APS: New High School forum tonight 7-9 pm at Yorktown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Nah. Just your kids will be left in that situation. The rest of us have $$ that gives options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Nah. Just your kids will be left in that situation. The rest of us have $$ that gives options.

O'Connell is fine I suppose. I wouldn't relish the trip to a top private school every day. Potomac school isn't too far. I have a friend who teaches there. Seems fine. I thought we paid to be close to good schools and now we've all got to schlep it across town. I'm not sure what situation you think you are avoiding. Trading one not great option for another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

Lots to do?

[Anonymous]

Would the last person to leave Arlington please do so after consulting with 10 committees and completing five semi-literate surveys, to determine how to turn off the environmentally friendly lights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

Lots to do?

Parks, restaurants, farmers markets... community. And a lot less back biting it feels like, from what I read here.

And the commute into DC is still great. That is what will keep people coming to the South, particularly the Eastern part of the Pike and Pentagon/Crystal Cities, and Shirlington.

I do feel for the Arlington Mill/Glen Carlyn folks though. Still good commute there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

Glad you're happy with Wakefield. Not many others would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

Lots to do?

Parks, restaurants, farmers markets... community. And a lot less back biting it feels like, from what I read here.

And the commute into DC is still great. That is what will keep people coming to the South, particularly the Eastern part of the Pike and Pentagon/Crystal Cities, and Shirlington.

I do feel for the Arlington Mill/Glen Carlyn folks though. Still good commute there.

Thanks for my Monday am laugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

South Arlington is feeling pretty smug right about now.

About what?

.

I would imagine everything.

Except where they live

Hmm... nicest, newest high school. Biggest campus. No surprises heading our way. Neighbors that aren't looking to screw you over... it's just a better situation.

Actually, it's pretty nice down here and getting better all the time! Housing prices going up and lots to do.

Glad you're happy with Wakefield. Not many others would be.

There are so many other worse schools, I don't know why people are so down on Wakefield. Middle class kids do fine there. It's diverse. I have friends from this area who graduated from there and are successful.

To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. Live our Eastern Pune location, neighbors, neighborhood. Schools in Arlington are so much better than most schools nationwide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Live our Eastern Pune location, neighbors, neighborhood. Schools in Arlington are so much better than most schools nationwide.

Wakefield consistently scores below state and national averages by just about every measure. People praise what they hope it will be in 15 years, not what it's been for decades.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I want to move out family way out into Loudoun County and leave all this behind. However, we'd lose half our life to commute and it wouldn't be worth it. So, I'll just keep hoping I can find a way to afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Live our Eastern Pune location, neighbors, neighborhood. Schools in Arlington are so much better than most schools nationwide.

Wakefield consistently scores below state and national averages by just about every measure. People praise what they hope it will be in 15 years, not what it's been for decades.

But the children of people who frequent this board are not the ones who are failing. All those AP kids are fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Live our Eastern Pune location, neighbors, neighborhood. Schools in Arlington are so much better than most schools nationwide.

Wakefield consistently scores below state and national averages by just about every measure. People praise what they hope it will be in 15 years, not what it's been for decades.

Yeah ok. Sure...
But here's a little perspective for you...
We are currently zoned Wakefield but will be moving in the next few years- before K. I was taking a wait see approach because we had so much time, but have been active in all of these conversations. I think all students should have reasonable access to a traditional high school in this county. Yes, it will be hard, but there is no excuse. We have the money, and we can find the space if we choose that schools take priority.
Anyway, we are moving to a large mid western city. Selling our south Arlington home will give us tremendous buying power when we move. We can have the best commute with a great house , and the best schools.
When I started to compare data between schools, I began to see that the best public high schools of our new city ( they are GS 10's) had very similar stats to Wakefield. Seemingly with fewer AP classes and extra circulars offered. Not a bad selection, just not such as wide a range.
So what was I worried about?
Wakefield was offering us all of these benefits without an intense pressure cooker atmosphere. I'm sad we won't get to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Live our Eastern Pune location, neighbors, neighborhood. Schools in Arlington are so much better than most schools nationwide.

Wakefield consistently scores below state and national averages by just about every measure. People praise what they hope it will be in 15 years, not what it's been for decades.

Yeah ok. Sure...
But here's a little perspective for you...
We are currently zoned Wakefield but will be moving in the next few years- before K. I was taking a wait see approach because we had so much time, but have been active in all of these conversations. I think all students should have reasonable access to a traditional high school in this county. Yes, it will be hard, but there is no excuse. We have the money, and we can find the space if we choose that schools take priority.
Anyway, we are moving to a large mid western city. Selling our south Arlington home will give us tremendous buying power when we move. We can have the best commute with a great house , and the best schools.
When I started to compare data between schools, I began to see that the best public high schools of our new city ( they are GS 10's) had very similar stats to Wakefield. Seemingly with fewer AP classes and extra circulars offered. Not a bad selection, just not such as wide a range.
So what was I worried about?
Wakefield was offering us all of these benefits without an intense pressure cooker atmosphere. I'm sad we won't get to enjoy it.

Too true! Was talking with a friend who lives in Hampton Roads and the worse schools in Arlington rank higher than some of their best.

We're all too A-type here!