Alexandria HSs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Updates on TC admissions so far this spring?

Sorry, not yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem except when a bunch of head in the sand rich white housewives claim TC is just fine. It isn't. It's a shithole. And the kids that do survive it deserve more credit for their accomplishments than the kids from SSSAS, BI, EHS, ACDS, Burgundy, etc.

Since Burgundy and ACDS end in 8th grade, what in the world are you talking about?

The actual number (not percentage) of TC graduates who go to the most selective colleges is about the same as at SSSAS and Episcopal and greater than Bishop Ireton. So if you have a bright student who can navigate a really big, diverse school, she/he will have as big a critical mass of peers in their academic classes as at the Alexandria private high schools and end up with a fine set of college choices. They'll get all the academic awards, Governors School, any AP class they want, etc. In the mean time, they might make some friends who come from really different backgrounds and gain a useful perspective of the world and the advantages they have in life.

If anyone has a reason to upset about TC, its the kids learning English or from lower-income families who need the school to be better.

That's actually not true as of 2021. Now that Alexandria is building a low-level school to remove the West End kids from TC, half the kids in Alexandria will no longer have full academic access. The Alexandria School Board's final, unanimous plan for two different 9-12 high schools is at: http://esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=9189&mtgId=1003

I read this as a taxpayer in Alexandria City last night, looked up the link(s), and then thought a lot about this in the last two days. Sadly, I believe PP could be correct: it's the way things flow here in Alexandria City that we have surmised over the last 35 years.

To our family, who participated in ACPS and as parents sent their kids to colleges, ACPS is a truly troubled and perplexing school system. It is certainly not helped by constant school board turnover and lack of focus on raising academic rigor, nor by neglect from Alexandria City residents on quality education over buildings/sports/clubs etc.

[Anonymous]

Nope, St Stephens or move

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to TC and I didn't go to Yale or Jail...JMU baby! If your kid is motivated and you stay on top of them, like they would be at any school, they will be fine. My friends are all thriving- nothing to worry about. Just make sure you do GW for middle school.

They call it pcp Williams for a reason

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread should go no further until OP clarified if she/he means Fairfax or Alexandria proper.

I am convinced that OP is a troll who created this thread to incite a TC war. Thank God we finally have one of those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to TC and I didn't go to Yale or Jail...JMU baby! If your kid is motivated and you stay on top of them, like they would be at any school, they will be fine. My friends are all thriving- nothing to worry about. Just make sure you do GW for middle school.

They call it pcp Williams for a reason

Are there any news articles to support this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem except when a bunch of head in the sand rich white housewives claim TC is just fine. It isn't. It's a shithole. And the kids that do survive it deserve more credit for their accomplishments than the kids from SSSAS, BI, EHS, ACDS, Burgundy, etc.

Since Burgundy and ACDS end in 8th grade, what in the world are you talking about?

The actual number (not percentage) of TC graduates who go to the most selective colleges is about the same as at SSSAS and Episcopal and greater than Bishop Ireton. So if you have a bright student who can navigate a really big, diverse school, she/he will have as big a critical mass of peers in their academic classes as at the Alexandria private high schools and end up with a fine set of college choices. They'll get all the academic awards, Governors School, any AP class they want, etc. In the mean time, they might make some friends who come from really different backgrounds and gain a useful perspective of the world and the advantages they have in life.

If anyone has a reason to upset about TC, its the kids learning English or from lower-income families who need the school to be better.

That's actually not true as of 2021. Now that Alexandria is building a low-level school to remove the West End kids from TC, half the kids in Alexandria will no longer have full academic access. The Alexandria School Board's final, unanimous plan for two different 9-12 high schools is at: http://esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us/public_itemview.aspx?
ItemId=9189&mtgId=1003

Are there efforts to stop this? Is the city going to get land and money to do this?

[Anonymous]

People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem except when a bunch of head in the sand rich white housewives claim TC is just fine. It isn't. It's a shithole. And the kids that do survive it deserve more credit for their accomplishments than the kids from SSSAS, BI, EHS, ACDS, Burgundy, etc.

Since Burgundy and ACDS end in 8th grade, what in the world are you talking about?

The actual number (not percentage) of TC graduates who go to the most selective colleges is about the same as at SSSAS and Episcopal and greater than Bishop Ireton. So if you have a bright student who can navigate a really big, diverse school, she/he will have as big a critical mass of peers in their academic classes as at the Alexandria private high schools and end up with a fine set of college choices. They'll get all the academic awards, Governors School, any AP class they want, etc. In the mean time, they might make some friends who come from really different backgrounds and gain a useful perspective of the world and the advantages they have in life.

If anyone has a reason to upset about TC, its the kids learning English or from lower-income families who need the school to be better.

That's actually not true as of 2021. Now that Alexandria is building a low-level school to remove the West End kids from TC, half the kids in Alexandria will no longer have full academic access. The Alexandria School Board's final, unanimous plan for two different 9-12 high schools is at: http://esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us/public_itemview.aspx?
ItemId=9189&mtgId=1003

Are there efforts to stop this? Is the city going to get land and money to do this?

City Council just budgeted $125 million for the project. They will buy the land and start building, maybe soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

What we want is one high school, if it's good. Dividing it doesn't improve anything and just diverts attention, money, and energy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

What we want is one high school, if it's good. Dividing it doesn't improve anything and just diverts attention, money, and energy.

I don’t want one large high school with capacity issues. Let them build another school! I applaud them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

What we want is one high school, if it's good. Dividing it doesn't improve anything and just diverts attention, money, and energy.

I don’t want one large high school with capacity issues. Let them build another school! I applaud them!

There are no capacity issues now. Roomier than most high schools, and 1 in every 7 classrooms is vacant each period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a problem except when a bunch of head in the sand rich white housewives claim TC is just fine. It isn't. It's a shithole. And the kids that do survive it deserve more credit for their accomplishments than the kids from SSSAS, BI, EHS, ACDS, Burgundy, etc.

Since Burgundy and ACDS end in 8th grade, what in the world are you talking about?

The actual number (not percentage) of TC graduates who go to the most selective colleges is about the same as at SSSAS and Episcopal and greater than Bishop Ireton. So if you have a bright student who can navigate a really big, diverse school, she/he will have as big a critical mass of peers in their academic classes as at the Alexandria private high schools and end up with a fine set of college choices. They'll get all the academic awards, Governors School, any AP class they want, etc. In the mean time, they might make some friends who come from really different backgrounds and gain a useful perspective of the world and the advantages they have in life.

If anyone has a reason to upset about TC, its the kids learning English or from lower-income families who need the school to be better.

That's actually not true as of 2021. Now that Alexandria is building a low-level school to remove the West End kids from TC, half the kids in Alexandria will no longer have full academic access. The Alexandria School Board's final, unanimous plan for two different 9-12 high schools is at: http://esbpublic.acps.k12.va.us/public_itemview.aspx?
ItemId=9189&mtgId=1003

Are there efforts to stop this? Is the city going to get land and money to do this?

City Council just budgeted $125 million for the project. They will buy the land and start building, maybe soon.

I think "soon" is a relative word.

They started considering this idea in 2016. 2 years later, just more documents.
Maybe 2 years from now they will produce a document regarding land options ...

They should just let whoever owns Landmark now off the hook. Buy it back at a fire sale price and turn into one huge educational campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

What we want is one high school, if it's good. Dividing it doesn't improve anything and just diverts attention, money, and energy.

I don’t want one large high school with capacity issues. Let them build another school! I applaud them!

There are no capacity issues now. Roomier than most high schools, and 1 in every 7 classrooms is vacant each period.

Except for the fact that there’s an entire grade houses in another building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People get on here to complain about how huge TC is and voice how concerned they are that their DC will get lost in such a big environment. Now people are complaining about ACPS trying to do something about the size of the HS???? Make up your minds, folks! Which one is it? Do you want one huge school, or do you want two more reasonably sized schools? And where in any of these planning documents does it say anything about "building a low-level school" without "full academic access?"

What we want is one high school, if it's good. Dividing it doesn't improve anything and just diverts attention, money, and energy.

I don’t want one large high school with capacity issues. Let them build another school! I applaud them!

There are no capacity issues now. Roomier than most high schools, and 1 in every 7 classrooms is vacant each period.

I read through one of the Arlington threads about overcrowding and saw many complaints about the county’s lack of planning despite all evidence pointing to future capacity issues. By contact, you seem to fault ACPS for looking to mitigate future capacity issues. Maybe you’d be happier in Arlington, where apparently they wait until it’s too late. Sounds like your cup of tea.