how early can I call ATS about waitlist placement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband stopped by the school since they would not give the info over the phone. He just *had to know*.

Oh boo, I was just working up the nerve to call. I guess I'll have to wait for a letter now. Since it's been a couple days, I am assuming DD did not get a space.

I wouldn't assume that. I think that they will notify everyone - those to whom they will offer places, and those on the waitlist - by snail mail. Be patient! (I'm waiting, too.)

we never got the snail mail. USPS lost it or delivered it to an incorrect address. i finally called near the deadline to accept a spot.

[Anonymous]

This is my worry since the forms were handwritten and my writing sucks.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

You really think this is the reason for the long waitlist at ATS? People in unstable living situations are not going to be the ones seeking out choice schools for the most part. They're understandably more focused on their day-to-day survival than on going to a bunch of information sessions (largely conducted in a language they may not speak) to apply.

I'm also not sure why you think that ATS would provide better ESOL services than the neighborhood schools. Do you have information to back that up?

No, I'm saying it would be good if there were more choices for people who want them (especially if Arlington housing policy is going to continue to concentrate low-income housing in a few small areas), and ATS has been shown to be a good model for the kids who have attended, and it has a huge wait list.

Good model for those who attend, which is a self-selecting group. That doesn't mean it's the right model for everyone. I mean, I assume that when you applied you looked at the programming at your neighborhood school and that of ATS, and made a decision based on your child and how your child learns about which environment would be best. And didn't just go by the test scores, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

You really think this is the reason for the long waitlist at ATS? People in unstable living situations are not going to be the ones seeking out choice schools for the most part. They're understandably more focused on their day-to-day survival than on going to a bunch of information sessions (largely conducted in a language they may not speak) to apply.

I'm also not sure why you think that ATS would provide better ESOL services than the neighborhood schools. Do you have information to back that up?

No, I'm saying it would be good if there were more choices for people who want them (especially if Arlington housing policy is going to continue to concentrate low-income housing in a few small areas), and ATS has been shown to be a good model for the kids who have attended, and it has a huge wait list.

Good model for those who attend, which is a self-selecting group. That doesn't mean it's the right model for everyone. I mean, I assume that when you applied you looked at the programming at your neighborhood school and that of ATS, and made a decision based on your child and how your child learns about which environment would be best. And didn't just go by the test scores, right?

A) Neither of my kids goes to ATS (we didn't even apply). Doesn't mean I can't see that it gets results and that parents are happy with it.
B) Where did anyone say it should be the model for anyone? Why do people always put up these straw men on DCUM and then demand you defend them?

[Anonymous]

We applied to ATS last year and didn't get in, and I was crushed because I fell in love with the school on the tour, and I thought my anxious son would love all the structure and the rules about being kind to others etc. But we didn't get in so we went to our neighborhood school.

Turns out the sort of things I thought my son would love are a source for stress. He wasn't really ready for the focus on academics in K; he'd rather have more playtime and more time to just be a kid. Assignments or projects that aren't well thought out and fun but are rote practice or memorizing or too taxing for too long are just hard on him. He would love the play-based Kindergarten I had 30 years ago, but modern K is no joke!

And ATS is, from my understanding, just about the most no nonsense K there is in NOVA. Serious homework assignments and practicing, etc. I'm not knocking it -- it seems amazing and wonderful for many students who are the right fit. I'm just saying, I was crushed when we didn't get in last year, but now that I know what K is like and remember the tours at ATS and the explanations of the work, I am glad we didn't get in. I don't think our son would have flourished there, and I think it would have been really hard on him to try to squeeze him into a box he wasn't really built to fit into.

So ATS lottery losers, take heart! You may love ATS, or the idea of ATS, but as it turns out your child might not have liked it as much as you thought/hoped/dreamed they would.

[Anonymous]

1809. Agreed. My dh loves ats but I don't think the rigidity would work for Our child or us truth be told.

[Anonymous]

My child seems pretty average so I think she would do fine anywhere. I'm hoping for an ATS slot mostly because it'd be more convenient.

[Anonymous]

I can't remember the last time I was actually waiting for something by snail mail...perhaps that method of delivery suits the "traditional" label lol.

[Anonymous]

I called today and they wouldn't tell me on the phone. They said letters are going out today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A) Neither of my kids goes to ATS (we didn't even apply). Doesn't mean I can't see that it gets results and that parents are happy with it.
B) Where did anyone say it should be the model for anyone? Why do people always put up these straw men on DCUM and then demand you defend them?

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I called today and they wouldn't tell me on the phone. They said letters are going out today.

So most folks will probably hear Monday / Tuesday. Good luck all!

[Anonymous]

Got my letter today-- we are way down there on the waiting list- over the previously posted number of 120.

[Anonymous]

Our letter arrived but I promised DH I would wait for him to get home before opening!!

[Anonymous]

letter arrived. we are between 40 and 50

[Anonymous]

17:49 here, I peeked. 181 for us, I am pretty disappointed.