APS boundary process this fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

Where did they transfer to? WMS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

Thats great. How many of those who requested transfers are walkers? We can shuffle around bused planning units, but risk ending up with long bus rides -- so better to make that an optional endeavor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

Does it though? A couple of the middle schools hover around over stuffed while Williamsburg is pretty empty and just getting more empty. We can all kick the can down the road so the Hamm people don't freak out again, but it doesn't seem like strategic decision making or good use of facilities at all.

Hamm isn't overcrowded and the zone isn't situated between the overcapacity schools and Williamsburg. It doesn't actually need to be involved in a meaningful way.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/08/MS_Boundaries_SY24_25_V2.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

Does it though? A couple of the middle schools hover around over stuffed while Williamsburg is pretty empty and just getting more empty. We can all kick the can down the road so the Hamm people don't freak out again, but it doesn't seem like strategic decision making or good use of facilities at all.

Hamm isn't overcrowded and the zone isn't situated between the overcapacity schools and Williamsburg. It doesn't actually need to be involved in a meaningful way.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/08/MS_Boundaries_SY24_25_V2.pdf

This is what it boils down to. The Hamm people are blocking what is best for the greater good. There aren't enough contiguous PUs to fill Williamsburg appropriately without affecting Hamm, but we get it you don't care about anyone else and want to walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

Really? Isn't that worse? All these people are trying to get out of a crowded school but they are not allowed to get out and some don't get picked and Williamsburg sits under utilized. That's not good at all. Gee, seems like someone who is an adult in the room should come up with a better way to balance enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

Does it though? A couple of the middle schools hover around over stuffed while Williamsburg is pretty empty and just getting more empty. We can all kick the can down the road so the Hamm people don't freak out again, but it doesn't seem like strategic decision making or good use of facilities at all.

Hamm isn't overcrowded and the zone isn't situated between the overcapacity schools and Williamsburg. It doesn't actually need to be involved in a meaningful way.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/08/MS_Boundaries_SY24_25_V2.pdf

This is what it boils down to. The Hamm people are blocking what is best for the greater good. There aren't enough contiguous PUs to fill Williamsburg appropriately without affecting Hamm, but we get it you don't care about anyone else and want to walk.

Move HMW MS students first before adding dozens of new bus routes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

Does it though? A couple of the middle schools hover around over stuffed while Williamsburg is pretty empty and just getting more empty. We can all kick the can down the road so the Hamm people don't freak out again, but it doesn't seem like strategic decision making or good use of facilities at all.

Hamm isn't overcrowded and the zone isn't situated between the overcapacity schools and Williamsburg. It doesn't actually need to be involved in a meaningful way.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/08/MS_Boundaries_SY24_25_V2.pdf

This is what it boils down to. The Hamm people are blocking what is best for the greater good. There aren't enough contiguous PUs to fill Williamsburg appropriately without affecting Hamm, but we get it you don't care about anyone else and want to walk.

Move HMW MS students first before adding dozens of new bus routes.

This is a fake news solution. A whole bunch of people will object to this and they are just as loud and obnoxious as the Hamm people.

What pisses me off about APS is they just ignore this stuff and do what's easiest in the moment. Seen it over and over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

What they should do is give certain PUs preference to transfer. That would probably pull enough kids. Like what they do with Cardinal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

That's really ironic because during the last boundary process, my recollection is APS wanted to move Swanson kids out, but Swanson parents lobbied for them to stay. Of course APS caved, and that's why Swanson is overcrowded now and Hamm and WMS are under enrolled.

And of course the kids of the loud parents who just HAD to stay at Swanson are now past middle school....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

That's really ironic because during the last boundary process, my recollection is APS wanted to move Swanson kids out, but Swanson parents lobbied for them to stay. Of course APS caved, and that's why Swanson is overcrowded now and Hamm and WMS are under enrolled.

And of course the kids of the loud parents who just HAD to stay at Swanson are now past middle school....

Raises hand. Yes, I was around for this one. They tried to give some of the Swanson kids in Maidson Manor to Kenmore and those people flipped out.

Listening to the loud people never looks great in the rear view mirror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of the schools hovering around 100 percent capacity, which feels crowded day to day, while one sits way under capacity is not a solution.

No one wants to give up walking or commit to a long bus ride.

At capacity changes year to year.

They should colocate HBW middle school students at WMS, and expand the HBW high school enrollment at the Heights.

I like that last suggestion.

Personally, I would rather my kids be at a school that's not packed to the seams and take a bus. We are walkers for Swanson. Walking has value but these kids are packed into that school all day every day and that has a much bigger impact on them. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way? Maybe I am. And yes, I understand I could choose a transfer.

Isn't it better to have the option to transfer than to be forced to switch in a boundary shift? I know lots of kids who transferred out of Swanson and they were very happy to have that option.

Maybe but people want their neighbors to be zoned with them, and since most don’t want to give up walking you generally are alone in this choice.

Nearly every rising 6th grader I know who was zoned for Swanson tried to transfer this year. It was a large cohort and, if anyone felt alone, it was the kids who didn't get picked to transfer.

That's really ironic because during the last boundary process, my recollection is APS wanted to move Swanson kids out, but Swanson parents lobbied for them to stay. Of course APS caved, and that's why Swanson is overcrowded now and Hamm and WMS are under enrolled.

And of course the kids of the loud parents who just HAD to stay at Swanson are now past middle school....

And I think this is at least partially due to declining enrollment post covid in that section of the County. A trend that clearly isn't going to reverse itself at this point.

[Anonymous]

Let's do the math everyone.

Hamm and Williamsburg are comfy so there is no issue? Amirite?

Piss off everyone else.

Please notice the sections of the County where it's no big deal at all to have capacity at near 100 percent or over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's do the math everyone.

Hamm and Williamsburg are comfy so there is no issue? Amirite?

Piss off everyone else.

Please notice the sections of the County where it's no big deal at all to have capacity at near 100 percent or over.

So move Immersion to Williamsburg so the seats open up at Gunston and then balance. They'll say that kids won't stay with the program, but they said that about the Key move too. Problem solved, walkers (mostly) stay walkers.