ATS

[Anonymous]

Shouldn’t we all be invested in our children’s schools? Not PP, but… huh? We applied to Sidwell and GDS and didn’t get in. Too bad, because the results speak for themselves.

I think someone above has a point. Are ATS students always at the top of the class in their middle and high schools? I’m not sure it has the advantage you think it has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are another happy family at ATS and so grateful we got in.

two kids are currently there. one of them was an above average reader going into the school. since he is so advanced he has been given the same amount of work but at a bit more advanced level. his teachers have also gone above and beyond in providing extra stuff for him too for over the summer and during the week if it's needed.

our other child that attends ATS is very much average in all subjects and has also had a positive experience.

I just don't understand why they don't do this at all of the schools.

Me too!

The model requires parent and teacher buy-in to be successful and not everyone wants that.

If the instructional model requires parents, it shouldn't be a specified unique educational model. All "instructional models" benefit with parental support.
So, what part of the instructional model requires parental buy-in? Completing homework? or adhering to the dress code? Same would apply to the success of any school.

NP. The point is that kids at option schools often perform better than those at neighborhood schools with similar demographics largely because they have parents involved & proactive enough to seek out, learn about, and apply for the option school in the first place. This isn’t a secret.

I understand the point. I've heard it for years and years. And I'm tired of it. Non-option schools can be quite successful, and many in APS are. It's the definition of "success" that seems to be at issue, if having the top scores is the criteria. In any system, one school is going to have the highest scores. Just because a school has lower stats does not mean it is not successful. All ATS does is weed out the more challenging children so that they don't have the demands and challenges of a Barcroft or a Randolp or a Drew. Those students aren't successful because their parents "sought out" and "learned about" and applied for it. It just happens that everyone there has done that. But many students whose parents don't seek to learn about options are equally successful in their neighborhood schools. It's just that you people believe those neighborhood schools aren't as successful as ATS because of all the students (many of who have very involved parents, btw) don't achieve at the same level and therefore drag the overall stats for the school down.

I challenge the ATS teachers to teach at Barcroft or Carlin Springs or Randolph and see how it compares - not because parents sought out ATS; but because those parents fled from those schools and as a group do not pose the same challenges in the same proportions. I believe ATS approach can be successful at any neighborhood school. That doesn't mean every student is going to be valedictorian.

Have you taught at one of those 3 schools? I have and while in many ways it was a lovely community with lots of very capable kids there were also parents who would have fought the ATS way. They didn’t want to or weren’t able to enforce behavior standards on their kid, help with homework or read newsletters. This is also true at the non-title I schools where I have worked.

And did that keep you from being able to teach the motivated kids with engaged parents at those schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a silly argument and everyone is right.

ATS is one of the better elementary schools in APS.

APS is on the decline.

Top privates in the DC area are better quality, but out of reach for many.

Just don’t be a checked-out parent and your kid will be just fine wherever they go to school.

Not just APS. ATS is one of the best elementaries in the entire state. They just got another state award for achievement.

And yes APS is getting better on reading. They’re finally doing what ATS did for years in reading.

Have you looked at VA standards? Not too rigorous, are they?

The fact is, American education is kind of a joke compared to many countries. So being at the top of the list in your county, which is near the top of the list in the state, which is in the top half of the nation…

Doesn’t matter all that much when you consider the state of public education in the US compared to the rest of the world.

This is really not true. I was just doing some research on schools in the Westchester area and was looking at the stats for Bronxville listed on the school district's website. They have a chart placing the Bronxville school district's test scores within the context of the averages for other countries. Bronxville blew *all* of them out of the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are another happy family at ATS and so grateful we got in.

two kids are currently there. one of them was an above average reader going into the school. since he is so advanced he has been given the same amount of work but at a bit more advanced level. his teachers have also gone above and beyond in providing extra stuff for him too for over the summer and during the week if it's needed.

our other child that attends ATS is very much average in all subjects and has also had a positive experience.

I just don't understand why they don't do this at all of the schools.

Me too!

The model requires parent and teacher buy-in to be successful and not everyone wants that.

If the instructional model requires parents, it shouldn't be a specified unique educational model. All "instructional models" benefit with parental support.
So, what part of the instructional model requires parental buy-in? Completing homework? or adhering to the dress code? Same would apply to the success of any school.

NP. The point is that kids at option schools often perform better than those at neighborhood schools with similar demographics largely because they have parents involved & proactive enough to seek out, learn about, and apply for the option school in the first place. This isn’t a secret.

I understand the point. I've heard it for years and years. And I'm tired of it. Non-option schools can be quite successful, and many in APS are. It's the definition of "success" that seems to be at issue, if having the top scores is the criteria. In any system, one school is going to have the highest scores. Just because a school has lower stats does not mean it is not successful. All ATS does is weed out the more challenging children so that they don't have the demands and challenges of a Barcroft or a Randolp or a Drew. Those students aren't successful because their parents "sought out" and "learned about" and applied for it. It just happens that everyone there has done that. But many students whose parents don't seek to learn about options are equally successful in their neighborhood schools. It's just that you people believe those neighborhood schools aren't as successful as ATS because of all the students (many of who have very involved parents, btw) don't achieve at the same level and therefore drag the overall stats for the school down.

I challenge the ATS teachers to teach at Barcroft or Carlin Springs or Randolph and see how it compares - not because parents sought out ATS; but because those parents fled from those schools and as a group do not pose the same challenges in the same proportions. I believe ATS approach can be successful at any neighborhood school. That doesn't mean every student is going to be valedictorian.

Have you taught at one of those 3 schools? I have and while in many ways it was a lovely community with lots of very capable kids there were also parents who would have fought the ATS way. They didn’t want to or weren’t able to enforce behavior standards on their kid, help with homework or read newsletters. This is also true at the non-title I schools where I have worked.

I am a parent who is very involved in my kids' education who was turned off by ATS so did not apply. Maybe this has changed - there is a new principal since then - but they did not even allow snacks for kindergarteners. And I thought that the obsession with tucked in shirts was ridiculous. So no the ATS model definitely would not be ok with a lot of parents, or work for a lot of kids.

Who makes a 5 year old go all day without a snack? What's that accomplishing?

Is lunch not enough to get your 5 year old to 3:00?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are another happy family at ATS and so grateful we got in.

two kids are currently there. one of them was an above average reader going into the school. since he is so advanced he has been given the same amount of work but at a bit more advanced level. his teachers have also gone above and beyond in providing extra stuff for him too for over the summer and during the week if it's needed.

our other child that attends ATS is very much average in all subjects and has also had a positive experience.

I just don't understand why they don't do this at all of the schools.

Me too!

The model requires parent and teacher buy-in to be successful and not everyone wants that.

If the instructional model requires parents, it shouldn't be a specified unique educational model. All "instructional models" benefit with parental support.
So, what part of the instructional model requires parental buy-in? Completing homework? or adhering to the dress code? Same would apply to the success of any school.

NP. The point is that kids at option schools often perform better than those at neighborhood schools with similar demographics largely because they have parents involved & proactive enough to seek out, learn about, and apply for the option school in the first place. This isn’t a secret.

I understand the point. I've heard it for years and years. And I'm tired of it. Non-option schools can be quite successful, and many in APS are. It's the definition of "success" that seems to be at issue, if having the top scores is the criteria. In any system, one school is going to have the highest scores. Just because a school has lower stats does not mean it is not successful. All ATS does is weed out the more challenging children so that they don't have the demands and challenges of a Barcroft or a Randolp or a Drew. Those students aren't successful because their parents "sought out" and "learned about" and applied for it. It just happens that everyone there has done that. But many students whose parents don't seek to learn about options are equally successful in their neighborhood schools. It's just that you people believe those neighborhood schools aren't as successful as ATS because of all the students (many of who have very involved parents, btw) don't achieve at the same level and therefore drag the overall stats for the school down.

I challenge the ATS teachers to teach at Barcroft or Carlin Springs or Randolph and see how it compares - not because parents sought out ATS; but because those parents fled from those schools and as a group do not pose the same challenges in the same proportions. I believe ATS approach can be successful at any neighborhood school. That doesn't mean every student is going to be valedictorian.

Have you taught at one of those 3 schools? I have and while in many ways it was a lovely community with lots of very capable kids there were also parents who would have fought the ATS way. They didn’t want to or weren’t able to enforce behavior standards on their kid, help with homework or read newsletters. This is also true at the non-title I schools where I have worked.

And did that keep you from being able to teach the motivated kids with engaged parents at those schools?

It definitely impacts the quality of the overall classroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a silly argument and everyone is right.

ATS is one of the better elementary schools in APS.

APS is on the decline.

Top privates in the DC area are better quality, but out of reach for many.

Just don’t be a checked-out parent and your kid will be just fine wherever they go to school.

Not just APS. ATS is one of the best elementaries in the entire state. They just got another state award for achievement.

And yes APS is getting better on reading. They’re finally doing what ATS did for years in reading.

Have you looked at VA standards? Not too rigorous, are they?

The fact is, American education is kind of a joke compared to many countries. So being at the top of the list in your county, which is near the top of the list in the state, which is in the top half of the nation…

Doesn’t matter all that much when you consider the state of public education in the US compared to the rest of the world.

This is really not true. I was just doing some research on schools in the Westchester area and was looking at the stats for Bronxville listed on the school district's website. They have a chart placing the Bronxville school district's test scores within the context of the averages for other countries. Bronxville blew *all* of them out of the water.

So....there are some outliers in the US system that are high quality and Arlington is an outlier? Or is Bronxville an outlier?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t we all be invested in our children’s schools? Not PP, but… huh? We applied to Sidwell and GDS and didn’t get in. Too bad, because the results speak for themselves.

I think someone above has a point. Are ATS students always at the top of the class in their middle and high schools? I’m not sure it has the advantage you think it has.

I don’t know if they keep data on that. Most of the kids from my child’s ATS class went to Williamsburg or Hamm FWIW. Very few went to Gunston, Kenmore or TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a silly argument and everyone is right.

ATS is one of the better elementary schools in APS.

APS is on the decline.

Top privates in the DC area are better quality, but out of reach for many.

Just don’t be a checked-out parent and your kid will be just fine wherever they go to school.

Not just APS. ATS is one of the best elementaries in the entire state. They just got another state award for achievement.

And yes APS is getting better on reading. They’re finally doing what ATS did for years in reading.

Have you looked at VA standards? Not too rigorous, are they?

The fact is, American education is kind of a joke compared to many countries. So being at the top of the list in your county, which is near the top of the list in the state, which is in the top half of the nation…

Doesn’t matter all that much when you consider the state of public education in the US compared to the rest of the world.

This is really not true. I was just doing some research on schools in the Westchester area and was looking at the stats for Bronxville listed on the school district's website. They have a chart placing the Bronxville school district's test scores within the context of the averages for other countries. Bronxville blew *all* of them out of the water.

Sure, Jan.

That’s not the point anyway. Compare Bronxville to TOP public schools in those other countries and see what you find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we are another happy family at ATS and so grateful we got in.

two kids are currently there. one of them was an above average reader going into the school. since he is so advanced he has been given the same amount of work but at a bit more advanced level. his teachers have also gone above and beyond in providing extra stuff for him too for over the summer and during the week if it's needed.

our other child that attends ATS is very much average in all subjects and has also had a positive experience.

I just don't understand why they don't do this at all of the schools.

Me too!

The model requires parent and teacher buy-in to be successful and not everyone wants that.

If the instructional model requires parents, it shouldn't be a specified unique educational model. All "instructional models" benefit with parental support.
So, what part of the instructional model requires parental buy-in? Completing homework? or adhering to the dress code? Same would apply to the success of any school.

NP. The point is that kids at option schools often perform better than those at neighborhood schools with similar demographics largely because they have parents involved & proactive enough to seek out, learn about, and apply for the option school in the first place. This isn’t a secret.

I understand the point. I've heard it for years and years. And I'm tired of it. Non-option schools can be quite successful, and many in APS are. It's the definition of "success" that seems to be at issue, if having the top scores is the criteria. In any system, one school is going to have the highest scores. Just because a school has lower stats does not mean it is not successful. All ATS does is weed out the more challenging children so that they don't have the demands and challenges of a Barcroft or a Randolp or a Drew. Those students aren't successful because their parents "sought out" and "learned about" and applied for it. It just happens that everyone there has done that. But many students whose parents don't seek to learn about options are equally successful in their neighborhood schools. It's just that you people believe those neighborhood schools aren't as successful as ATS because of all the students (many of who have very involved parents, btw) don't achieve at the same level and therefore drag the overall stats for the school down.

I challenge the ATS teachers to teach at Barcroft or Carlin Springs or Randolph and see how it compares - not because parents sought out ATS; but because those parents fled from those schools and as a group do not pose the same challenges in the same proportions. I believe ATS approach can be successful at any neighborhood school. That doesn't mean every student is going to be valedictorian.

Have you taught at one of those 3 schools? I have and while in many ways it was a lovely community with lots of very capable kids there were also parents who would have fought the ATS way. They didn’t want to or weren’t able to enforce behavior standards on their kid, help with homework or read newsletters. This is also true at the non-title I schools where I have worked.

I am a parent who is very involved in my kids' education who was turned off by ATS so did not apply. Maybe this has changed - there is a new principal since then - but they did not even allow snacks for kindergarteners. And I thought that the obsession with tucked in shirts was ridiculous. So no the ATS model definitely would not be ok with a lot of parents, or work for a lot of kids.

Who makes a 5 year old go all day without a snack? What's that accomplishing?

Is lunch not enough to get your 5 year old to 3:00?

No. No its not. And neither is 30 minutes of recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t we all be invested in our children’s schools? Not PP, but… huh? We applied to Sidwell and GDS and didn’t get in. Too bad, because the results speak for themselves.

I think someone above has a point. Are ATS students always at the top of the class in their middle and high schools? I’m not sure it has the advantage you think it has.

I don’t know if they keep data on that. Most of the kids from my child’s ATS class went to Williamsburg or Hamm FWIW. Very few went to Gunston, Kenmore or TJ

I bet it’s super obvious at Williamsburg and Hamm then. The ATS kids are the high achievers and everyone else can’t keep up. I’m right… right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a silly argument and everyone is right.

ATS is one of the better elementary schools in APS.

APS is on the decline.

Top privates in the DC area are better quality, but out of reach for many.

Just don’t be a checked-out parent and your kid will be just fine wherever they go to school.

Not just APS. ATS is one of the best elementaries in the entire state. They just got another state award for achievement.

And yes APS is getting better on reading. They’re finally doing what ATS did for years in reading.

Have you looked at VA standards? Not too rigorous, are they?

The fact is, American education is kind of a joke compared to many countries. So being at the top of the list in your county, which is near the top of the list in the state, which is in the top half of the nation…

Doesn’t matter all that much when you consider the state of public education in the US compared to the rest of the world.

This is really not true. I was just doing some research on schools in the Westchester area and was looking at the stats for Bronxville listed on the school district's website. They have a chart placing the Bronxville school district's test scores within the context of the averages for other countries. Bronxville blew *all* of them out of the water.

So....there are some outliers in the US system that are high quality and Arlington is an outlier? Or is Bronxville an outlier?

Arlignton is odd in that it’s one town, but has schools that are full of either rich or poor kids. Veyr stark difference. Bronxville is a very wealthy bedroom community of NYC.
Their high school has 522 kids and it’s one of the top high schools in the entire state. It’s basically a private school for which they pay very high property taxes to go to. Like $30,000 on a house under $2m.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t we all be invested in our children’s schools? Not PP, but… huh? We applied to Sidwell and GDS and didn’t get in. Too bad, because the results speak for themselves.

I think someone above has a point. Are ATS students always at the top of the class in their middle and high schools? I’m not sure it has the advantage you think it has.

I don’t know if they keep data on that. Most of the kids from my child’s ATS class went to Williamsburg or Hamm FWIW. Very few went to Gunston, Kenmore or TJ

I bet it’s super obvious at Williamsburg and Hamm then. The ATS kids are the high achievers and everyone else can’t keep up. I’m right… right?

Most of the current 7th graders who would have gone to WMS transferred to Swanson.

[Anonymous]

It’s common knowledge that HYPSM/Oxbridge actively seek out ATS and Bronxville graduates. They are the best in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t we all be invested in our children’s schools? Not PP, but… huh? We applied to Sidwell and GDS and didn’t get in. Too bad, because the results speak for themselves.

I think someone above has a point. Are ATS students always at the top of the class in their middle and high schools? I’m not sure it has the advantage you think it has.

I don’t know if they keep data on that. Most of the kids from my child’s ATS class went to Williamsburg or Hamm FWIW. Very few went to Gunston, Kenmore or TJ

I bet it’s super obvious at Williamsburg and Hamm then. The ATS kids are the high achievers and everyone else can’t keep up. I’m right… right?

Most of the current 7th graders who would have gone to WMS transferred to Swanson.

How is this related to the question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s common knowledge that HYPSM/Oxbridge actively seek out ATS and Bronxville graduates. They are the best in the world.

Half of this year’s graduating class at Stanford attended ATS for elementary school. That’s nothing to sneeze at.