Best Arlington Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.

Wut? Based on what data? It’s always been fine, remains fine, no big changes in either direction. Similar stats to Kenmore, similar demographics of N and S Arlington, split feeder for HS, and same GS rating. Both are less white and less wealthy than Hamm and Williamsburg and Swanson. There aren’t any “to avoid,” not Gunston or the others. What’s the concern?

[Anonymous]

The middle schools are all virtually the same unless you are looking for immersion. Nothing that will make a difference going into high school for the vast majority of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.

Wut? Based on what data? It’s always been fine, remains fine, no big changes in either direction. Similar stats to Kenmore, similar demographics of N and S Arlington, split feeder for HS, and same GS rating. Both are less white and less wealthy than Hamm and Williamsburg and Swanson. There aren’t any “to avoid,” not Gunston or the others. What’s the concern?

Jefferson's prison-like building and some discipline issues, particularly in the cafeteria have been a concern. But I'm not hearing the kind of complaints I did 3, 4, 5 years ago. The school seems to have turned a corner with the steady gentrification of the middle swathe or Arlington. Jefferson is now almost on par with Swanson on the socioeconomic front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The middle schools are all virtually the same unless you are looking for immersion. Nothing that will make a difference going into high school for the vast majority of kids.

Also not a difference most might care about but TJ does offer a greater variety of world language options and requires it for all three years. Also requires a community service project.

I don't know what PP is referring to with the discipline issues. My kids were at TJ 3-5 years ago and they never expressed any concern about that. They do agree, however, that the building looks like a prison.

[Anonymous]

Literally zero reason to sell your house and move over an Arlington middle school

[Anonymous]

Has there ever been a thread that asks about the “best” whatever that doesn’t lead to a pointless pissing contest? I wish every such thread were automatically deleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a LOT of williamsburg hate. We are zoned to WMS and DC1 will start next year. We are white and (relatively) wealthy, but certainly not popular. I’ve heard all of the same “drinking, drugs, bullying” rumors, but it is always hearsay – never firsthand. I am absolutely not a williamsburg defender, but is it possible that it is just an easy target?

I'm not a Williamsburg parent. But the poster is correct in that there is a lot of WMS bashing in Arlington. But the question is "why is that?" Individually, all the parents I know are very nice. But collectively, relative to the parent communities of other middle schools, the school gives the impression of being rather "entitled" and "self-focused" while invoking a facade of selfless concern via a charitable nod to the plight of others. The source of the elitist and entitled attitude may also stem from its excessive wealth and PTA resources that far exceeded the rest, along with its isolated location in the far north corner of the County.

Still, WMS does nothing to warrant a different impression other than all the parents saying things like "I hear about those things, but that's not been our experience."

Hamm is new; so it's too soon to know if it stands out in any way.

WMS parent. Kid has not had problems with bullying, drugs or drinking personally. Found some nice kids to be friends with. Some really good teachers, a few horrible ones. Counselor not so hot. Good academics but an overly heavy workload. The admin is awful, harsh and unfriendly.

[Anonymous]

Regarding language offerings differing at APS MS. This is true however please look into the HS language offerings before your kid commits. APS seems to be phasing out languages such as Latin and German at the higher levels (4 and AP) and even ASL (hard to staff). So just be aware before your child invests 2 years of HS language study in MS that there may not be upper level courses to go to in HS. Many colleges require at least 3 if not 4 years of a HS level language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The middle schools are all virtually the same unless you are looking for immersion. Nothing that will make a difference going into high school for the vast majority of kids.

Based on what metric?

Comparing advanced math scores shows a pretty large difference (2018-2019 school year).
Williamsburg: 41%
Swanson: 42%
Gunston: 38%
Jefferson: 22%
Kenmore: 35%

With the exception of Jefferson all other middle schools seem to perform relatively similar in math.
It could have been an odd year for Jefferson for some reason.
Source: https://schoolquality.virginia.gov

[Anonymous]

For comparison, Longfellow middle in McLean scored 48% in advanced math (2018-2019 white).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The middle schools are all virtually the same unless you are looking for immersion. Nothing that will make a difference going into high school for the vast majority of kids.

Based on what metric?

Comparing advanced math scores shows a pretty large difference (2018-2019 school year).
Williamsburg: 41%
Swanson: 42%
Gunston: 38%
Jefferson: 22%
Kenmore: 35%

With the exception of Jefferson all other middle schools seem to perform relatively similar in math.
It could have been an odd year for Jefferson for some reason.
Source: https://schoolquality.virginia.gov

Where were the “advanced math” scores?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Where were the “advanced math” scores?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/jefferson-middle

Assessments -> Math -> Show data (that should give you a detailed table)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Where were the “advanced math” scores?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/jefferson-middle

Assessments -> Math -> Show data (that should give you a detailed table)

Sure. But where is the “advanced math”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Where were the “advanced math” scores?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/jefferson-middle

Assessments -> Math -> Show data (that should give you a detailed table)

Sure. But where is the “advanced math”?

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/scoring/performance_level_descriptors/math/2016/8m-pld.docx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Where were the “advanced math” scores?

https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/jefferson-middle

Assessments -> Math -> Show data (that should give you a detailed table)

Sure. But where is the “advanced math”?

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/scoring/performance_level_descriptors/math/2016/8m-pld.docx

Oh. Are you saying “Pass - Advanced”?