APS or private school - NOT a pandemic driven question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, aside from TJ, the list of admissions from VA high schools is underwhelming.

I mean, there are lots of students in VA high schools whose parents aren't attorneys or consultants living by the country club. Where do you think the kids of lower-income, first-gen families end up going to college? Many of them go to NVCC, GMU, VCU. You don't see these schools on the admissions lists at Potomac and St. Stephen's because there are very few students from lower-income families there. But of course you know this; I'm sure it's why you are interested in private school in the first place.

Hi, OP here. This seems like it was directed at me, but I’m not the person who made the comment you are responding to (about underwhelming colleges). My kids are too little to think about college (in my mind anyway!) I think my concerns have been alleviated by the first few posts in this thread, and I’m excited to see the new elementary school take shape. I’m not sure we would be at Potomac or St Stephen/St Agnes even if we did look at other options.

Sorry OP, that is me above--I did not think you were the one talking about underwhelming colleges.

OP here- thank you! I was wondering what I could have said to make people think I wanted my kids separated out like that. I’m glad my post didn’t come across like that.

[Anonymous]

What would give someone the impression the schools are “great”?

[Anonymous]

For the most part ES in Arlington is pretty good. We left APS for private in middle and at the same time noticed our younger child was not thriving in 3rd (we also saw a lot of curriculum changes from our experience w oldest). Younger child went to private in 4th. DC was behind peers by a year in reading and not able to answer open ended questions compared to multiple choice.
Again I think for early ES save your money and stay in public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, aside from TJ, the list of admissions from VA high schools is underwhelming.

I mean, there are lots of students in VA high schools whose parents aren't attorneys or consultants living by the country club. Where do you think the kids of lower-income, first-gen families end up going to college? Many of them go to NVCC, GMU, VCU. You don't see these schools on the admissions lists at Potomac and St. Stephen's because there are very few students from lower-income families there. But of course you know this; I'm sure it's why you are interested in private school in the first place.

Hi, OP here. This seems like it was directed at me, but I’m not the person who made the comment you are responding to (about underwhelming colleges). My kids are too little to think about college (in my mind anyway!) I think my concerns have been alleviated by the first few posts in this thread, and I’m excited to see the new elementary school take shape. I’m not sure we would be at Potomac or St Stephen/St Agnes even if we did look at other options.

Sorry OP, that is me above--I did not think you were the one talking about underwhelming colleges.

Then why reference looking at private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty vague. Which schools are you assigned to?

The new Key School (Innovation?), Hamm, Yorktown. I know families who attended immersion at Key and were very happy, but the program has been relocated. I think what’s making me nervous is that Key now feels like a big huge unknown (and I def would want to see how people like the school before deciding the new school isn’t for us). I haven’t heard any complaints about Yorktown but by the time my kids get there, I think all the high schools will be larger than I would want for my kids.

Basically I’m nervous we are going to be stuck in a cycle of redistricting due to capacity issues. I attended a public school district with one high school that was smaller than any of the current Arlington options. I don’t expect an urban area to be like that, but I didn’t quite appreciate the capacity issues until recently (and that’s on me).

I live likely near you and have older kids, but we are still at ASFS. The new school (Innovation) is kind of an unknown. The PTA is getting off the ground, I know the entire PTA exec board who signed up to be officers and they are all amazing people. Like extremely nice/funny/witty/smart/great to talk to, I am going to really miss randomly seeing them around school, they are all super approachable and genuinely nice people. Unfortunately, other than one person, all of them have zero involvement in the current ASFS PTA and have never volunteered at anything around the school. That's ok, its just they won't necessarily have a lot of experience to draw from, and I think all of them except one work full time, so the PTA may not be extremely active this upcoming year as they get their bearings. They are all such competent, amazing individuals though so I doubt that they will have any issues getting things up and running and supporting the student body.

The principal seems really great at the new school -- she's been giving updates at all of the ASFS PTA meetings, and she seems on top of things. I've heard only good things about Hamm, and my eldest has had a great experience there this past year considering. Everyone I know at Yorktown from Rosslyn/Courthouse loves loves loves it.

I would not worry so much about redistricting -- aps seems pretty set on keeping Rosslyn at the new school, so the only part of the zone that could potentially move is the area in Lyon Village, which would likely go to ASFS if not Key. They said that anyone moved into the new school would not get moved out unless there was severe overcrowding. If they moved anyone, it would likely be to either Taylor, ASFS, or Long Branch -- all of which are really wonderful/sought after schools outside of the DCUM world.

I don't think redistricting of middle school or high school will really affect where you live -- they can't have people move from Hamm to Jefferson unless they also move those areas from Yorktown to W-L. I just don't see them touching the Innovation --> Hamm --> Yorktown pyramid because of demographics for Yorktown needing the diversity from Rosslyn.

I just saw the list - that is a great group. Good for them for stepping up.

[Anonymous]

We left for private for HS.

I feel like APS has consistently gone downhill since our kids started in K. I have a 9th grader and a 7th grader that will move to private HS when the time comes.

We have been so happy with our 9th grader’s experience this year and he loves it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the most part ES in Arlington is pretty good. We left APS for private in middle and at the same time noticed our younger child was not thriving in 3rd (we also saw a lot of curriculum changes from our experience w oldest). Younger child went to private in 4th. DC was behind peers by a year in reading and not able to answer open ended questions compared to multiple choice.
Again I think for early ES save your money and stay in public

I would agree with this assessment for my fourth grader. APS won’t push them, but there certainly are kids who love to learn ans will happily discuss the subjects being taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left for private for HS.

I feel like APS has consistently gone downhill since our kids started in K. I have a 9th grader and a 7th grader that will move to private HS when the time comes.

We have been so happy with our 9th grader’s experience this year and he loves it.

Would you mind sharing what school you switched to?

[Anonymous]

For the OP - the other thing one should think about is when you would want to go to private school. For some schools there are entry years where they take more students and there are non-entry years where very few if any new kids get in.

We had an opportunity to go to a private for K starting next year and just accepted since we didn't know what the situation for entry in the future would be. And the future entry years at least for this school - 4th & 7th grade - seemed somewhat odd and disruptive. I do know that private school applications have significantly increased since COVID started and I don't know realistically how many students will return once things go back to normal. So competition is stronger as well and may stay that way.

If it helps for context we are S. Arlington and therefore probably have a little more cause for concern that our gifted kid will get the attention needed in our pyramid than where you are living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty vague. Which schools are you assigned to?

The new Key School (Innovation?), Hamm, Yorktown. I know families who attended immersion at Key and were very happy, but the program has been relocated. I think what’s making me nervous is that Key now feels like a big huge unknown (and I def would want to see how people like the school before deciding the new school isn’t for us). I haven’t heard any complaints about Yorktown but by the time my kids get there, I think all the high schools will be larger than I would want for my kids.

Basically I’m nervous we are going to be stuck in a cycle of redistricting due to capacity issues. I attended a public school district with one high school that was smaller than any of the current Arlington options. I don’t expect an urban area to be like that, but I didn’t quite appreciate the capacity issues until recently (and that’s on me).

I live likely near you and have older kids, but we are still at ASFS. The new school (Innovation) is kind of an unknown. The PTA is getting off the ground, I know the entire PTA exec board who signed up to be officers and they are all amazing people. Like extremely nice/funny/witty/smart/great to talk to, I am going to really miss randomly seeing them around school, they are all super approachable and genuinely nice people. Unfortunately, other than one person, all of them have zero involvement in the current ASFS PTA and have never volunteered at anything around the school. That's ok, its just they won't necessarily have a lot of experience to draw from, and I think all of them except one work full time, so the PTA may not be extremely active this upcoming year as they get their bearings. They are all such competent, amazing individuals though so I doubt that they will have any issues getting things up and running and supporting the student body.

The principal seems really great at the new school -- she's been giving updates at all of the ASFS PTA meetings, and she seems on top of things. I've heard only good things about Hamm, and my eldest has had a great experience there this past year considering. Everyone I know at Yorktown from Rosslyn/Courthouse loves loves loves it.

I would not worry so much about redistricting -- aps seems pretty set on keeping Rosslyn at the new school, so the only part of the zone that could potentially move is the area in Lyon Village, which would likely go to ASFS if not Key. They said that anyone moved into the new school would not get moved out unless there was severe overcrowding. If they moved anyone, it would likely be to either Taylor, ASFS, or Long Branch -- all of which are really wonderful/sought after schools outside of the DCUM world.

I don't think redistricting of middle school or high school will really affect where you live -- they can't have people move from Hamm to Jefferson unless they also move those areas from Yorktown to W-L. I just don't see them touching the Innovation --> Hamm --> Yorktown pyramid because of demographics for Yorktown needing the diversity from Rosslyn.

I just saw the list - that is a great group. Good for them for stepping up.

How did you find this list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty vague. Which schools are you assigned to?

The new Key School (Innovation?), Hamm, Yorktown. I know families who attended immersion at Key and were very happy, but the program has been relocated. I think what’s making me nervous is that Key now feels like a big huge unknown (and I def would want to see how people like the school before deciding the new school isn’t for us). I haven’t heard any complaints about Yorktown but by the time my kids get there, I think all the high schools will be larger than I would want for my kids.

Basically I’m nervous we are going to be stuck in a cycle of redistricting due to capacity issues. I attended a public school district with one high school that was smaller than any of the current Arlington options. I don’t expect an urban area to be like that, but I didn’t quite appreciate the capacity issues until recently (and that’s on me).

I live likely near you and have older kids, but we are still at ASFS. The new school (Innovation) is kind of an unknown. The PTA is getting off the ground, I know the entire PTA exec board who signed up to be officers and they are all amazing people. Like extremely nice/funny/witty/smart/great to talk to, I am going to really miss randomly seeing them around school, they are all super approachable and genuinely nice people. Unfortunately, other than one person, all of them have zero involvement in the current ASFS PTA and have never volunteered at anything around the school. That's ok, its just they won't necessarily have a lot of experience to draw from, and I think all of them except one work full time, so the PTA may not be extremely active this upcoming year as they get their bearings. They are all such competent, amazing individuals though so I doubt that they will have any issues getting things up and running and supporting the student body.

The principal seems really great at the new school -- she's been giving updates at all of the ASFS PTA meetings, and she seems on top of things. I've heard only good things about Hamm, and my eldest has had a great experience there this past year considering. Everyone I know at Yorktown from Rosslyn/Courthouse loves loves loves it.

I would not worry so much about redistricting -- aps seems pretty set on keeping Rosslyn at the new school, so the only part of the zone that could potentially move is the area in Lyon Village, which would likely go to ASFS if not Key. They said that anyone moved into the new school would not get moved out unless there was severe overcrowding. If they moved anyone, it would likely be to either Taylor, ASFS, or Long Branch -- all of which are really wonderful/sought after schools outside of the DCUM world.

I don't think redistricting of middle school or high school will really affect where you live -- they can't have people move from Hamm to Jefferson unless they also move those areas from Yorktown to W-L. I just don't see them touching the Innovation --> Hamm --> Yorktown pyramid because of demographics for Yorktown needing the diversity from Rosslyn.

I just saw the list - that is a great group. Good for them for stepping up.

How did you find this list?

Original quoted poster— we are thinking of moving so I’ve been attending the new school Pta meetings. But it was in the asfs electronic Friday folder this past week.