Overcrowding and Arlington - is it a reason to go private or seek out something different?

[Anonymous]

I've heard a lot of talk about Arlington schools getting to/over capacity etc., but I've historically heard such great things about the Arlington school system that I just assumed that's where we'd relocate when our child turns 5. Should we be scared off by the overcrowding, or do people think the school district is addressing the problem in a smart way for the long term?

[Anonymous]

What scares you about overcrowding?

Arlington has the lowest class sizes in all of NoVa and that's not changing anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

There is overcrowding everywhere in the DC Metro area. I'm not sure where you think you will go to avoid this, unless you go private.
PP is correct that class size is lower than in FCPS. Your kid might be in a portable classroom one year. Not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is overcrowding everywhere in the DC Metro area. I'm not sure where you think you will go to avoid this, unless you go private.
PP is correct that class size is lower than in FCPS. Your kid might be in a portable classroom one year. Not the end of the world.

The trailers are nice. Better climate control and nicer bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What scares you about overcrowding?

Arlington has the lowest class sizes in all of NoVa and that's not changing anytime soon.

OP here - looking for reassurance that it's not a huge problem or at least not outside the norm for the region. There were some DCUM comments that made me pause, that's all.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with 40 classmates all thru middle school (not usa). You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What scares you about overcrowding?

Arlington has the lowest class sizes in all of NoVa and that's not changing anytime soon.

Yes, Arlington schools would not be overcrowded if they had the same class sizes as fairfax. (from a FPS parent.)

[Anonymous]

The buildings that need lots of trailers have some wonky lunch schedules, but other than that, the crowding has not been a huge deal at our ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard a lot of talk about Arlington schools getting to/over capacity etc., but I've historically heard such great things about the Arlington school system that I just assumed that's where we'd relocate when our child turns 5. Should we be scared off by the overcrowding, or do people think the school district is addressing the problem in a smart way for the long term?

I don't like the overcrowding myself. And yes, my husband attended elementary school with 90 kids in his class (!) and 1 teacher in a different country and he is successful, but I think most teachers would agree that in same-age classes, the lower the number of students, the more you can cover, faster, and the more time you have for making it fun and enjoyable and playful and providing the "extras" (which shouldn't be extras-- recess, arts, etc.).

So I'd be very interested in the answer to this question-- but I think we'd be better off to actually research it elsewhere rather than expect an answer through these forums, perhaps, OP...where do you live now? Would you have to relocate somewhere in the area? If you look at the schools, Arlington does have the smallest classes in the area-- 19 students, I think, average in K vs. 24 or something for Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

OP, I share your concerns and we are wondering the same thing.

DH and I both grew up with classes that averaged less than 20 students per classroom. The idea of 25 or more students makes me wonder whether teachers can truly teach and meet the needs of the whole class, handle any behavioral challenges, etc.

Don't know the answer yet but we are exploring our options.

[Anonymous]

OP, I share your concerns and we are wondering the same thing.

DH and I both grew up with classes that averaged less than 20 students per classroom. The idea of 25 or more students makes me wonder whether teachers can truly teach and meet the needs of the whole class, handle any behavioral challenges, etc.

Don't know the answer yet but we are exploring our options.

[Anonymous]

In the coming years, APS will have real capacity issues and, depending on where you are, redistricting to less crowded, lower performing schools is also a possibility. The new construction was poorly planned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the coming years, APS will have real capacity issues and, depending on where you are, redistricting to less crowded, lower performing schools is also a possibility. The new construction was poorly planned.

I attended last week's APS School Board meeting and was surprised to hear the facilities staff recommend that the Board reevaluate the timing and/or need for the new choice elementary school at the Carlin Springs/Kenmore site in favor of a new middle school. So basically the kids in the northern part of the County are taken care of with their new school coming online in 2015 while the kids in the southern part of the county would have to wait a few more years in their mostly overcrowded facilities (through 2017/2018) before a new school get reconsidered! As someone whose child will be going to one of those overcrowded schools, I was disappointed. I will say that the facilities staff mentioned something about waiting to receive current enrollment numbers to make new projections and looking at specific planning units. It seems there is the belief that certain areas won't become as overcrowded as anticipated and the need for the new choice school no longer urgent. It will be interesting to see how this evolves...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the coming years, APS will have real capacity issues and, depending on where you are, redistricting to less crowded, lower performing schools is also a possibility. The new construction was poorly planned.

I heard the school board has put off studying any new boundary adjustments. The boundaries will not change anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I heard the school board has put off studying any new boundary adjustments. The boundaries will not change anytime soon.

In SOUTH Arlington, or potentially WRT high schools. Rezoning has already occurred for 7 schools in N Arlington and will take effect in the fall of 2015.