South Arlington and North Arlington Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dorsey is from south arlington and his kids are or went to south arlington schools.

Cristol is totally fine with concentrating all the affordable housing on the pike. She also thinks it is perfectly fine to have schools with 70% farms. She does not think SOL scores mean much because each student is different and arlington has great teachers.

How do I know? I asked her at a meeting. There is. I question and her answer to me was very clear. She may try to soften it now that people like me have challenged her position. She talks the talk, but when asked specific questions she would not change the lack of diversity in our schools. She is very close to Mary Hynes and advised the board on what questions t ask the school board in that ridiculous affordablehousing housing plan. The questions were written to support the plan. Period.

If you want to continue shoving the poorer people in arlington in south Arlington, vote Cristol. If you don't, vote McMenamin and Dorsey.

I find this hard to believe. I work at Randolph Elementary, where I know Katie as a volunteer. She also lives in South Arlington and has volunteered at an elementary school for years despite not having any kids there. I know that isn't what I was doing with my free time when I was 25.

I believe that Katie may have defended the quality of the school or the excellence of our students at Randolph and elsewhere in South Arlington, so maybe you misinterpreted her saying that she was proud of our school as saying that she doesn't care about the students there. And by the way, SOL scores do Not tel you everything about a student, and we Do have great teachers here.

I too would have been volunteering and doing community service at 25 if I had aspirations of political office. Cynical yes, but likely.
She has been asked many questions involving AH and isn't willing to connect the dots between that and school performance. If she can't have an honest conversation of some basic truths, she can't have my vote.
She has said SOL's aren't the best metric. Is that a common refrain at Randolph? I'm sure the teachers there are fantastic. No one on these threads have even implied this a teacher problem. I'm tired of the board using test scores when it's politically convenient. Either they matter or they don't.
She also needs to tone down the political jargon and give more specifics.
Also, cool it with the micro units.

I want my candidates to take milquetoast positions. I want vague talk of common ground, places at the table, collaboration, and the like. I don't want specifics. Will some leader appear on the scene who fits these criteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...I really think ATS needs to have more spaces set aside for VPI students so that the population of our only countywide school is reflective of Arlington's population...

from bottom of ATS home page http://www.apsva.us/domain/292:

School Population:
Total Student Enrollment, PreK-5: 502
Students who receive English as a second language support, K-5: 17.5%
Number of Countries Represented: 22
Number of Languages Spoken: 28
Minority Population: 42.6%
Total Teaching Faculty: 43
Total Administrators: 2
Teachers with a Master’s degree or beyond: 79%

I meant socioeconomic diversity, but I think you knew that. ATS current FARM rate= 18.33 %. County overall FARM rate= 31.42 %

http://apsva.us//site/Default.aspx?PageID=1113

Not trying to knock ATS, as they could probably remove the VPI program entirely, and become less diverse, without a big community uproar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be 30%. That is the free and reduced lunch rate for all of Arlington. But a lot of us (N. and S.) would just like to see it balanced a bit so there is not 70-80% at Carlin Springs/Randolph and 2% at Jamestown/Nottingham. How about 50-60% and 15-20%?

That would definitely be much more banlanced and diverse for these schools. Of course I should have just considered the overall rates. Duh.
30 % is a lot, but that seems like a number we can absorb. I am concerned that the new plan will add to that. When we start to approach 40/50 % as a county- that seems untenable.

To get an idea of what 30% looks like, look at Long Branch and Oakridge. These two are closest to the county average of 30% FARMS -- 31% at Oakridge, 33% at Long Branch. Both have good test scores overall (both are 8 on Greatschools). My kids are at Long Branch and it's been a great community. I've been very happy with how my kids have been challenged and the various enrichment opportunities they have. It doesn't feel like poverty/ESL related issues are taking too much time. We have friends at Oakridge who are similarly pleased with their experience there.

Thanks for the real world examples. It sucks that many of the s arl elementaries would be lucky to make it down to 50%. I really think anything over 40 is too high. I don't see how that can't have a negative impact.

Here is another real world example:

About 6-7 years ago Patrick Henry was 6/10 on Great Schools with a free lunch rate of about 50%.

Now they are a 9/10 rating at Great schools and have a free lunch rate of 37%!

Also : Patrick Henry Elementary School has been recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School, the only public elementary school in Northern Virginia to receive the honor this year.

In case this moronic out of touch Board plans to bump up the poverty rate again, because of their idiotic housing plan (while raising my real estate tax assessment 12% again), that would be ... I have no words. Just this message for the Board: You won't get our money, if that'll come to pass.

There is that sweet spot where a great staff and enough involved parents can make it all excellent- but if you overwhelm a school with challenges - not the greatest staff will be able to overcome it - in my personal opinion.

Patrick Henry is 3/10 on Great Schools... where are you getting your information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...I really think ATS needs to have more spaces set aside for VPI students so that the population of our only countywide school is reflective of Arlington's population...

from bottom of ATS home page http://www.apsva.us/domain/292:

School Population:
Total Student Enrollment, PreK-5: 502
Students who receive English as a second language support, K-5: 17.5%
Number of Countries Represented: 22
Number of Languages Spoken: 28
Minority Population: 42.6%
Total Teaching Faculty: 43
Total Administrators: 2
Teachers with a Master’s degree or beyond: 79%

I meant socioeconomic diversity, but I think you knew that. ATS current FARM rate= 18.33 %. County overall FARM rate= 31.42 %

http://apsva.us//site/Default.aspx?PageID=1113

Not trying to knock ATS, as they could probably remove the VPI program entirely, and become less diverse, without a big community uproar.

but wouldn't that make its minority % even less reflective of Arlington population?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be 30%. That is the free and reduced lunch rate for all of Arlington. But a lot of us (N. and S.) would just like to see it balanced a bit so there is not 70-80% at Carlin Springs/Randolph and 2% at Jamestown/Nottingham. How about 50-60% and 15-20%?

That would definitely be much more banlanced and diverse for these schools. Of course I should have just considered the overall rates. Duh.
30 % is a lot, but that seems like a number we can absorb. I am concerned that the new plan will add to that. When we start to approach 40/50 % as a county- that seems untenable.

To get an idea of what 30% looks like, look at Long Branch and Oakridge. These two are closest to the county average of 30% FARMS -- 31% at Oakridge, 33% at Long Branch. Both have good test scores overall (both are 8 on Greatschools). My kids are at Long Branch and it's been a great community. I've been very happy with how my kids have been challenged and the various enrichment opportunities they have. It doesn't feel like poverty/ESL related issues are taking too much time. We have friends at Oakridge who are similarly pleased with their experience there.

Thanks for the real world examples. It sucks that many of the s arl elementaries would be lucky to make it down to 50%. I really think anything over 40 is too high. I don't see how that can't have a negative impact.

Here is another real world example:

About 6-7 years ago Patrick Henry was 6/10 on Great Schools with a free lunch rate of about 50%.

Now they are a 9/10 rating at Great schools and have a free lunch rate of 37%!

Also : Patrick Henry Elementary School has been recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School, the only public elementary school in Northern Virginia to receive the honor this year.

In case this moronic out of touch Board plans to bump up the poverty rate again, because of their idiotic housing plan (while raising my real estate tax assessment 12% again), that would be ... I have no words. Just this message for the Board: You won't get our money, if that'll come to pass.

There is that sweet spot where a great staff and enough involved parents can make it all excellent- but if you overwhelm a school with challenges - not the greatest staff will be able to overcome it - in my personal opinion.

Patrick Henry is 3/10 on Great Schools... where are you getting your information?

It is a 9. You must be looking at the wrong "Henry Elementary." Patrick Henry ES in Alexandria is a 3.

http://www.greatschools.org/virginia/arlington/118-Henry-Elementary-School/

[Anonymous]

^^^ yeah dude. Patrick Henry in south Arlington is doing great.
9 on great schools!
Blue ribbon school!
Actually diverse!
Super jealous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'd be 30%. That is the free and reduced lunch rate for all of Arlington. But a lot of us (N. and S.) would just like to see it balanced a bit so there is not 70-80% at Carlin Springs/Randolph and 2% at Jamestown/Nottingham. How about 50-60% and 15-20%?

That would definitely be much more banlanced and diverse for these schools. Of course I should have just considered the overall rates. Duh.
30 % is a lot, but that seems like a number we can absorb. I am concerned that the new plan will add to that. When we start to approach 40/50 % as a county- that seems untenable.

To get an idea of what 30% looks like, look at Long Branch and Oakridge. These two are closest to the county average of 30% FARMS -- 31% at Oakridge, 33% at Long Branch. Both have good test scores overall (both are 8 on Greatschools). My kids are at Long Branch and it's been a great community. I've been very happy with how my kids have been challenged and the various enrichment opportunities they have. It doesn't feel like poverty/ESL related issues are taking too much time. We have friends at Oakridge who are similarly pleased with their experience there.

Thanks for the real world examples. It sucks that many of the s arl elementaries would be lucky to make it down to 50%. I really think anything over 40 is too high. I don't see how that can't have a negative impact.

Here is another real world example:

About 6-7 years ago Patrick Henry was 6/10 on Great Schools with a free lunch rate of about 50%.

Now they are a 9/10 rating at Great schools and have a free lunch rate of 37%!

Also : Patrick Henry Elementary School has been recognized as a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School, the only public elementary school in Northern Virginia to receive the honor this year.

In case this moronic out of touch Board plans to bump up the poverty rate again, because of their idiotic housing plan (while raising my real estate tax assessment 12% again), that would be ... I have no words. Just this message for the Board: You won't get our money, if that'll come to pass.

There is that sweet spot where a great staff and enough involved parents can make it all excellent- but if you overwhelm a school with challenges - not the greatest staff will be able to overcome it - in my personal opinion.

Patrick Henry is 3/10 on Great Schools... where are you getting your information?

Wrong - you are mistakenly looking at Patrick Henry Elem. Alexandria. NOT Arlington! Arlington is 9/10 !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ yeah dude. Patrick Henry in south Arlington is doing great.
9 on great schools!
Blue ribbon school!
Actually diverse!
Super jealous

And here I am, a block away from it, and we're zoned for Barcroft. If Henry can do so well, why can't that success spread to Barcroft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ yeah dude. Patrick Henry in south Arlington is doing great.
9 on great schools!
Blue ribbon school!
Actually diverse!
Super jealous

And here I am, a block away from it, and we're zoned for Barcroft. If Henry can do so well, why can't that success spread to Barcroft?

Hi neighbor! It should! If market forces were allowed to take over!!!
- Alcova heights is so nice with the wide tree lined streets... Nice craftsman houses, well kept yards.... At least 15 houses sold within last year or two for over a million on that small part of AH I'm watching. I really don't know, why it shouldn't or hasn't.... I hope it will.
Cant wait to vote... Hope it will be a wake up call for the board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ yeah dude. Patrick Henry in south Arlington is doing great.
9 on great schools!
Blue ribbon school!
Actually diverse!
Super jealous

And here I am, a block away from it, and we're zoned for Barcroft. If Henry can do so well, why can't that success spread to Barcroft?

Hi neighbor! It should! If market forces were allowed to take over!!!
- Alcova heights is so nice with the wide tree lined streets... Nice craftsman houses, well kept yards.... At least 15 houses sold within last year or two for over a million on that small part of AH I'm watching. I really don't know, why it shouldn't or hasn't.... I hope it will.
Cant wait to vote... Hope it will be a wake up call for the board!

I'm a slightly farther neighbor, two blocks off from Henry and zoned for Drew. Plenty of teardowns in our hood but things change slowly, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Which park will they put affordable housing in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which park will they put affordable housing in?

Hopefully none! I mean, really, whom should I vote for?
This is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which park will they put affordable housing in?

Hopefully none! I mean, really, whom should I vote for?
This is ridiculous.

Potomac Overlook? Or maybe that's a regional park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^ yeah dude. Patrick Henry in south Arlington is doing great.
9 on great schools!
Blue ribbon school!
Actually diverse!
Super jealous

And here I am, a block away from it, and we're zoned for Barcroft. If Henry can do so well, why can't that success spread to Barcroft?

The demographics and numbers matter

Henry- approx 1/3 free lunch
Barcroft- approx 70%


Majority poor? Gonna have some issues. Get a better balance- school performance rises for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Barcroft is not changing anytime soon. 70% free and reduced lunch now and it & Randolph & Carlin Springs are the primary targets of the just approved Affordable Housing Master Plan. Henry was spared the affordable housing. It got Penrose. The west pike is getting all the 100% CAFs. Best hope for you in Alcova is to be redistricted for Henry or if they build a new school at TJ. That's your out. Barcroft is not moving in the right direction.