Arlington Tech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just got in and she and we are happy! We did not apply to TJSSM or HB Woodlawn. Project based learning motivates her.
As for how lucky we were, we will know when APS releases this year's chart of lottery results for option schools. The application added a short written answer this year for students to say why they wanted AT. That may have reduced the number of parents adding an AT application when they preferred HB.

Congrats. Project based and learning through “making” are what set AT apart from TJ and from most other public schools in this area. People still confuse the two and believe AT was supposed to be a TJ type school.

(And of course the neighborhood high school students aren’t left out and can take a career center bus for access to the specialized course offerings. I don’t think full-IB diploma students would have the time in their schedules though.)

Unfortunately, due to population growth and especially due to the AT program using the CTE courses for their electives and getting priority, fewer students from the other high schools have access to these classes. This is a problem APS needs to invest in solving.

If true, that is a serious equity problem. The Career Center was always designed for all gen ed high school students in Arlington County and the City of Falls Church. Not all students are college bound, so the Career Center is an essential resource for those students in particular, in addition to students who may just have an interest in aviation for example and getting a pilots license.

[Anonymous]

For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

There’s another thread where someone said they got at least to 100 on the waitlist last year, although that might not happen until summer as kids make last minute decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

There’s another thread where someone said they got at least to 100 on the waitlist last year, although that might not happen until summer as kids make last minute decisions.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

I think I saw this data somewhere for the last year, you may have to dig in the website.
However, I feel it’s very hard to extrapolate from it, since AT is still a fairly new program and my prediction is that its popularity (and wait list) will skyrocket, no matter whether APS will do any more marketing or not. So what was true last year may be very different this year and the next. Keeping fingers crossed for your kid, if I find the data I’ll update.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What types of students tend to enroll here as opposed to HB Woodlawn? Just wondering how rigorous the school and what kind of reputation it has. Thanks for any insights.

Kids enroll at AT instead of HBW because they didn't get a spot in the HBW lottery. You probably have a better chance of getting hit by a Metro bus than getting your kid a spot at HBW, especially coming from the North Arlington schools. If you have a kid who really needs a smaller high school -- and you didn't get a spot at HBW -- then Arlington Tech is your next best bet. Otherwise, you are going to a 3000 student high school. The college admits out of AT seem comparable to HBW, so it seems the school must be equally rigorous. The building is super ugly though, although going to be renovated soon.

WL will be nearly 3000 before current freshman graduate.

The search for a small school drives HBW and will eventually drive AT if it can ever escape its vocational affiliation (hard to do when collocated with a program for cooking classes and HVAC repair — not the kind of tech WL parents are thinking of)

If AT can get it’s own independent campus, even a high rise like HB, and maybe put in a couple cool labs it will take off. Stuck in career center it’s a huge drag to have to navigate the shared campus

The renovation will be a catalyst when it's done.

Do you know when it's going to happen? Selfishly I don't want the program to get really popular at least until my son is in ninth grade.

Update: I wrote this quote and my son got in!

Does that mean it’s not popular yet or you got really lucky? 😀

It really surprises me that it's not more popular. Kids can, if properly motivated, get an AA degree while in high school. That saves money and/or looks really impressive on a college app. I think. Anyway, my child is for sure, a project-based kid. So happy for them.

One my kids was interested but passed because they wanted to do sports and they wanted a typical high school experience. They took at class at the Career center though. Looking back, I think they made the right choice. I don't really think there is anything that great about AT . Getting an AA degree is fine but the only benefit for those going on to a typic 4 yr college is that some of the classes would transfer but there can be a lot that will not depending on the class and the school. Example, my child's college would not accept an anatomy class from a community college or DE course nor would they accept some math classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

I think I saw this data somewhere for the last year, you may have to dig in the website.
However, I feel it’s very hard to extrapolate from it, since AT is still a fairly new program and my prediction is that its popularity (and wait list) will skyrocket, no matter whether APS will do any more marketing or not. So what was true last year may be very different this year and the next. Keeping fingers crossed for your kid, if I find the data I’ll update.

Fewer kids put in for the lottery this year than last. 300 this year compared to 352 last year. I’m wondering if those who did put in are more committed to going and if the waitlist will move as much as it has in prior years.

Today is the day for folks to accept or decline. But I can imagine many accept to put off having to make a decision, which is why the waitlist moves well into the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the lottery, does anyone have a sense of how deep they have gone into the waitlist in past years? Ours got waitlisted and really wants to to to AT.

I think I saw this data somewhere for the last year, you may have to dig in the website.
However, I feel it’s very hard to extrapolate from it, since AT is still a fairly new program and my prediction is that its popularity (and wait list) will skyrocket, no matter whether APS will do any more marketing or not. So what was true last year may be very different this year and the next. Keeping fingers crossed for your kid, if I find the data I’ll update.

Fewer kids put in for the lottery this year than last. 300 this year compared to 352 last year. I’m wondering if those who did put in are more committed to going and if the waitlist will move as much as it has in prior years.

Today is the day for folks to accept or decline. But I can imagine many accept to put off having to make a decision, which is why the waitlist moves well into the summer.

Especially for AT but even for HB and IB, there will be more movement when TJ results come out in April. For HB, there will also possibly be movement once private school decisions are released in a few weeks. This is based on experience talking with families with current 9th and 10th graders.

[Anonymous]

Our son was 17th on the waitlist yesterday and just got off of the waitlist today. We know someone who was 25th on the waitlist and also got in this morning.

So at least 25 kids got offers off of the waitlist today. We are trying to decide what to do. Going on a tour this Friday.

[Anonymous]

My kid moved up 30 spots on the waitlist from yesterday to today.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid at Arl Tech and they have thrived there. Smaller classes, great teachers, more STEM, more chances to do presentations and other soft skill building - all 9th graders take engineering, aviation have been great. The campus on the inside of the building is actually nice even though it looks terrible from outside. It is not as social as the WL scene but other than that, highly recommend!

[Anonymous]

It’s already moved at least 50 spots since lottery day. Keep your fingers crossed, people will continue to release spots all the way through the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s already moved at least 50 spots since lottery day. Keep your fingers crossed, people will continue to release spots all the way through the summer.

How long is the total wait list for AT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s already moved at least 50 spots since lottery day. Keep your fingers crossed, people will continue to release spots all the way through the summer.

How long is the total wait list for AT?

300 put in for lottery. 130 initially offered spots and waitlist has moved 50. Seems it would be around 120 now give or take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one, literally NO ONE, is going to Arlington tech over HB

Ehhh, we would. But I also wouldn't need to bash one to express what I liked about the other. The schools are different. Which is terrific, because more types of learners are getting their needs met.