APS Interesting Responses to Walk Zone Survey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I wonder why, as you say, there is a strong preference for nonimmersion in “the neighborhood.” I hear lots of talk about giving the gift of a second language, but then people don’t follow through. Key gets screwed in this plan.

I don't know the full history, but I think in the past there just weren't as many school age kids living in the zone and the ones that did live there were more likely to be Spanish speaking. There are so many condos, townhouses, and apartments that have been built in the last 10-15 years and the assumption was that families with children would move away when they hit school age. Surprise! We're still here!

Key is not at all getting screwed. If you look at the transfer report, two-thirds of Key is coming from outside the Key zone (so therefore being bused or driven). Key has students from every single elementary in Arlington. Moving it nearer to a large Spanish-speaking population could be positive. Many of the Spanish-speaking community has migrated out of the neighborhood immediately surrounding Key.

It’s being screwed in the sense that I don’t see how it gets anywhere close to the 50-50 point. The shared boundary with ASFS has been its safety valve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I wonder why, as you say, there is a strong preference for nonimmersion in “the neighborhood.” I hear lots of talk about giving the gift of a second language, but then people don’t follow through. Key gets screwed in this plan.

I don't know the full history, but I think in the past there just weren't as many school age kids living in the zone and the ones that did live there were more likely to be Spanish speaking. There are so many condos, townhouses, and apartments that have been built in the last 10-15 years and the assumption was that families with children would move away when they hit school age. Surprise! We're still here!

Key is not at all getting screwed. If you look at the transfer report, two-thirds of Key is coming from outside the Key zone (so therefore being bused or driven). Key has students from every single elementary in Arlington. Moving it nearer to a large Spanish-speaking population could be positive. Many of the Spanish-speaking community has migrated out of the neighborhood immediately surrounding Key.

Where might that be because it certainly isn't where ASFS is located?

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why everyone is saying move ATS south, and not Key.
The Spanish speakers are in South Arlington.
Barcroft elementary should be converted to immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why everyone is saying move ATS south, and not Key.
The Spanish speakers are in South Arlington.
Barcroft elementary should be converted to immersion.

Um, there are also Spanish speakers in n Arlington.

[Anonymous]

French immersion, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why everyone is saying move ATS south, and not Key.
The Spanish speakers are in South Arlington.
Barcroft elementary should be converted to immersion.

Not all are. Buckingham is in North Arlington, and it's one of the densest Latino populations in Arlington. If Key moves S, it can't be moved too close to Claremont or too far W because the Immersion division is E/W rather than N/S, again, to balance English/Spanish speakers and to encourage economic diversity. It might make sense to move Key to Barett. They'd have hundreds of Spanish speaking kids in the walk zone at that location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

?

There isn't much affordable housing in that area. Most of it was torn down, which is how Oakridge and Gunston turned around in the first place. You're correct that what does exist will be zoned to Drew, because it's closer. But it's not so much that there won't be a balance. Will it be an 8 or 9? No, but probably at least a 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

?

There isn't much affordable housing in that area. Most of it was torn down, which is how Oakridge and Gunston turned around in the first place. You're correct that what does exist will be zoned to Drew, because it's closer. But it's not so much that there won't be a balance. Will it be an 8 or 9? No, but probably at least a 6.

You're just dead wrong. Arna valley has hundreds of such units that will be there in perpetuity. The Berkeley is another. Plus the Shelton across from Drew. Each of those buildings is entirely affordable housing. Drew will likely have a farms rate rivaling carlin springs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why everyone is saying move ATS south, and not Key.
The Spanish speakers are in South Arlington.
Barcroft elementary should be converted to immersion.

Not all are. Buckingham is in North Arlington, and it's one of the densest Latino populations in Arlington. If Key moves S, it can't be moved too close to Claremont or too far W because the Immersion division is E/W rather than N/S, again, to balance English/Spanish speakers and to encourage economic diversity. It might make sense to move Key to Barett. They'd have hundreds of Spanish speaking kids in the walk zone at that location.

Barrett has a pretty good walk zone. But ATS is less than a mile from Barrett, and doesn't have a good walk zone. Moving Key to the ATS location makes a lot of sense, and would make immersion easily accessible for the large spanish dominant population clustered in the area.

In terms of the E/W N/S divide- APS is very quietly redrawing this boundary. It can't be to close to Claremont, true- but it could move west.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

?

There isn't much affordable housing in that area. Most of it was torn down, which is how Oakridge and Gunston turned around in the first place. You're correct that what does exist will be zoned to Drew, because it's closer. But it's not so much that there won't be a balance. Will it be an 8 or 9? No, but probably at least a 6.

You're just dead wrong. Arna valley has hundreds of such units that will be there in perpetuity. The Berkeley is another. Plus the Shelton across from Drew. Each of those buildings is entirely affordable housing. Drew will likely have a farms rate rivaling carlin springs.

Plus, there's not many umc SFH in Nauck to offset low income apartments, and sadly, what few there are will prob think twice about going to Drew -- just like most SFH in Douglas Park avoid Randolph. That's why it's under enrolled. APS can zone, but it can't compel people to send their kids to schools they don't see as serving their kids needs.

[Anonymous]

To the poster who thinks that Drew as a neighborhood school will have a lower FARMS rate, then Drew with Montessori- you should know that APS stated at the budget work session that when Montessori is removed from Drew, the Montessori program will no longer be Title I, because the FARMS students who make the school Title I are in the neighborhood program.

I don't actually have a problem with high FARMS schools, and I think the new principal is outstanding. But- if you think the school is going to improve in a Great Schools sense (which is really all based on test scores, which is based on socioeconomic status) then you are dead wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

?

There isn't much affordable housing in that area. Most of it was torn down, which is how Oakridge and Gunston turned around in the first place. You're correct that what does exist will be zoned to Drew, because it's closer. But it's not so much that there won't be a balance. Will it be an 8 or 9? No, but probably at least a 6.

You're just dead wrong. Arna valley has hundreds of such units that will be there in perpetuity. The Berkeley is another. Plus the Shelton across from Drew. Each of those buildings is entirely affordable housing. Drew will likely have a farms rate rivaling carlin springs.

Plus, there's not many umc SFH in Nauck to offset low income apartments, and sadly, what few there are will prob think twice about going to Drew -- just like most SFH in Douglas Park avoid Randolph. That's why it's under enrolled. APS can zone, but it can't compel people to send their kids to schools they don't see as serving their kids needs.

Yep, all that will happen is those who are rezoned out of Henry/Fleet will either move or just try to have their kids sent elsewhere. I realize there are options and I want to wait and see, which is why I’m not worrying quite yet, but yes there are going to be some people who feel they received the raw end of this deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the responses from 46010 saying that they would walk every day to fleet, but can't walk safely to ANY OTHER school made me laugh.
That zone goes across Columbia Pike to get to Fleet, and walks nearly a mile. It would also be less than a mile crossing Walter Reed to Drew. Or less than a mile crossing Glebe to Randolph.
I get it- you don't want to go to those schools- but to say you can safely cross Columbia Pike but not the other ones is a little silly.

That section of Douglas park is the new Arlington forest. A lot of people bought there thinking they had very cleverly saved some coin instead of moving to Arlington heights to gain access to Henry. They feel stupid and angry now and are gonna take it out on aps.

Please. No one saved money “buying” into Henry. They paid for access to that school, and now they are screwed. Of course they don’t live north of 50, so they don’t get to complain.
I f#cking hate this county.

+1. I notice a lot of vitriol toward Henry-zoned parents on this board. But it’s okay for everyone else to kick and scream when they might be rezoned. No one feels “stupid” or “angry” - just concerned because there’s a lot at stake.

Specifically, what is "at stake"?

People just don't realize that Drew as they know it will no longer exist. It's going to be almost an entirely new student body and a full neighborhood program. The "performance" of that school will increase dramatically in the first year.

Being rezoned to a much, much lower performing school like Drew or Randolph when Henry moves to Fleet.

Oh honey... no.
You don’t understand exactly how much affordable housing is about to be shifted away from Oakridge and into Drew. I love your optimism, but if that school is a 4, it will be a miracle.

?

There isn't much affordable housing in that area. Most of it was torn down, which is how Oakridge and Gunston turned around in the first place. You're correct that what does exist will be zoned to Drew, because it's closer. But it's not so much that there won't be a balance. Will it be an 8 or 9? No, but probably at least a 6.

You're just dead wrong. Arna valley has hundreds of such units that will be there in perpetuity. The Berkeley is another. Plus the Shelton across from Drew. Each of those buildings is entirely affordable housing. Drew will likely have a farms rate rivaling carlin springs.

Plus, there's not many umc SFH in Nauck to offset low income apartments, and sadly, what few there are will prob think twice about going to Drew -- just like most SFH in Douglas Park avoid Randolph. That's why it's under enrolled. APS can zone, but it can't compel people to send their kids to schools they don't see as serving their kids needs.

Yep, all that will happen is those who are rezoned out of Henry/Fleet will either move or just try to have their kids sent elsewhere. I realize there are options and I want to wait and see, which is why I’m not worrying quite yet, but yes there are going to be some people who feel they received the raw end of this deal.

Of course Drew will get a raw deal, like it has for decades. APS is going to create one incredibly segregated school (Drew) from what were once 3 more or less integrated ones (old Drew, Oakridge, Henry).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who thinks that Drew as a neighborhood school will have a lower FARMS rate, then Drew with Montessori- you should know that APS stated at the budget work session that when Montessori is removed from Drew, the Montessori program will no longer be Title I, because the FARMS students who make the school Title I are in the neighborhood program.

I don't actually have a problem with high FARMS schools, and I think the new principal is outstanding. But- if you think the school is going to improve in a Great Schools sense (which is really all based on test scores, which is based on socioeconomic status) then you are dead wrong.

I too think the new principal sounds like an outstanding choice. I am worried that she won't last. Drew hasn't kept a principal for more than a year or two, like, 4 or 5 times in a row. That tells me something is f'd up there. I don't buy the old "split school" explanation (half graded, half Montessori), on its face. I think the neighborhood program must be a huge challenge for which it is extremely hard to make progress. If anyone can do it, it's Principal Graves. But she had the wind at her back with demographic change at Hoffman and I don't think that will be the case at Drew in the near term.