South Arlington and North Arlington Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board or APS staff will never publish where low income residents live or where affluent residents live, and how boundaries for a new school will affect demographics. It would be too controversial.

I would want to know if demographics were taken into consideration for Discovery. If they weren't, would it be for a new school? I'm not sure the county is out to carve new affluent enclaves via school zones in the South, over delivering better education to all there. At least, that's what I hope.

If you were at the boundary process meetings, demographics (or diversity) was not one of the issues deemed important. At one of the first community outreach events, parents from the affected N Arlington Schools (Ashlawn, Glebe, McKinley, Taylor, Tuckahoe, Barrett, Jamestown, Nottingham) ranked priorities, and diversity came dead last. So demographics were not a factor at all.

Of course not. They are perfectly happy with the lack of it.

Why do you think diversity in schools is important? That's really a fringe view. Most people are more concerned with things like educational quality, location, facilities, programs, teacher quality, etc.

And why do you just attack these schools for "lack of diversity?" Do you have similar disdain for DC or MD schools that are even MORE homogenous than Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Calling it a fringe view perhaps overlooks the fact that, historically, a lack of diversity in schools has been driven by institutionalized segregation, which was ultimately found to be unconstitutional. This is why some districts were required to bus etc. Some jurisdictions still pay close attention to how the drawing of boundaries impacts the demographics of the various schools to make sure they are not engaging in de facto segregation. So it's probably better to think of diversioty as a federal requirement rather than just a value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school board or APS staff will never publish where low income residents live or where affluent residents live, and how boundaries for a new school will affect demographics. It would be too controversial.

I would want to know if demographics were taken into consideration for Discovery. If they weren't, would it be for a new school? I'm not sure the county is out to carve new affluent enclaves via school zones in the South, over delivering better education to all there. At least, that's what I hope.

If you were at the boundary process meetings, demographics (or diversity) was not one of the issues deemed important. At one of the first community outreach events, parents from the affected N Arlington Schools (Ashlawn, Glebe, McKinley, Taylor, Tuckahoe, Barrett, Jamestown, Nottingham) ranked priorities, and diversity came dead last. So demographics were not a factor at all.

Of course not. They are perfectly happy with the lack of it.

Why do you think diversity in schools is important? That's really a fringe view. Most people are more concerned with things like educational quality, location, facilities, programs, teacher quality, etc.

And why do you just attack these schools for "lack of diversity?" Do you have similar disdain for DC or MD schools that are even MORE homogenous than Arlington?

are you the same poster from the beginning of this thread? I thought we had moved onto a more meaningful conversation...
If you aren't the same poster - please feel free to go back a reread some earlier exchanges.


I don't care that North Arlington isn't really worried about diversity. I do care that south Arlington has to. Of course that means something completely different on the other side of 50. Having a diverse school in the south means not 80% free lunch/ esol.

I've heard the new school will be a neighborhood school, and I don't see how it won't drain all the upper middle class kids out of Barcroft. That might be fine by me. Hopefully parents will send their kids there and it will open up more choice slots. That way the kids who aren't inbounds can choice out of their crappy local school. It's the only way the SB makes this go away.
The Latino community is thrilled by their segregated schools. Give the middle class an out. Everyone is happy.

[Anonymous]

You realize the Barcroft issue is a housing problem, not a school problem, right?. TJ is the best location for the new school; but if you jam too much affordable housing into Barcroft (as shall be done), you will have a big poverty challenge on your hands at that school. A bunch of people made that point to the Board, but no one wanted to hear it.

[Anonymous]

This is why the affordable housing agenda must be stopped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You realize the Barcroft issue is a housing problem, not a school problem, right?. TJ is the best location for the new school; but if you jam too much affordable housing into Barcroft (as shall be done), you will have a big poverty challenge on your hands at that school. A bunch of people made that point to the Board, but no one wanted to hear it.

Yes, everyone paying attention realizes this. However, there isn't anything to be done now. the western end of the pike is a shit show, and only going to get worse. VOICE has worked tirelessly to make this happen over the last decade. It's done.
Best case scenario to salvage property values in the nice little neighborhoods feeding into Barcroft is to gerrymander those kids out with a new school.
I'm also not sympathetic to what the Latino community wants. Seriously- they can't afford to live here without us paying for it and they want to make demands. Give me a break.
They don't want their kids to be the minority in their schools? Well, neither do I. The difference is that I'm paying to be here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep, barcroft is going to get even worse. The new school will be at TJ and the kids living in alcova heights million dollar homes won't have to go to barcroft in 2019.

Got news for you school board, if you don't zone some of the kids in barcroft apartments to the new school at TJ! Barcroft elementary will be about 80-90 percent FARMs. Barcroft only has a small area of single family homes, and most are modest in comparison to alcova heights. If you don't do the boundary right you just put another school even further into the poverty hole, albeit less crowded until more affordable housing goes up.

So, you think those of us who live in barcroft could maybe see our tax assessments go down since our property values are about to tank even further? That may be the only positive that comes out of this.

This is true. It has been publicly stated that the new ES at TJ will relieve crowding at Randolph and Barcroft. That's the purpose of the new school. The other options would've been to add on to Barcroft and Randolph.

The affluent single family home neighborhoods closer to TJ will go to the new ES, and the concentrations of poverty at Barcroft and Randolph will dramatically increase. And as other posters have stated, the local Latino community does not want to be bused. Socio-economic integration has always been a touchy subject, and one that the school board will likely want to stay clear of. The school board has stayed away from the issue of integration for years if not decades.

Could you post the source? I've only seen it mentioned here. Thanks.

It's been mentioned at SAWG meetings, and among school board members and staff. Maybe there is a PDF buried within the APS website on the various options. But the gist of the discussion was do we build additions at Randolph and Barcroft, or a brand new elementary school to relieve overcrowding at those schools. While a formal vote has not been taken by the shcool board, given the outcome of SAWG, it looks like we're getting a new ES at TJ.

There was immediate opposition of neighborhood residents in regards to the additions and the school board does not want them either because they are so much more expensive than a new school and yield fewer seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:South arlington is the zone for arlington low Income . Get used to it or move on

I can show you plenty of low income housing in North Arlington, ( just not in the far north.)... And you'll get loads more with the affordable housing along Lee Highway that the county plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did Dorsey say that was scary?

I think they are referring to public land for public good. I could be wrong.
If you are unfamiliar - PLFPG- is about taking everyone's park land and putting commited affordable housing on it. They are saying it will be directly ontop of new community centers and shit like that.
Both he and Cristol have said they are willing to consider it.

That means county land that should be for all of us - is being taken for a few low income lottery winners.


Dorsey or Cristol WILL be elected.
If you want a more moderate voice to help temper the tenor of county business. One vote for McMenamin should be the way to go.

Public land for public good is such a horrible idea. I'll vote for anyone who is against it.

How sad, you are disgusting

You don't even know what you are talking about! ... And I'm not the PP you are insulting!

[Anonymous]

If the county wants to put in more affordable housing, have them use all that open office space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the county wants to put in more affordable housing, have them use all that open office space.

How about we work on making the county a more hospitable place for business to come and stay. Then we can have tenants that actually pay taxes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize the Barcroft issue is a housing problem, not a school problem, right?. TJ is the best location for the new school; but if you jam too much affordable housing into Barcroft (as shall be done), you will have a big poverty challenge on your hands at that school. A bunch of people made that point to the Board, but no one wanted to hear it.

Yes, everyone paying attention realizes this. However, there isn't anything to be done now. the western end of the pike is a shit show, and only going to get worse. VOICE has worked tirelessly to make this happen over the last decade. It's done.
Best case scenario to salvage property values in the nice little neighborhoods feeding into Barcroft is to gerrymander those kids out with a new school.
I'm also not sympathetic to what the Latino community wants. Seriously- they can't afford to live here without us paying for it and they want to make demands. Give me a break.
They don't want their kids to be the minority in their schools? Well, neither do I. The difference is that I'm paying to be here.

+1. Can't take it anymore. Su VOZ Cuenta por estupidez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the county wants to put in more affordable housing, have them use all that open office space.

How about we work on making the county a more hospitable place for business to come and stay. Then we can have tenants that actually pay taxes!

Sure! That's a great idea, too. In the meantime, don't take away our parkland to put up more buildings and housing while taxing us more to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize the Barcroft issue is a housing problem, not a school problem, right?. TJ is the best location for the new school; but if you jam too much affordable housing into Barcroft (as shall be done), you will have a big poverty challenge on your hands at that school. A bunch of people made that point to the Board, but no one wanted to hear it.

Yes, everyone paying attention realizes this. However, there isn't anything to be done now. the western end of the pike is a shit show, and only going to get worse. VOICE has worked tirelessly to make this happen over the last decade. It's done.
Best case scenario to salvage property values in the nice little neighborhoods feeding into Barcroft is to gerrymander those kids out with a new school.
I'm also not sympathetic to what the Latino community wants. Seriously- they can't afford to live here without us paying for it and they want to make demands. Give me a break.
They don't want their kids to be the minority in their schools? Well, neither do I. The difference is that I'm paying to be here.

+1. Can't take it anymore. Su VOZ Cuenta por estupidez.

I've been a minority most of my life, and I can understand why being surrounded by familiar faces might be comforting. But maybe the County could work harder to sell the reasons why diversity might benefit all communities? I know that's a long shot and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You realize the Barcroft issue is a housing problem, not a school problem, right?. TJ is the best location for the new school; but if you jam too much affordable housing into Barcroft (as shall be done), you will have a big poverty challenge on your hands at that school. A bunch of people made that point to the Board, but no one wanted to hear it.

Yes, everyone paying attention realizes this. However, there isn't anything to be done now. the western end of the pike is a shit show, and only going to get worse. VOICE has worked tirelessly to make this happen over the last decade. It's done.
Best case scenario to salvage property values in the nice little neighborhoods feeding into Barcroft is to gerrymander those kids out with a new school.
I'm also not sympathetic to what the Latino community wants. Seriously- they can't afford to live here without us paying for it and they want to make demands. Give me a break.
They don't want their kids to be the minority in their schools? Well, neither do I. The difference is that I'm paying to be here.

+1. Can't take it anymore. Su VOZ Cuenta por estupidez.

I've been a minority most of my life, and I can understand why being surrounded by familiar faces might be comforting. But maybe the County could work harder to sell the reasons why diversity might benefit all communities? I know that's a long shot and all.

Being surrounded by familiar faces doesn't immerse a child in a new culture and language. We have children in the schools who start as ESOL in grade school and are still not at grade level in high school. Those kids aren't experiencing diversity. Those kids are living in a segregated bubble. That's not doing those kids any favors, especially if they plan to stay and become citizens. Even if they plan to leave - English is the language of commerce. They should not still be behind after we've sunk 20k into each of them for a decade.