ATS, Campbell and other APS lotteries
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Anonymous
I just called and was told they won't give any information over the phone. We are currently getting our mail forwarded, so I have no idea when we will hear. |
Anonymous
I would go in person to find out then. You only have until May 5th to accept. |
Anonymous
I don't think this is correct. We received a letter offering us a spot in ATS for next year and it says that you must register by May 26th. However, they recommend that you enroll in a "strengthening pre-kindergarten summer school" program, and the deadline to register for that is May 5th. And, you have to be registered for kindergarten before you register for that. So as I read it the May 5 deadline is only if you want to do the summer school program. When I dropped off,the lottery form, I thought the assistant told me that they were not doing email notifications this year because it overwhelmed the server or something. I'm not positive on that though. We're on the fence re whether to accept so if anyone wants to tell me about their experience there, why you preferred it over you neighborhood school or why you didn't like it, I'm all ears. I have searched and I think read everything in the archives. |
Anonymous
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19:10 - we're an ATS family (1 2nd-grader, active in the school community), so I can address your questions.
1 - though you didn't ask, we did the summer school thing even though we probably didn't need it. (child was in a good preschool/pre-K program and had all the skills we were told she should have going into K.) It was stuff she knew already, but she had fun re-learning it. They did school stuff for about 3 hours every day and the rest of the day was fun extended day programming - arts, crafts, field trips, recess, swimming, entertainment. The staff was terrific, and it was a good introduction to the school system for us. Also, it may not be this way anymore, but it was seriously cheap. The program was $100, plus extended day costs of around $620. So for 3-4 weeks, we paid $720 for full-day care, which is cheap given the cost of camps here. So I recommend it. 2 - we love the school and most of the kids we know here seem to be doing well. Most of the parents seem pretty happy with it. Yes, it is fairly structured and orderly. But the kids spend a lot of time on specials (art, music, library, PE, computer lab, FLES) and they have plenty of recess. All 4th graders do choir, all 5th graders play an instrument, and most (all?) classes have a class play. 3 - most of the teachers are terrific. ATS has a great reputation, so they don't have trouble attracting good staff. (I think most schools in Arlington could say the same thing.) I don't think they teach to the test. 4 - we have an active, engaged PTA who does a lot for the teachers, students and parents. there's no "mean girl" atmosphere like you occasionally hear about. (i.e. no "bad moms" scenarios here!) Our principal is a fierce advocate for the students and the school; our VP is a real sweetie. 5 - we have been mostly happy with extended day; because the school starts pretty early (8:15), morning care is very sparsely attended, but afternoon care is very popular. They keep the preschoolers and kindergartners separate from the rest of the kids for most of the year, then they get mixed with the older kids in first grade. There are lots of areas of the school open for the kids to use, and a decent variety of enrichment activities you can choose from. 6 - the school is pretty diverse. We have a pretty good demographic mix, and about 21% of FARMS, which doesn't overwhelm the school. Whatever race or religion your kid is, they'll have plenty of company here. We have a lot of international families and a fair number of ESL speakers, maybe another 20%? (I should look it up.) 7 - there is not a lot of turnover - people tend to stick around. My daughter's cohort started with 73 kids or so, and I'd guess that maybe only 10% of them have transferred out, or plan to do so. (and 3 of those were in the same family.) 8 - families are active in scouting, soccer and softball/baseball, all of which are good ways to meet other parents. The big downside for me - and frankly, the only downside - is that you do miss out on the interaction with other neighborhood families. We live on a block with a LOT of kids who go to the neighborhood school, and we are definitely the outsiders. That makes me sad. We say hi and do the block parties and stuff, but it's not a substitute for standing at the bus stop together every day. So if this is a factor for you, think hard about it. Good luck with your decision! |
Anonymous
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The PP has provided a good summary of what most people like about ATS. Our child is there and we have loved it. We love the diversity and even if that's not your particular interest I do wonder if it helps to cut down on the competitiveness and the mean girl stuff you hear about. Of course every grade of kids has its own personality so there are never guarantees, but all the kids and parents we've gotten to know well are down to earth, friendly, etc.
The academics have been outstanding and we love the fact that all the kids get involved in music in some way. They all start playing instruments in 4th grade and have the experience of being part of a band or orchestra. They have weekly full-school assemblies and every class above K puts on a class play. This helps the feeling of community. There's a great PTA. We like the structured aspect and have never found it overbearing. I think people blow that up way out of proportion. They're taught to be quiet in the hallways and they tuck their shirts in-- it's no big deal. They talk a lot about character and about being responsible for your own behavior-- all good at that age. I understand the bus stop thing-- yes, you lose that sense of belonging in your neighborhood to some degree. That being said, our child has plenty of play dates with kids from all over the county and that hasn't been a big deal. Plus, you may get to know the neighborhood families better if your kids go to the local school for middle school. We felt the trade off was probably worth it and haven't worried about it much since. |
Anonymous
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We've been at ATS for a few years now (since K), and are very happy. I'd echo everything the two previous posters have said. The structure has been good for our lively DS, and has not been overbearing at all. It's a warm, friendly place, with clear behavior expectations.
It's a well run school, and the principal is formidable. The kids all like her - she's at the front door each morning greeting each child by name - but she's clearly in charge, and, as a PP put it, a fierce advocate for the school. In addition to the mandatory choir and instrument for the older students - these things are optional at other APS elementaries - every 5th grader is a safety patrol. My DS can't wait. It's a good opportunity for the 5th graders to demonstrate some responsibility, and it's also great for the K students. Every K student is assigned his/her own 5th grade safety patrol for the whole school year. The 5th graders are like buddies for the K students, and it's a great way to ease the K students into the elementary school world. I don't know of any other APS elementary that does this. We love the international focus at the school. There are tons of kids with parents born overseas (in DS's K class, about a third of the students had at least one parent born elsewhere - England, France, Spain, Italy, Finland, India, Egypt, Colombia, Argentina). There is also a sister school in Uganda. The PTA sponsored International Night is the biggest event on the annual school calendar. The kids in our neighborhood go to several different elementary schools, so using a choice school has not been a big deal for us. DS has his neighborhood friends and his school friends. It's a terrific school. |
Anonymous
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My ATS 5th grader absolutely loves her "patrol kids"! She has 2 that she picks up from pre-K and walks to their buses before she goes to extended day.
I'm getting weepy thinking about next month's graduation. All the kindergarteners sing to the 5th graders -- I went to watch when DD was in K, and I cried like a baby. (I cry at everything). They sang a version of "You are my sunshine" and it was totally adorable. DD has a few buddies amongst the extended day K-kids and she's already afraid she will cry. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. |
Anonymous
| Can anyone tell me when that get together is, for the incoming ATS families? In past years, it was some time at the beginning of the summer (most neighborhood schools do it at the end of summer). Thanks! |
Anonymous
| 21:55- I think they are still trying to nail down the date for the kindergarten welcome picnic. There will also be a few playground play dates. I'll post dates when I know them. |
Anonymous
Thank you! 
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Anonymous
| To the poster who is having mail forwarded and doesn't know if they've gotten an acceptance letter to ATS - I talked to the office yesterday. For confidentiality reasons, they can't release info over the phone, but if you can go into the office, they can tell you if you're in or not. |
Anonymous
Thanks, I'm the mail forwarded PP, I have the day off on Friday, so if we don't get the letter by then, I will stop by the office! |
Anonymous
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I'll chime about ATS. Mine are long gone but overall we had a very good experience there. I, too, was a very involved parent who volunteered, did the room parent thing, PTA, etc.
To address what an earlier poster said about there being no mean girl activity. It might not exist in your grade, but it did in mine. My DD was ostracized and left out. We tried the lunch bunch, involving the school counselor but in the end, it was leaving ATS that gave her back her confidence. I can't say that I blame ATS but I felt that there are certain parents that orchestrate their kids' friendships and leave out others. This is likely true at all schools in Arlington but I am speaking to my experience. Also, not being part of your neighborhood school is not felt until you LEAVE ATS. My kids both felt like they didn't know anyone when they went on to their neighborhood school. Fortunately, one is more outgoing than the other and had no problem making friends. For the other, it took until late MS. I say this because people discount the impact it has on your kids not to know the kids in the neighborhood. It can make a difference. Overall, I do feel like the school does a great job preparing the kids for MS as well as preparing the parents to be educationally-involved parents. |
Anonymous
Previous ATS commenter here. This is a reasonable point. I think some of the effect depends on your neighborhood. While there are lots of kids in ours, there aren't many exactly my child's age, so it's not like they would be natural friends in middle school either. But if there are tons of kids your child's age in your neighborhood I could see that making a difference. To play devil's advocate, I'm pleased that my child will know kids at several schools once they leave ATS. I know they won't all keep up with each other but hope that at least some of them will. If things ever get difficult socially at your neighborhood school it can be really helpful to know kids at other schools. |