Arlington school boundary petition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Key, and we would actually be happy not to get involved with the hyper competitive momzilla rat-race which is ASFS. But we don't like immersion programs, so this is where we'll wind up because we have the option of one specialty school or the other and not a regular school.

I am in the same boat. I wish I had another option.

I'm really surprised people would be against a science focused school no matter how little the specialized focus is. I can't understand how ASFS is not viewed a "traditional" school simply because of the science program. isn't every APS ES trying to get some kind of emphasis to make itself stands out from the rest so all parents can feel special and secure? How is Taylor less special then ASFS or Nottingham?

It's not the science focus, per se, it's the craziness surrounding getting into that boundary. I've met quite a few preschool moms who are HYSTERICAL about the housing shortage in the Key/ASFS zone and are freaking out. They've also been Kumon-ing and "enriching" their children and competing over reading scores. I have a few friends with kids there, and they have told me the PTA is hardcore and exclusionary to working moms. I'd rather just have a "school" for my kid, not a trophy prize.

As a full-time working mom at ASFS- the PTA is NOT at all exclusionary to working moms. Meetings are at 7pm. Further--our PTA President was formerly male and the dad are very involved with the PTA as well. My DH is works crazy hours and he is usually the one that goes to the meetings-straight from work while I put the kids to bed. You can be involved as little or as much as you won't and it excludes nobody.

I think the popularity to do with he KEy zone is mainly due to its location- not ASF. It is the hottest walkable area in Clarendon. We would have been just as happy at any of the N Arl schools but we chose this boundary primarily for the location/walkability. My kids attended a play-based preschool. We do not Kumon or even believe in it. You will find the tiger moms at any N Arl , Fairfax school. aSFS certainly doesn't have a monopoly on them. You learn to tune them out pretty quick, btw.

Personally, Taylor has a much bigger play area/playground. It is just as great of a school. I don't think ASFS is doing anything significantly different than any other N Arl (or most S Arl) schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Key, and we would actually be happy not to get involved with the hyper competitive momzilla rat-race which is ASFS. But we don't like immersion programs, so this is where we'll wind up because we have the option of one specialty school or the other and not a regular school.

I am in the same boat. I wish I had another option.

I'm really surprised people would be against a science focused school no matter how little the specialized focus is. I can't understand how ASFS is not viewed a "traditional" school simply because of the science program. isn't every APS ES trying to get some kind of emphasis to make itself stands out from the rest so all parents can feel special and secure? How is Taylor less special then ASFS or Nottingham?

It's not the science focus, per se, it's the craziness surrounding getting into that boundary. I've met quite a few preschool moms who are HYSTERICAL about the housing shortage in the Key/ASFS zone and are freaking out. They've also been Kumon-ing and "enriching" their children and competing over reading scores. I have a few friends with kids there, and they have told me the PTA is hardcore and exclusionary to working moms. I'd rather just have a "school" for my kid, not a trophy prize.

Jesus Christ, my upcoming ASF Kindergartner is not currently reading. Doubtful she will be anywhere close by September. We do play-based preschool, as do a lot of rising ASF families. Don't believe the freaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Key, and we would actually be happy not to get involved with the hyper competitive momzilla rat-race which is ASFS. But we don't like immersion programs, so this is where we'll wind up because we have the option of one specialty school or the other and not a regular school.

I am in the same boat. I wish I had another option.

I'm really surprised people would be against a science focused school no matter how little the specialized focus is. I can't understand how ASFS is not viewed a "traditional" school simply because of the science program. isn't every APS ES trying to get some kind of emphasis to make itself stands out from the rest so all parents can feel special and secure? How is Taylor less special then ASFS or Nottingham?

It's not the science focus, per se, it's the craziness surrounding getting into that boundary. I've met quite a few preschool moms who are HYSTERICAL about the housing shortage in the Key/ASFS zone and are freaking out. They've also been Kumon-ing and "enriching" their children and competing over reading scores. I have a few friends with kids there, and they have told me the PTA is hardcore and exclusionary to working moms. I'd rather just have a "school" for my kid, not a trophy prize.

As a full-time working mom at ASFS- the PTA is NOT at all exclusionary to working moms. Meetings are at 7pm. Further--our PTA President was formerly male and the dad are very involved with the PTA as well. My DH is works crazy hours and he is usually the one that goes to the meetings-straight from work while I put the kids to bed. You can be involved as little or as much as you won't and it excludes nobody.

I think the popularity to do with he KEy zone is mainly due to its location- not ASF. It is the hottest walkable area in Clarendon. We would have been just as happy at any of the N Arl schools but we chose this boundary primarily for the location/walkability. My kids attended a play-based preschool. We do not Kumon or even believe in it. You will find the tiger moms at any N Arl , Fairfax school. aSFS certainly doesn't have a monopoly on them. You learn to tune them out pretty quick, btw.

Personally, Taylor has a much bigger play area/playground. It is just as great of a school. I don't think ASFS is doing anything significantly different than any other N Arl (or most S Arl) schools.

As a practical matter, ASFS doesn't really do anything that great. I think it has like one extra unit of science per week or something -- it still covers the core classes, and most of the neighborhood schools are incorporating more STEM. I think it's more a case of parents regarding it as a valuable commodity, believing (perhaps foolishly) that it's a ticket to TJ.

[Anonymous]

There's not really any school in Arlington particularly well known as a TJ feeder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That must be the most poorly worded petition I've ever seen. Arlington County doesn't "must" have to do anything. A petition ASKS. It doesn't TELL.

Typical of certain Arlingtonians. Wow.

I do not even get why they are trying to throw this is so late in the game. I agree wholeheartedly with the posts that came before me--these people have no idea what they are asking for. They also appear to have hate/animosity towards one neighborhood. The few clueless ones that signed it because that thought they were protecting their spots at Taylor have no idea that what they were signing was asking for those in Key boundary to essentially have no school. Try telling that to people that paid a lot of frickin' money for a particular school.

The people I have met that are the most steamed up about this issue are the people that purchased a home outside of boundary for a specific school assuming they could just lottery into the one they wanted later. That assumption was a giant mistake. You always keep abreast of school zoning issues when purchasing and you should only buy into a school district you are satisfied with. I have seen the same mistake with DC residents that figure they will just go to X Charter school and then are astounded when their kid becomes school age and realize it is not an option.

I get the people living next door to one school and being zoned to one farther away. I also would not like that, but again you knew that when you bought your house.

Well yes, my read is "hate/animosity" is definitely the tone of the petition. The petitioners assume they know what's going on in Rosslyn/Clarendon. They're completely oblivious to the changes happening right under their noses and so they've taken a superior attitude towards people living in those neighborhood. But the county is aware of it's demographic. My 200+ unit building is considered a neighborhood in and of itself by the county with a price range of $900K to $9million per unit. Currently, about 10-15% of my building's unit owners have school age or will have school age children in the near future. We definitely bought with the school pyramid in mind and would never have made the mistake of thinking we could simply petition into the school district we'd like. Even the empty nesters, picked the area and building considering the school pyramid. We are also assessed a special luxury tax which goes to the neighborhood. Lion Village, CC Hills notwithstanding, I doubt the county would consider any boundary changes that would adversely affect Rosslyn. Now days, there are a lot of people in Rosslyn whom the county couldn't easily ignore, despite what the tone of the petition implies. I am surprised the petitioners are clueless of and assume they have the muscle to affect the kind of wrong minded changes they're seeking.

Agreed. It is a very disgruntled, misguided group. An exhaustive search for a Clarendon/Rosslyn school was conducted last year. The County/Board looked at potential sites, current structures all over the County. aSFS/Key were not in crisis state in terms of population/overcrowding in comparison to several other N Arl schools. This is the first round of zoning changes to take effect on 2015. We aren't in the talks/on the table for that reason alone. It is not some secret club getting special treatment.

I am simply disgusted by some of the comments on this petition. Taylor parents should not have attacked Key boundary families/neighborhoods. A better tactic of their petition would be to simply address the issue of being able to attend their school or one closer, but not to make another School Zone the target of their petition. How about--"we want to be able to attend the school closest to our house". Fine.period. However, when you make it a personal attack on another neighborhood you have lost your focus.

I didn't win the lottery, now I am going to whine and attack people that actually bought property into the zone I really wanted to be in. Classic.

Stay tuned for counter-useless petition....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That must be the most poorly worded petition I've ever seen. Arlington County doesn't "must" have to do anything. A petition ASKS. It doesn't TELL.

Typical of certain Arlingtonians. Wow.

I do not even get why they are trying to throw this is so late in the game. I agree wholeheartedly with the posts that came before me--these people have no idea what they are asking for. They also appear to have hate/animosity towards one neighborhood. The few clueless ones that signed it because that thought they were protecting their spots at Taylor have no idea that what they were signing was asking for those in Key boundary to essentially have no school. Try telling that to people that paid a lot of frickin' money for a particular school.

The people I have met that are the most steamed up about this issue are the people that purchased a home outside of boundary for a specific school assuming they could just lottery into the one they wanted later. That assumption was a giant mistake. You always keep abreast of school zoning issues when purchasing and you should only buy into a school district you are satisfied with. I have seen the same mistake with DC residents that figure they will just go to X Charter school and then are astounded when their kid becomes school age and realize it is not an option.

I get the people living next door to one school and being zoned to one farther away. I also would not like that, but again you knew that when you bought your house.

Well yes, my read is "hate/animosity" is definitely the tone of the petition. The petitioners assume they know what's going on in Rosslyn/Clarendon. They're completely oblivious to the changes happening right under their noses and so they've taken a superior attitude towards people living in those neighborhood. But the county is aware of it's demographic. My 200+ unit building is considered a neighborhood in and of itself by the county with a price range of $900K to $9million per unit. Currently, about 10-15% of my building's unit owners have school age or will have school age children in the near future. We definitely bought with the school pyramid in mind and would never have made the mistake of thinking we could simply petition into the school district we'd like. Even the empty nesters, picked the area and building considering the school pyramid. We are also assessed a special luxury tax which goes to the neighborhood. Lion Village, CC Hills notwithstanding, I doubt the county would consider any boundary changes that would adversely affect Rosslyn. Now days, there are a lot of people in Rosslyn whom the county couldn't easily ignore, despite what the tone of the petition implies. I am surprised the petitioners are clueless of and assume they have the muscle to affect the kind of wrong minded changes they're seeking.

Agreed. It is a very disgruntled, misguided group. An exhaustive search for a Clarendon/Rosslyn school was conducted last year. The County/Board looked at potential sites, current structures all over the County. aSFS/Key were not in crisis state in terms of population/overcrowding in comparison to several other N Arl schools. This is the first round of zoning changes to take effect on 2015. We aren't in the talks/on the table for that reason alone. It is not some secret club getting special treatment.

I am simply disgusted by some of the comments on this petition. Taylor parents should not have attacked Key boundary families/neighborhoods. A better tactic of their petition would be to simply address the issue of being able to attend their school or one closer, but not to make another School Zone the target of their petition. How about--"we want to be able to attend the school closest to our house". Fine.period. However, when you make it a personal attack on another neighborhood you have lost your focus.

I didn't win the lottery, now I am going to whine and attack people that actually bought property into the zone I really wanted to be in. Classic.

Stay tuned for counter-useless petition....

+100

[Anonymous]

Why is the petition for a Clarendon/Rosslyn school not originating from the Clarendon/Rosslyn neighborhoods?

That is screwed up. 99.99% of those who signed are not currently residing in the Clarendon/Rosslyn zone.

I do reside in that zone and this Petition does not represent me.

Clearly, they think they have a monopy on who can attend their beloved Taylor.

I agree with the poster that said the petition should focus on THEIR zones. Fight to attend in your area, but leave us the hell out of it.

You guys are zoned for Yorktown aren't you? Maybe ill start a petition that it should be a "choice" school.

[Anonymous]

Lyon Village residents should hold their fire and save their energy. Wait til the middle school/high school boundary discussions, when your special dispensation to bus your children miles away to Williamsburg/Yorktown is on the table. Prepare for some boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village residents should hold their fire and save their energy. Wait til the middle school/high school boundary discussions, when your special dispensation to bus your children miles away to Williamsburg/Yorktown is on the table. Prepare for some boundary changes.

Key boundary is not open for discussion at the meeting. That has already been established by Board. They are already aware of petition and it will be dismissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village residents should hold their fire and save their energy. Wait til the middle school/high school boundary discussions, when your special dispensation to bus your children miles away to Williamsburg/Yorktown is on the table. Prepare for some boundary changes.

Lyon Village is Swanson/W-L. I would be perfectly happy if my kids got moved to TJ Middle. Not so happy about getting moved to Wakefield, because W-L is walkable.

And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints of the signatories to the petition that ASFS provides a better education than Taylor or that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints ........that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

Why? That seems like an awful long time on the bus. Of course, that's probably the result of the decreased busses. I'm not in that team, but we felt the impact with our bus being 10 minutes earlier in the morning because we are the first (closest to school) stop and the bus has a longer route now. Since APS doesn't like busses, you'd think they'd be working to make the boundaries more compact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints ........that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

Why? That seems like an awful long time on the bus. Of course, that's probably the result of the decreased busses. I'm not in that team, but we felt the impact with our bus being 10 minutes earlier in the morning because we are the first (closest to school) stop and the bus has a longer route now. Since APS doesn't like busses, you'd think they'd be working to make the boundaries more compact.

I live on a ASFS/TAylor split street. One side goes to Taylor, the other ASFS.

The ASFS and the Taylor bus both depart at 8:19 in the morning for the 9am start time and they both return at 4pm in the afternoon. Parents from both schools are at the same bus stop--kids board different buses. In fact, given that Taylor is slightly farther away I always wondered why they make it home before our kids a lot of the days.

I can't speak to different locations in the zone, but in ours there is no difference in bus time. I actually find it crazy that it is 40min from departure time to home for a school only 0.70 miles away. I guess it is the loading on/off and the couple of stops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints ........that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

Why? That seems like an awful long time on the bus.

It seems like a long time on the bus because it *is* a long time on the bus -- or would be, if they were actually on the bus for that long. They're not, which is why I'm sneering. My kids are on the next-to-last stop of our route, which is one of the furthest from Taylor, if not the furthest, and they get off the bus about 20 minutes after they get on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints ........that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

Why? That seems like an awful long time on the bus.

It seems like a long time on the bus because it *is* a long time on the bus -- or would be, if they were actually on the bus for that long. They're not, which is why I'm sneering. My kids are on the next-to-last stop of our route, which is one of the furthest from Taylor, if not the furthest, and they get off the bus about 20 minutes after they get on.

Yep. We are too. School lets out at 3:41 and bus pulls up by 4pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lyon Village residents should hold their fire and save their energy. Wait til the middle school/high school boundary discussions, when your special dispensation to bus your children miles away to Williamsburg/Yorktown is on the table. Prepare for some boundary changes.

Lyon Village is Swanson/W-L. I would be perfectly happy if my kids got moved to TJ Middle. Not so happy about getting moved to Wakefield, because W-L is walkable.

And I am sympathetic to parents who would rather their kids walked to ASFS than took the bus to Taylor, but the complaints of the signatories to the petition that ASFS provides a better education than Taylor or that their kids are taking bus rides of 45-60 minutes to get home are making me sneer.

In an admittedly convoluted scenario I could see Lyon Village being bused to Yorktown, because Courthouse and Rosslyn students are already bused there. But Yorktown is also overcrowded, and W-L is a five minute walk away from parts of the neighborhood. Wakefield is at the other end of the county so Lyon Village would never be bused there. That would make no logical sense.