APS middle school boundary process

[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!!

Looks like the people who didn't care about scrimping and saving may get the last laugh. People's Republic of Arlington.

[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!!

Now you know how Trump voters feel. They honestly believe they are supporting the policies that will make the country safer and more prosperous, which is what it sounds like you want for your family. And they are called racists!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

On a different thread on these issues, cited evidence of issues with Kenmore was (1) a shooting on Columbia Pike, miles from Kenmore, about a month after the arrest of an MS-13 member from Texas, and (2) a parking lot shooting in 1992. I don't personally know anything about Kenmore, but I do have the sense that many ppl have long memories that are short on specifics.

[Anonymous]

Re busing: Why can't middle schoolers use the ART bus system?

[Anonymous]

There are numerous studies showing that low SES areas lead to poor educational outcomes. This is why people scrimp and save to live in the highest income place possible. Now Arlington wants to bus kids who live one block from a high SES school to a low SES school. Funny.

[Anonymous]

I WANT to send my kids to a racially diverse school. The problem I have with Kenmore is all the studies showing poorer educational performance at schools at a poverty tipping point, usually around 40 to 45 percent. At 20, 30% percent, the other kids bring the poorer kids up with them, school has enough resources to deal. At 40% and higher levels of poverty in a school, school is just overwhelmed.

THAT, and the fact that Swanson is about a mile closer to us, is my objection to the move. But I'm not sure if I should object or let our family be used to help others in need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I WANT to send my kids to a racially diverse school. The problem I have with Kenmore is all the studies showing poorer educational performance at schools at a poverty tipping point, usually around 40 to 45 percent. At 20, 30% percent, the other kids bring the poorer kids up with them, school has enough resources to deal. At 40% and higher levels of poverty in a school, school is just overwhelmed.

THAT, and the fact that Swanson is about a mile closer to us, is my objection to the move. But I'm not sure if I should object or let our family be used to help others in need.

The biggest problem with the county and APS is that it has put parents like you to this choice. Some parents don't value "diversity" (however defined) and some parents think their kids will do just fine regardless of demographics. The parents in the middle, who have to choose between their own kid's experience and what they may believe in as a broader community value, are faced with a really hard choice. And called racist when they struggle with it. This situation is depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a mess, the Board has been irresponsible and it’s coming home to roost. Reality is from a middle class perspective people are still moving into S Arlington and staying because cost of housing and commute times continue to rise. Enough to combat the poverty and illegal immigration? Who knows. Thankfully these proposals are just a starting point. Truthfully I don’t want my middle class down to earth child going to school with all wealthy children. I don’t want to be a parent exposed to the desperate parents that sacrificed so much to live in N Arlington and are so stressed out because they are so worried about keeping up with the Jones and haven’t had a dinner out or a vacation in years because they are so house poor. Some of the posts on this thread are disgusting.

You may go ahead and add your own comment to the list of "disgusting" posts. Your insecurity and bitterness are certainly contributing factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I WANT to send my kids to a racially diverse school. The problem I have with Kenmore is all the studies showing poorer educational performance at schools at a poverty tipping point, usually around 40 to 45 percent. At 20, 30% percent, the other kids bring the poorer kids up with them, school has enough resources to deal. At 40% and higher levels of poverty in a school, school is just overwhelmed.

THAT, and the fact that Swanson is about a mile closer to us, is my objection to the move. But I'm not sure if I should object or let our family be used to help others in need.

The biggest problem with the county and APS is that it has put parents like you to this choice. Some parents don't value "diversity" (however defined) and some parents think their kids will do just fine regardless of demographics. The parents in the middle, who have to choose between their own kid's experience and what they may believe in as a broader community value, are faced with a really hard choice. And called racist when they struggle with it. This situation is depressing.

+ 1. Well put.

[Anonymous]

YES, enough with the racism because "poverty" is not necessarily the problem, but the fact that APS does not have adequate (teacher) resources to help the non English speakers excel in the classrooms. So the teachers spend extra class time getting everyone same level which affects the students who are ahead or don't have the English translation problems.

Why can't APS at minimum address these classroom problems and hire more ESL teacher aids rather than more bus drivers!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a mess, the Board has been irresponsible and it’s coming home to roost. Reality is from a middle class perspective people are still moving into S Arlington and staying because cost of housing and commute times continue to rise. Enough to combat the poverty and illegal immigration? Who knows. Thankfully these proposals are just a starting point. Truthfully I don’t want my middle class down to earth child going to school with all wealthy children. I don’t want to be a parent exposed to the desperate parents that sacrificed so much to live in N Arlington and are so stressed out because they are so worried about keeping up with the Jones and haven’t had a dinner out or a vacation in years because they are so house poor. Some of the posts on this thread are disgusting.

You may go ahead and add your own comment to the list of "disgusting" posts. Your insecurity and bitterness are certainly contributing factors.

I just lol'd at the comment. Does anyone really know someone who hasn't had a dinner out or a vacation in "years" because they live in N. Arlington? Wishful thinking on that weirdo poster's part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I WANT to send my kids to a racially diverse school. The problem I have with Kenmore is all the studies showing poorer educational performance at schools at a poverty tipping point, usually around 40 to 45 percent. At 20, 30% percent, the other kids bring the poorer kids up with them, school has enough resources to deal. At 40% and higher levels of poverty in a school, school is just overwhelmed.

THAT, and the fact that Swanson is about a mile closer to us, is my objection to the move. But I'm not sure if I should object or let our family be used to help others in need.

The biggest problem with the county and APS is that it has put parents like you to this choice. Some parents don't value "diversity" (however defined) and some parents think their kids will do just fine regardless of demographics. The parents in the middle, who have to choose between their own kid's experience and what they may believe in as a broader community value, are faced with a really hard choice. And called racist when they struggle with it. This situation is depressing.

Thank you. This captures our family's perspective exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Loudon County redistricts about every other year.

[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!!

Now you know how Trump voters feel. They honestly believe they are supporting the policies that will make the country safer and more prosperous, which is what it sounds like you want for your family. And they are called racists!

+1000

[Anonymous]

The county should set up a "diversity volunteer" program. All you people that support diversity can volunteer and send your child to a high farms school. But I bet none of you would sign up. Put your money where your mouth is!