APS: I can't keep up! (ASFS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some ASFS parents want to delay the changes so they can lobby for ASFS to become the option school, rather than Key.

Do they realize how idiotic that sounds? You can't make immersion a neighborhood school. You need families to buy-in to support the bilingual education and need to balance native Spanish speakers with those learning it.

ASFS has for a long time been essentially the neighborhood school for the Key boundary since the "team" approach has ceased to function effectively. I needs to be made an actual neighborhood school and boundaries adjusted. APS is not going to make it an 800-student school.

There is nothing super-special about ASFS that justifies it being a countrywide choice school. Multiple schools have science-oriented programs (Barrett, Hoffman-Boston, I believe). The only thing unique about ASFS is it has a lot of rich parents who bought it a nice science lab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

APS needs to a better job of explaining the numbers. And it doesn't help when board members say crazy things like swapping buildings or scare people with big numbers. Let me try to explain. By the way, these numbers all come from APS and have been validated by staff. Take a look at the most recent transfer report for some detail.

ASFS in 2016
510 from local neighborhood
123 from Jamestown/Taylor team
20 from other (admin transfers)
------------------------------------------
653 total ASF students

Key in 2016
291 non-team transfers
99 team transfers
280 from local neighborhood
------------------------------------------
670 total Key students

So the total pool of kids (across 6 grades) from the neighborhood going to these two schools is 790 students.

But the real question is how many of the 280 students currently going to Key will go to ASFS in 2018?

Keep in mind that the 280 represents 6 grades. Dividing the 280 by 6, we get about 48 per grade from the neighborhood. Add in a factor of about 25% for siblings and you get 60. But then we need to remember that the majority of the close neighborhood around Key is native Spanish speakers who could get into Key to meet the 50/50 language goal. Based upon historical numbers this would take us back down by about a third to a rough number of about 40.

I have it on good authority that APS is going to clarify these numbers quickly to help alleviate some of the confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

APS needs to a better job of explaining the numbers. And it doesn't help when board members say crazy things like swapping buildings or scare people with big numbers. Let me try to explain. By the way, these numbers all come from APS and have been validated by staff. Take a look at the most recent transfer report for some detail.

ASFS in 2016
510 from local neighborhood
123 from Jamestown/Taylor team
20 from other (admin transfers)
------------------------------------------
653 total ASF students

Key in 2016
291 non-team transfers
99 team transfers
280 from local neighborhood
------------------------------------------
670 total Key students

So the total pool of kids (across 6 grades) from the neighborhood going to these two schools is 790 students.

But the real question is how many of the 280 students currently going to Key will go to ASFS in 2018?

Keep in mind that the 280 represents 6 grades. Dividing the 280 by 6, we get about 48 per grade from the neighborhood. Add in a factor of about 25% for siblings and you get 60. But then we need to remember that the majority of the close neighborhood around Key is native Spanish speakers who could get into Key to meet the 50/50 language goal. Based upon historical numbers this would take us back down by about a third to a rough number of about 40.

I have it on good authority that APS is going to clarify these numbers quickly to help alleviate some of the confusion.

.

I agree 2018 is not the problem. But in 3 years b/c the new boundaries for all schools will be a circus and take probably at least 5, most of those local ASFS zone students will be at ASFS and thus about 800 students. Why not wait to modify key lottery until ASFS boundaries and status all hammered out. It's likely parts of Rosalyn may need to go Long Branch, right? This will take a long time to balance -- why thrown this wrench in on their own accord NOW?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

APS needs to a better job of explaining the numbers. And it doesn't help when board members say crazy things like swapping buildings or scare people with big numbers. Let me try to explain. By the way, these numbers all come from APS and have been validated by staff. Take a look at the most recent transfer report for some detail.

ASFS in 2016
510 from local neighborhood
123 from Jamestown/Taylor team
20 from other (admin transfers)
------------------------------------------
653 total ASF students

Key in 2016
291 non-team transfers
99 team transfers
280 from local neighborhood
------------------------------------------
670 total Key students

So the total pool of kids (across 6 grades) from the neighborhood going to these two schools is 790 students.

But the real question is how many of the 280 students currently going to Key will go to ASFS in 2018?

Keep in mind that the 280 represents 6 grades. Dividing the 280 by 6, we get about 48 per grade from the neighborhood. Add in a factor of about 25% for siblings and you get 60. But then we need to remember that the majority of the close neighborhood around Key is native Spanish speakers who could get into Key to meet the 50/50 language goal. Based upon historical numbers this would take us back down by about a third to a rough number of about 40.

I have it on good authority that APS is going to clarify these numbers quickly to help alleviate some of the confusion.

And the 50/50 is that policy? There are plenty of so Arlington schools with huge native Spanish populations that will likely opt for key; unless key/ASFS zone maintain preference They will end up at 800+!ASFD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

APS needs to a better job of explaining the numbers. And it doesn't help when board members say crazy things like swapping buildings or scare people with big numbers. Let me try to explain. By the way, these numbers all come from APS and have been validated by staff. Take a look at the most recent transfer report for some detail.

ASFS in 2016
510 from local neighborhood
123 from Jamestown/Taylor team
20 from other (admin transfers)
------------------------------------------
653 total ASF students

Key in 2016
291 non-team transfers
99 team transfers
280 from local neighborhood
------------------------------------------
670 total Key students

So the total pool of kids (across 6 grades) from the neighborhood going to these two schools is 790 students.

But the real question is how many of the 280 students currently going to Key will go to ASFS in 2018?

Keep in mind that the 280 represents 6 grades. Dividing the 280 by 6, we get about 48 per grade from the neighborhood. Add in a factor of about 25% for siblings and you get 60. But then we need to remember that the majority of the close neighborhood around Key is native Spanish speakers who could get into Key to meet the 50/50 language goal. Based upon historical numbers this would take us back down by about a third to a rough number of about 40.

I have it on good authority that APS is going to clarify these numbers quickly to help alleviate some of the confusion.

.

I agree 2018 is not the problem. But in 3 years b/c the new boundaries for all schools will be a circus and take probably at least 5, most of those local ASFS zone students will be at ASFS and thus about 800 students. Why not wait to modify key lottery until ASFS boundaries and status all hammered out. It's likely parts of Rosalyn may need to go Long Branch, right? This will take a long time to balance -- why thrown this wrench in on their own accord NOW?

Elementary school boundary changes are coming in 2019. By changing these things in 2018 (such as getting rid of the Team for Key and the Cluster for Claremont), APS can see what will really happen in 2018, before they make mass changes to the boundaries. Hopefully, it will give them better insight into how close reality is to what they predict will happen with the schools in question. They don't want to change boundaries more than they need to and the policy change might have impacts that they will be able to address the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

APS needs to a better job of explaining the numbers. And it doesn't help when board members say crazy things like swapping buildings or scare people with big numbers. Let me try to explain. By the way, these numbers all come from APS and have been validated by staff. Take a look at the most recent transfer report for some detail.

ASFS in 2016
510 from local neighborhood
123 from Jamestown/Taylor team
20 from other (admin transfers)
------------------------------------------
653 total ASF students

Key in 2016
291 non-team transfers
99 team transfers
280 from local neighborhood
------------------------------------------
670 total Key students

So the total pool of kids (across 6 grades) from the neighborhood going to these two schools is 790 students.

But the real question is how many of the 280 students currently going to Key will go to ASFS in 2018?

Keep in mind that the 280 represents 6 grades. Dividing the 280 by 6, we get about 48 per grade from the neighborhood. Add in a factor of about 25% for siblings and you get 60. But then we need to remember that the majority of the close neighborhood around Key is native Spanish speakers who could get into Key to meet the 50/50 language goal. Based upon historical numbers this would take us back down by about a third to a rough number of about 40.

I have it on good authority that APS is going to clarify these numbers quickly to help alleviate some of the confusion.

And the 50/50 is that policy? There are plenty of so Arlington schools with huge native Spanish populations that will likely opt for key; unless key/ASFS zone maintain preference They will end up at 800+!ASFD.

The 50/50 will either be in the policy or in the policy implementation procedures. The huge Spanish demand is why APS is seriously considering a third immersion elementary school. With the current overcrowding at Key and Claremont, APS could already fill close to 300 seats in a third school.

[Anonymous]

They should turn Randolph into a third immersion school instead of IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some ASFS parents want to delay the changes so they can lobby for ASFS to become the option school, rather than Key.

Do they realize how idiotic that sounds? You can't make immersion a neighborhood school. You need families to buy-in to support the bilingual education and need to balance native Spanish speakers with those learning it.

ASFS has for a long time been essentially the neighborhood school for the Key boundary since the "team" approach has ceased to function effectively. I needs to be made an actual neighborhood school and boundaries adjusted. APS is not going to make it an 800-student school.

There is nothing super-special about ASFS that justifies it being a countrywide choice school. Multiple schools have science-oriented programs (Barrett, Hoffman-Boston, I believe). The only thing unique about ASFS is it has a lot of rich parents who bought it a nice science lab.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some ASFS parents want to delay the changes so they can lobby for ASFS to become the option school, rather than Key.

Do they realize how idiotic that sounds? You can't make immersion a neighborhood school. You need families to buy-in to support the bilingual education and need to balance native Spanish speakers with those learning it.

ASFS has for a long time been essentially the neighborhood school for the Key boundary since the "team" approach has ceased to function effectively. I needs to be made an actual neighborhood school and boundaries adjusted. APS is not going to make it an 800-student school.

There is nothing super-special about ASFS that justifies it being a countrywide choice school. Multiple schools have science-oriented programs (Barrett, Hoffman-Boston, I believe). The only thing unique about ASFS is it has a lot of rich parents who bought it a nice science lab.

My kids go to asfs and I totally agree. There is all this talk about it being a choice program, which is silly because it has a few extra science things maybe, not enough to really differentiate it. I consider it our neighborhood school, we didn't have to lottery in.
I'm just worried that we will get screwed in redrawing boundaries and end up getting bussed across the county to discovery because my planning unit doesn't contribute as much to political campaigns as the folks in Lyon village.

[Anonymous]

SALA feels super sad for families forced to go to Discovery. Life is so hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's always been a "neighborhood" school in that only kids in certain neighborhoods have the privilege of attending. Now, the county wants to make it a neighborhood school and actually allow people in the neighborhood where it resides to attend. Those who will be displaced (and have given the school a lot of money for their lab) are pissed.

Well, you know, think of it as a contribution for the greater good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5. Fear that they will be rezoned out of ASFS. If the boundaries are adjusted to actually include the closeby neighborhoods, someone will have to go.

We have to move away from strict zoning, and ASFS has been a gateway for that to happen. Losing Abby from the School Board has hurt us immensely.

It's time to adopt the "skin in the game" model people talk about the President and Secretary DeVos talk about, and link school choice to tax base. Each kid gets scored on what tax value they bring into the community. Homeowners in Lyon Village trump owners of Cape Cods in McKinley, who trump townhouse owners along Columbia Pike, who trump renters along Lee Highway, who trump FARMS and AH kids.

We set a normal day, at 95% capacity, for each school. Families rank their choices like the Medical Residency "match" process.

If you live in a $3 million-plus home by Jamestown, then you're set. Your older daughter attends HB, and your son attends ATS.

If you own a $1.5 million home, you have to think just a bit more. Maybe you go ahead and lock in a spot at Discovery, rather than hoping for ATS. Perhaps you go for ideal teachers at Yorktown, rather than taking a chance on being at the bottom of the barrel at HB or in W-L IB.

If you own a $900k house, maybe your best bet is to go for Wakefield if you can get that customized course load with the best teachers.

In any event, the traditional school day at all schools will be for the givers. They'll get a traditional day slot in SOME school, and enjoy 95% capacity and an absence of FARMS.

The takers will get shift scheduling, with evening classes. They'll have to give up the gym for travel and rec teams, but they'll get an equal education with no consideration of race.

There are still a few wrinkles to iron out. But this is happening. We can't let people who don't commit to Arlington mess up everyone's education. This plan will skyrocket property values, eliminate the need for construction, and enhance public safety.

Seek therapy.

[Anonymous]

It's funny how half of the parents say it is just a regular school with a little extra science and half the parents talk about it being an award winning program that other schools should copy.

[Anonymous]

I'm just worried that we will get screwed in redrawing boundaries and end up getting bussed across the county to discovery because my planning unit doesn't contribute as much to political campaigns as the folks in Lyon village.

A. I don't think that would be the way boundaries would be redrawn
B. You need a better sense of distances.


Love,
You neighbor