Hardy/Deal vs Arlington middle schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be brutally honest here, ok? There are plenty of reasons to prefer living in DC over Arlington, and obviously the best DC public schools are perfectly capable of providing a solid education for a smart and self-motivated kid.

But if you're talking strictly about which public school system is better, without regard to anything else, Arlington is without question better. Much better. Deal and Hardy may be the best in DC, but in Arlington they'd be average. Williamsburg, Swanson and Hamm would all blow them away. And as others have said, the high schools are another level entirely. J-R is the best in DC, but is only on par with Wakefield in Arlington--generally considered the worst in the county.

It's strictly a matter of demographics.

You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

But it’s not better than School Without Walls or Banneker -if we are talking about HS -they blow Yorktown out of the water.

But yea if your kids is going to a neighborhood school like JR then Arlington is better.

Overall I think it depends on what your child is motivated to do and wants.

As a Gen Z mom who went to SWW, it was a great experience but only meant something because I wanted to go to an Ivy. My younger sister also got in and went to a nice state school. It took her 8 months to find a little above minimum wage job…

The job market is tough and there are a lot of older more experienced people still working. Unless you are going into something like a trade, it can be very difficult.

Walls is tiny and uber selective and only available to a tiny fraction of DCPS students and Banneker does not blow Yorktown out of the water. Just compare test scores and college acceptance lists. Not even close.

I'm amazed at the time and energy some of you spend shitting on other children's schools. You really have nothing better to do?

I'm not "shitting on other children's schools." My kids attend DCPS.

NP. This. We are in DC and accept the reality that schools in Arlington are much better. Eyes wide open unlike others in denial here.

These "School X is better than School Y" debates are endless on DCUM, and pointless. Better for whom? Seems like it depends a lot of on the kid you're talking about, as well as which particular school you're referring to. Telling us that Arlington schools on average are better than DC schools on average is not exactly revelatory or even useful information. Plus, at some point, what difference does it make? Some kids at JR or any number of DC schools will get into far better colleges than some kids in APS, and vice versa. Choosing a school is not even half the battle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be brutally honest here, ok? There are plenty of reasons to prefer living in DC over Arlington, and obviously the best DC public schools are perfectly capable of providing a solid education for a smart and self-motivated kid.

But if you're talking strictly about which public school system is better, without regard to anything else, Arlington is without question better. Much better. Deal and Hardy may be the best in DC, but in Arlington they'd be average. Williamsburg, Swanson and Hamm would all blow them away. And as others have said, the high schools are another level entirely. J-R is the best in DC, but is only on par with Wakefield in Arlington--generally considered the worst in the county.

It's strictly a matter of demographics.

You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

But it’s not better than School Without Walls or Banneker -if we are talking about HS -they blow Yorktown out of the water.

But yea if your kids is going to a neighborhood school like JR then Arlington is better.

Overall I think it depends on what your child is motivated to do and wants.

As a Gen Z mom who went to SWW, it was a great experience but only meant something because I wanted to go to an Ivy. My younger sister also got in and went to a nice state school. It took her 8 months to find a little above minimum wage job…

The job market is tough and there are a lot of older more experienced people still working. Unless you are going into something like a trade, it can be very difficult.

Walls is tiny and uber selective and only available to a tiny fraction of DCPS students and Banneker does not blow Yorktown out of the water. Just compare test scores and college acceptance lists. Not even close.

I'm amazed at the time and energy some of you spend shitting on other children's schools. You really have nothing better to do?

I'm not "shitting on other children's schools." My kids attend DCPS.

NP. This. We are in DC and accept the reality that schools in Arlington are much better. Eyes wide open unlike others in denial here.

These "School X is better than School Y" debates are endless on DCUM, and pointless. Better for whom? Seems like it depends a lot of on the kid you're talking about, as well as which particular school you're referring to. Telling us that Arlington schools on average are better than DC schools on average is not exactly revelatory or even useful information. Plus, at some point, what difference does it make? Some kids at JR or any number of DC schools will get into far better colleges than some kids in APS, and vice versa. Choosing a school is not even half the battle.

Except it's not really up for debate in this instance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

We know, because you post often!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be brutally honest here, ok? There are plenty of reasons to prefer living in DC over Arlington, and obviously the best DC public schools are perfectly capable of providing a solid education for a smart and self-motivated kid.

But if you're talking strictly about which public school system is better, without regard to anything else, Arlington is without question better. Much better. Deal and Hardy may be the best in DC, but in Arlington they'd be average. Williamsburg, Swanson and Hamm would all blow them away. And as others have said, the high schools are another level entirely. J-R is the best in DC, but is only on par with Wakefield in Arlington--generally considered the worst in the county.

It's strictly a matter of demographics.

You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

But it’s not better than School Without Walls or Banneker -if we are talking about HS -they blow Yorktown out of the water.

But yea if your kids is going to a neighborhood school like JR then Arlington is better.

Overall I think it depends on what your child is motivated to do and wants.

As a Gen Z mom who went to SWW, it was a great experience but only meant something because I wanted to go to an Ivy. My younger sister also got in and went to a nice state school. It took her 8 months to find a little above minimum wage job…

The job market is tough and there are a lot of older more experienced people still working. Unless you are going into something like a trade, it can be very difficult.

Walls is tiny and uber selective and only available to a tiny fraction of DCPS students and Banneker does not blow Yorktown out of the water. Just compare test scores and college acceptance lists. Not even close.

I'm amazed at the time and energy some of you spend shitting on other children's schools. You really have nothing better to do?

I'm not "shitting on other children's schools." My kids attend DCPS.

NP. This. We are in DC and accept the reality that schools in Arlington are much better. Eyes wide open unlike others in denial here.

These "School X is better than School Y" debates are endless on DCUM, and pointless. Better for whom? Seems like it depends a lot of on the kid you're talking about, as well as which particular school you're referring to. Telling us that Arlington schools on average are better than DC schools on average is not exactly revelatory or even useful information. Plus, at some point, what difference does it make? Some kids at JR or any number of DC schools will get into far better colleges than some kids in APS, and vice versa. Choosing a school is not even half the battle.

Except it's not really up for debate in this instance.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, keep in mind that DCUM is full of people who haven’t stepped foot in DC proper since Marion Barry was mayor but fashion themselves as experts on the city. You need to take a lot of responses here with a giant grain of salt because they’re likely coming from some rube who lives in neither DC nor Arlington but spends much of their day trolling DC on anonymous Internet forums.

As I’ve said earlier, my kids attend DCPSs and I’m a product of APS/MCPS. It’s just silly to argue that the systems are all equally strong. Yes, DCPS has Walls as its crown jewel, but nothing else in DC would be above average in either APS or MCPS.

Noting again that OP was not asking which system was stronger - OP was asking whether her specific children would be bettter off in an ACPS school than they would be in a DCPS school.

Not trying to be pedantic but just so you know the standard vernacular, ACPS is Alexandria City PS. APS is Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

The schools are big but class sizes are generally small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

Except most people who move from DC to APS schools aren’t in a McMansion (I’m in 2k square foot house that is smaller than the one I left in DC) and none of the public schools are lily white. And my commute to my DC job went from 45min to 25 min.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

Nope.

Yorktown is the "whitest" high school in Arlington and it's only 56 percent white, and neither W-L nor Wakefield is even half while. Arlington is a very diverse school district overall.

Try again.

[Anonymous]

These "School X is better than School Y" debates are endless on DCUM, and pointless. Better for whom? Seems like it depends a lot of on the kid you're talking about, as well as which particular school you're referring to. Telling us that Arlington schools on average are better than DC schools on average is not exactly revelatory or even useful information. Plus, at some point, what difference does it make? Some kids at JR or any number of DC schools will get into far better colleges than some kids in APS, and vice versa. Choosing a school is not even half the battle.

But it is useful.. not everyone on these forums is from this area or familiar with what is or isnt better one way or another

[Anonymous]

The OP was literally asking for parents who have experienced both APS and DCPS to share their experiences and that is what parents who are happy with APS did.