Okay, here goes....Alexandria Schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

It's neither mean-spirited or presumptuous since, well, I have experienced the system. I acknowledge some kids can get a great education at TC and excel and even get into great colleges. But as you consider ACPS, you need to know the caveats there: 1) This is not the norm; and 2) To accomplish this, you have to sort of self-segregate within the school, and there's no real actual "diversity" within that bubble -- there's a reason why TC has the nickname "Yale of Jail." This is a problem ACPS has from early on, with underrepresentation of minorities in the TAG program, and it carries over into MS and HS. You can see how the administration has attempted to deal with it -- adopting the IB program, open enrollment honors in the middle school. But there's no real indication that it is working (and, in fact, the administration does tend to take a "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" approach to policy-making, often blindsiding and alienating parents in the process.

You're confusing "mean-spirited and presumptuous" with "bitter and disappointed." And that tends to describe the majority of parents in ACPS, the happy talk here notwithstanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

I am one of at least several people who has posted about prior private school experiences vs. ACPS. We've found ACPS significantly better -- better academically, better socially, better in terms of institutional responsiveness, and better overall as a developmental experience -- than two local privates, one of which is highly ranked. As part of a move we made several years ago to ACPS, we looked at TC college placement. It's not just five kids. It's much, much more than five kids. In terms of admissions to what many people would call the top-100 private colleges and universities and the top three dozen or so public universities, it's a majority of the AP/IB and remaining selective-placement and higher-demand programs at TC. And there are many, many more than that who enroll in good but not top 50/100 colleges (Mary Washington, James Madison, VCU, etc). We've looked -- carefully and thoroughly -- at exactly this issue. What 07:57 posted was obviously calculated to insult and inflame. Maybe 07:57 had a bad experience; maybe 07:57 was a problem parent or had unrealistic expectations. Does TC also have kids who don't do well? You bet, although the record has been improving over the last few years. Are some of the kids impoverished? Yup. Are there kids who enroll at TC from elsewhere with insufficient English language skills? There are indeed. Are there a typical slice of below-average High School slacker kids? Yes. It's a diverse, urban high school. That's actually one of the social strengths. Please call the TC office and take a tour. You'll be impressed. Almost anyone would be, except for people who have already decided not to consider TC in a reasonable light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

It's neither mean-spirited or presumptuous since, well, I have experienced the system. I acknowledge some kids can get a great education at TC and excel and even get into great colleges. But as you consider ACPS, you need to know the caveats there: 1) This is not the norm; and 2) To accomplish this, you have to sort of self-segregate within the school, and there's no real actual "diversity" within that bubble -- there's a reason why TC has the nickname "Yale of Jail." This is a problem ACPS has from early on, with underrepresentation of minorities in the TAG program, and it carries over into MS and HS. You can see how the administration has attempted to deal with it -- adopting the IB program, open enrollment honors in the middle school. But there's no real indication that it is working (and, in fact, the administration does tend to take a "throw it at the wall and see what sticks" approach to policy-making, often blindsiding and alienating parents in the process.

You're confusing "mean-spirited and presumptuous" with "bitter and disappointed." And that tends to describe the majority of parents in ACPS, the happy talk here notwithstanding.

Are you the same Arlington parent who pulled her kid out of an ACPS elementary, has no direct experience with TC, and went on for months about how incredible it was that your snowflake got to use an IPad in APS? I have no time for the people who claim ACPS doesn't do a good job of meeting the needs of its diverse students, but live in some lily-white patch of North Arlington. All you want to do is make yourself feel better for bailing and moving to your bland neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

I am one of at least several people who has posted about prior private school experiences vs. ACPS. We've found ACPS significantly better -- better academically, better socially, better in terms of institutional responsiveness, and better overall as a developmental experience -- than two local privates, one of which is highly ranked. As part of a move we made several years ago to ACPS, we looked at TC college placement. It's not just five kids. It's much, much more than five kids. In terms of admissions to what many people would call the top-100 private colleges and universities and the top three dozen or so public universities, it's a majority of the AP/IB and remaining selective-placement and higher-demand programs at TC. And there are many, many more than that who enroll in good but not top 50/100 colleges (Mary Washington, James Madison, VCU, etc). We've looked -- carefully and thoroughly -- at exactly this issue. What 07:57 posted was obviously calculated to insult and inflame. Maybe 07:57 had a bad experience; maybe 07:57 was a problem parent or had unrealistic expectations. Does TC also have kids who don't do well? You bet, although the record has been improving over the last few years. Are some of the kids impoverished? Yup. Are there kids who enroll at TC from elsewhere with insufficient English language skills? There are indeed. Are there a typical slice of below-average High School slacker kids? Yes. It's a diverse, urban high school. That's actually one of the social strengths. Please call the TC office and take a tour. You'll be impressed. Almost anyone would be, except for people who have already decided not to consider TC in a reasonable light.

I know you post this all the time.

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

The private schools are slanted towards children who are above average and can work above grade level. The curriclum in ACPS is meant to provide the minimum education needed at grade level. It's not challenging or rigourous for children who are even slightly above average and is not intended to be.

[Anonymous]

We just did the private school tours earlier this year for our 4 year old for kindergarten next year. I was surprised that many of the K-8 private school alumni choose to attend public school (gasp, yes TC Williams). These students seem to graduate at the top of their class at TC Williams and move on towards top universities including the ivy league schools. I have heard about yale or jail about ACPS.

We personally are not willing to gamble and will be going the private school route. We will reevaluate in junior high and then again in high school. That is if we are still living in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

I am one of at least several people who has posted about prior private school experiences vs. ACPS. We've found ACPS significantly better -- better academically, better socially, better in terms of institutional responsiveness, and better overall as a developmental experience -- than two local privates, one of which is highly ranked. As part of a move we made several years ago to ACPS, we looked at TC college placement. It's not just five kids. It's much, much more than five kids. In terms of admissions to what many people would call the top-100 private colleges and universities and the top three dozen or so public universities, it's a majority of the AP/IB and remaining selective-placement and higher-demand programs at TC. And there are many, many more than that who enroll in good but not top 50/100 colleges (Mary Washington, James Madison, VCU, etc). We've looked -- carefully and thoroughly -- at exactly this issue. What 07:57 posted was obviously calculated to insult and inflame. Maybe 07:57 had a bad experience; maybe 07:57 was a problem parent or had unrealistic expectations. Does TC also have kids who don't do well? You bet, although the record has been improving over the last few years. Are some of the kids impoverished? Yup. Are there kids who enroll at TC from elsewhere with insufficient English language skills? There are indeed. Are there a typical slice of below-average High School slacker kids? Yes. It's a diverse, urban high school. That's actually one of the social strengths. Please call the TC office and take a tour. You'll be impressed. Almost anyone would be, except for people who have already decided not to consider TC in a reasonable light.

I know you post this all the time.

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

The private schools are slanted towards children who are above average and can work above grade level. The curriclum in ACPS is meant to provide the minimum education needed at grade level. It's not challenging or rigourous for children who are even slightly above average and is not intended to be.

NP here. We used to live in Cameron Station, which is part of ACPS. The area is brand new and is full of professionals. Most all families who sent their kids to Tucker Elementary seemed quite pleased with the school. The parents are very involved, part of the PTA, etc. I'm not as familiar with the other deemed good elementary schools but there are a few that come up often. If your child is motivated, I think your child could do quite well in Alexandria City.

We moved out of Cameron Station for more space but I would have been perfectly fine with sending my children to Tucker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:07:57: the fact that I was disappointed in your post is relevant to me. I am still considering acps, and so I am considering arguments from both sides of the issue. Although you may have brought up some valid points (list of colleges may reflect only five students), I find it hard to trust your entire line of reasoning because it's mean spirited and presumptuous. No one is saying that tc is not complicated.

I am one of at least several people who has posted about prior private school experiences vs. ACPS. We've found ACPS significantly better -- better academically, better socially, better in terms of institutional responsiveness, and better overall as a developmental experience -- than two local privates, one of which is highly ranked. As part of a move we made several years ago to ACPS, we looked at TC college placement. It's not just five kids. It's much, much more than five kids. In terms of admissions to what many people would call the top-100 private colleges and universities and the top three dozen or so public universities, it's a majority of the AP/IB and remaining selective-placement and higher-demand programs at TC. And there are many, many more than that who enroll in good but not top 50/100 colleges (Mary Washington, James Madison, VCU, etc). We've looked -- carefully and thoroughly -- at exactly this issue. What 07:57 posted was obviously calculated to insult and inflame. Maybe 07:57 had a bad experience; maybe 07:57 was a problem parent or had unrealistic expectations. Does TC also have kids who don't do well? You bet, although the record has been improving over the last few years. Are some of the kids impoverished? Yup. Are there kids who enroll at TC from elsewhere with insufficient English language skills? There are indeed. Are there a typical slice of below-average High School slacker kids? Yes. It's a diverse, urban high school. That's actually one of the social strengths. Please call the TC office and take a tour. You'll be impressed. Almost anyone would be, except for people who have already decided not to consider TC in a reasonable light.

I know you post this all the time.

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

The private schools are slanted towards children who are above average and can work above grade level. The curriclum in ACPS is meant to provide the minimum education needed at grade level. It's not challenging or rigourous for children who are even slightly above average and is not intended to be.

NP here. We used to live in Cameron Station, which is part of ACPS. The area is brand new and is full of professionals. Most all families who sent their kids to Tucker Elementary seemed quite pleased with the school. The parents are very involved, part of the PTA, etc. I'm not as familiar with the other deemed good elementary schools but there are a few that come up often. If your child is motivated, I think your child could do quite well in Alexandria City.

We moved out of Cameron Station for more space but I would have been perfectly fine with sending my children to Tucker.

We made friends with people both in Cameron Station and right outside. Plenty of well educated lawyers, doctors, consultants, etc. Hate to make it a racial thing but they were mostly white.

[Anonymous]

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

What a hideous thing to say to someone. Whatever you think of ACPS, why would you feel the need to suggest that someone's child that you don't even know is unintelligent? Perhaps the rigor of learning to spell the word "academic" correctly is too much for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

What a hideous thing to say to someone. Whatever you think of ACPS, why would you feel the need to suggest that someone's child that you don't even know is unintelligent? Perhaps the rigor of learning to spell the word "academic" correctly is too much for you.

I never suggested the child was not intelligent. I suggested that he wasn't able to keep up with a rigourous academic program. Not every single child is going to be able to do so. It doesn't mean that they are not intelligent but yes, it might mean that they are average or slightly below average academically. The poster says they removed their child from two Alexandria private school for academic issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
NP here. We used to live in Cameron Station, which is part of ACPS. The area is brand new and is full of professionals. Most all families who sent their kids to Tucker Elementary seemed quite pleased with the school. The parents are very involved, part of the PTA, etc. I'm not as familiar with the other deemed good elementary schools but there are a few that come up often. If your child is motivated, I think your child could do quite well in Alexandria City.

We moved out of Cameron Station for more space but I would have been perfectly fine with sending my children to Tucker.

The area is not brand new. It's been around 10+ years now.

Tucker is a year round school and that appeals to many families because then their is no concern about summer camp. They also bring kids in from all over the City. Cameron Station kids do not fill the elementary school and never have. Families in Cameron Station are able to opt out of Tucker because of the year round program and go to other City schools. Also families choose private school. Lastly, Tucker has very low test scores, get a rating of "2" on great schools. Good for you for being "perfectly fine" with sending your child to a school that is pretty much failing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just did the private school tours earlier this year for our 4 year old for kindergarten next year. I was surprised that many of the K-8 private school alumni choose to attend public school (gasp, yes TC Williams). These students seem to graduate at the top of their class at TC Williams and move on towards top universities including the ivy league schools. I have heard about yale or jail about ACPS.

We personally are not willing to gamble and will be going the private school route. We will reevaluate in junior high and then again in high school. That is if we are still living in Alexandria.

TC offers lots of AP classes; hence, the Yale track at the school. Most of the students leaving the Alexandria privates will go to TC to take advantage of the AP classes. I would guess that if a parent felt their child was not going to be able to get into the "Yale" track at TC, they would then continue to send their child to a private high school and for good reason.

[Anonymous]

The poster says they removed their child from two Alexandria private school for academic issues.

No, they did not. Read the post. They did not say why the removed the child from the private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you went through to private schools and then found ACPS to be a good fit, then the problem was not the private schools but the adademic rigor was too much for your child.

What a hideous thing to say to someone. Whatever you think of ACPS, why would you feel the need to suggest that someone's child that you don't even know is unintelligent? Perhaps the rigor of learning to spell the word "academic" correctly is too much for you.

I never suggested the child was not intelligent. I suggested that he wasn't able to keep up with a rigourous academic program. Not every single child is going to be able to do so. It doesn't mean that they are not intelligent but yes, it might mean that they are average or slightly below average academically. The poster says they removed their child from two Alexandria private school for academic issues.

I'm the PP, and that's a fanciful interpretation. The private school curricula were weak. In fact, much weaker than the ACPS curriculum. And the ACPS TAG and honors programs (which are not the same) simply blow the private school curricula away. We pulled from private, in part for academic reasons -- because the privates we saw are simply so weak.

[Anonymous]

to the person who stated they left private schools because the curriculum was weak, and stated that ACPS's curric is strong/good, please detail what you find strong about ACPS' curriculum? I am honestly blown away by this statement, considering the curriculum has changed each year over the course of the past 4 years....thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:to the person who stated they left private schools because the curriculum was weak, and stated that ACPS's curric is strong/good, please detail what you find strong about ACPS' curriculum? I am honestly blown away by this statement, considering the curriculum has changed each year over the course of the past 4 years....thanks.

The curriculum (in the honors program at least) is more full -- more material is covered in any one academic year than was covered at either of the two privates where we were. Challenge level -- the ACPS system clearly does not feel obliged to give every special little snowflake an "Excellent Advanced Mastery" or whatever term means an A in a particular private school. There's more differentiated instruction in ACPS than in most local privates; neither of our privates would provide any block period or special support for any advanced or supplemental study of any kind (and parents used to pull kids from one of them for this reason, among others). Math (in particular) -- the entire math curriculum is taught, the homework and testing is more thorough and more frequent, and the kids we know in ACPS are more conversant. There are numerous -- I mean a lot -- of ex-private parents in our DC's class and there's pretty nearly universal agreement on these. We also prefer the overall academic environment, which isn't focused on privilege or personal background.

(The year-end SOL testing isn't especially significant and also isn't terribly challenging. We understand why the substantial numbers of recent-admission ELL kids, as well as special ed kids, and perhaps kids who don't care or have entirely unsupportive home environments would do poorly. But for average and above-average kids, they don't seem terribly meaningful. So we're disregarding those even though DC has done well on them).