HB Woodlawn - I know nothing. Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Their old building was taken from them. They didn't want a $100m building.

I think this is taking the thread off topic. I don't blame anyone who goes and they are not the decision makers- the very few kids who get this experience in an urban public school system are lucky indeed. I was agreeing with a PP on page 1 who said it was like a private school run by APS and you would be crazy not to take the spot.

I don't think APS has been fair when it comes to resourcing option schools. Those should be bottom of the barrel last priority compared to neighborhood schools. That's all. Just my opinion and I don't think it's overly controversial.

And APS had not put a dime into their old building since the 1970s, so....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Their old building was taken from them. They didn't want a $100m building.

I think this is taking the thread off topic. I don't blame anyone who goes and they are not the decision makers- the very few kids who get this experience in an urban public school system are lucky indeed. I was agreeing with a PP on page 1 who said it was like a private school run by APS and you would be crazy not to take the spot.

I don't think APS has been fair when it comes to resourcing option schools. Those should be bottom of the barrel last priority compared to neighborhood schools. That's all. Just my opinion and I don't think it's overly controversial.

And APS had not put a dime into their old building since the 1970s, so....

Actually, HB had no major renovations since the school was built in 1950 as a junior high. Just a minor renovations in the late 90s to bring a few things up to code for the then Stratford Program. No one thought HB Woodlawn would survive, since similar programs closed all over the country during a conservative backlash in the 80s. Walls in DC and HB are two of only a few that survived. These unique programs were under-resourced for decades.

To APS’ credit, it has done an excellent job building new facilities for its schools and programs. And its most recent project, the addition at W-L is a functional yet inspiring (and beautiful) space for the students there. The new Arlington Tech / Career Center will be similarly impressive when complete in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just offered a spot at HB Woodlawn for 9th. I know very little about the school and would love some info bc there is not much online. DC is very young for his grade (September day and will start HS at 13). We have discussed having him repeat 8th bc he isn’t ready for HS. He does have some executive function and attention issues but is bright and very bored in middle school. Our home school Yorktown HS is so big we are afraid he will get eaten alive or lost in the shuffle bc he’s young, immature and small too.

Can anyone explain what exactly HB is, whether it’s a good alternative school option for a kid with DC’s profile?

Genuine question: Why on EARTH would you enter the lottery if you didn't know anything about the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just offered a spot at HB Woodlawn for 9th. I know very little about the school and would love some info bc there is not much online. DC is very young for his grade (September day and will start HS at 13). We have discussed having him repeat 8th bc he isn’t ready for HS. He does have some executive function and attention issues but is bright and very bored in middle school. Our home school Yorktown HS is so big we are afraid he will get eaten alive or lost in the shuffle bc he’s young, immature and small too.

Can anyone explain what exactly HB is, whether it’s a good alternative school option for a kid with DC’s profile?

Genuine question: Why on EARTH would you enter the lottery if you didn't know anything about the school?

Don’t most parents enter the lottery? It’s probably just just a reflexive, unthinking action. HB today is a very small, affluent school with high test scores across the board, not in like many private or elite independent schools. Its facilities are also top notch. So it’s understandable that many parents may not in fact know anything about the program’s philosophy. They just know about its reputation.

[Anonymous]

typo above. Meant to write “HB today is a very small, affluent school with high test scores across the board, not unlike many private or elite independent schools.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just offered a spot at HB Woodlawn for 9th. I know very little about the school and would love some info bc there is not much online. DC is very young for his grade (September day and will start HS at 13). We have discussed having him repeat 8th bc he isn’t ready for HS. He does have some executive function and attention issues but is bright and very bored in middle school. Our home school Yorktown HS is so big we are afraid he will get eaten alive or lost in the shuffle bc he’s young, immature and small too.

Can anyone explain what exactly HB is, whether it’s a good alternative school option for a kid with DC’s profile?

Genuine question: Why on EARTH would you enter the lottery if you didn't know anything about the school?

We entered because we've heard good things, but didn't spend much time investigating the school given our 3% chance of getting a spot. We figured we could do our research and make a choice if it becomes a real option for us. No need to become attached or waste time doing research given the miniscule chances that it's even an option for us. Totally rational.

[Anonymous]

Sounds perfect for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC was just offered a spot at HB Woodlawn for 9th. I know very little about the school and would love some info bc there is not much online. DC is very young for his grade (September day and will start HS at 13). We have discussed having him repeat 8th bc he isn’t ready for HS. He does have some executive function and attention issues but is bright and very bored in middle school. Our home school Yorktown HS is so big we are afraid he will get eaten alive or lost in the shuffle bc he’s young, immature and small too.

Can anyone explain what exactly HB is, whether it’s a good alternative school option for a kid with DC’s profile?

Genuine question: Why on EARTH would you enter the lottery if you didn't know anything about the school?

We entered because we've heard good things, but didn't spend much time investigating the school given our 3% chance of getting a spot. We figured we could do our research and make a choice if it becomes a real option for us. No need to become attached or waste time doing research given the miniscule chances that it's even an option for us. Totally rational.

Exactly. The schools reputation precedes itself. That’s why most all parents apply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Their old building was taken from them. They didn't want a $100m building.

I think this is taking the thread off topic. I don't blame anyone who goes and they are not the decision makers- the very few kids who get this experience in an urban public school system are lucky indeed. I was agreeing with a PP on page 1 who said it was like a private school run by APS and you would be crazy not to take the spot.

I don't think APS has been fair when it comes to resourcing option schools. Those should be bottom of the barrel last priority compared to neighborhood schools. That's all. Just my opinion and I don't think it's overly controversial.

No, APS need to resource equally for all students. There aren't first and second class students at APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

and didn't even build it that high. WTF? Who made that stupid decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

I feel the same way — and we took the spot when offered.

Me too. This is the fourth option spot our family has won and I am NOT connected.

You live in South Arlington right?

not that either.

Does it help to be in South Arlington? We are overseas, but seriously considering returning to the US for our kid's high school. What is stopping me is the school system in the area. We've been lucky to have private schools to-date for our child and I can't see them doing well in a huge system. We own a house in South Arlington; would that make a difference?

You can be in the lottery and not be an arlington resident but must establish residency by...June maybe? I know b/c my son got dropped from the APS roles due to attending a private school but still entered the lottery. That said, we do live here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

and didn't even build it that high. WTF? Who made that stupid decision.

That was part of a county-run master planning process that called for a landmark building there. It’s built as a community amenity, not for HB per se. <— That’s how it was planned. Not giving an opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Do you really not know the history or are you intentionally misstating? HB was in a very old building and was just fine there. APS was going to build a new middle school in Rosslyn. But the parents protested loudly that the neighborhood middle school should get the better location in a residential area, which is where HB was. So they kicked HB to the less desirable location in Rosslyn.

If you don’t like the result go find those parents who pushed this, it’s not HBs fault.

[Anonymous]

So, I know people who attended HB before TJ existed, and they still say HB is a better school. Take the opportunity, OP.

It suits those at the top and thoe at the bottom-middle. If you don't like it, go back to your home school, but take the opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would be absolutely crazy not to take the spot. HB is a private school run by APS.

+1. It's unethical that APS pours so many resources into this school. And I would take the spot in a heartbeat.

This.

This what? Still have not heard anyone explain what the "many resources" are.

Well to start they spent over $100M for a building for an option school serving a minuscule population compared to the other high schools. Option schools be the last programs to get a new school.

Do you really not know the history or are you intentionally misstating? HB was in a very old building and was just fine there. APS was going to build a new middle school in Rosslyn. But the parents protested loudly that the neighborhood middle school should get the better location in a residential area, which is where HB was. So they kicked HB to the less desirable location in Rosslyn.

If you don’t like the result go find those parents who pushed this, it’s not HBs fault.

This is so off topic but this was an aggressive post, so I'll reply. It's not HB's fault. It's not those parents's fault (ridiculous as the arguments were). I don't agree with decision to cater to the loudest complainers in this instance. I even clarified some of this in a later post, and nowhere did I disparage the students or families of HB. We need seats in Rosslyn. HB is a small option school. I disagree with this expensive and short-sighted choice but it wasn't made by parents or students. Why is this comment getting under so many people's skin?