Discussion Boundary Map out for APS- elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

I've often wondered about this notion that sending kids to a slightly further afield school makes it hard for working parents to get to extended day pick up by 6 p.m. Aren't most parents picking up from extended day coming from work rather than home? If that's the case, the "further afield" school may be no less convenient to get to than the closest neighborhood school. Note that I'm not talking about a county wide busing program here where kids from far south Arlington are sent to schools in the furthest reaches of north Arlington. I'm talking about kids riding a bus to a school 2.5 miles away rather than one 1.5 miles away. I grant that the drive from school to home, after extended day, would be a little bit longer. But should that marginal inconvenience really be an important factor in redrawing boundaries? I think not. Full disclosure, though, I am an option school parent. So perhaps I automatically discount small inconveniences in school transportation.

I think you would have a hard sell, convincing people that these “marginal” logistical differences (are they really marginal for those without cars?) will result in worthwhile academic differences for many kids. People aren’t likely to sign up for daily inconveniences that may or not benefit anyone. You’ll also have a hard sell to those who think your marginal differences aren’t going far enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

We all make choices. We all have our life situations to deal with.
I'm ONE of those who has pointed out that school is not childcare and I continue to hold fast to that perspective. Your argument of convenience or having to make different life choices doesn't sway me in the least. There is nothing requiring APS to provide extended day services. They are not required to make life convenient. They are required to provide a free public education. PERIOD.

DP. Sure, let's take that approach. Who do you think will be disproportionately burdened, the UMC family that can pay for alternative childcare, of the LMC/MC family struggling to get by as it is? Do you really think you're making life better for disadvantaged students by making school harder for their families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

We all make choices. We all have our life situations to deal with.
I'm ONE of those who has pointed out that school is not childcare and I continue to hold fast to that perspective. Your argument of convenience or having to make different life choices doesn't sway me in the least. There is nothing requiring APS to provide extended day services. They are not required to make life convenient. They are required to provide a free public education. PERIOD.

DP. Sure, let's take that approach. Who do you think will be disproportionately burdened, the UMC family that can pay for alternative childcare, of the LMC/MC family struggling to get by as it is? Do you really think you're making life better for disadvantaged students by making school harder for their families?

And that's what it always comes back to, very conveniently: We ever-so- compassionate MC/UMC are concerned for the LMC/MC families who might be burdened.....after all the hardship and convenience for ourselves arguments are done.
Do you know the economic breakdown of extended day enrollees or who benefits more from extended day services? I don't. But I will bet the majority of them are not FRL-eligible families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

We all make choices. We all have our life situations to deal with.
I'm ONE of those who has pointed out that school is not childcare and I continue to hold fast to that perspective. Your argument of convenience or having to make different life choices doesn't sway me in the least. There is nothing requiring APS to provide extended day services. They are not required to make life convenient. They are required to provide a free public education. PERIOD.

DP. Sure, let's take that approach. Who do you think will be disproportionately burdened, the UMC family that can pay for alternative childcare, of the LMC/MC family struggling to get by as it is? Do you really think you're making life better for disadvantaged students by making school harder for their families?

And that's what it always comes back to, very conveniently: We ever-so- compassionate MC/UMC are concerned for the LMC/MC families who might be burdened.....after all the hardship and convenience for ourselves arguments are done.
Do you know the economic breakdown of extended day enrollees or who benefits more from extended day services? I don't. But I will bet the majority of them are not FRL-eligible families.

Here's the registration data for all of the schools for this school year:

https://www.apsva.us/2019-2020-school-year-current-capacity-and-registrations-received/

High-FARMS schools aren't exactly lacking in registrations.

[Anonymous]

Regardless, APS would have to be open to this kind of tinkering around the margins. It's not. But I think it should be.

I am centrally located, but I can think of 13 schools within 2.5 miles from me (three under 1 mile, seven 1-2 miles, and three 2-2.5 miles).

I am certain that's not typical, but I'm hard pressed to imagine anyone in Arlington does not have at least a few schools within a 2.5 mile radius. So it would take creativity and will-power, but yes, I think APS could do a better job of mixing our schools and still keep them in reasonable proximity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless, APS would have to be open to this kind of tinkering around the margins. It's not. But I think it should be.

I am centrally located, but I can think of 13 schools within 2.5 miles from me (three under 1 mile, seven 1-2 miles, and three 2-2.5 miles).

I am certain that's not typical, but I'm hard pressed to imagine anyone in Arlington does not have at least a few schools within a 2.5 mile radius. So it would take creativity and will-power, but yes, I think APS could do a better job of mixing our schools and still keep them in reasonable proximity.

2.5 mile radius can be a lot longer by car/bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

We all make choices. We all have our life situations to deal with.
I'm ONE of those who has pointed out that school is not childcare and I continue to hold fast to that perspective. Your argument of convenience or having to make different life choices doesn't sway me in the least. There is nothing requiring APS to provide extended day services. They are not required to make life convenient. They are required to provide a free public education. PERIOD.

Ugh, yes please let's make it harder for people (read: women) to work by eliminating extended day. Barf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless, APS would have to be open to this kind of tinkering around the margins. It's not. But I think it should be.

I am centrally located, but I can think of 13 schools within 2.5 miles from me (three under 1 mile, seven 1-2 miles, and three 2-2.5 miles).

I am certain that's not typical, but I'm hard pressed to imagine anyone in Arlington does not have at least a few schools within a 2.5 mile radius. So it would take creativity and will-power, but yes, I think APS could do a better job of mixing our schools and still keep them in reasonable proximity.

So if you live near Discovery or Jamestown, you could "diversify" Nottingham, Tuckahoe, McKinley, Glebe or Taylor.

[Anonymous]

I would love to see someone who advocates for busing sketch out a proposed maps of what those boundaries might look like. You don't have to be precise, we all know the full data isn't available, but just a rough approximation of how you'd make that work given the demographics of various neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

I've often wondered about this notion that sending kids to a slightly further afield school makes it hard for working parents to get to extended day pick up by 6 p.m. Aren't most parents picking up from extended day coming from work rather than home? If that's the case, the "further afield" school may be no less convenient to get to than the closest neighborhood school. Note that I'm not talking about a county wide busing program here where kids from far south Arlington are sent to schools in the furthest reaches of north Arlington. I'm talking about kids riding a bus to a school 2.5 miles away rather than one 1.5 miles away. I grant that the drive from school to home, after extended day, would be a little bit longer. But should that marginal inconvenience really be an important factor in redrawing boundaries? I think not. Full disclosure, though, I am an option school parent. So perhaps I automatically discount small inconveniences in school transportation.

It depends on the school. I know everyone is sick of hearing about it, but I live in Rosslyn. I can walk or ride the 61 bus to Key very easily. If we get zoned to Taylor it would be hard to get there and home. It would absolutely put a car on the road that doesn’t need to be there. I don’t think it’s worth it just for my planning unit to “diversify” Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless, APS would have to be open to this kind of tinkering around the margins. It's not. But I think it should be.

I am centrally located, but I can think of 13 schools within 2.5 miles from me (three under 1 mile, seven 1-2 miles, and three 2-2.5 miles).

I am certain that's not typical, but I'm hard pressed to imagine anyone in Arlington does not have at least a few schools within a 2.5 mile radius. So it would take creativity and will-power, but yes, I think APS could do a better job of mixing our schools and still keep them in reasonable proximity.

So if you live near Discovery or Jamestown, you could "diversify" Nottingham, Tuckahoe, McKinley, Glebe or Taylor.

Exactly. Some will say having a few more diverse schools is better than none. Others will fight like crazy that it’s convenient to protect the rich white enclave while forcing the middle of Arlington to bus and change schools so that everyone can feel better about themselves. This argument was out there maybe three years ago, I think. Either APS values diversity enough to bus all kids, or it doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless, APS would have to be open to this kind of tinkering around the margins. It's not. But I think it should be.

I am centrally located, but I can think of 13 schools within 2.5 miles from me (three under 1 mile, seven 1-2 miles, and three 2-2.5 miles).

I am certain that's not typical, but I'm hard pressed to imagine anyone in Arlington does not have at least a few schools within a 2.5 mile radius. So it would take creativity and will-power, but yes, I think APS could do a better job of mixing our schools and still keep them in reasonable proximity.

So if you live near Discovery or Jamestown, you could "diversify" Nottingham, Tuckahoe, McKinley, Glebe or Taylor.

Exactly. Some will say having a few more diverse schools is better than none. Others will fight like crazy that it’s convenient to protect the rich white enclave while forcing the middle of Arlington to bus and change schools so that everyone can feel better about themselves. This argument was out there maybe three years ago, I think. Either APS values diversity enough to bus all kids, or it doesn’t.

I can't figure out what you're trying to say. Do you support busing like pp suggested, which may make some schools marginally more diverse but doesn't address systemic issues? Do you support widespread busing? No busing at all?

[Anonymous]

I’m the PP and do not support bussing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

We all make choices. We all have our life situations to deal with.
I'm ONE of those who has pointed out that school is not childcare and I continue to hold fast to that perspective. Your argument of convenience or having to make different life choices doesn't sway me in the least. There is nothing requiring APS to provide extended day services. They are not required to make life convenient. They are required to provide a free public education. PERIOD.

Where do your kids go to school and where do you work? Do you stay home or have in home childcare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People prefer to have their kids as close to home as possible because it makes life easier, especially since there are no aftercare opportunities available in most neighborhoods other than APS extended day. When you move kids to more distant schools in a congested county, you are adding a significant round trip commute to the day in the race for a 6pm pickup. To the person who will helpfully point out that school is not childcare and kids can ride the bus, you are essentially telling people to just hire a part time nanny or quit their job if they can't handle the logistics, which is a "let them eat cake" kind of solution.

I've often wondered about this notion that sending kids to a slightly further afield school makes it hard for working parents to get to extended day pick up by 6 p.m. Aren't most parents picking up from extended day coming from work rather than home? If that's the case, the "further afield" school may be no less convenient to get to than the closest neighborhood school. Note that I'm not talking about a county wide busing program here where kids from far south Arlington are sent to schools in the furthest reaches of north Arlington. I'm talking about kids riding a bus to a school 2.5 miles away rather than one 1.5 miles away. I grant that the drive from school to home, after extended day, would be a little bit longer. But should that marginal inconvenience really be an important factor in redrawing boundaries? I think not. Full disclosure, though, I am an option school parent. So perhaps I automatically discount small inconveniences in school transportation.

It depends on the school. I know everyone is sick of hearing about it, but I live in Rosslyn. I can walk or ride the 61 bus to Key very easily. If we get zoned to Taylor it would be hard to get there and home. It would absolutely put a car on the road that doesn’t need to be there. I don’t think it’s worth it just for my planning unit to “diversify” Taylor.

Is there an easy bus to Long Branch?