Barcroft or Randolph ES Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard from APS teachers that Barcroft will no longer be a year-round school, starting in fall 2017.

That makes sense. Randolph is becoming a choice school. Douglas Park will have a new neighborhood school possibly Barcroft. They can't really have it be a year round school, and not provide an alternative for families. I'm really interested to see how making Randolph choice plays out..

[Anonymous]

When is Randolph becoming a choice school? Would that mean if my child goes there next year, his siblings would have to enter the lottery for a spot? Does becoming a choice school usually improve performance?

Could you point me to where a I could find out more info on this, please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When is Randolph becoming a choice school? Would that mean if my child goes there next year, his siblings would have to enter the lottery for a spot? Does becoming a choice school usually improve performance?

Could you point me to where a I could find out more info on this, please?

Gah! I'm not sure where to find it. It was literally talked about last month at a school board work session. THe plan is to have 2 immersion choice schools (Key and Claremont) 2 IB choice schools ( Reed and Randolph)
Then there would be ATS, Campbell, and Montessori.
The rest of the elementaries will have a STEAM focus.
This is supposed to come online fall 2019

I'm guessing there would be sibling preference.

Would choice help Randolph's performance? It can't really get worse, might as well give it a try.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'll poke around and try to find it.

I supposed the bet I'd have to consider is whether or not being a choice school would improve Randolph's performance/community involvement/etc to make it the better choice for my family.

I'm not sure what's in Barcroft's future that will help it improve, or hinder it.

[Anonymous]

Barcroft is getting a new principal and has a new AP. That could improve things. It was a pretty good school 3-4 years ago, under a veteran principal before the current regime. Might be worth giving it a chance to improve.

[Anonymous]

Yes, that's a good point too. Could go either way, right? The re-zoning for the new elementary could affect Barcroft too (but it doesn't sound like our neighborhood would be rezoned).

Not going to be an easy decision.

[Anonymous]

From what I've heard making Randolph a choice school is not definite (but likely) and could be several years out. Considering that redistricting is happening next year, though, it seems like it would happen sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With boundary changes coming, you have to be incredibly stupid to buy anywhere but 22207. You can try to "save a buck" and buy a modest home in say the McKinley or the Patrick Henry zones, but you could EASILY be rezoned to something awful.

Better to buy right by Discovery, Nottingham, Jamestown or (north of) Taylor. Then you're set.

Did you or did you not get that OP is considering which townhouse to buy in south Arlington? And you want them to move to 22207? Get a life.

[Anonymous]

That is a tough call and neither school is great. Can you swing something over near Henry or Hoffman Boston? These are schools on the upswing, not the downswing. Barcroft and Randolph are both in pretty sorry shape and need a few years of concentrated attention from the central admin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is a tough call and neither school is great. Can you swing something over near Henry or Hoffman Boston? These are schools on the upswing, not the downswing. Barcroft and Randolph are both in pretty sorry shape and need a few years of concentrated attention from the central admin.

Henry is a GS 9/10 on any given year and has been for some time. It's been awarded a national blue ribbon. I hardly call that an "upswing". Guess what? Houses are priced accordingly. I imagine OP has zeroed in on the areas feeding into Randolph/Barcroft because they can't pay the arlington "good school" tax.
Randolph will be the east side IB choice school likely by fall 2019. So, if OP buys in Douglas Park, it is unclear to what elementary school she would be zoned. It could be Barcroft, it could be Drew. Part of that neighborhood goes to Hoffman Boston, so maybe they get redrawn there. The south Arlington working group has said redistributing better demographics will be a priority once the new school comes on line.
No guarantee you will end up at the school any house is currently zoned that part of South Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm looking for information/experienced to help me decide between those two schools only.

[Anonymous]

Randolph, then. More active parents. APS seems more committed to improving it. Lots of Barcroft parents still in denial about the situation there.

[Anonymous]

Randolph seems to have a vision and a path forward, and offers a distinct approach with the IB program.

Barcroft, when I toured it, just seemed like a school. Nothing really set it apart - besides the school calendar.

Of course a new principal could change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Randolph seems to have a vision and a path forward, and offers a distinct approach with the IB program.

Barcroft, when I toured it, just seemed like a school. Nothing really set it apart - besides the school calendar.

Of course a new principal could change that.

I think it will be doing a traditional calendar soon.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. Wouldn't they have to make an announcement soon?