Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Is there common space lacking now? Like what - cafeteria space, library, general hang out areas? Or do you mean there will be a lack of common space with 600 new students?
"Virtual program administration" - this implies there will continue to be virtual post-covid??
- Not OP but another parent of middle schoolers getting nervous about this situation
Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Is there common space lacking now? Like what - cafeteria space, library, general hang out areas? Or do you mean there will be a lack of common space with 600 new students?
"Virtual program administration" - this implies there will continue to be virtual post-covid??
- Not OP but another parent of middle schoolers getting nervous about this situation
The lack of common space with 600 additional students, but I don't know even how it is now.
Yeah, I worry that Virtual Learning will be based at WL because they will be USING it for WL students?? Can we get that in writing that its not a thing...
Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Is there common space lacking now? Like what - cafeteria space, library, general hang out areas? Or do you mean there will be a lack of common space with 600 new students?
"Virtual program administration" - this implies there will continue to be virtual post-covid??
- Not OP but another parent of middle schoolers getting nervous about this situation
The lack of common space with 600 additional students, but I don't know even how it is now.
Yeah, I worry that Virtual Learning will be based at WL because they will be USING it for WL students?? Can we get that in writing that its not a thing...
That's not what this is. This is for the full-time VLP program APS implemented this year with the intention of establishing a permanent VLP program. HOWEVER, when APS finally admits a separate VLP program is a failure (academically and for capacity-solving, though they'll never admit the former), this will likely morph into more forced online learning for everyone to "alleviate" overcrowding.
Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Is there common space lacking now? Like what - cafeteria space, library, general hang out areas? Or do you mean there will be a lack of common space with 600 new students?
"Virtual program administration" - this implies there will continue to be virtual post-covid??
- Not OP but another parent of middle schoolers getting nervous about this situation
The lack of common space with 600 additional students, but I don't know even how it is now.
Yeah, I worry that Virtual Learning will be based at WL because they will be USING it for WL students?? Can we get that in writing that its not a thing...
That's not what this is. This is for the full-time VLP program APS implemented this year with the intention of establishing a permanent VLP program. HOWEVER, when APS finally admits a separate VLP program is a failure (academically and for capacity-solving, though they'll never admit the former), this will likely morph into more forced online learning for everyone to "alleviate" overcrowding.
This is Libby Garvey’s doing. They should never have created a VLP with Covid funds since it’s not even being used by parents of vulnerable kids/families, but people avoiding a MS they don’t like, a boundary change, general anxiety, etc. The program should only ever have been for a select few, with medical necessity, and should end once Covid is under control. It should NOT become a permanent solution. Kids who need/want to stay virtual, for whatever reason, need to enroll in Virtual Virginia. Every single seat they built should be for HS seats, and not anything else. We didn’t pass the bond so they could add another layer of central office admin while increasing class sizes.
Anonymous wrote:I am in the "old parent with third kid" dynamic. We're probably staying, although hope for a choice opportunity (Tech, HB or WL IB, if we can talk DC into continuing with French). O'Connell is our only realistic other option, and I would choose it over Yorktown for DC, but DC has so many friends and is not going to be an academic standout wherever she ends up.
You're in a better situation with WL than Yorktown, although I have heard through the grapevine that colleges will view it somewhat disfavorably if a child goes to an IB school, but does not pursue an IB diploma. I have no first-hand experience, it's just something that I've heard (probably on this forum, if I had to guess).
Are Tech and HB better academically? Or just smaller?
Better for my child, who will not be an academic standout wherever she is. I have an older child at YHS, and it's terrible. The students at YHS have to make themselves heard; no one reaches out to those who don't. And with all the grabby, entitled students there, polite, mild-mannered students like my children are overlooked.
What is W-L like? Too crowded?
W-L is crowded IMO but not overcrowded yet. There aren't any scheduling issues to prevent signing up for classes my sophomore wants, lunchtime is manageable, and sports are selectively competititve. Crew, lacrosse, football, golf technically require tryouts, but almost anyone can sign up as opposed to Yorktown. Maybe that's because of COVID. I think what makes W-L the best choice for my kid is the AP and IB options combined with the very diverse student body. He has friends from all different backgrounds--his closest friends are Latino and Asian. (He is white). Also, it's great to hear from him how much he laughs during the day. It's a combination that is unique to W-L out of all the other Arlington high schools.
What are your thoughts when they add 600 more students to it?
Obviously going from 2,200 students to 2,800 is a big change. For now they are talking of accepting all IB transfers and possibly Wakefiled kids being redistricted. So the student body would still be diverse, the IB programs would still be in demand, the seats would be there in the refurbished building. It would strain the cafeteria and activities/sports office. It isn't an overarching concern to be honest.
My kids have had a good experience at W-L (now a junior and one who graduated last year). I do think the classroom space will be there. The main issue my older kid had was finding his place in activities (not a sports or music kid). He participated in a couple things but never really felt invested because he felt he really wasn't needed by a group. He did theater tech, which was great in a lot of ways, but they also have so many kids participating in that that you end up only being able to work one show. He felt like he was just one more unnecessary body at service clubs. He did like HS, made a wide group of friends and was well challenged academically, now finding college pretty easy in his first semester. He found his home for ECs at our church where there were real jobs that had to be done and he felt his presence was important.
So the 600 new spots at WL will all be for IB students? And they will just be added to the current WL campus? I lost track of all the discussions a couple years ago with the career center/4th high school/not 4th high school. Are some WL students going to be moved to that location, or are the realistic solutions for overcrowding actually going to be remote learning or attending class in shifts (is this really on the table)?
The campus is expanding by 600 seats when the Ed Center renovation is finished. The last I heard these will be partially filled by more IB students and redistricting. W&L families got an email over the summer (wished I had saved it) stating that projections showed that all the seats wouldn't be filled and one floor of the Ed Center was being considered as a permanent place for the full time virtual program administration.
Why can't that unused space be converted into common space which is lacking because of the larger population?
Is there common space lacking now? Like what - cafeteria space, library, general hang out areas? Or do you mean there will be a lack of common space with 600 new students?
"Virtual program administration" - this implies there will continue to be virtual post-covid??
- Not OP but another parent of middle schoolers getting nervous about this situation
The lack of common space with 600 additional students, but I don't know even how it is now.
Yeah, I worry that Virtual Learning will be based at WL because they will be USING it for WL students?? Can we get that in writing that its not a thing...
That's not what this is. This is for the full-time VLP program APS implemented this year with the intention of establishing a permanent VLP program. HOWEVER, when APS finally admits a separate VLP program is a failure (academically and for capacity-solving, though they'll never admit the former), this will likely morph into more forced online learning for everyone to "alleviate" overcrowding.
This is Libby Garvey’s doing. They should never have created a VLP with Covid funds since it’s not even being used by parents of vulnerable kids/families, but people avoiding a MS they don’t like, a boundary change, general anxiety, etc. The program should only ever have been for a select few, with medical necessity, and should end once Covid is under control. It should NOT become a permanent solution. Kids who need/want to stay virtual, for whatever reason, need to enroll in Virtual Virginia. Every single seat they built should be for HS seats, and not anything else. We didn’t pass the bond so they could add another layer of central office admin while increasing class sizes.
An ENTIRE floor of administrators for VLP means the program will NEVER go away in any current students time at APS; it will be entrenched and be a solution in search of a problem: ie it will "solve" overcrowding.
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