APS middle school boundary process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why don't we just be done with it and just have the government assign where we all live rather than the market?

This is why a lot of folks view many liberals as communists.

The government doesn't assign where anyone lives....anymore. People can make choices.

The government does draw school boundaries.

If there is something widely known to be a social ill, the government can use its legitimate power to correct that ill. It doesn't have to do things like tell people where to live.

Your ridiculousness is why a lot of folks view many conservatives as tools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't we just be done with it and just have the government assign where we all live rather than the market?

This is why a lot of folks view many liberals as communists.

The government doesn't assign where anyone lives....anymore. People can make choices.

The government does draw school boundaries.

If there is something widely known to be a social ill, the government can use its legitimate power to correct that ill. It doesn't have to do things like tell people where to live.

Your ridiculousness is why a lot of folks view many conservatives as tools.

The market is imperfect here because it is tainted by the legacy of racism.

[Anonymous]

actually the bus numbers for the blended diversity option are better than the bus numbers now. The 'turning walkers into bus riders' line is just false. Kenmore and Swanson are 2 miles apart. Those who are south east of Swanson and currently walkers are also mostly within the Kenmore walk zone.
I really think moving the immersion program to Kenmore is a good idea. It would make the busing situation easier b/c it is a shorter ride to Kenmore for the vast majority of the county then to Gunston (where it is currently). It would pull involved parents into Kenmore- thereby increasing PTA funds, etc.
It would make it easier for the large hispanic population near Kenmore to participate in immersion- and there is a lot of research to demonstrate the academic benefits of learning part of the day in your first language.

[Anonymous]

There must be some SB members who live in 22207 because their middle school boundaries will just make the 22207 real estate more valuable. They should really stop trying to mess with the market; it's pretty pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Arlington the kind of place where people want to actively try and undo the legacy of legalized racism that still, two generations later, is visible in where people choose to live and consequently what our "neighborhood schools" look like? Or are we OK with being part of the pattern of increasing racial/socioeconomic segregation being seen in our country, and everything that goes along with it?

That's the question everyone should be asking themselves.

If you think paying an extra $300K to live in 22207 over 22204 doesn't send a message to your kids about what your values really are, you might need to look in the mirror a little harder. Even if they don't pick up on it as kids, they will figure it out as adults, and will likely pattern their lives the same way.

While I tend to agree with you, and I bought in 22204 and plan to stay through HS, I'd like to know what it says about my values that I was raised UMC in D.C., attended a big 3 from K-12, had my parents generously pay for college and grad school, and now send my children to a Great Schools 4 with 55% FARMS. I don't intend this as snark AT ALL, I ask myself this all the time. I had every advantage as a child, why would I not give the same to my kids? (and yes, we can afford it.) My personal answer is clearly that I think it's better for my kids to be in a diverse environment than to be in a school with top scores, and that it's important as a county to try to give basically equal opportunity to all students, but I'm not going to sit around and fault individual parents for having a different calculus when it comes to their own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:actually the bus numbers for the blended diversity option are better than the bus numbers now. The 'turning walkers into bus riders' line is just false. Kenmore and Swanson are 2 miles apart. Those who are south east of Swanson and currently walkers are also mostly within the Kenmore walk zone.
I really think moving the immersion program to Kenmore is a good idea. It would make the busing situation easier b/c it is a shorter ride to Kenmore for the vast majority of the county then to Gunston (where it is currently). It would pull involved parents into Kenmore- thereby increasing PTA funds, etc.
It would make it easier for the large hispanic population near Kenmore to participate in immersion- and there is a lot of research to demonstrate the academic benefits of learning part of the day in your first language.

Do you have actual numbers on the busing stuff, or are you just spitballing based on the maps? I'd be interested in the busing data, which someone upthread asked about some days ago.

To me, Kenmore doesn't seem any more convenient than Gunston because it's SO far west. At least Gunston is to the east, on the assumption that most people are heading east to get into the city for commuting purposes. You're probably right about it being a shorter ride to Kenmore though, from a N/S perspective.

[Anonymous]

From what I heard at the last school board meeting, they are having trouble recruiting bus drivers.

Not surprising, considering the relatively low pay.

For this reason alone I think they will go with the option that requires the last amount of busing.

[Anonymous]

*least

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Arlington the kind of place where people want to actively try and undo the legacy of legalized racism that still, two generations later, is visible in where people choose to live and consequently what our "neighborhood schools" look like? Or are we OK with being part of the pattern of increasing racial/socioeconomic segregation being seen in our country, and everything that goes along with it?

That's the question everyone should be asking themselves.

If you think paying an extra $300K to live in 22207 over 22204 doesn't send a message to your kids about what your values really are, you might need to look in the mirror a little harder. Even if they don't pick up on it as kids, they will figure it out as adults, and will likely pattern their lives the same way.

While I tend to agree with you, and I bought in 22204 and plan to stay through HS, I'd like to know what it says about my values that I was raised UMC in D.C., attended a big 3 from K-12, had my parents generously pay for college and grad school, and now send my children to a Great Schools 4 with 55% FARMS. I don't intend this as snark AT ALL, I ask myself this all the time. I had every advantage as a child, why would I not give the same to my kids? (and yes, we can afford it.) My personal answer is clearly that I think it's better for my kids to be in a diverse environment than to be in a school with top scores, and that it's important as a county to try to give basically equal opportunity to all students, but I'm not going to sit around and fault individual parents for having a different calculus when it comes to their own kids.

I would have an easier time with it if I wasn't a member of AEM on Facebook, and saw the things that people are hand-wringing over. The volunteer application form is off-putting to undocumented immigrants? THAT is your problem with APS? Good god, lady.

[Anonymous]

How long before this whole process is going to repeat, anyway? The numbers show that many of the schools will ALREADY be over capacity in 2019. They will have to build another middle school. So this is just going to play out over and over again. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Arlington the kind of place where people want to actively try and undo the legacy of legalized racism that still, two generations later, is visible in where people choose to live and consequently what our "neighborhood schools" look like? Or are we OK with being part of the pattern of increasing racial/socioeconomic segregation being seen in our country, and everything that goes along with it?

That's the question everyone should be asking themselves.

If you think paying an extra $300K to live in 22207 over 22204 doesn't send a message to your kids about what your values really are, you might need to look in the mirror a little harder. Even if they don't pick up on it as kids, they will figure it out as adults, and will likely pattern their lives the same way.

While I tend to agree with you, and I bought in 22204 and plan to stay through HS, I'd like to know what it says about my values that I was raised UMC in D.C., attended a big 3 from K-12, had my parents generously pay for college and grad school, and now send my children to a Great Schools 4 with 55% FARMS. I don't intend this as snark AT ALL, I ask myself this all the time. I had every advantage as a child, why would I not give the same to my kids? (and yes, we can afford it.) My personal answer is clearly that I think it's better for my kids to be in a diverse environment than to be in a school with top scores, and that it's important as a county to try to give basically equal opportunity to all students, but I'm not going to sit around and fault individual parents for having a different calculus when it comes to their own kids.

I would have an easier time with it if I wasn't a member of AEM on Facebook, and saw the things that people are hand-wringing over. The volunteer application form is off-putting to undocumented immigrants? THAT is your problem with APS? Good god, lady.

LOL now that I agree with you on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:actually the bus numbers for the blended diversity option are better than the bus numbers now. The 'turning walkers into bus riders' line is just false. Kenmore and Swanson are 2 miles apart. Those who are south east of Swanson and currently walkers are also mostly within the Kenmore walk zone.
I really think moving the immersion program to Kenmore is a good idea. It would make the busing situation easier b/c it is a shorter ride to Kenmore for the vast majority of the county then to Gunston (where it is currently). It would pull involved parents into Kenmore- thereby increasing PTA funds, etc.
It would make it easier for the large hispanic population near Kenmore to participate in immersion- and there is a lot of research to demonstrate the academic benefits of learning part of the day in your first language.

Do you have actual numbers on the busing stuff, or are you just spitballing based on the maps? I'd be interested in the busing data, which someone upthread asked about some days ago.

To me, Kenmore doesn't seem any more convenient than Gunston because it's SO far west. At least Gunston is to the east, on the assumption that most people are heading east to get into the city for commuting purposes. You're probably right about it being a shorter ride to Kenmore though, from a N/S perspective.

I think it's part of the latest blended maps APS released w/accompanying date (% of bus riders). I don't think the diversity map comes out w/the highest percentage, but I also don't think that's a reason not to choose it, because I don't think any of the scenarios increase the overall % of bus riders.

[Anonymous]

I have zero problems with diversity as a N Arlington parent, in fact we applied to lottery schools in S Arlington but got wait listed. And, we moved to Arlington (vs Loudon county for diversity).

But I do not want to willingly send my kids to schools with known unaddressed problems (Kenmore) in the classroom, poorer performance than my walking-distance school (Swanson), AND that will make my tweens dependent on my transportation if I have to drop off or pick up due to before/after school activities (not to mention adding to commute time in the opposite direction, adding 30+ mins to my already too-long commute to the Dulles corridor)!!

Enough with calling us "racists" when we just seek the BEST and most convenient local education for our kids. Yes, we scrimped and saved to move to our neighborhood primarily BASED ON THE (zoned) SCHOOLS! All of you promoting diversity (north and south Arlington) are welcome to transfer your kids to Randolph, Kenmore, etc. And, taking diversity one step further, go live in a 3-bedroom apartment along Columbia pike (like we did) for a few years to fully immerse yourselves!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have zero problems with diversity as a N Arlington parent, in fact we applied to lottery schools in S Arlington but got wait listed. And, we moved to Arlington (vs Loudon county for diversity).

But I do not want to willingly send my kids to schools with known unaddressed problems (Kenmore) in the classroom, poorer performance than my walking-distance school (Swanson), AND that will make my tweens dependent on my transportation if I have to drop off or pick up due to before/after school activities (not to mention adding to commute time in the opposite direction, adding 30+ mins to my already too-long commute to the Dulles corridor)!!

Enough with calling us "racists" when we just seek the BEST and most convenient local education for our kids. Yes, we scrimped and saved to move to our neighborhood primarily BASED ON THE (zoned) SCHOOLS! All of you promoting diversity (north and south Arlington) are welcome to transfer your kids to Randolph, Kenmore, etc. And, taking diversity one step further, go live in a 3-bedroom apartment along Columbia pike (like we did) for a few years to fully immerse yourselves!!

I am asking this seriously. If not race/SES, what is the difference between the schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero problems with diversity as a N Arlington parent, in fact we applied to lottery schools in S Arlington but got wait listed. And, we moved to Arlington (vs Loudon county for diversity).

But I do not want to willingly send my kids to schools with known unaddressed problems (Kenmore) in the classroom, poorer performance than my walking-distance school (Swanson), AND that will make my tweens dependent on my transportation if I have to drop off or pick up due to before/after school activities (not to mention adding to commute time in the opposite direction, adding 30+ mins to my already too-long commute to the Dulles corridor)!!

Enough with calling us "racists" when we just seek the BEST and most convenient local education for our kids. Yes, we scrimped and saved to move to our neighborhood primarily BASED ON THE (zoned) SCHOOLS! All of you promoting diversity (north and south Arlington) are welcome to transfer your kids to Randolph, Kenmore, etc. And, taking diversity one step further, go live in a 3-bedroom apartment along Columbia pike (like we did) for a few years to fully immerse yourselves!!

I am asking this seriously. If not race/SES, what is the difference between the schools?

Can someone point me to recent evidence of this? I've asked my DC who is a transfer about classroom issues, and was met with blank stares. Same for asking about rowdiness / fights in the lunchroom.