math. The largest early elementary class size allowed in VA is 30 and that is what the schools have to plan around (unless they are title 1).

ACPS might claim to want to do better, but if they can't hire/afford teachers they will go right up to that 30 student limit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, not interested in moving. Our jobs are both DC based. We are not interested in private schools and I am not sure why that is always the "solution".

Bless your heart.

It's the solution because there is no alternative. Alexandrians would rather pretend the schools are good, than demand that the schools actually be good. Then it doesn't make their cocktail parties and scholarship fundraisers awkward.

I banged my head against the ACPS wall for years. Nothing changes. Save yourself the frustration and the trouble of your neighbors vilifying you and insulting responses from School Board members (if you get any response).

Stay but know that you'll have to teach the fundamentals at home or leave and get a proper education for your kid(s).

I have two recent TC grads. One went to UVA and one went to UNC Chapel Hill. All my frinds who went to private schools went to way lesser schools and spent 160k per kid gettng them there. Yikes. Some people just aren't good at making decisions.

Huh. We send our children to private schools because we have the money to do it. You don't. Oh well. Spending the tuition money doesn't mean that we aren't making a good decision. In fact, your post validates our choice. Yikes right back atcha, sweetie.

DP

P.S. Your math is incorrect. It is +$50,000 per year per child for 13 years.

Tell your kid to have fun at Elon!

Further validation of why we did not send our children to ACPS.

PP, you have problems. The sad thing is that you think you're being cute and that you've posted a zinger. You don't realize that it doesn't matter where our children go to school because they already are so far ahead of you that you'll never catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, not interested in moving. Our jobs are both DC based. We are not interested in private schools and I am not sure why that is always the "solution".

Bless your heart.

It's the solution because there is no alternative. Alexandrians would rather pretend the schools are good, than demand that the schools actually be good. Then it doesn't make their cocktail parties and scholarship fundraisers awkward.

I banged my head against the ACPS wall for years. Nothing changes. Save yourself the frustration and the trouble of your neighbors vilifying you and insulting responses from School Board members (if you get any response).

Stay but know that you'll have to teach the fundamentals at home or leave and get a proper education for your kid(s).

I am PP you're replying to, and I agree 100% with what you said. I said bless your heart to the OP who thinks no one moves or that no one should go private. We were in Jeff Houston, then moved to Brooks/Maury and now are in private. I don't know anyone who sends their kids to Brooks anymore it's gone way downhill. My kids are now in HS. But I remember getting all that grief for going private, from certain ACPS cheerleaders and can do no wrong holier than thou people (including those who pushed for the lights at ACHS, which I agree is a good thing), and now those people even send their kids to private. How the mighty have fallen.

I've lived in Alexandria since the 90s, nothing has gotten better. People either move to Fairfax, Arlington, or out of state. They just do. I wish it wasn't the case.

[Anonymous]

Our kiddo always gets good “marks” in math and then didn’t pass his SOL. As a special needs student (autism and ADHD) we are probably going to move for middle. He will be completely lost and overwhelmed by GW and will likely continue to fall through the cracks. We didn’t do the SOL last year (SpEd teacher told me we probably didn’t need to and they cause him anxiety). We will be getting tutors and looking to sell our house.

ACPS continues to fail bright kids like my son and many like him both advantaged and especially disadvantaged. We chose ACPS before we knew we would have a kid with special needs (before we had kids) and I agree many here have blinders on, the rest have gone private or moved. We can’t afford private because it’s possible or youngest won’t thrive in ACPS either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, not interested in moving. Our jobs are both DC based. We are not interested in private schools and I am not sure why that is always the "solution".

Bless your heart.

It's the solution because there is no alternative. Alexandrians would rather pretend the schools are good, than demand that the schools actually be good. Then it doesn't make their cocktail parties and scholarship fundraisers awkward.

I banged my head against the ACPS wall for years. Nothing changes. Save yourself the frustration and the trouble of your neighbors vilifying you and insulting responses from School Board members (if you get any response).

Stay but know that you'll have to teach the fundamentals at home or leave and get a proper education for your kid(s).

I am PP you're replying to, and I agree 100% with what you said. I said bless your heart to the OP who thinks no one moves or that no one should go private. We were in Jeff Houston, then moved to Brooks/Maury and now are in private. I don't know anyone who sends their kids to Brooks anymore it's gone way downhill. My kids are now in HS. But I remember getting all that grief for going private, from certain ACPS cheerleaders and can do no wrong holier than thou people (including those who pushed for the lights at ACHS, which I agree is a good thing), and now those people even send their kids to private. How the mighty have fallen.

I've lived in Alexandria since the 90s, nothing has gotten better. People either move to Fairfax, Arlington, or out of state. They just do. I wish it wasn't the case.

Wow, if you sent your kids to Jeff Houston then you were really committed to public schools regardless of a school's rank. Very interesting to me how Alexandria could utilize these parents to create a world class school district but instead take the whole system in a.... completely different direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, not interested in moving. Our jobs are both DC based. We are not interested in private schools and I am not sure why that is always the "solution".

Bless your heart.

It's the solution because there is no alternative. Alexandrians would rather pretend the schools are good, than demand that the schools actually be good. Then it doesn't make their cocktail parties and scholarship fundraisers awkward.

I banged my head against the ACPS wall for years. Nothing changes. Save yourself the frustration and the trouble of your neighbors vilifying you and insulting responses from School Board members (if you get any response).

Stay but know that you'll have to teach the fundamentals at home or leave and get a proper education for your kid(s).

I am PP you're replying to, and I agree 100% with what you said. I said bless your heart to the OP who thinks no one moves or that no one should go private. We were in Jeff Houston, then moved to Brooks/Maury and now are in private. I don't know anyone who sends their kids to Brooks anymore it's gone way downhill. My kids are now in HS. But I remember getting all that grief for going private, from certain ACPS cheerleaders and can do no wrong holier than thou people (including those who pushed for the lights at ACHS, which I agree is a good thing), and now those people even send their kids to private. How the mighty have fallen.

I've lived in Alexandria since the 90s, nothing has gotten better. People either move to Fairfax, Arlington, or out of state. They just do. I wish it wasn't the case.

Wow, if you sent your kids to Jeff Houston then you were really committed to public schools regardless of a school's rank. Very interesting to me how Alexandria could utilize these parents to create a world class school district but instead take the whole system in a.... completely different direction.

The same can be said for people keeping their kids at Barrett, George Mason and MVCC. Those all perform lower than J-H when it comes to economically disadvantaged kids (the real mark of how a school is doing) and are often thought of as the "better" schools in ACPS.

Agree with you completely that Alexandria could be an amazing school district if parents stopped pretending and faced reality. It's small and well funded and is currently swimming in 54 million in COVID cash. If the parents and ACPS really believed in equity, they'd be demanding that all the schools move to the Lyles Crouch traditional model. Instead they accept failure, disgusting school buildings and a School Board that doesn't demand better of central office. People here talk a good game but they are so meek.

[Anonymous]

What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

Nope. Actually, Lyles Crouch is pretty diverse - only 52 percent white - see https://lcta.acps.k12.va.us/about-achs

While there is a very affluent part of south Old Town within Lyles Crouch’s district there is a lot of rental units to the west like along S. Columbus / S. Alfred / S. Patrick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

+ infinity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

Maybe you're right, but Lyles Crouch is the only school in ACPS that uses the Core Knowledge curriculum, which is proven to teach kids math and reading far better than balanced literacy and whatever math garbage the rest of ACPS uses. Their test scores reflect that. I guess ACPS is finally moving towards a better reading curriculum now, but not after failing to teach an entire generation of kids how to read and write. I understand that the Lyles Crouch principal actively fought to use Core Knowledge, and is kind of hated by ACPS central office because of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

By your logic and definition of diversity, George Mason and Brooks should be "high performing" schools. Their diversity numbers are about the same as L-C and they have involved parents. But their proficiency numbers don't come close to L-C and are abysmal.

You may want to ask yourself why you find it so hard to accept that a different curriculum might be better than what is in place at the other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with this garbage about lyles crouchs traditional model that someone writes in every discussion. The reason that the school preforms so high is because there in NO diversity. It is a neighborhood school filled with children who live in million dollar homes in Old Town. That's the secret to the school's success. Rich children with involved families = good scores. It has nothing to do with thier traditional model or curriculum.

By your logic and definition of diversity, George Mason and Brooks should be "high performing" schools. Their diversity numbers are about the same as L-C and they have involved parents. But their proficiency numbers don't come close to L-C and are abysmal.

You may want to ask yourself why you find it so hard to accept that a different curriculum might be better than what is in place at the other schools.

Co-signed. It’s the superior school curriculum and the leadership.