Why does APS even have option schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Language immersion certainly has value. And Key is pretty diverse socioeconomically & ethnically. We are zoned for Taylor & send our kid to Key. We certainly aren’t trying to “escape bad neighborhood schools.” I know many families zoned for Taylor and other “good” schools who value having their kids learn another language and choose immersion.
In general, more choices are better, not worse.

I agree. Unfortunately, APS is no longer in a position to try to provide added value to the education of a small subset of students.

We're not talking about a small subset of students, though. It's a substantial number, and it would be higher if there were more opportunity/space available. If you think they're providing added value, you should be arguing for expanding them, not shuttering them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Language immersion certainly has value. And Key is pretty diverse socioeconomically & ethnically. We are zoned for Taylor & send our kid to Key. We certainly aren’t trying to “escape bad neighborhood schools.” I know many families zoned for Taylor and other “good” schools who value having their kids learn another language and choose immersion.
In general, more choices are better, not worse.

I agree. Unfortunately, APS is no longer in a position to try to provide added value to the education of a small subset of students.

We're not talking about a small subset of students, though. It's a substantial number, and it would be higher if there were more opportunity/space available. If you think they're providing added value, you should be arguing for expanding them, not shuttering them.

Yes, given the demand, popularity, and success there should be more available. But most of this thread seems to be populated by people who don't have any first hand experience with the choice schools, but choose to bloviate about them anyway, or people whose kids didn't get in and they have an axe to grind.

[Anonymous]

I agree with immediate PP:
Because these are not choice schools we are talking about, they are LUCK schools and ARL needs to reprioritize.

The administrative burden and bus burden is an embarrassment that we cannot afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If APS/SB want to rely on a successful Arlington Tech program as a way to not build a fourth HS, they must support option schools. So it's unlikely they'd do anything to them.

Or the IB/AP programs, for that matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for eliminating them. Or at least the ones that aren't really distinct options. Like ATS & Campbell. Let's do it!

+1000 - What is distinct about ATS? They have good scores, but I assume due to demographics and self selection and not the "program".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for eliminating them. Or at least the ones that aren't really distinct options. Like ATS & Campbell. Let's do it!

+1000 - What is distinct about ATS? They have good scores, but I assume due to demographics and self selection and not the "program".

Per the APS Website: "The ATS approach to instruction is traditional and structured." https://www.apsva.us/school-options/elementary-school-choices/area-and-countywide-elementary/

So uh, yeah. No idea. They like homework?

[Anonymous]

I think if enough neighborhood schools united together from various parts of the County and said we want to eliminate ATS the SB would listen. But they've made us all fight amongst ourselves about who should stay and who should switch to an option location. ATS is the least diverse of the option schools and has the lowest % of free and reduced lunches of all the option programs. It draws mostly from surrounding schools, nearly 30% of its students come from Ashlawn, Glebe and McKinley and when you add in the rest of the NW area (Nottingham, Tuckahoe, Discovery and Jamestown) its 45% of the school.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that ATS draws most from Ashlawn and McK since the SOL scores are so similar at those schools. Not as familiar with Glebe's test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that ATS draws most from Ashlawn and McK since the SOL scores are so similar at those schools. Not as familiar with Glebe's test scores.

I would encourage all parents to look and study the most recent APS transfer report: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transfer-Report-2016-17.pdf

And think really hard about how the only county wide program we have numbers on currently (ATS) draws already so heavily from NW and N Arlington and then think what it would look like if it moved further north. I am a N Arlington parent and if we're going to have these programs to help close achievement gaps ATS isn't that program. I am also not as sold on immersion, I think the campbell model and Drew are great programs. Moving or just keeping ATS is a favor to the wealthy parents in the North and upper middle class parents in S Arlington. It is not a solution to solving our diversity issues.

Look at what a county wide program does to surrounding ES boundaries. Look at Ashlawn's current boundary, it looks so crazy due to its proximity to ATS. APS staff will not release transfer data by planning unit but using the report above is helpful in seeing who these programs are really truly helping.

Further the ATS model is not what parents and educational experts are going towards which is to back track on early reading/math standards, eliminate ES homework and value unstructured play both at and away from school to help kids develop the social skills they need to be good middle and high school students. This isn't the ATS model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that ATS draws most from Ashlawn and McK since the SOL scores are so similar at those schools. Not as familiar with Glebe's test scores.

I would encourage all parents to look and study the most recent APS transfer report: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transfer-Report-2016-17.pdf

And think really hard about how the only county wide program we have numbers on currently (ATS) draws already so heavily from NW and N Arlington and then think what it would look like if it moved further north. I am a N Arlington parent and if we're going to have these programs to help close achievement gaps ATS isn't that program. I am also not as sold on immersion, I think the campbell model and Drew are great programs. Moving or just keeping ATS is a favor to the wealthy parents in the North and upper middle class parents in S Arlington. It is not a solution to solving our diversity issues.

Look at what a county wide program does to surrounding ES boundaries. Look at Ashlawn's current boundary, it looks so crazy due to its proximity to ATS. APS staff will not release transfer data by planning unit but using the report above is helpful in seeing who these programs are really truly helping.

Further the ATS model is not what parents and educational experts are going towards which is to back track on early reading/math standards, eliminate ES homework and value unstructured play both at and away from school to help kids develop the social skills they need to be good middle and high school students. This isn't the ATS model.

It doesn't look like Option Programs are designed to help close the achievement gaps - please stop making stuff up.

In fact this is what the APS website says

Option Schools/Programs
Option Schools/Programs provide specialized instructional programs. APS:
* Provides equitable access to option schools/programs for all students, including students with disabilities and English learners;
* Provides a rational and transparent process for admission to option schools/programs, which is differentiated to support the integrity of the instructional models;
* Offers preschool at each of the elementary option schools/programs; and
* Adjusts enrollment levels at the option schools/programs as needed.

https://www.apsva.us/school-options/elementary-school-choices/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that ATS draws most from Ashlawn and McK since the SOL scores are so similar at those schools. Not as familiar with Glebe's test scores.

I would encourage all parents to look and study the most recent APS transfer report: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transfer-Report-2016-17.pdf

And think really hard about how the only county wide program we have numbers on currently (ATS) draws already so heavily from NW and N Arlington and then think what it would look like if it moved further north. I am a N Arlington parent and if we're going to have these programs to help close achievement gaps ATS isn't that program. I am also not as sold on immersion, I think the campbell model and Drew are great programs. Moving or just keeping ATS is a favor to the wealthy parents in the North and upper middle class parents in S Arlington. It is not a solution to solving our diversity issues.

Look at what a county wide program does to surrounding ES boundaries. Look at Ashlawn's current boundary, it looks so crazy due to its proximity to ATS. APS staff will not release transfer data by planning unit but using the report above is helpful in seeing who these programs are really truly helping.

Further the ATS model is not what parents and educational experts are going towards which is to back track on early reading/math standards, eliminate ES homework and value unstructured play both at and away from school to help kids develop the social skills they need to be good middle and high school students. This isn't the ATS model.

Ashlawn's boundary looks all jacked up because of attempts at diversity, not ATS. But don't worry, you're going to get your homogeneous school when they re-do the boundaries. And Blvd Manor, you're not going to be sent S of 50 to a neighborhood school. Thanks for filling out the Carlin Springs walk zone survey for the families who don't have limited English and limited Internet access!

[Anonymous]

I don't really get why we have still so many option schools in Arlington.

When I was growing up as a student in APS Page (now ATS) was an option school to provide a more "traditional" style of education with contained classrooms and one teacher only back when we were all in open pods and changing teachers for different subjects. It was for people who really wanted a different learning environment (um, like HB used to be) and who would benefit from the specific differences. Like HB it evolved into an exclusive, competitive, self-selected escape hatch from the "norm" that is the rest of APS.

I think if you opened a "regular" APS elementary that is self-selected and lottery based, even with regular APS curriculum/teaching style, you would get the ATS "results." So basically what makes it successful is a motivated and self selected community.

I see more purpose for bilingual education which benefits native speakers of both languages.

I think if you're going to have an option school which provides a special "experience" you should have to demonstrate why your child specifically would benefit from that environment (like ATS or HB - which would also result in people not getting to take advantage of both in succession). Just my random thoughts.

[Anonymous]

So, who is leading the charge against ATS. A lot of schools are ready to fall in line behind you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that ATS draws most from Ashlawn and McK since the SOL scores are so similar at those schools. Not as familiar with Glebe's test scores.

People from different schools have different reasons for seeking a choice program. ATS is a highly sought-after "program" because of it's high achievement and, I think, supposed "prestige" - drawing families from high-performing north arlington schools. That is also attractive to south Arlington families; but more south Arlington families are also just looking for an option program so they can get out of their neighborhood school. And then a disproportionate # of ATS students get into HB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get why we have still so many option schools in Arlington.

When I was growing up as a student in APS Page (now ATS) was an option school to provide a more "traditional" style of education with contained classrooms and one teacher only back when we were all in open pods and changing teachers for different subjects. It was for people who really wanted a different learning environment (um, like HB used to be) and who would benefit from the specific differences. Like HB it evolved into an exclusive, competitive, self-selected escape hatch from the "norm" that is the rest of APS.

I think if you opened a "regular" APS elementary that is self-selected and lottery based, even with regular APS curriculum/teaching style, you would get the ATS "results." So basically what makes it successful is a motivated and self selected community.

I see more purpose for bilingual education which benefits native speakers of both languages.

I think if you're going to have an option school which provides a special "experience" you should have to demonstrate why your child specifically would benefit from that environment (like ATS or HB - which would also result in people not getting to take advantage of both in succession). Just my random thoughts.

Yes, particularly in light of the fact that ATS and HB are just about polar opposites in style. How can they both be "a good fit" for the same children?