Barcroft elementary/ south Arlington crisis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes! We'd love a choice school as a future option for our kid! We were quite interested in the Science Focus, but when we saw what it would take to get into that area, and then it was guaranteed, we decided our money was better spent in the South. Still pretty happy about that.

We are still 4 years away from all of this, but I'm pretty certain my kid won't have any choice but the neighborhood school. We bought in South Arlington because the schools were so great. We didn't have kids yet, and it ended up being a much longer more difficult process to have a child than we expected. North Arlington was never an option for us ( still isn't). I'm praying that our school improves, but I think we will have to look elsewhere. This whole thing is very frustrating and depressing. I worry that the as the local school becomes more crowded, the quality will start to tank. I don't think people even realize what is happening/ coming down the " pike".

[Anonymous]

Vertical schools are a good answer, but it's not as simple as it sounds. Most school, like Henry, I'm sure, weren't built to support a second level. In addition, you can't build above students, so even vertical additions require that children be relocated during construction. That's why you see all these sprawling behemoths.

[Anonymous]

They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

+1 sort of. Why not have two science focus schools on an east west divide, like the immersion schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

+1 sort of. Why not have two science focus schools on an east west divide, like the immersion schools?

Everyone can go to Boston-Hoffman, a STEM focus school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

+1 sort of. Why not have two science focus schools on an east west divide, like the immersion schools?

Everyone can go to Boston-Hoffman, a STEM focus school.

Ok. Whatever, so long as families in the South have options again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

+1 sort of. Why not have two science focus schools on an east west divide, like the immersion schools?

Everyone can go to Boston-Hoffman, a STEM focus school.

Ok. Whatever, so long as families in the South have options again.

I was about to get all snarky on this comment, until I saw the dramatic improvement in test scores from 2012 to 2014 for Hoffman-Boston. Holy cow! Maybe Coach Murphy was on to something after all by making this a STEM-focused school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should build the school at TJ and move Science Focus there.

I'd be all for it if the only children eligible were from Barcroft, Carlin Springs, Randolph, Abingdon, and Drew.

+1 sort of. Why not have two science focus schools on an east west divide, like the immersion schools?

Everyone can go to Boston-Hoffman, a STEM focus school.

Ok. Whatever, so long as families in the South have options again.

I was about to get all snarky on this comment, until I saw the dramatic improvement in test scores from 2012 to 2014 for Hoffman-Boston. Holy cow! Maybe Coach Murphy was on to something after all by making this a STEM-focused school.

Hoffman boston
Very ethnically diverse
70% Farms
Nice lookin' test scores


Apparently, not bursting at the seams....
Looks like it can be done folks, but it's going to take some significant planning and resources. This school gives me hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I was about to get all snarky on this comment, until I saw the dramatic improvement in test scores from 2012 to 2014 for Hoffman-Boston. Holy cow! Maybe Coach Murphy was on to something after all by making this a STEM-focused school.

Did Coach Murphy do that? My kids attend Taylor, another school with a STEM focus, and that program was entirely the teachers' doing.

[Anonymous]

It is an option now, albeit a bit farther out. Very nice gym and outdoor spaces, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is an option now, albeit a bit farther out. Very nice gym and outdoor spaces, too.

Hoffman boston? Isn't it a neighborhood school? Not a choice.

[Anonymous]

People should go to this:
June 9 APS Community Forum to Discuss Site Selection for New South Arlington Elementary School

The Arlington School Board invites the community to a public forum on Tue, June 9, at 7 pm at the Arlington Career Center. The focus of the meeting will be to discuss the process to select a site for a new neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington. This community forum will provide background information on the issue and explain the South Arlington Working Group being organized to help guide the decision-making process. Every South Arlington PTA, civic association and community organization involved will have a representative and an alternate on this working group. Individuals who are interested in serving as a representative for their organization should contact their PTA or civic association leadership.

The charge for this working group is to assist the School Board in determining the site for a new 725-seat neighborhood elementary school by December 2015, preferably for completion by September 2019. The group will work with staff to evaluate and analyze site options for the new school.

Additional community forums and other tools will be used to engage the public throughout the process.


Please plan to attend this kickoff community forum on June 9th at the Career Center at 7 pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People should go to this:
June 9 APS Community Forum to Discuss Site Selection for New South Arlington Elementary School

The Arlington School Board invites the community to a public forum on Tue, June 9, at 7 pm at the Arlington Career Center. The focus of the meeting will be to discuss the process to select a site for a new neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington. This community forum will provide background information on the issue and explain the South Arlington Working Group being organized to help guide the decision-making process. Every South Arlington PTA, civic association and community organization involved will have a representative and an alternate on this working group. Individuals who are interested in serving as a representative for their organization should contact their PTA or civic association leadership.

The charge for this working group is to assist the School Board in determining the site for a new 725-seat neighborhood elementary school by December 2015, preferably for completion by September 2019. The group will work with staff to evaluate and analyze site options for the new school.

Additional community forums and other tools will be used to engage the public throughout the process.


Please plan to attend this kickoff community forum on June 9th at the Career Center at 7 pm.

Thanks for posting this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is an option now, albeit a bit farther out. Very nice gym and outdoor spaces, too.

Hoffman boston? Isn't it a neighborhood school? Not a choice.

It's under enrolled so opens to all.