HB Woodlawn -- High School Only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one said shut it down. They did say that HB needs to take more kids, though. There shouldn't be a private school option (HB) while all the other schools bust at the seams.

To be fair, some did say shut it down and make it a regular large high school.
Nevertheless, a variety of programs that serve different types of learners is a good thing. What some are saying, me included, is that those programs' admissions should be set up so they are most likely to serve the kids who would most benefit from them - not the kids who would do equally well in their districted school.

But the thing is...how do you make sure only the kids who would benefit the most get in?

If you make applications based on academics, then you end up with a TJ-like situation and all the problems that has.

If you make it based on teacher recommendations that a kid needs a smaller environment, I'm guessing a lot of kids could get their teachers to recommend them. And if a teacher doesn't want to recommend them but the parent wants them to, that's another potential tension point.

What if you said ok, the kids have to have a medically documented learning or mental health need. You would have a school full of kids with various issues that are severe enough to make the cut.

Also, what about the resources involved in reviewing applications of any type? Who would do it? A panel at HBW? That's a huge resource drain for the school.

The blind lottery system is the best solution.

If the lottery is the way to go, then make everyone-- even current HBW middle school students-- re-lottery into the program for the high school seats. That would give more kids a chance to experience the program, rather than letting a small number of lottery-winning students get 7 years there while other kids who would benefit from the program don't get to experience it at all. There is no other option school program that lets students lock in seats for middle and high school. The other programs are elementary school only, or high school only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one said shut it down. They did say that HB needs to take more kids, though. There shouldn't be a private school option (HB) while all the other schools bust at the seams.

To be fair, some did say shut it down and make it a regular large high school.
Nevertheless, a variety of programs that serve different types of learners is a good thing. What some are saying, me included, is that those programs' admissions should be set up so they are most likely to serve the kids who would most benefit from them - not the kids who would do equally well in their districted school.

But the thing is...how do you make sure only the kids who would benefit the most get in?

If you make applications based on academics, then you end up with a TJ-like situation and all the problems that has.

If you make it based on teacher recommendations that a kid needs a smaller environment, I'm guessing a lot of kids could get their teachers to recommend them. And if a teacher doesn't want to recommend them but the parent wants them to, that's another potential tension point.

What if you said ok, the kids have to have a medically documented learning or mental health need. You would have a school full of kids with various issues that are severe enough to make the cut.

Also, what about the resources involved in reviewing applications of any type? Who would do it? A panel at HBW? That's a huge resource drain for the school.

The blind lottery system is the best solution.

If the lottery is the way to go, then make everyone-- even current HBW middle school students-- re-lottery into the program for the high school seats. That would give more kids a chance to experience the program, rather than letting a small number of lottery-winning students get 7 years there while other kids who would benefit from the program don't get to experience it at all. There is no other option school program that lets students lock in seats for middle and high school. The other programs are elementary school only, or high school only.

Actually, immersion allows you to lock in K-12. And don't worry, Montessori is working on a longer lock-in period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one said shut it down. They did say that HB needs to take more kids, though. There shouldn't be a private school option (HB) while all the other schools bust at the seams.

To be fair, some did say shut it down and make it a regular large high school.
Nevertheless, a variety of programs that serve different types of learners is a good thing. What some are saying, me included, is that those programs' admissions should be set up so they are most likely to serve the kids who would most benefit from them - not the kids who would do equally well in their districted school.

But the thing is...how do you make sure only the kids who would benefit the most get in?

If you make applications based on academics, then you end up with a TJ-like situation and all the problems that has.

If you make it based on teacher recommendations that a kid needs a smaller environment, I'm guessing a lot of kids could get their teachers to recommend them. And if a teacher doesn't want to recommend them but the parent wants them to, that's another potential tension point.

What if you said ok, the kids have to have a medically documented learning or mental health need. You would have a school full of kids with various issues that are severe enough to make the cut.

Also, what about the resources involved in reviewing applications of any type? Who would do it? A panel at HBW? That's a huge resource drain for the school.

The blind lottery system is the best solution.

If the lottery is the way to go, then make everyone-- even current HBW middle school students-- re-lottery into the program for the high school seats. That would give more kids a chance to experience the program, rather than letting a small number of lottery-winning students get 7 years there while other kids who would benefit from the program don't get to experience it at all. There is no other option school program that lets students lock in seats for middle and high school. The other programs are elementary school only, or high school only.

Actually, immersion allows you to lock in K-12. And don't worry, Montessori is working on a longer lock-in period.

Also even just elementary is 6 years, so that's almost as much as the 7 years of MS-HS.

[Anonymous]

What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

[Anonymous]

You forgot the other high school Wakefield. Is the curriculum the same there too or are you under the impression HB is just for NA?

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of making HB just high school. It makes do much sense!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

Because any effect that this would have would be minor and fleeting, maybe? There are 6800 students in the 3 traditional high schools and 243 middle school students at HB. So you'd be eliminating a small middle school that's part of a decades-old successful program and add to the size of the currently existing middle schools simply to reduce the size of each high school by, what, three classrooms apiece? That is compulsive, short-term thinking -- not a long term solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You forgot the other high school Wakefield. Is the curriculum the same there too or are you under the impression HB is just for NA?

Hardly. I think Wakefield is an excellent school. It has lower test scores solely because of demographics. I excluded it because I suspect the majority of the anti-HB crowd on here are from the other high schools. I could be wrong, though.

But, hey, you've hit on something. Maybe those Yorktown folks could send their kids to Wakefield!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

Why is it necessarily "better use" of the space to have more high schoolers instead of middle schoolers? Middle school is a unique age group with their own needs during a developmentally turbulent period - why shouldn't they get to have access to the program? Every argument for why HS students would choose HB also applies to MS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

Because any effect that this would have would be minor and fleeting, maybe? There are 6800 students in the 3 traditional high schools and 243 middle school students at HB. So you'd be eliminating a small middle school that's part of a decades-old successful program and add to the size of the currently existing middle schools simply to reduce the size of each high school by, what, three classrooms apiece? That is compulsive, short-term thinking -- not a long term solution.

Spoken by someone who doesn’t have to cram into WL.

We just spent $37 adding 600 seats, also fleeting. This buys us 300 seats for virtually nothing.

Sure if you think the 4th high school is around the corner, please share those plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

Why is it necessarily "better use" of the space to have more high schoolers instead of middle schoolers? Middle school is a unique age group with their own needs during a developmentally turbulent period - why shouldn't they get to have access to the program? Every argument for why HS students would choose HB also applies to MS students.

It’s a better use because we have plenty of middle school seats elsewhere. But I know you are being willfully ignorant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's up with all the jealousy and anger against HB? From what I see, there's basically no difference between HB, Yorktown, and W-L on test scores. HB's are slightly higher, maybe, but that's probably because it's a choice school and only more actively involved parents/kid are throwing in applications.

If the curriculum is the same (which it is) and the test scores are the same (which they are) then the educations are the same. You're already getting at your neighborhood schools what you're getting at HB.

So why not make it a HS only and make better use of facility space and have less crowded high schools if it’s nothing special? Literally the point of this thread.

Why is it necessarily "better use" of the space to have more high schoolers instead of middle schoolers? Middle school is a unique age group with their own needs during a developmentally turbulent period - why shouldn't they get to have access to the program? Every argument for why HS students would choose HB also applies to MS students.

It’s a better use because we have plenty of middle school seats elsewhere. But I know you are being willfully ignorant

Some of the middle schools are also overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry I’m ignorant about this, but why isn’t Arlington building more schools? Why aren’t we using more of the Arlington county budget for more buildings? I know we already spent quite a bit per student and schools are expensive but it seems like a district full of million dollar homes should be able to afford enough schools to not be overcrowded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry I’m ignorant about this, but why isn’t Arlington building more schools? Why aren’t we using more of the Arlington county budget for more buildings? I know we already spent quite a bit per student and schools are expensive but it seems like a district full of million dollar homes should be able to afford enough schools to not be overcrowded?

This is an excellent question. I have only been paying minimal attention so I'm sure others will correct me, but I seem to recall the Kenmore site as a 4th HS was killed by the local neighborhood complaining about traffic and Arlington not being able to remedy that by coordinating with Fairfax on a solution, and then the Career Center idea died after no one could agree on whether it could really be called a 4th HS if it didn't have its own pool.

In other words, seems to boil down to a lack of good sites to build on, paralysis due to various interests fighting each other, and no leadership decisions too move forward with the big picture in mind.