South Arlington schools

[Anonymous]

For me (left a S. Arl school not Henry or Oakridge) it was about having mY kids fully engaged & excited about school. I loved the diversity & what it taught them, but the academics were not challenging--even with gifted support--and they were uninspired at school. We made up for that as much as we could with activities and outings outside school, but it's not the same as enriching, meaningful field trips and highly engaged peers. Not just white kids. Kids whose parents are from all over the world. My kids are excited about school now. There is real school spirit and teachers have extra time & energy b/c they are not worn down by the extraordinary demands of one of S. Arl's super segregated majority poverty schools. It's not about being a grade level ahead. It's about schools organized around serving the middle (they all are!) & where your middle falls.

[Anonymous]

I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

of course the schools are better. this is not rocket science. or debatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:of course the schools are better. this is not rocket science. or debatable.

We're talking about degrees here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP who mentioned that the real difference starts in 2nd grade is spot on. And, to the people who doubt that if one waits too long to leave an under performing SA school, kids will be behind in a high performing school - don't opine unless you have seen it. I know 8 families from my kid's school that left for NA or falls church over the last 5 years. Each kid was behind, lacked the requisite study skills and was no longer the star of,the class in the New school. Yes, same curriculum, but the kids are expected to master the material at different times. The depth of instruction is much different in NA schools because the kids are prepared to learn it. Kids do homework and have additional help at home so more advanced instruction in class. This is generally not the case in SA schools. And the schools I am talking about are not Henry and Oakridge.

Some parts of SA will continue to gentrify, others will not. West of George Mason and the area just to its east is a lost cause.

The area just east of George Mason is a super smart buy. That foodstar is going to be torn down and penrose style development is going in. All market rate. If you haven't bought in Arlington yet, I'd be looking in the parts of alcova heights, Douglas park and possibly Barcroft that are walking distance to it. The schools are fine, and will only getter. The lack of choice is the best thing that could happen to those schools. It wouldn't take much for the perception of those schools to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

It's just a slightly more nuanced way of explaining that South Arlington schools aren't very good, but thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:South Arlington schools aren't good at all, but it's heartwarming to see people hype them in the hopes of gentrifying the area. Unfortunately, there are just too many crappy apartment buildings in South Arlington to make that happen without a major dislocation of the poors. At some point, the bohos who bought there on the cheap will just have to come to terms with the mediocrity of schools like Kenmore, Jefferson and Wakefield.

"dislocation of the poors"?? Is this what people in N Arlington really think? If so, it is shameful hate speech.

Nah-
It's the same troll who shows up everytime. Sometimes they live in north Arlington, sometimes they live in south Arlington. Next, they'll start talking about diversity, Benetton and craft beers. It's tedious.
I'm sure the shiny super star students of north Arlington are leaps and bounds ahead of the unwashed masses of south arl. I'll be sure to tell my neighbors that. They'll keep that in mind when visiting their kids at UVA, Duke etc etc...

I can't follow what you are trying to say in the paragraph beginning "I'm sure the ...."

Also, the bit about the troll is wrong. The fixations pp describes about diversity, Bennetto and craft beers belong to different people, not one. And a lot of people will call out people who claim to love diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP who mentioned that the real difference starts in 2nd grade is spot on. And, to the people who doubt that if one waits too long to leave an under performing SA school, kids will be behind in a high performing school - don't opine unless you have seen it. I know 8 families from my kid's school that left for NA or falls church over the last 5 years. Each kid was behind, lacked the requisite study skills and was no longer the star of,the class in the New school. Yes, same curriculum, but the kids are expected to master the material at different times. The depth of instruction is much different in NA schools because the kids are prepared to learn it. Kids do homework and have additional help at home so more advanced instruction in class. This is generally not the case in SA schools. And the schools I am talking about are not Henry and Oakridge.

Some parts of SA will continue to gentrify, others will not. West of George Mason and the area just to its east is a lost cause.

The area just east of George Mason is a super smart buy. That foodstar is going to be torn down and penrose style development is going in. All market rate. If you haven't bought in Arlington yet, I'd be looking in the parts of alcova heights, Douglas park and possibly Barcroft that are walking distance to it. The schools are fine, and will only getter. The lack of choice is the best thing that could happen to those schools. It wouldn't take much for the perception of those schools to change.

Isn't that zoned for Randolph? I don't think anyone believes that school is just fine, particularly given recent events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ ok, this I think really nails it.
It's the type A North Arlington helicopter parent neurosis. Frankly, I'm glad my kid won't be apart of that. The kids on my street who went to south Arlington schools K-12 are at great colleges. I'm not going to get caught up in some pearl clutching rat race over whether or not my kid is ahead in third grade. They are learning other valuable life skills in their neighborhood school. They are learning that not everyone is privledged, and looks like them. They are learning patience. They are learning empathy.
Sitting down at the table together, talking every night, and reading to and with my kid will do more than anything else.

+1

-1. South Arlington kids have worse outcomes across the board, whether poor or middle class, and it's due in part to the factors described by PP.

Hope you are fixing five-course meals, because there is a lot of extra work you'll need to do to compensate for the slow pace at school.

When my kid is the more successful, popular kid at UVA or MIT- are we really going to care which elementary school they went to? Not really.

Nice dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP who mentioned that the real difference starts in 2nd grade is spot on. And, to the people who doubt that if one waits too long to leave an under performing SA school, kids will be behind in a high performing school - don't opine unless you have seen it. I know 8 families from my kid's school that left for NA or falls church over the last 5 years. Each kid was behind, lacked the requisite study skills and was no longer the star of,the class in the New school. Yes, same curriculum, but the kids are expected to master the material at different times. The depth of instruction is much different in NA schools because the kids are prepared to learn it. Kids do homework and have additional help at home so more advanced instruction in class. This is generally not the case in SA schools. And the schools I am talking about are not Henry and Oakridge.

Some parts of SA will continue to gentrify, others will not. West of George Mason and the area just to its east is a lost cause.

The area just east of George Mason is a super smart buy. That foodstar is going to be torn down and penrose style development is going in. All market rate. If you haven't bought in Arlington yet, I'd be looking in the parts of alcova heights, Douglas park and possibly Barcroft that are walking distance to it. The schools are fine, and will only getter. The lack of choice is the best thing that could happen to those schools. It wouldn't take much for the perception of those schools to change.

Isn't that zoned for Randolph? I don't think anyone believes that school is just fine, particularly given recent events.

Douglas Park is interesting. I think parts of it are zoned for Randolph, some for Hoffman-Boston (?) and a tiny block to Henry (!). Who knows where the kids may end in a couple of years (post-zoning from new S. Arl elementary).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP who mentioned that the real difference starts in 2nd grade is spot on. And, to the people who doubt that if one waits too long to leave an under performing SA school, kids will be behind in a high performing school - don't opine unless you have seen it. I know 8 families from my kid's school that left for NA or falls church over the last 5 years. Each kid was behind, lacked the requisite study skills and was no longer the star of,the class in the New school. Yes, same curriculum, but the kids are expected to master the material at different times. The depth of instruction is much different in NA schools because the kids are prepared to learn it. Kids do homework and have additional help at home so more advanced instruction in class. This is generally not the case in SA schools. And the schools I am talking about are not Henry and Oakridge.

Some parts of SA will continue to gentrify, others will not. West of George Mason and the area just to its east is a lost cause.

The area just east of George Mason is a super smart buy. That foodstar is going to be torn down and penrose style development is going in. All market rate. If you haven't bought in Arlington yet, I'd be looking in the parts of alcova heights, Douglas park and possibly Barcroft that are walking distance to it. The schools are fine, and will only getter. The lack of choice is the best thing that could happen to those schools. It wouldn't take much for the perception of those schools to change.

Isn't that zoned for Randolph? I don't think anyone believes that school is just fine, particularly given recent events.

Depends which side of the Pike. North of the Pike is currently zoned Barcroft, south of the Pike is zoned Randolph. But with the new ES coming online, who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The PP who mentioned that the real difference starts in 2nd grade is spot on. And, to the people who doubt that if one waits too long to leave an under performing SA school, kids will be behind in a high performing school - don't opine unless you have seen it. I know 8 families from my kid's school that left for NA or falls church over the last 5 years. Each kid was behind, lacked the requisite study skills and was no longer the star of,the class in the New school. Yes, same curriculum, but the kids are expected to master the material at different times. The depth of instruction is much different in NA schools because the kids are prepared to learn it. Kids do homework and have additional help at home so more advanced instruction in class. This is generally not the case in SA schools. And the schools I am talking about are not Henry and Oakridge.

Some parts of SA will continue to gentrify, others will not. West of George Mason and the area just to its east is a lost cause.

The area just east of George Mason is a super smart buy. That foodstar is going to be torn down and penrose style development is going in. All market rate. If you haven't bought in Arlington yet, I'd be looking in the parts of alcova heights, Douglas park and possibly Barcroft that are walking distance to it. The schools are fine, and will only getter. The lack of choice is the best thing that could happen to those schools. It wouldn't take much for the perception of those schools to change.

Isn't that zoned for Randolph? I don't think anyone believes that school is just fine, particularly given recent events.

What recent events?
They are getting rid of an underperforming principal? All the more reason to investigate the area. All the boundaries will be redrawn in the next couple of years. I know everyone at Henry is nervous. The SAWG has specifically said SES diversity is a priority. CARD is also now in play. They will be looking to break up some of the most concentrated populations. Also state legislature is changing how esol is tested on SOL's, that's gonna boost south Arlington scores across the board. Now that Randolph's principal has gotten shit canned, you'll see more gaming of the testing and numbers.

Prediction:
Henry moves ( has some ah island zoned to it) slips to a 7/8 - eveyone still very pleased with quality of education.
Randph - current will change, slowly creeps to 5/6, mc families don't leave for ffx and stick with the school.
Hoffman Boston - hangs tight and stem focus keeps it treading on an upward projectory.
Drew- becomes a legitimately failing school after Montessori is pulled.
Abingdon- getting renovated, mc families quietly deciding to stay, slowly gentrifies to 6/7 school.
Barcroft- wildcard. It's been totally fucked by AH. I look at that map and I just can't see how they fix their demographics without the entire south end of the county being bused hither and yon. They do have a strong middle class of home owners, who had up until recently bought into that school. Seriously the county super fucked those guys. Not cool.
They should have a meeting with Randolph parents and all of them just take over Randolph. Barcroft is year round, so they can have kids pupil placed over there.
I predict this will be reality in 6 years.

[Anonymous]

^^^^ Also, forgot to add that the new Food Star development will be within the Barcroft neighborhood. I do think it will be a game changer. Already seeing that with SFH's being torn down and replaced with new builds. Schools will lag real estate, though, that's pretty much always the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

So, what schools aren't test crazy? I feel like the SA school we're at isn't test crazy (based on school culture, but my kid isn't old enough to be subject to the SOL's, so I don't know if staff would agree). Can you name names? I interpret your assessment to mean that the lower performing schools ARE test crazy.