Buying in Arlington Village (Columbia Pike) — currently Drew ES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

[Anonymous]

I’m one of those parents that opted out. I am perplexed by people that say we will try for a few years.

[Anonymous]

I did exactly that. All my neighbors sent their kids to our neighborhood school. I thought I would feel the same as they did. I sent my kids there for 3 years. I was dubious after the first year, but thought I should give it another try. Compensated with instruction at home. Next year wasn't much better, but kids were "fine." Finally gave up in middle of 2nd grade and started looking to move. So kids stayed K-2. When you haven't ever had kids in any other school, sometimes it is hard to judge and figure out if the school is meeting their needs or not. But, I REALLY wanted to believe in my neighborhood school (it is one of the schools routinely discussed on here as having some major issues). Ultimately, we moved. I did not agree with my neighbors that the school was great but it took me a few years to accept that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did exactly that. All my neighbors sent their kids to our neighborhood school. I thought I would feel the same as they did. I sent my kids there for 3 years. I was dubious after the first year, but thought I should give it another try. Compensated with instruction at home. Next year wasn't much better, but kids were "fine." Finally gave up in middle of 2nd grade and started looking to move. So kids stayed K-2. When you haven't ever had kids in any other school, sometimes it is hard to judge and figure out if the school is meeting their needs or not. But, I REALLY wanted to believe in my neighborhood school (it is one of the schools routinely discussed on here as having some major issues). Ultimately, we moved. I did not agree with my neighbors that the school was great but it took me a few years to accept that.

Thanks for sharing your experience. What in your opinion, was the deal breaker? Was it that your kids were twiddling their thumbs in class because the pace of instruction was very slow? Lack of resources/extracurriculars? Behavior problems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

I know multiple families who have pulled out at and after 3rd grade - to private, homeschooling, (multiple) ATS in 5th grade, purposely moving to a different school zone (even in 5th grade). It is actually quite true that many parents are satisfied with their kids' educational experience at our Title I school for K-2 or 3; but then they really begin to see areas lacking and the differences in their kids' experiences and with what is being offered and experienced at other schools. And not just fancier parties or more field trips - stark differences in the classroom. And once they've moved, their concerns and suspicions are further confirmed and they do not regret their decision or look back for one instant.

They did not, however allow their kids to "languish" for 3 years - they truly were doing just fine. But differences both become more apparent and more significant after the fundamentals of K-2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

Well why don’t you two nit wits go talk to Reid Goldstein sometime, because that’s exactly what he did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did exactly that. All my neighbors sent their kids to our neighborhood school. I thought I would feel the same as they did. I sent my kids there for 3 years. I was dubious after the first year, but thought I should give it another try. Compensated with instruction at home. Next year wasn't much better, but kids were "fine." Finally gave up in middle of 2nd grade and started looking to move. So kids stayed K-2. When you haven't ever had kids in any other school, sometimes it is hard to judge and figure out if the school is meeting their needs or not. But, I REALLY wanted to believe in my neighborhood school (it is one of the schools routinely discussed on here as having some major issues). Ultimately, we moved. I did not agree with my neighbors that the school was great but it took me a few years to accept that.

Thanks for sharing your experience. What in your opinion, was the deal breaker? Was it that your kids were twiddling their thumbs in class because the pace of instruction was very slow? Lack of resources/extracurriculars? Behavior problems?

This is what I want to know. What happened that made you pull your kid? My kid is in a school now and I think everything is fine. He is in 1st and is slightly above grade level. He tells me he is having fun and love school. But I feel like that is all I get. So how do you really assess when they are that young?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

Well why don’t you two nit wits go talk to Reid Goldstein sometime, because that’s exactly what he did.

So because he did others should? This comment makes no sense. Taking this same argument and following the other school board members, anyone of any means should live in north Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

Well why don’t you two nit wits go talk to Reid Goldstein sometime, because that’s exactly what he did.

So because he did others should? This comment makes no sense. Taking this same argument and following the other school board members, anyone of any means should live in north Arlington.

And they do...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

Well why don’t you two nit wits go talk to Reid Goldstein sometime, because that’s exactly what he did.

Maybe so, but according to contemporary news reports at the time, Randolph was a sardine can. Well over 150% capacity as I recall. That also figured into his decision. I'd do the same. Turgid instructional pace and unbelievably overcrowded? No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of those parents that opted out. I am perplexed by people that say we will try for a few years.

I don’t find it perplexing. Especially since many families won’t be able to lottery out from now on. APS has wonderful teachers, and I can understand why parents would want to walk their child to school and see if it meets their needs.
But also not surprised that they eventually have to make a change.
There was a very vocal mother in my old neighborhood who did some extensive supplementing. I was glad she found a way to make it work, but it seemed stressful to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

Well why don’t you two nit wits go talk to Reid Goldstein sometime, because that’s exactly what he did.

Maybe so, but according to contemporary news reports at the time, Randolph was a sardine can. Well over 150% capacity as I recall. That also figured into his decision. I'd do the same. Turgid instructional pace and unbelievably overcrowded? No thanks.

We are headed there again...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

No "everyone" doesn't. 3rd grade is crucial how? Frankly, you are a terrible parent if you let your kids languish for 1-3 years before making a move. That's why I don't believe you. There aren't that many lazy or incompetent parents in Arlington. You are making stuff up.

I truly believe this isn’t true as well. Parent at a “lower performing school” here and I don’t know anyone who has done this. I do know plenty of people that just don’t enroll their kids at all in our neighborhood, so they are making the decision based on perception vs experience. Everyone has to do what is best or they think is best for their kids. But I believe that if more parents started at these schools we would see most of them stay not leave in the “critical” 3rd grade year.

I know multiple families who have pulled out at and after 3rd grade - to private, homeschooling, (multiple) ATS in 5th grade, purposely moving to a different school zone (even in 5th grade). It is actually quite true that many parents are satisfied with their kids' educational experience at our Title I school for K-2 or 3; but then they really begin to see areas lacking and the differences in their kids' experiences and with what is being offered and experienced at other schools. And not just fancier parties or more field trips - stark differences in the classroom. And once they've moved, their concerns and suspicions are further confirmed and they do not regret their decision or look back for one instant.

They did not, however allow their kids to "languish" for 3 years - they truly were doing just fine. But differences both become more apparent and more significant after the fundamentals of K-2.

Are you talking about Barcroft under the former principal? If yes, I understand.

That was a problem with that school and their staff. Not because of its Title 1 status. Because the principal and teachers weren't making sure all students were being served, weren't implementing strategies to differentiate adequately, or grouping students appropriately and providing adequate challenge to the students. Of course, there are some schools where there is not a large enough cohort for higher-level groupings, or a large enough PTA to make noise and demands or provide the extracurricular clubs and enrichment activities. But all you need is to get a large enough cohort of parents and kids to support such things. It doesn't take much. The current princiapl would be wise to recruit from the neighborhood, and to go out of her way to make sure the parents know the old ways are not the new ways (which is what I have heard BTW). It can be done. Other schools with similar demographics are making sure that some students' needs aren't being compromised or sacrificed for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

[Anonymous]

Person who pulled her kids here. We did not leave because of any one issue. It was not behavior related. It was a bit of being tired of feeling that I had to watch what was happening in class very, very closely and advocate more than I liked. I just had a gut that there was a higher middle that they were teaching to at a school that wasn't busy serving kids with so many needs--poverty, language, lack of prior educational experience or a substandard one in another country. Levels over 50% just aren't ideal. It was a hard decision, and it was not obvious when we made it. No regrets though.