Overcrowding and Arlington - is it a reason to go private or seek out something different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And shake your fist all you want, APS is what drives the property values in Arlington.

This is absolutely wrong. The proximity (and therefore the reduced commute times) drive property values. I also really love my neighborhood and would live here if I did not have kids (like many of my neighbors).

As a patent of 3 kids in Arlington schools, I can tell you that there is nothing magical about the schools. The teachers, like whole state of Virginia, focus almost exclusively on the subject matter on the SOLs and the classroom pace is based on the slowest kids, so my kids are bored a lot. There is terrible bureaucracy and red tape for anything that costs money, such as receiving special services for a learning disability. It is obvious that as wealthier, higher educated parents moved into Arlington and poorer families were pushed out in the last twenty years, school performance criteria (e.g., test scores) have miraculously improved as well.

It's not absolutely wrong.

The same property that costs $500,000 in Alexandria City costs $700,000 in North Arlington. Same proximity. Schools are the differentiator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And shake your fist all you want, APS is what drives the property values in Arlington.

This is absolutely wrong. The proximity (and therefore the reduced commute times) drive property values. I also really love my neighborhood and would live here if I did not have kids (like many of my neighbors).

As a patent of 3 kids in Arlington schools, I can tell you that there is nothing magical about the schools. The teachers, like whole state of Virginia, focus almost exclusively on the subject matter on the SOLs and the classroom pace is based on the slowest kids, so my kids are bored a lot. There is terrible bureaucracy and red tape for anything that costs money, such as receiving special services for a learning disability. It is obvious that as wealthier, higher educated parents moved into Arlington and poorer families were pushed out in the last twenty years, school performance criteria (e.g., test scores) have miraculously improved as well.

It's not absolutely wrong.

The same property that costs $500,000 in Alexandria City costs $700,000 in North Arlington. Same proximity. Schools are the differentiator.

Nonsense. Real estate in Alexandria City is very expensive.

[Anonymous]

My Kindergartner has 21 kids and a teacher and a full-time aide in the classroom.

My 2nd grader has 20 kids in the class.

N.Arlington.

These are great ratios. I'm not going anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I heard the school board has put off studying any new boundary adjustments. The boundaries will not change anytime soon.

In SOUTH Arlington, or potentially WRT high schools. Rezoning has already occurred for 7 schools in N Arlington and will take effect in the fall of 2015.

Wait, the middle and high school rezoning was to be decided Feb 2014. Has that been delayed or tabled?

I was at last week's Board meeting and the Board expressed no desire to change boundaries for high school so it won't happen. I wasn't clear if this change in direction came from their own reconsideration or was prompted by APS Facilities Planning recommendations. One Board member actually mentioned how ugly the process would get and stated that they don't want to go there. Adding capacity for high school is still a major priority. APS facilities staff reported to the Board that a fourth, new comprehensive high school facility is not feasible (no available land large enough and cost-prohibitive). The Board had an interesting discussion on other ways to address high school overcrowding such as dual enrollment options using local college facilities and programs (kind of like School without Walls in DC - that's my understanding, no one mentioned this school!) and leasing existing County facilities for space for special programs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And shake your fist all you want, APS is what drives the property values in Arlington.

This is absolutely wrong. The proximity (and therefore the reduced commute times) drive property values. I also really love my neighborhood and would live here if I did not have kids (like many of my neighbors).

As a patent of 3 kids in Arlington schools, I can tell you that there is nothing magical about the schools. The teachers, like whole state of Virginia, focus almost exclusively on the subject matter on the SOLs and the classroom pace is based on the slowest kids, so my kids are bored a lot. There is terrible bureaucracy and red tape for anything that costs money, such as receiving special services for a learning disability. It is obvious that as wealthier, higher educated parents moved into Arlington and poorer families were pushed out in the last twenty years, school performance criteria (e.g., test scores) have miraculously improved as well.

It's not absolutely wrong.

The same property that costs $500,000 in Alexandria City costs $700,000 in North Arlington. Same proximity. Schools are the differentiator.

Nonsense. Real estate in Alexandria City is very expensive.

Real estate in North Arlington is MORE expensive. My point is comparable housing stock in N. Arlington costs $150,00 to $200,000 more than in Alexandria City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Kindergartner has 21 kids and a teacher and a full-time aide in the classroom.

My 2nd grader has 20 kids in the class.

N.Arlington.

These are great ratios. I'm not going anywhere.

My first grader has 20 kids in her class and gets special ed pull out services with 2 other kids. I am not going anywhere either. Arlington parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of those options worked for me, but there are others, n'est pas? You could rent. You avoid property taxes in the short term, but your local buying dollars do serve the county. Think outside the I can't move until I buy box ...

If we move when it's time to start the kids in school, we will probably be renters for at least a year or two. We have no problem with that (have already thought ourselves out of that box). Are you going to then complain that we should be buyers immediately because YOU think we can afford it? Geesshh.

[Anonymous]

FWIW to the parent who asked if the principal would know your child in a big school - our ES has more than 700 kids now, and the principal knows the names of both my children, and she remembers my last name every time I see her (no idea if she knows my first name, I only ever hear her address parents by Mrs or Mr last name so I assume that's her preference). I think if you make it a point to try to attend things or to volunteer, even if it's only a few times a year to read in a K class or something it helps people get to know you/your family.

[Anonymous]

What I have argued consistently is this: folks like yourselves who know you plan to move out here to take advantage of Arlington's amazing school system should do it sooner rather than later -- read: for later at the 11th hour when you, and your fellow traveler, yes carpetbaggers, shift the cost of the burden you put on the school system to others. Should you have to buy here? No. Should you be paying sooner rather than later for the fact that the result of the carpetbagging behavior over time is that we are having to build a new elementary school? Absolutely, from my perspective.

What I find interesting is that you seem so resistant to the idea of moving sooner rather than later. What gives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And shake your fist all you want, APS is what drives the property values in Arlington.

This is absolutely wrong. The proximity (and therefore the reduced commute times) drive property values. I also really love my neighborhood and would live here if I did not have kids (like many of my neighbors).

As a patent of 3 kids in Arlington schools, I can tell you that there is nothing magical about the schools. The teachers, like whole state of Virginia, focus almost exclusively on the subject matter on the SOLs and the classroom pace is based on the slowest kids, so my kids are bored a lot. There is terrible bureaucracy and red tape for anything that costs money, such as receiving special services for a learning disability. It is obvious that as wealthier, higher educated parents moved into Arlington and poorer families were pushed out in the last twenty years, school performance criteria (e.g., test scores) have miraculously improved as well.

It's not absolutely wrong.

The same property that costs $500,000 in Alexandria City costs $700,000 in North Arlington. Same proximity. Schools are the differentiator.

Nonsense. Real estate in Alexandria City is very expensive.

Real estate in North Arlington is MORE expensive. My point is comparable housing stock in N. Arlington costs $150,00 to $200,000 more than in Alexandria City.

Agreed. There is a "school discount" when you buy in Alexandria City. We live in Del Ray and cannot afford N. Arlington. If the schools were better, I think we'd have been priced out here too.

[Anonymous]

What gives? Seriously? 1. Our housing costs will double, even as renters, which means we'd be giving up a year worth of savings 2. The only thing attracting us to Arlington is the schools. Our current commute is fine. 3. I like where I live and I'm sad to leave. I'm sure none of these things are good enough for you, but they're good enough for me. Living in an area with good schools is a blessing and a curse, because the whole supply/demand thing gives a huge boost to property values, and hey, you've got good schools. But once the property values and housing costs reach a certain threshold, people will feel priced out and avoid the move until absolutely necessary. It's all wrapped up in rational decision making and stuff. Have a nice day.

[Anonymous]

Did the board to say anything about middle school boundaries? It seems like a horrible idea to continue to stick their heads in the sand. The Swanson border has to shrink.

[Anonymous]

Did the board to say anything about middle school boundaries? It seems like a horrible idea to continue to stick their heads in the sand. The Swanson border has to shrink.

[Anonymous]

The Board agreed that the need for a new middle school is more urgent than the need for a new choice elementary school. They didn't mention boundaries but in my understanding new schools mean new boundaries...
I don't know if/when they put forward a motion and set a vote on this or what next steps would be...Here's the presentation: https://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/9BPN295CADFB/$file/MSMS%20Process%20Update.pdf

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP. That is very helpful.