ISO thoughts about S Arlington vs N Arlington schools (esp Gunston)

[Anonymous]

The problem I have with white people seeking out diversity is that, as a "diverse" person myself, it feels somehow forced and false to me. I don't want you targeting my kids as potential playmates for your kids JUST because my kids are minorities.

I don't know how to explain this as clearly as I'd like, and I get that it is good for society overall to not be racially divided. But there is something almost a little patronizing about this attitude of 'oh we'll go hang out with the brown people because we are so thoughtful in how we parent.' Or that's what it feels like sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like how people on this board can flat out write that they don't understand the benefit of diversity. If that is not the most ignorant, arrogant, and frankly, sad comment I've ever seen, I don't know what is. Whatever decision you choose for schooling for your kids, admitting that you don't see a benefit to kids being surrounded by a diverse group is admitting that you believe your child should grow up only around those exactly like you. I feel sorry for the lack of experiences your children will have growing up and feel sorry that you have made it this far in your life without appreciating and acknowledging those around you.

Yawn, how sad to go through life not challenging assumptions and just regurgitating the same PC drivel. Kids are natually "diverse," regardless of skin color or family incomes.

[Anonymous]

It seems more about your hangups then kids just playing or being friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with white people seeking out diversity is that, as a "diverse" person myself, it feels somehow forced and false to me. I don't want you targeting my kids as potential playmates for your kids JUST because my kids are minorities.

I don't know how to explain this as clearly as I'd like, and I get that it is good for society overall to not be racially divided. But there is something almost a little patronizing about this attitude of 'oh we'll go hang out with the brown people because we are so thoughtful in how we parent.' Or that's what it feels like sometimes.

No, I think you were very clear, and I think it's worth remembering as parents seek or avoid diversity. Your friend's cultural background doesn't get to be your badge of honor. (Or as a friend of mine put it, my kid is not here to be your kid's therapy dog for enlightenment.)

(Now I hope I'm not misrepresenting you, in which case it's not that you weren't clear but that I am hard of understanding.)

[Anonymous]

I can't speak for all of the caucasian parents who seek a bit of diversity, but I can speak for me. It's not that we're targeting non-white kids as potential playmates. It's that we want our kids to have the opportunity to meet all sorts of kids who are not exactly like them. I have a really diverse circle of friends (at least racially and culturally; we're mostly upper middle class) and would like my daughter to have the chance to meet kids who aren't all white, or who aren't all born to parents who can afford $800K houses, or who aren't all on the same track toward the same 3 colleges. That said, I grew up in a very homogenous hometown in Kansas and did just fine meeting my diverse friends once i moved to DC. So who knows - it may be a non-issue.

[Anonymous]

As an Arlington minority parent, it annoys me to no end when schools with 30-60% low income demographics are pegged as diverse. That neither reflects the demographics of the overall DC metro area or the country, therefore such schools are in fact not demographically representative. A diverse school for me would be one that reflects that actual demographics of the overall metro area. I have 0 desire to send my child to a majority low income school, especially as a parent of child of color.

The white guilt around here is sometimes hilarious, and these folks probably grossly underestimate the importance of socialization in education. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't think you can get clarity here because the people who post here are mostly elitist and contrarians. I live in n. arl, and I am looking for the same thing you are. I will try to transfer my kid to gunston because I am looking for a more nurturing environment as well. I think claremont/oakridge would be a great choice for you. Both my husband and I are average as well, but we managed to carve out a great life for ourselves through discipline and by having not just school training abilities. So from that perspective, my outlook on what I want for my kids are similar to yours. You should go to gunston and have a talk with the people there, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Like all schools it has its issues I'm sure, but I don't that would deter my children from achieving success. If you the type who truly live your life through your own rhythm, you will not have anything to worry by picking gunston as your school. You'll find a more intimate environment for you kids. As the saying goes, the farther you climb up the economic ladder, the lonelier it gets. It is smart that you're looking for a balance. Good luck.

+1 so refreshing to see this perspective on here. We are in N Arlington and feeling the same. We will be looking into the immersion programs and hope the kids follow all the way through to gunston and Wakefield.

Love this take. We live in the Oakridge boundaries and our children attend Claremont. We couldn't be happier with Claremont. Our friends with children and Oakridge are quite satisfied with that school as well. No hesitation about Gunston or Wakefield. South Arlington is more diverse, both culturally and economically, than most of North Arlington which, for us, is a huge plus for the area. The 22202 ZIP is an excellent community in every sense of the word.

I've yet to understand why sending my kids to school with a bunch of kids who can't speak English and are more likely to drop out in high school is a "big plus," or why an environment where the children speak the same language is always described as less "nurturing" or "cut-throat."

You are right a 4% drop out rate is just crazy pants! How can parents even think of sending their kids there. I mean really, someone should call CPS.

A full 25% of students at Wakefield do not graduate.

Seriously? Where do you get these numbers?

In the 2011-2012 school year Wakefield had a fall enrollment of 1622. During that period 67 kids dropped out. That is 10, in Grade 10; 13 in Grade 11; and 35 in Grade 12. That is 4% of the school population. I am not sure where you get your 25% number from. I got my numbers from the VA government.

http://bi.vita.virginia.gov/doe_bi/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Main&subRptName=Dropout

If I am interpreting this wrong please let me know. I am 100% willing to change my mind I just wants facts not random unsupported accusations. It is kind of like how everyone on here posts the Great Schools numbers but no one posts the School Report cards which show the actual statistics and how everything is broken down by race/grade/income/etc which shows you that the scores aren't really that different just the population is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an Arlington minority parent, it annoys me to no end when schools with 30-60% low income demographics are pegged as diverse. That neither reflects the demographics of the overall DC metro area or the country, therefore such schools are in fact not demographically representative. A diverse school for me would be one that reflects that actual demographics of the overall metro area. I have 0 desire to send my child to a majority low income school, especially as a parent of child of color.

As a minority parent, I'm wondering where I can find this magical school that is both racially and economically diverse. Seems that if you don't want your child to stand out as the only XXXX in the class (or school), then you will find yourself at a school that is 40% or more FARMs.

[Anonymous]

per the Wakefield non-graduation rate: didn't an earlier thread mention something about how Wakefield has more kids moving out of boundary before graduation? I would imagine that a foreign-born or 1st-generation immigrant kid (of which Wakefield has more) might be more likely to move back to their home country at some point, and that might be included in the non-graduation totals and misconstrued as a dropout situation. Wakefield might also have more kids taking the GED and getting jobs vs. staying 4 years in order to help support the family, but I can't say for sure.