Buying in Arlington Village (Columbia Pike) — currently Drew ES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Person who pulled her kids here. We did not leave because of any one issue. It was not behavior related. It was a bit of being tired of feeling that I had to watch what was happening in class very, very closely and advocate more than I liked. I just had a gut that there was a higher middle that they were teaching to at a school that wasn't busy serving kids with so many needs--poverty, language, lack of prior educational experience or a substandard one in another country. Levels over 50% just aren't ideal. It was a hard decision, and it was not obvious when we made it. No regrets though.

Which school? Name names or nothing changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

SA here. My just turned 5 kindergartner can read a level above "See Spot run." I think this is pretty common for children who have had high quality pre-k. Hope I have enough time to advocate for my neighborhood school after teaching my kid grade level material after work. I hope he's not super bored in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

But again, does your class all read together? Our school has kids reading is smaller groups. Some are doing leveled text work, and the outliers, on both ends, are doing their own thing. Hell, even when I was a kid back when dinosaurs roamed the earth we didn't all work together in all things. And I don't believe there is any policy in Arlington that supports not differentiating or meeting kids where they are. If you're in a school that isn't doing that, tell everyone. Be loud. Speak at every SB meeting you can. Name the school. Shame the school. Just moving away and leaving the problems unresolved is not going to make any change, and you're leaving a lot of kids behind in that same place. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

Do- the point is, it won’t make a difference and you will be called a racist for your troubles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

But again, does your class all read together? Our school has kids reading is smaller groups. Some are doing leveled text work, and the outliers, on both ends, are doing their own thing. Hell, even when I was a kid back when dinosaurs roamed the earth we didn't all work together in all things. And I don't believe there is any policy in Arlington that supports not differentiating or meeting kids where they are. If you're in a school that isn't doing that, tell everyone. Be loud. Speak at every SB meeting you can. Name the school. Shame the school. Just moving away and leaving the problems unresolved is not going to make any change, and you're leaving a lot of kids behind in that same place. Geez.

Come on man. Grow up.
Some of these schools don’t have more than one or two native speakers per class. They don’t have the numbers to form groups. And I don’t care how great the teachers are, their focus is going to kids who have greater needs.
God help the administrator that groups all 10 kids per grade level with the same teacher.

Fun side note: Amazon is committed to adding a 100 affordable units a year for the next 10 years. I’m so grateful that Barcorft apartments can realize the vision of the Pike plan and finally get started adding 200-500 more units on four mike run drive. #blessed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

Do- the point is, it won’t make a difference and you will be called a racist for your troubles.

It will make a difference if enough people who've experience this firsthand speak up. If you can't do better than complaining anonymously on here then you are being pretty cowardly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

But again, does your class all read together? Our school has kids reading is smaller groups. Some are doing leveled text work, and the outliers, on both ends, are doing their own thing. Hell, even when I was a kid back when dinosaurs roamed the earth we didn't all work together in all things. And I don't believe there is any policy in Arlington that supports not differentiating or meeting kids where they are. If you're in a school that isn't doing that, tell everyone. Be loud. Speak at every SB meeting you can. Name the school. Shame the school. Just moving away and leaving the problems unresolved is not going to make any change, and you're leaving a lot of kids behind in that same place. Geez.

Come on man. Grow up.
Some of these schools don’t have more than one or two native speakers per class. They don’t have the numbers to form groups. And I don’t care how great the teachers are, their focus is going to kids who have greater needs.
God help the administrator that groups all 10 kids per grade level with the same teacher.

Fun side note: Amazon is committed to adding a 100 affordable units a year for the next 10 years. I’m so grateful that Barcorft apartments can realize the vision of the Pike plan and finally get started adding 200-500 more units on four mike run drive. #blessed.

Side note on this. We had a PTA meeting on the future of immersion last night and a rep from APS was there. She mentioned that they are looking to possibly open at least 2 kinder immersion classes at another school that is currently not immersion. The APS rep didn't say it was a done deal or anything but it seemed like they are really looking at making a 3rd immersion school. They mentioned how ESL kids in immersion programs show the strongest achievement scores and the most advanced diplomas when compared to ESL kids in English only education. Anyway, something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Oh I've spoken up. Plenty. Then and now. The entire School Board knows about my experience. Each and every one of them. But I am not waging an ongoing campaign. Nothing to gain for my trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

But again, does your class all read together? Our school has kids reading is smaller groups. Some are doing leveled text work, and the outliers, on both ends, are doing their own thing. Hell, even when I was a kid back when dinosaurs roamed the earth we didn't all work together in all things. And I don't believe there is any policy in Arlington that supports not differentiating or meeting kids where they are. If you're in a school that isn't doing that, tell everyone. Be loud. Speak at every SB meeting you can. Name the school. Shame the school. Just moving away and leaving the problems unresolved is not going to make any change, and you're leaving a lot of kids behind in that same place. Geez.

Come on man. Grow up.
Some of these schools don’t have more than one or two native speakers per class. They don’t have the numbers to form groups. And I don’t care how great the teachers are, their focus is going to kids who have greater needs.
God help the administrator that groups all 10 kids per grade level with the same teacher.

Fun side note: Amazon is committed to adding a 100 affordable units a year for the next 10 years. I’m so grateful that Barcorft apartments can realize the vision of the Pike plan and finally get started adding 200-500 more units on four mike run drive. #blessed.

Side note on this. We had a PTA meeting on the future of immersion last night and a rep from APS was there. She mentioned that they are looking to possibly open at least 2 kinder immersion classes at another school that is currently not immersion. The APS rep didn't say it was a done deal or anything but it seemed like they are really looking at making a 3rd immersion school. They mentioned how ESL kids in immersion programs show the strongest achievement scores and the most advanced diplomas when compared to ESL kids in English only education. Anyway, something to think about.

Any hint as to what school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are families that give these schools a try for K maybe 1st and 2nd.
3rd is a crucial year. Everyone knows that.

Yes. The early grades are when the kids learn to read. By second or third, kids go from learning to read to reading to learn. This is when the gaps become apparent. Kids who can't read proficiently either slow down the class or can't keep up.

But again, does your class all read together? Our school has kids reading is smaller groups. Some are doing leveled text work, and the outliers, on both ends, are doing their own thing. Hell, even when I was a kid back when dinosaurs roamed the earth we didn't all work together in all things. And I don't believe there is any policy in Arlington that supports not differentiating or meeting kids where they are. If you're in a school that isn't doing that, tell everyone. Be loud. Speak at every SB meeting you can. Name the school. Shame the school. Just moving away and leaving the problems unresolved is not going to make any change, and you're leaving a lot of kids behind in that same place. Geez.

Come on man. Grow up.
Some of these schools don’t have more than one or two native speakers per class. They don’t have the numbers to form groups. And I don’t care how great the teachers are, their focus is going to kids who have greater needs.
God help the administrator that groups all 10 kids per grade level with the same teacher.

Fun side note: Amazon is committed to adding a 100 affordable units a year for the next 10 years. I’m so grateful that Barcorft apartments can realize the vision of the Pike plan and finally get started adding 200-500 more units on four mike run drive. #blessed.

Side note on this. We had a PTA meeting on the future of immersion last night and a rep from APS was there. She mentioned that they are looking to possibly open at least 2 kinder immersion classes at another school that is currently not immersion. The APS rep didn't say it was a done deal or anything but it seemed like they are really looking at making a 3rd immersion school. They mentioned how ESL kids in immersion programs show the strongest achievement scores and the most advanced diplomas when compared to ESL kids in English only education. Anyway, something to think about.

Any hint as to what school?

Where the K classes will be placed? No, but they mentioned pulling in more Spanish speakers. Both immersion schools are far behind on the 50/50 goal of Spanish/English speakers and they are aiming to improve that. The problem is now that the only way to tell this is if people self select as English or Spanish speakers on the application. The problem is that they have English speakers claiming to be Spanish speakers to get in easier AND they have Spanish speakers who claim English so they aren't forced into ESL services they don't necessarily need (like my husband was forced into ESL because of his ethnicity despite speaking fluent English). I asked if they identified struggling ESL students and recommend immersion for them or advised parents registering for neighborhood schools of immersion programs if they are Spanish speakers and they did not. BUT that is off topic.

Anyway, there seemed to be a large push in the audience for it to be at Barcroft. It seemed like the idea would be to eventually convert the school to Immersion working up from K. Although IMO If we have a large group of Spanish speakers at barcroft already they could start immersion classes in other grades. BUT this is my opinion only and was NOT suggested by APS at all. APS was very clear that they don't have a set plan. They did mention the goal is to reduce incoming K classes at Key and Claremont to 4 classes each, but recognized that this will leave a ton of people on waiting lists. I have my doubts they will really reduce the K classes to 4 at those schools, but we shall see. I guess back when Immersion first started they had immersion classes at Abingdon and Oakride before there were enough students to separate schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

Do- the point is, it won’t make a difference and you will be called a racist for your troubles.

It will make a difference if enough people who've experience this firsthand speak up. If you can't do better than complaining anonymously on here then you are being pretty cowardly.

It won't. my guess is you are a sa parent with a preschool aged kid and think that if other parents before you had raised a fuss years ago things would be different for you, now. It's wishful thinking. These schools are so unbalanced. There's just no way to give SA middle class kids with a lot of academic ability a comparable classroom experience to NA. Everyone who has direct experience knows this. It's just a total mismatch. The reality is that when you've got 4 kids who have been going to preschool since age 2 or 3 in the same classroom with 16 ESL kids whose parents might have graduated high school in a country that they don't even want to live in and left, the majority gets the attention and instruction and the school is geared to their needs and wants.

Saying that UMC should stick their neck out to make these schools "better" against insurmountable odds, is like telling recent immigrants to do the same with schools in their home country. Everyone wants opportunities for their kids, and will move to where those opportunities are if they can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

Do- the point is, it won’t make a difference and you will be called a racist for your troubles.

It will make a difference if enough people who've experience this firsthand speak up. If you can't do better than complaining anonymously on here then you are being pretty cowardly.

It won't. my guess is you are a sa parent with a preschool aged kid and think that if other parents before you had raised a fuss years ago things would be different for you, now. It's wishful thinking. These schools are so unbalanced. There's just no way to give SA middle class kids with a lot of academic ability a comparable classroom experience to NA. Everyone who has direct experience knows this. It's just a total mismatch. The reality is that when you've got 4 kids who have been going to preschool since age 2 or 3 in the same classroom with 16 ESL kids whose parents might have graduated high school in a country that they don't even want to live in and left, the majority gets the attention and instruction and the school is geared to their needs and wants.

Saying that UMC should stick their neck out to make these schools "better" against insurmountable odds, is like telling recent immigrants to do the same with schools in their home country. Everyone wants opportunities for their kids, and will move to where those opportunities are if they can.

Mandatory preschool at age 3. Except we don't even have mandatory K, so I doubt this will ever happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. There was not enough time to improve the school before my kids were going to be done with it. And my neighbors didn't agree with my judgment that it needed to be improved. They thought it was fine. So, please forgive me for not wanting to spend all my time fighting to improve the school when I could afford to move and spend that time with my kids instead. You are correct that I gave up and moved. I know that lots of kids who don't have anyone to speak for them are at a disadvantage as a result. I know as well as anyone because they were in class with my kids for 3 years. But I never agreed to take that on when I moved to S. Arlington. And no one else was taking up that flag with me. So I left. Don't blame me. Blame the affordable housing lobby, blame Arlington politics, blame hapless but well intentioned VOICE advocates.

I didn't say you had to stay. But don't come on here and complain anonymously and never name the exact school and never speak out in any place or in any way that will make a real difference.

Do- the point is, it won’t make a difference and you will be called a racist for your troubles.

It will make a difference if enough people who've experience this firsthand speak up. If you can't do better than complaining anonymously on here then you are being pretty cowardly.

It won't. my guess is you are a sa parent with a preschool aged kid and think that if other parents before you had raised a fuss years ago things would be different for you, now. It's wishful thinking. These schools are so unbalanced. There's just no way to give SA middle class kids with a lot of academic ability a comparable classroom experience to NA. Everyone who has direct experience knows this. It's just a total mismatch. The reality is that when you've got 4 kids who have been going to preschool since age 2 or 3 in the same classroom with 16 ESL kids whose parents might have graduated high school in a country that they don't even want to live in and left, the majority gets the attention and instruction and the school is geared to their needs and wants.

Saying that UMC should stick their neck out to make these schools "better" against insurmountable odds, is like telling recent immigrants to do the same with schools in their home country. Everyone wants opportunities for their kids, and will move to where those opportunities are if they can.

This.
Tell your friends to make sure you can move in 10 years. Don’t move to SA pregnant. It’s just not a good investment.