Current APS MS parents who are staying

[Anonymous]

I have a friend at GDS who has his MS kid in writing tutoring because he is so unhappy with the writing instruction. And that’s one of the best and most expensive privates around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.

My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.

[Anonymous]

This thread is helpful. Trying to decide if we should move our 5th grader from a diocese Catholic school to Arlington MS Swanson next year. And this decision based on where we may want to send him to HS-- Yorktown, O'Connell or private. We don't want him going from small Catholic to large over-sized HS as a freshman, with few or no friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is helpful. Trying to decide if we should move our 5th grader from a diocese Catholic school to Arlington MS Swanson next year. And this decision based on where we may want to send him to HS-- Yorktown, O'Connell or private. We don't want him going from small Catholic to large over-sized HS as a freshman, with few or no friends.

Let me tell you, kids change a LOT in middle school, and honestly my child drifted from their elementary friends (and a lot moved away or went to private), so you can still go to MS @ Swanson but end up going to a large high school with few or no friends.

With that in mind, you want to foster resilience in your kid, and the ability to make new friends rather than the school pyramid providing that emotional scaffolding -- because it won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is helpful. Trying to decide if we should move our 5th grader from a diocese Catholic school to Arlington MS Swanson next year. And this decision based on where we may want to send him to HS-- Yorktown, O'Connell or private. We don't want him going from small Catholic to large over-sized HS as a freshman, with few or no friends.

Let me tell you, kids change a LOT in middle school, and honestly my child drifted from their elementary friends (and a lot moved away or went to private), so you can still go to MS @ Swanson but end up going to a large high school with few or no friends.

With that in mind, you want to foster resilience in your kid, and the ability to make new friends rather than the school pyramid providing that emotional scaffolding -- because it won't.

+1 My son shifted friend groups in middle school. Then most of the new friends did not go to the same HS with him so he made a new group of friends. I think that has served him well. He's now at a really large college and finding it a bit slow to build friendships there but he's not worried since he knows he can do it, it just takes some time.

I worry more about my DD who has had the same two BFFs since 2nd grade (now HS juniors). She has other friends too but these two girls are her home base. She hasn't had a lot of experience starting somewhere 100% new. However, she did do a college summer program this year without her BFFs and ended up having a great time so I think that has helped her feel a bit more confident about the idea of starting fresh in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

Metro? No one is ever riding metro again in any numbers. It's a dead dinosaur. People will not want to cram in with strangers unless taxis and ubers are triple digit prices.

So Arlington will have worse school, more office vacancy, and declining property values, and then will cut budget to schools which are already over crowded.

How do we stop this downward cycle?

People like you who can't see past the tip of their own nose fascinate me. You really think public transit is dead. Forever. That's your theory. You think this because you're likely a middle aged person who is content to work in your PJs forever and ride in your car everywhere. And you really think that's where this world is going? For young people? With climate change?

Also Amazon is still investing heavily in Arlington. It's full speed ahead. And property values aren't declining in the least.

+1

As sure as I breathe, there is someone on DCUM who predicts close in house values will decline or crash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.

My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.

So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

Metro? No one is ever riding metro again in any numbers. It's a dead dinosaur. People will not want to cram in with strangers unless taxis and ubers are triple digit prices.

So Arlington will have worse school, more office vacancy, and declining property values, and then will cut budget to schools which are already over crowded.

How do we stop this downward cycle?

People like you who can't see past the tip of their own nose fascinate me. You really think public transit is dead. Forever. That's your theory. You think this because you're likely a middle aged person who is content to work in your PJs forever and ride in your car everywhere. And you really think that's where this world is going? For young people? With climate change?

Also Amazon is still investing heavily in Arlington. It's full speed ahead. And property values aren't declining in the least.

Arlington is a victim of its own success, including Amazon. It’s now chock full of extremely wealthy people who didn’t go to public school, and who aren’t going to send their kids to one, either. Meanwhile, APS is hiring second tier talent from the county next door and hiring more central office staff every day. Good transit doesn’t mean good public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.

My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.

So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?

I thought Shifts and RL were tossed??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.

You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).

Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?

Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.

What is W-L like? Too crowded?

W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.

What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?

Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.

My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.

So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?

The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

Metro? No one is ever riding metro again in any numbers. It's a dead dinosaur. People will not want to cram in with strangers unless taxis and ubers are triple digit prices.

So Arlington will have worse school, more office vacancy, and declining property values, and then will cut budget to schools which are already over crowded.

How do we stop this downward cycle?

People like you who can't see past the tip of their own nose fascinate me. You really think public transit is dead. Forever. That's your theory. You think this because you're likely a middle aged person who is content to work in your PJs forever and ride in your car everywhere. And you really think that's where this world is going? For young people? With climate change?

Also Amazon is still investing heavily in Arlington. It's full speed ahead. And property values aren't declining in the least.

Arlington is a victim of its own success, including Amazon. It’s now chock full of extremely wealthy people who didn’t go to public school, and who aren’t going to send their kids to one, either. Meanwhile, APS is hiring second tier talent from the county next door and hiring more central office staff every day. Good transit doesn’t mean good public schools.

I don't know. Most of my neighbors did go to public school and moved to Arlington from the District specifically to be close to DC while keeping their kids in quality public schools like the ones they attended. Then, over time they saw a lot of deficiencies and had a lot of frustration and many have put their kids in private. We were both public school kids all the way through K-12 and I always had a chip on my shoulder about 'private school kids'. But, now my kids are at a private HS. I was at a sporting event recently where my kid's school was playing a public school and I had to laugh when the students in the stands starting chanting 'public school, public school' . I relate much more to that mindset. But, we chose a private that is 'down-to-earth' for a private and not uber wealthy 'special' parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, APS is most definitely in decline. Most teachers are great but Syphax hamstrings them with large classes and BS. The move to standards based grading will either be the wake up call parents need to pay attention and put a stop to it or it will put the decline on an even faster track. The rest of Arlington won’t even realized what happened until our property values start looking more like Alexandria (i.e., 200k less).

that won't happen. it'll be next sucker up for awhile.

Property values will not decline where we are next to Metro/walkability to amenities.

The people moving in to these new $1.9-2.2 million+ homes are all private school families.

Arlington close-in isn't totally dependent on schools for property values as much as for location to DC/amenities/Metro, etc. It's why some DC neighborhoods are so expensive even with awful DC public schools. location, location, location.

Metro? No one is ever riding metro again in any numbers. It's a dead dinosaur. People will not want to cram in with strangers unless taxis and ubers are triple digit prices.

So Arlington will have worse school, more office vacancy, and declining property values, and then will cut budget to schools which are already over crowded.

How do we stop this downward cycle?

People like you who can't see past the tip of their own nose fascinate me. You really think public transit is dead. Forever. That's your theory. You think this because you're likely a middle aged person who is content to work in your PJs forever and ride in your car everywhere. And you really think that's where this world is going? For young people? With climate change?

Also Amazon is still investing heavily in Arlington. It's full speed ahead. And property values aren't declining in the least.

Arlington is a victim of its own success, including Amazon. It’s now chock full of extremely wealthy people who didn’t go to public school, and who aren’t going to send their kids to one, either. Meanwhile, APS is hiring second tier talent from the county next door and hiring more central office staff every day. Good transit doesn’t mean good public schools.

I don't know. Most of my neighbors did go to public school and moved to Arlington from the District specifically to be close to DC while keeping their kids in quality public schools like the ones they attended. Then, over time they saw a lot of deficiencies and had a lot of frustration and many have put their kids in private. We were both public school kids all the way through K-12 and I always had a chip on my shoulder about 'private school kids'. But, now my kids are at a private HS. I was at a sporting event recently where my kid's school was playing a public school and I had to laugh when the students in the stands starting chanting 'public school, public school' . I relate much more to that mindset. But, we chose a private that is 'down-to-earth' for a private and not uber wealthy 'special' parents.

But, yes, wealth is ultimately what drives the private school influx. It wasn't an option for my parents when I was growing up and they both had attended private school because they were raised in an area with awful public schools--but received aid to attend privates.