South Arlington elementary school boundary adjustments 2019

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

I agree with you, and that’s the frustrating part. A) When was I supposed to come into this? And B) I bought in the Henry zone expecting that my kids would you know, actually be able to go there, but dare I express that because I’ll be deemed a horrible person who isn’t owed anything. At this point, I don’t care where my neighborhood ends up; I’d just like this to be planned with some forethought and the rationale explained. Right now, there aren’t answers, just excuses.

What is he obsession with AH, really? Is it the money? The psychic reward ("I'm a good person even if I'm a borderline 1 percenter")? Cheap labor close by? A sense that poor immigrants are somehow more deserving than native poor? I can describe how the singleminded focus on AH dominates our politics but I can't figure out why or how it started. Good background read:http://www.governing.com/columns/assessments/gov-affordable-housing.html?AMP

[Anonymous]

The Columbia Pike neighborhoods plan preserves lower income rental apartments, making it almost impossible to get rid of them. It is a zoning ordinance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Columbia Pike neighborhoods plan preserves lower income rental apartments, making it almost impossible to get rid of them. It is a zoning ordinance.

Can zoning ordinances be changed? I think the answer is yes.
Maybe things will be different in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years.
No guarantees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

I agree with you, and that’s the frustrating part. A) When was I supposed to come into this? And B) I bought in the Henry zone expecting that my kids would you know, actually be able to go there, but dare I express that because I’ll be deemed a horrible person who isn’t owed anything. At this point, I don’t care where my neighborhood ends up; I’d just like this to be planned with some forethought and the rationale explained. Right now, there aren’t answers, just excuses.

What is he obsession with AH, really? Is it the money? The psychic reward ("I'm a good person even if I'm a borderline 1 percenter")? Cheap labor close by? A sense that poor immigrants are somehow more deserving than native poor? I can describe how the singleminded focus on AH dominates our politics but I can't figure out why or how it started. Good background read:http://www.governing.com/columns/assessments/gov-affordable-housing.html?AMP

It’s money.

[Anonymous]

How is it money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Columbia Pike neighborhoods plan preserves lower income rental apartments, making it almost impossible to get rid of them. It is a zoning ordinance.

Can zoning ordinances be changed? I think the answer is yes.
Maybe things will be different in 5 years, 10 years, 15 years.
No guarantees.

It might change in 50 years. You need an entire generation or two to die off.

[Anonymous]

It isn't going to change, if anything the County Board is trying to require affordable housing now for mixed use along the Pike. The FBC only required a set aside for residential, but they will vote to expand it. The zoning will never change because the owners of the cheap apartments would eventually sell out to the highest bidder and raze the slums. I know many people that live in those places and they are drug and vermin infested places. Horrible place to live and they all hate it.

[Anonymous]

Is there tracking in the schools south of 50? Or is that forbidden because it makes a school within a school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there tracking in the schools south of 50? Or is that forbidden because it makes a school within a school?

No tracking in APS. There's supposed to be differentiation within the classroom. Some schools are doing well with this. Others, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

No, what was advocated for upthread is simply moving poor kids from one school into another. Limited choice would be countywide and would involve clusters of at least 4 schools, and each school would have a program that would be appealing to many families, and everyone would be entered into a lottery (not just parents at two schools in the county). PP suggested using programs that already exist and have proven popular in Arlington, such as Traditional, Immersion, Montessori, EL.

The thing is: if you thought you were staying at Henry, would you still be advocating for this? Or would you be mad that parents who didn't buy into Henry are taking away your "good" neighborhood school? If you're waiting for the Henry parents, or even Oakridge parents, who are in effective walk zones to agree to a limited choice model in south Arlington, you're going to be waiting for a long time. And if you're waiting for north Arlington to get on board, well, they gave their two cents last year when the K-12 vision had a similar proposal of limited choice mixed in with neighborhood schools with the county divided E/W. You would not even believe the things that were said if I told you. Maybe in another generation. Or maybe not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there tracking in the schools south of 50? Or is that forbidden because it makes a school within a school?

No tracking in APS. There's supposed to be differentiation within the classroom. Some schools are doing well with this. Others, not so much.

My child is in one of the much maligned-title one schools. We have been very happy with the differentiation in the classroom, the increased support and individual attention from having more staff in the classroom and very happy with teachers and our child's experience. Some of the title one schools also have a "young scholars" program which brings a second enrichment/gifted teacher into the school. This person works with anyone who is identified but also specifically looks at kids from backgrounds where potential can be missed. I believe this is part of a test. The children are often working in small groups and there are often multiple adults in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

No, what was advocated for upthread is simply moving poor kids from one school into another. Limited choice would be countywide and would involve clusters of at least 4 schools, and each school would have a program that would be appealing to many families, and everyone would be entered into a lottery (not just parents at two schools in the county). PP suggested using programs that already exist and have proven popular in Arlington, such as Traditional, Immersion, Montessori, EL.

The thing is: if you thought you were staying at Henry, would you still be advocating for this? Or would you be mad that parents who didn't buy into Henry are taking away your "good" neighborhood school? If you're waiting for the Henry parents, or even Oakridge parents, who are in effective walk zones to agree to a limited choice model in south Arlington, you're going to be waiting for a long time. And if you're waiting for north Arlington to get on board, well, they gave their two cents last year when the K-12 vision had a similar proposal of limited choice mixed in with neighborhood schools with the county divided E/W. You would not even believe the things that were said if I told you. Maybe in another generation. Or maybe not.

Agree. There is no getting around the fact that 47 percent of south Arlington elementary students receive free or reduced lunch, and that's including option schools. There's zero incentive for parents at a school under 47 to push for more diversity - Claremont, Henry and Oakridge are the only ones and in fact probably going to come out of the redistricting with even lower free/reduced meal percentages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

No, what was advocated for upthread is simply moving poor kids from one school into another. Limited choice would be countywide and would involve clusters of at least 4 schools, and each school would have a program that would be appealing to many families, and everyone would be entered into a lottery (not just parents at two schools in the county). PP suggested using programs that already exist and have proven popular in Arlington, such as Traditional, Immersion, Montessori, EL.

The thing is: if you thought you were staying at Henry, would you still be advocating for this? Or would you be mad that parents who didn't buy into Henry are taking away your "good" neighborhood school? If you're waiting for the Henry parents, or even Oakridge parents, who are in effective walk zones to agree to a limited choice model in south Arlington, you're going to be waiting for a long time. And if you're waiting for north Arlington to get on board, well, they gave their two cents last year when the K-12 vision had a similar proposal of limited choice mixed in with neighborhood schools with the county divided E/W. You would not even believe the things that were said if I told you. Maybe in another generation. Or maybe not.

NO what was advocated upthread was having a school that appeals to middle class families and one that appeals to a high needs population, as there is not enough umc families split between the two schools to make a meaningful difference in demographics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.

The thing is: if you thought you were staying at Henry, would you still be advocating for this? Or would you be mad that parents who didn't buy into Henry are taking away your "good" neighborhood school? If you're waiting for the Henry parents, or even Oakridge parents, who are in effective walk zones to agree to a limited choice model in south Arlington, you're going to be waiting for a long time. And if you're waiting for north Arlington to get on board, well, they gave their two cents last year when the K-12 vision had a similar proposal of limited choice mixed in with neighborhood schools with the county divided E/W. You would not even believe the things that were said if I told you. Maybe in another generation. Or maybe not.

Agree. There is no getting around the fact that 47 percent of south Arlington elementary students receive free or reduced lunch, and that's including option schools. There's zero incentive for parents at a school under 47 to push for more diversity - Claremont, Henry and Oakridge are the only ones and in fact probably going to come out of the redistricting with even lower free/reduced meal percentages.

I can see how FARMs numbers might go down at Claremont & Henry, with them becoming county-wide choice schools with no n'hood or boundary preference. But wouldn't some of the Oakridge students end up at Drew, and vice versa?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what has been advocated upthread essentially. Someone wa saying make Randolph/Barcroft a limited choice situation. One school is IB or some other program. The other school has a really intense high needs program similar to Carlin Springs. Parents in those boundaries can choose which school is right for their child.
Of course it’s been said over and over it’s a non starter, because north Arlington doesn’t like the team model anymore, and north Arlington only wants walkable schools.,
I mean that’s all true.
Why should we be discussing a separate situation south of 50? Sure our problems and needs are completely different, but essentially irrelevant. We couldn’t possibly have a different policy that was more beneficial for the elementary schools in south Arlington. That just couldn’t possibly happen. Everyone knows that the ship has sailed and if you are just now coming to this process because you have toddlers, well, f#ck you and your kids. You knew your schools sucked when you bought down in south Arlington.

No, what was advocated for upthread is simply moving poor kids from one school into another. Limited choice would be countywide and would involve clusters of at least 4 schools, and each school would have a program that would be appealing to many families, and everyone would be entered into a lottery (not just parents at two schools in the county). PP suggested using programs that already exist and have proven popular in Arlington, such as Traditional, Immersion, Montessori, EL.

The thing is: if you thought you were staying at Henry, would you still be advocating for this? Or would you be mad that parents who didn't buy into Henry are taking away your "good" neighborhood school? If you're waiting for the Henry parents, or even Oakridge parents, who are in effective walk zones to agree to a limited choice model in south Arlington, you're going to be waiting for a long time. And if you're waiting for north Arlington to get on board, well, they gave their two cents last year when the K-12 vision had a similar proposal of limited choice mixed in with neighborhood schools with the county divided E/W. You would not even believe the things that were said if I told you. Maybe in another generation. Or maybe not.

NO what was advocated upthread was having a school that appeals to middle class families and one that appeals to a high needs population, as there is not enough umc families split between the two schools to make a meaningful difference in demographics.

What was advocated up thread is a policy that explicitly encourages rather than discourages segregation and increases busing. Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds? It should not and will never happen.

Barcroft has a lot of MC kids in its walk zone. They have a new principal who I hear good things about. If they did away with the year-round calendar, there's a chance it would garner more interest from MC families in the neighborhood.