APS — love our elementary but not excited about middle and high school options

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My kids have generally had a good experience in MS (TJ) and HS (W-L). They have good friends, mostly great teachers, one has been involved in band all the way through while the other dabbled in a few ECs. My older is now at VT and was well prepared for college work and I'm sure my senior will do fine too.

Yes, some kids will have problems but that's the nature of the teenage years. My 2nd definitely had her struggles but I've found her teachers to be supportive when she asked for help.

The kids to need to learn to advocate for themselves, it's a big school and there's not a lot of hand holding. But that is a good life skill. Another downside -- counselor quality seems to carry a lot. We have been lucky with an excellent counselor but they are not all great. DD says some friends have started going to DDs counselor for questions because theirs is not helpful.

Sure it’s a big school now, but it will ginormous when OP kids get there.

Arlington Tech should be fully built out by then, and would relieve the population burden on the other schools, as the models suggest. Unlike surrounding school districts I don’t see any APS high school growing to a ridiculously large size. Boundaries will shift again, which has long been a tool. More North Arlington neighborhoods could move from W-L to Yorktown, and more South Arlington neighborhoods could move to W-L, or maybe some S Arlington neighborhoods could move to Yorktown, etc. If missing middle doubles the numbers of students in the center of the county, then maybe momentum would build for a 4th high school. But the kenmore site is the only and best site for that.

They spent $30M adding 600 seats to WL — they are using those seats so definitely hitting 3000, which is “ridiculous”

Tech is always going to underperform enrollment because it willl remain as a vocational program without any entrance exams or requirements

They need to publicize what’s available at Tech because it’s not a traditional vocational school

Perception is everything and APS sucks at marketing.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I thought Arlington Tech is to become a dual enrollment program with NoVA community college for credit classes. More desirable to my DS to earn college credit rather than the empty promise of AP classes.

This again aligns with a vocational focus. You take AP because of the rigor needed to pass the AP exam and what that represents as to your college readiness, not to get college credits to save money on tuition (because at elite colleges you don’t pay per credit hour, you just pay annual tuition and take even more advanced classes if you AP out)

Oh. I did it wrong and graduated from college a year early. Oopsies!

You were able to transfer dual enrollment courses to an Ivy League school and graduated early? They don’t do that anymore even for AP; and even 20 years ago DE were considered less than.

Very few students get into Ivy League colleges. I wouldn’t base all of your planning on hoping that’s where your kid is headed.

You just aren’t getting it. Huge swaths of Arlington are aiming for elite colleges; maybe they won’t make it, but they aren’t going to handicap their kids changes with vocational and dual enrollment pathways. That’s my point. Arlington tech doesn’t address the capacity problem because it is not aspirational like TJHS.

AND THATS FINE. A vocational option is a good choice for many students, I’m just saying don’t point to Tech as in any way addressing the mainstream high school capacity crisis. It’s a specialized high school for a niche population.

Stop calling it a vocational program.

So the technical magnet programs like TJHS offer barbering and EMT pathways too??

https://careercenter.apsva.us/arlington-tech/program-information/

It's a shared campus

BS. Those are the courses listed under Arlington Tech NOT a different program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new building will have music spaces, similar to HB.
They did away with the algebra requirement because of equity.
These were discussed at the Oct 13th school board meeting.

Well then, it aligns perfectly with the instructional expectations and standards of any other Arlington high school - all of which are college preparatory.

Looking at the college acceptances in Arlington Magazine, there doesn't seem to be much difference between HB and Arlington Tech, except a bit more lean to engineering schools for AT. Both, like all the HS, have the most applications going to VA public schools

So there isn’t much difference between AT and the mainstream high schools. So why will it attract students from WL and Y when they have to schlep from No Arlington, not have many of the big high school facilities? And for an unknown environment since demographics and scores for AT are not broken out from career center? It shows that’s it’s 60% male, which is very unbalanced for some folks.

AT is a great program, and for a student heading to Vt for cybersecurity to eventually work as a FED ISSO or something, it’s a great option. But most parents aren’t aspiring for that (even though it is where a lot of them will end up) so it doesn’t attract students

HBW is attractive because it’s a closed community that starts in 6th grade, and demographics bear out that it is a balanced campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought Arlington Tech is to become a dual enrollment program with NoVA community college for credit classes. More desirable to my DS to earn college credit rather than the empty promise of AP classes.

This again aligns with a vocational focus. You take AP because of the rigor needed to pass the AP exam and what that represents as to your college readiness, not to get college credits to save money on tuition (because at elite colleges you don’t pay per credit hour, you just pay annual tuition and take even more advanced classes if you AP out)

Oh. I did it wrong and graduated from college a year early. Oopsies!

You were able to transfer dual enrollment courses to an Ivy League school and graduated early? They don’t do that anymore even for AP; and even 20 years ago DE were considered less than.

Very few students get into Ivy League colleges. I wouldn’t base all of your planning on hoping that’s where your kid is headed.

You just aren’t getting it. Huge swaths of Arlington are aiming for elite colleges; maybe they won’t make it, but they aren’t going to handicap their kids changes with vocational and dual enrollment pathways. That’s my point. Arlington tech doesn’t address the capacity problem because it is not aspirational like TJHS.

AND THATS FINE. A vocational option is a good choice for many students, I’m just saying don’t point to Tech as in any way addressing the mainstream high school capacity crisis. It’s a specialized high school for a niche population.

Not all Arlington kids want to go to TJHSST. Not all Arlington parents want their kids to go to TJHSST. And the same goes for elite colleges. Just read where Arlington kids apply to and where they are accepted. The "elite" schools aren't even the majority of where students are applying. Most of the schools are regional and then state schools that are well regarded but not "elite." And, because it needs to be said, some kids don't want to go to college at all, and that's fine and they also deserve an education that reaches them. The Career Center, whether vocational or not, serves as much of a need as HBW does or TJHSST or another niche school that is in Arlington. The above-quote seems like a convoluted way to get to a no on the school bond and sounds a lot like a certain Arlington parent of a TJHSST student who keeps telling people to vote no on the bond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought Arlington Tech is to become a dual enrollment program with NoVA community college for credit classes. More desirable to my DS to earn college credit rather than the empty promise of AP classes.

This again aligns with a vocational focus. You take AP because of the rigor needed to pass the AP exam and what that represents as to your college readiness, not to get college credits to save money on tuition (because at elite colleges you don’t pay per credit hour, you just pay annual tuition and take even more advanced classes if you AP out)

Oh. I did it wrong and graduated from college a year early. Oopsies!

You were able to transfer dual enrollment courses to an Ivy League school and graduated early? They don’t do that anymore even for AP; and even 20 years ago DE were considered less than.

Very few students get into Ivy League colleges. I wouldn’t base all of your planning on hoping that’s where your kid is headed.

You just aren’t getting it. Huge swaths of Arlington are aiming for elite colleges; maybe they won’t make it, but they aren’t going to handicap their kids changes with vocational and dual enrollment pathways. That’s my point. Arlington tech doesn’t address the capacity problem because it is not aspirational like TJHS.

AND THATS FINE. A vocational option is a good choice for many students, I’m just saying don’t point to Tech as in any way addressing the mainstream high school capacity crisis. It’s a specialized high school for a niche population.

Not all Arlington kids want to go to TJHSST. Not all Arlington parents want their kids to go to TJHSST. And the same goes for elite colleges. Just read where Arlington kids apply to and where they are accepted. The "elite" schools aren't even the majority of where students are applying. Most of the schools are regional and then state schools that are well regarded but not "elite." And, because it needs to be said, some kids don't want to go to college at all, and that's fine and they also deserve an education that reaches them. The Career Center, whether vocational or not, serves as much of a need as HBW does or TJHSST or another niche school that is in Arlington. The above-quote seems like a convoluted way to get to a no on the school bond and sounds a lot like a certain Arlington parent of a TJHSST student who keeps telling people to vote no on the bond.

I think AT is a fine program. It just want attract students about to address overcrowding because it is not that mainstream and collocates with barbering and auto shop. But folks are claiming expanding it will address overcrowding— which is the lie.

[Anonymous]

Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

Sure. It also needs a dedicated isolated campus because most parents won’t want middle schoolers wandering a campus with an auto shop and veterinary facilities — too much temptation for mischief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new building will have music spaces, similar to HB.
They did away with the algebra requirement because of equity.
These were discussed at the Oct 13th school board meeting.

Well then, it aligns perfectly with the instructional expectations and standards of any other Arlington high school - all of which are college preparatory.

Looking at the college acceptances in Arlington Magazine, there doesn't seem to be much difference between HB and Arlington Tech, except a bit more lean to engineering schools for AT. Both, like all the HS, have the most applications going to VA public schools

So there isn’t much difference between AT and the mainstream high schools. So why will it attract students from WL and Y when they have to schlep from No Arlington, not have many of the big high school facilities? And for an unknown environment since demographics and scores for AT are not broken out from career center? It shows that’s it’s 60% male, which is very unbalanced for some folks.

AT is a great program, and for a student heading to Vt for cybersecurity to eventually work as a FED ISSO or something, it’s a great option. But most parents aren’t aspiring for that (even though it is where a lot of them will end up) so it doesn’t attract students

HBW is attractive because it’s a closed community that starts in 6th grade, and demographics bear out that it is a balanced campus.

And there's the crux of the problem: parents. Parents are the ones who have doubted the AT program from the beginning, can't seem to understand it, and discourage their kids from even giving it a try. It isn't about what the PARENTS aspire to - it's for the KIDS and THEIR aspirations.

So what if it's 60% male? AT/CC still affords more diversity than HB precisely because the programs are co=--located and students from the different programs get to work on projects together.
There is actually a very significant difference between AT and the other comprehensive high schools. It is a project-based learning program and has several DE classes (even though you find those useless because they don't transfer to an ivy league school ).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

Totally disagree. We definitely need more options at the MS level in APS. I know so many kids who could use something different from the standard middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

Totally disagree. We definitely need more options at the MS level in APS. I know so many kids who could use something different from the standard middle schools.

So how are you going to assure that those are the kids who "get in" the alternative school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

Totally disagree. We definitely need more options at the MS level in APS. I know so many kids who could use something different from the standard middle schools.

So how are you going to assure that those are the kids who "get in" the alternative school?

Don't know that you can assure it but with more options come more opportunities for kids to self select into a school that fits them.

[Anonymous]

I met a few students on the AT Robotics Team and they were really polite, smart kids.

APS sucks at marketing and these kids deserve a school upgrade and recognition of the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

Totally disagree. We definitely need more options at the MS level in APS. I know so many kids who could use something different from the standard middle schools.

So how are you going to assure that those are the kids who "get in" the alternative school?

Don't know that you can assure it but with more options come more opportunities for kids to self select into a school that fits them.

Handful. Maybe handfuls.
Students self-selecting isn't what primarily happens. Parents mostly select.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington Tech should start in 6th grade. It would then provide an option for parents/students who want something other than their neighborhood middle school, and it would create a strong community of kids who attend for 7 years like HBW.

We don't need any more special option programs for middle schoolers. Kids should have more time to figure out their best learning style and explore some interests before being pinholed into a program that might not suit them or for which they may not be suited. We also don't need any more highly selective (via lottery) programs for a very small # of students. That's the biggest complaint about HB; now people want to make AT the same way.

Totally disagree. We definitely need more options at the MS level in APS. I know so many kids who could use something different from the standard middle schools.

So how are you going to assure that those are the kids who "get in" the alternative school?

Don't know that you can assure it but with more options come more opportunities for kids to self select into a school that fits them.

Handful. Maybe handfuls.
Students self-selecting isn't what primarily happens. Parents mostly select.

Ok so what's the problem with that? Parents know their kids. The point is that we need more options at the middle school level in APS because there are too many kids who are not well served by the existing middle schools.