HB Woodlawn - I know nothing. Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely send him to HB. (Current Yorktown parent who will be sending my youngest to Private and not Yorktown).

My kid is doing great at YHS because of the structure. I would be afraid they would take advantage of the freedom of HB.

One of my kids attended HB and completely abused the lack of structure and literally almost never went to class and the school both never told us and did absolutely nothing about it. I don’t blame the school, because that’s the philosophy and we went in knowing it, but people need to recognize that it’s not a panacea.

My HB high schooler reports having a TON of free time. Even the school activities, like town hall, or the various fun activity days they hold, are apparently optional. No one seems to hold the students accountable for going to any of these things - in fitting with the philosophy of the school. I think my kids wanders around Rosslyn to McDonalds and other places with friends during all this free time. I think the time would be better used studying, but what do I know? I think the point is teaching them intrinsic motivation and responsibility. We'll see if it works!

I'd rather them learn it in high school in small increments than in college all at once. As the workload has gotten heavier mine has definitely been using those free periods to do work and often to meet with teachers, but he skips a lot of the fun days and assemblies to hang out with his friends elsewhere in the building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely take the spot op if he’s interested. My sibling went there (I went to Yorktown) and it is a pretty great school. It isn’t perfect for everyone, but worth a try. When you say executive function and attention issues does he have adhd? It sounds like you are describing it. I ask because my child with adhd does best with a lot of structure and the hb model is a little on the other end of the spectrum. But it is such a great opportunity I would lean towards at least trying it. But staying aware of whether he’s doing work.

Have him go to the shadow day, this is as much his decision as it is yours at this age honestly

OP here. Thank you for this feedback! Yes he has adhd being treated with medications and executive function coach, as well as an IEP but he’s academically very bright. He is quite athletic but isn’t a “jock” type who will likely play HS sports at the varsity level bc Yorktown is so competitive that way. He’s more interested in computers, Rec level baseball and soccer, and theater drama. He is going to do the visit day this week and we are encouraging him to give it a shot given the size and the feedback we have heard. Can always transfer back if it’s not a good fit. He found a couple of peers in his Snapchat network who go to HB and they like it a lot. Described it as “chill,” “kind,” and “without any fights.” Lol.

So glad he’s going to give it a try! My sibling really thrived there and still has a great group of friends to this day. It always felt like there was less drama, more kindness. And sounds like with the supports you have in place he could do great. I also was thinking for the right kid, it could be great for adhd-ers because you have more autonomy to pick things you’re interested in which can be motivating. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

By give it a try I mean the shadow day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

[Anonymous]

^^^ which is even more egregious when it seems like APS is always scrambling for more seats and has said recently it cannot "build its way out of the capacity crisis."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would definitely take the spot op if he’s interested. My sibling went there (I went to Yorktown) and it is a pretty great school. It isn’t perfect for everyone, but worth a try. When you say executive function and attention issues does he have adhd? It sounds like you are describing it. I ask because my child with adhd does best with a lot of structure and the hb model is a little on the other end of the spectrum. But it is such a great opportunity I would lean towards at least trying it. But staying aware of whether he’s doing work.

Have him go to the shadow day, this is as much his decision as it is yours at this age honestly

OP here. Thank you for this feedback! Yes he has adhd being treated with medications and executive function coach, as well as an IEP but he’s academically very bright. He is quite athletic but isn’t a “jock” type who will likely play HS sports at the varsity level bc Yorktown is so competitive that way. He’s more interested in computers, Rec level baseball and soccer, and theater drama. He is going to do the visit day this week and we are encouraging him to give it a shot given the size and the feedback we have heard. Can always transfer back if it’s not a good fit. He found a couple of peers in his Snapchat network who go to HB and they like it a lot. Described it as “chill,” “kind,” and “without any fights.” Lol.

One of my kids went there and it was great for theater and band. Because there are fewer kids, your kid has more of a chance of making it through auditions and getting into productions than at larger schools. I'd recommend that he join and stick with band or drama or choir to make friends.

The school tends to be less rigid about the rules and regulations needed for crowd management at large high schools. Although people here talk about greater freedoms, there was still a lot of structure. Kids have to pass all the Virginia state requirements and standards of learning. Teachers graded for completion of homework and also marked attendance for each class, just like at other schools. The kids don't really create their own course of study.

Being smaller, he may have the same teacher more than once, which is a good thing for college recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Their old building was taken from them. They didn't want a $100m building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Their old building was taken from them. They didn't want a $100m building.

I think this is taking the thread off topic. I don't blame anyone who goes and they are not the decision makers- the very few kids who get this experience in an urban public school system are lucky indeed. I was agreeing with a PP on page 1 who said it was like a private school run by APS and you would be crazy not to take the spot.

I don't think APS has been fair when it comes to resourcing option schools. Those should be bottom of the barrel last priority compared to neighborhood schools. That's all. Just my opinion and I don't think it's overly controversial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

It's harder to get in for high school than for middle school.

Traditionally there have been fewer MS applicants from South Arlington schools so your odds of getting in were higher than from Jamestown or Taylor, which were close to the old location. When my kid went there, several South Arlington families had multiple kids there, but among my North Arlington friends, none of us got our second kids in. There is no sibling preference (except maybe for twins?)

You should check whether your kid will be thrown in the "resident students not enrolled in APS" applicant category if they don't attend your assigned ES. Maybe they are treated differently if new to Arlington.

You can see how the odds vary here:
https://www.apsva.us/school-transfer-data/#H-B-grade6to8

There's also Arlington Tech and the chance of TJHSST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

If your kids are in IB schools, you could look at Arlington's IB schools. If WL isn't accepting out of zone kids, you could rent in the WL zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

It's harder to get in for high school than for middle school.

Traditionally there have been fewer MS applicants from South Arlington schools so your odds of getting in were higher than from Jamestown or Taylor, which were close to the old location. When my kid went there, several South Arlington families had multiple kids there, but among my North Arlington friends, none of us got our second kids in. There is no sibling preference (except maybe for twins?)

You should check whether your kid will be thrown in the "resident students not enrolled in APS" applicant category if they don't attend your assigned ES. Maybe they are treated differently if new to Arlington.

You can see how the odds vary here:
https://www.apsva.us/school-transfer-data/#H-B-grade6to8

There's also Arlington Tech and the chance of TJHSST.

PP adding.... the above link is interesting. Applications are high from some South Arlington schools (Abingdon) and not others (Carlin Springs). In the north of Arlington, demand is high at Cardinal and Glebe and less so at Taylor these days. Applicants from ATS have tough odds. The link also shows a page for applicants from MS to HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

It's harder to get in for high school than for middle school.

Traditionally there have been fewer MS applicants from South Arlington schools so your odds of getting in were higher than from Jamestown or Taylor, which were close to the old location. When my kid went there, several South Arlington families had multiple kids there, but among my North Arlington friends, none of us got our second kids in. There is no sibling preference (except maybe for twins?)

You should check whether your kid will be thrown in the "resident students not enrolled in APS" applicant category if they don't attend your assigned ES. Maybe they are treated differently if new to Arlington.

You can see how the odds vary here:
https://www.apsva.us/school-transfer-data/#H-B-grade6to8

There's also Arlington Tech and the chance of TJHSST.

+1

There's only 1 lottery slot for kids coming from outside APS. We applied from private as well and were far down a deep waitlist. Doesn't matter if you were overseas and own a house in Arlington, for the purposes of the lottery.