Why doesn't APS make Arlington Tech into a TJ or Blair type school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m left with many questions after looking at Arlington Tech’s “Physical Therapy” program.

None of the DE classes listed are part of the PTA program at NOVA. None of this is transferring to any real PT program.

And the AT website states students will be prepared to take the Physical Therapy Technician/Aide Exam. (Note: there’s no such thing.)

Physical Therapy is a doctoral degree now. Even a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) needs an A.S. degree and must pass a national board exam in order to practice.

This program prepares a student to be an AIDE (unlicensed), not an ASSISTANT (licensed). And guess what? Most clinics hire aides without any training at all. They can be taught to get a hot pack without any formal physical therapy training.

Anyone wanting to become an actual PT would be better served focusing on traditional science courses in high school, rather than wasting time on this.

ACC and at are two different programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m left with many questions after looking at Arlington Tech’s “Physical Therapy” program.

None of the DE classes listed are part of the PTA program at NOVA. None of this is transferring to any real PT program.

And the AT website states students will be prepared to take the Physical Therapy Technician/Aide Exam. (Note: there’s no such thing.)

Physical Therapy is a doctoral degree now. Even a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) needs an A.S. degree and must pass a national board exam in order to practice.

This program prepares a student to be an AIDE (unlicensed), not an ASSISTANT (licensed). And guess what? Most clinics hire aides without any training at all. They can be taught to get a hot pack without any formal physical therapy training.

Anyone wanting to become an actual PT would be better served focusing on traditional science courses in high school, rather than wasting time on this.

ACC and at are two different programs.

This program is listed as one of AT’s stem pathways.

[Anonymous]

Because The People's Republic of Arlington doesn't want to exclude any kid.

[Anonymous]

Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m left with many questions after looking at Arlington Tech’s “Physical Therapy” program.

None of the DE classes listed are part of the PTA program at NOVA. None of this is transferring to any real PT program.

And the AT website states students will be prepared to take the Physical Therapy Technician/Aide Exam. (Note: there’s no such thing.)

Physical Therapy is a doctoral degree now. Even a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) needs an A.S. degree and must pass a national board exam in order to practice.

This program prepares a student to be an AIDE (unlicensed), not an ASSISTANT (licensed). And guess what? Most clinics hire aides without any training at all. They can be taught to get a hot pack without any formal physical therapy training.

Anyone wanting to become an actual PT would be better served focusing on traditional science courses in high school, rather than wasting time on this.

Kids at AT also take the traditional science courses so…

That’s great. But, make no mistake, this PT program is fluff.

Now, when we look at the offerings and rigor at TJ, that’s a different story.

I’m not saying that AT is bad, but the two schools are in no way comparable.

No one said they were.

Kids aren't really "better served focusing on traditional science courses in high school" because they still have take those courses anyway. These are electives.

I understand. But, these courses are a bit misleading and may make some families believe that taking them will help their student get into PT school. They won’t.

Students only have room for so many electives. Some courses are more meaningful than others. These are for funsies. (Unlike many TJ electives.)

They won't hurt and they may help students get internships. If kids enjoy it, why sht on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

Ok. We all know it's not grad school, it's high school. Nothing precludes kids from getting additional degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

Ok. We all know it's not grad school, it's high school. Nothing precludes kids from getting additional degrees.

+1 it’s career exploration

[Anonymous]

Open house is soon. Go see it for yourselves:
https://arlingtontech.apsva.us/2025/10/29/arlington-tech-information-sessions/

(Nov. 17, 7pm, I think)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

AT has a huge branding problem. ACC trains kids to get jobs right out of high school. AT is college prep. While they can take ACC classes and do and often do that thing as a part time job in college, it's different.

But please, don't go to tech. You clearly don't value it so stay away. Make room for the kids who get it and it gets them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you really know about Arlington tech? There’s a dual enrollment program that lets students graduate with an associate degree and several other programs that are challenging and give students excellent opportunities. We are looking at tech and TJ and leaning Tech

Look at college placements.

Link?

https://arlingtontech.apsva.us/where-do-our-graduates-go/

It’s telling for a tech school that there is no Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, or Harvey Mudd placements.

I suspect the handful of ivies had other big hooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was a middle ground between pressure cooker AAP FCPS and everyone’s a winner no homework APS.

No homework? Are you kidding?

PP probably doesn’t even have kids in APS.

My kid is in middle school. It’s a joke.

Yes IB and AP are solid because they have non-APS standards, but it’s poor form to basically go from 0 to 60 regarding homework assignments. Oh I know they often say 30 min of reading as “homework” — including reading graphic novels.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/CFTQHC695DBF/$file/I-11.2%20Homework.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the needs of very smart kids can be served at our current high schools, or they can apply to tj. Stem focus for kids that may not be in the 1%. Any child can take classes at tech too under the current model. I do not see a benefit to making it more exclusive, and I have a child there

100%

Arlington Tech is for STEM kids, not foru prestige seekers.

So why so few go to STEM focused schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

AT has a huge branding problem. ACC trains kids to get jobs right out of high school. AT is college prep. While they can take ACC classes and do and often do that thing as a part time job in college, it's different.

But please, don't go to tech. You clearly don't value it so stay away. Make room for the kids who get it and it gets them.

ACC also provides training in multiple fields including aviation, and culinary arts, for example, that do not preclude college. The electives there have been popular with all types of APS and FCCPS students for many decades now and that will not change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish there was a middle ground between pressure cooker AAP FCPS and everyone’s a winner no homework APS.

No homework? Are you kidding?

Not true, fake news. My kid has a lot of homework in high school in APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Similarly, the veterinary program isn’t to become a veterinarian (doctoral degree) or a vet tech (associates degree). It’s to become a vet ASSISTANT, who usually receive on-the-job training only.

Vet techs assist with procedures. Vet assistants clean and help with admin work.

Ok. We all know it's not grad school, it's high school. Nothing precludes kids from getting additional degrees.

+1 it’s career exploration

I think you’re right — and they should make this clear. This is for career exploration, not rigorous STEM courses, and certainly not to prepare students for healthcare licensure.