APS Closing Nottingham

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If anyone cares, at Campbell (which is an option school), parents are not allowed to pick children up via car after school. So there are buses in the morning and afternoon, a car drop off line in the morning, and then cars picking kids up from extended day, plus the kids who walk.

They did that to control the flow of cars into/out of the neighborhood in the afternoon.

The carpool drop off line still snarls traffic in the morning, so there is still room for improvement there.

Interesting. The fact that it’s a choice school probably gives them more flexibility to limit transportation options. If Nottingham becomes a swing school, it might be too much to ban the temporary occupants from the option of picking their kids up in the afternoon. If it were my kid, I could handle being displaced for renovations, but telling me I can’t pick my kid up from the new location would feel unreasonable. I might also raise the objection that Nottingham parents were allowed to pick up their kids, why can’t we?

No, I think any school could do this. It’s not a right to pick up your kid in your car from school, not if it’s making the neighbors angry or endangering others. The school doesn’t have to make a pick up line or organize getting the kids out the door except to the buses or to walk home. It’s not impossible. If anything, an option school is less able to “force” these type of changes. People can and do leave for reasons like this. But neighborhood schools probably wouldn’t risk losing students if they banned car pick ups.

This seems like a very reasonable solution to the safety concerns at Nottingham. Would basically solve the car traffic issue.

Not really, it would just cause more people to be jockeying for street parking in the neighborhood.

The Notties are an endless source of entertainment. No practical suggestions can possibly alleviate their woes. The only answer is to keep things exactly as they are so they can enjoy all the benefits of their underenrolled walkable high status neighborhood. Screw everyone else. They never disappoint!

Sorry you can’t afford it.

You don't know whether PP can afford it or not. Contrary to what 22207 bubble people believe, not everyone who can afford it chooses to live there. There is a lot of money in other parts of Arlington, too; and you'll even find people with money in neighborhoods you wouldn't expect.

And the most expensive real estate per square foot isn’t even in 22207.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If anyone cares, at Campbell (which is an option school), parents are not allowed to pick children up via car after school. So there are buses in the morning and afternoon, a car drop off line in the morning, and then cars picking kids up from extended day, plus the kids who walk.

They did that to control the flow of cars into/out of the neighborhood in the afternoon.

The carpool drop off line still snarls traffic in the morning, so there is still room for improvement there.

Interesting. The fact that it’s a choice school probably gives them more flexibility to limit transportation options. If Nottingham becomes a swing school, it might be too much to ban the temporary occupants from the option of picking their kids up in the afternoon. If it were my kid, I could handle being displaced for renovations, but telling me I can’t pick my kid up from the new location would feel unreasonable. I might also raise the objection that Nottingham parents were allowed to pick up their kids, why can’t we?

No, I think any school could do this. It’s not a right to pick up your kid in your car from school, not if it’s making the neighbors angry or endangering others. The school doesn’t have to make a pick up line or organize getting the kids out the door except to the buses or to walk home. It’s not impossible. If anything, an option school is less able to “force” these type of changes. People can and do leave for reasons like this. But neighborhood schools probably wouldn’t risk losing students if they banned car pick ups.

This seems like a very reasonable solution to the safety concerns at Nottingham. Would basically solve the car traffic issue.

How would it solve anything? Parents will drive to the neighborhood, park, and then go get their kids.

Also, you still have all the traffic with AM dropoff.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If anyone cares, at Campbell (which is an option school), parents are not allowed to pick children up via car after school. So there are buses in the morning and afternoon, a car drop off line in the morning, and then cars picking kids up from extended day, plus the kids who walk.

They did that to control the flow of cars into/out of the neighborhood in the afternoon.

The carpool drop off line still snarls traffic in the morning, so there is still room for improvement there.

Interesting. The fact that it’s a choice school probably gives them more flexibility to limit transportation options. If Nottingham becomes a swing school, it might be too much to ban the temporary occupants from the option of picking their kids up in the afternoon. If it were my kid, I could handle being displaced for renovations, but telling me I can’t pick my kid up from the new location would feel unreasonable. I might also raise the objection that Nottingham parents were allowed to pick up their kids, why can’t we?

No, I think any school could do this. It’s not a right to pick up your kid in your car from school, not if it’s making the neighbors angry or endangering others. The school doesn’t have to make a pick up line or organize getting the kids out the door except to the buses or to walk home. It’s not impossible. If anything, an option school is less able to “force” these type of changes. People can and do leave for reasons like this. But neighborhood schools probably wouldn’t risk losing students if they banned car pick ups.

This seems like a very reasonable solution to the safety concerns at Nottingham. Would basically solve the car traffic issue.

Not really, it would just cause more people to be jockeying for street parking in the neighborhood.

The Notties are an endless source of entertainment. No practical suggestions can possibly alleviate their woes. The only answer is to keep things exactly as they are so they can enjoy all the benefits of their underenrolled walkable high status neighborhood. Screw everyone else. They never disappoint!

Sorry you can’t afford it.

You don't know whether PP can afford it or not. Contrary to what 22207 bubble people believe, not everyone who can afford it chooses to live there. There is a lot of money in other parts of Arlington, too; and you'll even find people with money in neighborhoods you wouldn't expect.

Actually, I can and do afford N Arl. But can’t stomach the specific breed of nastiness, cluelessness, and snobbery that the Nottingham neighborhood seems to exude. But the Notties do entertain!

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

Not a new home. A small
Old one. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not crying poor. We can afford our life just fine. But not private school. It’s absurd to say that everyone in a SFH in N Arl can afford that.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

Not PP but not every house in Nottingham area is a new build. You all make the neighborhood seem like it is a new build utopia with the income of Potomac. This isn’t Real Housewives of Northern Virginia.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

I mean, you don’t have to believe it, but this is what people have told me. Many people at this point. I know, anecdote is not data, but maybe there’s something reflecting in the preschool waitlists that isn’t showing in APS’s numbers?

Also - not everyone is moving into a brand new house. We still have lots of 1940s stock here. And not everyone who is moving into a brand new house at today’s rates has an extra post-tax $100k to send a couple of kids to private school. There are cheaper places to live if all you’re looking for is a good commute and a leafy neighborhood.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

Not a new home. A small
Old one. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not crying poor. We can afford our life just fine. But not private school. It’s absurd to say that everyone in a SFH in N Arl can afford that.

I agree with you. I didn’t say that. My post specifically said “new SFH homes.” Those prices are now so high in many N Arlington neighborhoods that the families are going private. In our neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods, we have been seeing older homes replaced with expensive new construction, and younger families moving in. They aren’t using APS. I’m not worried about school crowding from this set of buyers.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

Not PP but not every house in Nottingham area is a new build. You all make the neighborhood seem like it is a new build utopia with the income of Potomac. This isn’t Real Housewives of Northern Virginia.

Nottingham is the bottom rung of 22207.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

That’s crazy. I live in N Arlington. All our money is in our house or college savings. We can’t afford private school tuition on top of that. Buying here lets me send my kids to public school and then sell my house and get the equity when kids are done. Private school is just flushing money down the toilet. I can’t afford to do that.

You extended yourself that much on a new house in N Arlington? Or you have an older home?

Not a new home. A small
Old one. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not crying poor. We can afford our life just fine. But not private school. It’s absurd to say that everyone in a SFH in N Arl can afford that.

I agree with you. I didn’t say that. My post specifically said “new SFH homes.” Those prices are now so high in many N Arlington neighborhoods that the families are going private. In our neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods, we have been seeing older homes replaced with expensive new construction, and younger families moving in. They aren’t using APS. I’m not worried about school crowding from this set of buyers.

Fair point. I missed the “new.” A lot of the new builds do seem to go private.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

I mean, you don’t have to believe it, but this is what people have told me. Many people at this point. I know, anecdote is not data, but maybe there’s something reflecting in the preschool waitlists that isn’t showing in APS’s numbers?

Also - not everyone is moving into a brand new house. We still have lots of 1940s stock here. And not everyone who is moving into a brand new house at today’s rates has an extra post-tax $100k to send a couple of kids to private school. There are cheaper places to live if all you’re looking for is a good commute and a leafy neighborhood.

But the replacement houses are going private at significant rates and the birth rate is going down. And you aren’t getting as much as a single CAF building in 22207. Your schools aren’t going to get overcrowded.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

I mean, you don’t have to believe it, but this is what people have told me. Many people at this point. I know, anecdote is not data, but maybe there’s something reflecting in the preschool waitlists that isn’t showing in APS’s numbers?

Also - not everyone is moving into a brand new house. We still have lots of 1940s stock here. And not everyone who is moving into a brand new house at today’s rates has an extra post-tax $100k to send a couple of kids to private school. There are cheaper places to live if all you’re looking for is a good commute and a leafy neighborhood.

But the replacement houses are going private at significant rates and the birth rate is going down. And you aren’t getting as much as a single CAF building in 22207. Your schools aren’t going to get overcrowded.

I know a ton of people that have moved within the last 2 years to new builds. None are going private, all public, which is partly the reason they moved here to begin with.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:County projecting in 5 years we will have a surplus of over 1,000 elementary seats. That sounds...optimistic.

Based on what I wonder. There has been a lot of turnover and lots of new kids in the neighborhood. Pandemic dip was a blip driven by desperate parents who could afford alternatives. We’re coming back.

There’s absolutely no facts/data to support this one way or the other. It’s 1,000 kids going to private school and APS doesn’t know or care to know if they are ever coming back. And if they leave for good, what does that mean for other families in the neighborhood when it’s normal to send your kids to private schools?

I have zero confidence in APS planning/projections. I understand that as a member of the public school community we need to every once in a while deal with these adjustments. APS has convinced me that they are totally incompetent at predicting seats so why should we all run around like crazy people on an annual basis trying to fill seats that APS couldn’t accurately predict?

They need better, outside data before I believe that these moves actually need to be made. They have wasted our money long enough on poor planning and annual neighborhood fights over boundaries.

South Arl poster, our neighborhood has kids divided everywhere, especially private. The effect on the neighborhood has been ...just fine. We just had a real July 4th parade you probably have heard of and a neighborhood picnic at the community house. Having your young kids dispersed doesn't not kill your neighborhood, that is blatantly untrue and known by many county residents apparently outside of your neighborhood.
As for no confidence in APS planning, sure, you do your opinion. My opinion is APS is never allowed to make good strategic decisions because of having to give too much deference to neighborhood feedback. I just don't understand how a 26-square mile system allows itself to be handcuffed by a group of maybe a dozen streets at every decision.

I second that!! - different southern neighborhood. We don't have our own parade or community house but still have a vibrant neighborhood community with kids attending minimally 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools that I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

Kudos to you. Nobody else wants this. You are the vast minority. We want our kids to walk to schools with their neighborhood friends. Hang out after school. Know the parents and families. Know what is happening in the classroom from the crazy moms who are there every other day. We want a little Mayberry. We take comfort in knowing that our neighbors around the corner are just as smart and just fancy elitists as we are and yet also choose to send their kid to this great public school. Seriously. I am not joking. That is why people move to North Arlington. You can delude yourself that others want what you have in terms of “community” but they don’t. What you have is what will happen to us in N Arlington when everyone sends their kids to private schools.

A lot of people would love to send their kids to a great, walkable school. But Arlington is part of a large and diverse school district. There are many different kinds of kids and families. Nobody owns any particular school. I say this gently, but if you want that kind of certainty, you need to pay for private school. And you don’t get a medal for sending your kids to a wealthy, white, walkable elementary school. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’re contributing to some kind of public good through this action. If the Nott community really wants that school to stay open, then they should support denser housing in that part of the county.

Nottingham family. I do support denser housing and proudly supported missing middle. I don’t support public housing projects and never have - not in my neighborhood and not anywhere - because we have known for 40+ years that concentrating poverty in this way is a bad idea. But the so-called “affordable housing” mafia seems to run this place and they get what they want.

I do find it a bit rich, though, when incredibly privileged people pat themselves on the back for buying a $1m+ house in a “diverse” neighborhood, promptly send their kids to option schools, and then berate others for looking after their interests.

Eyeroll. You didn’t even need to tell us you were from Nottingham. Obvious from your nasty tone.

Something sensitive there? Do you have a problem with me pointing out the rampant privilege that runs through this county and how aggressive people are about looking after their own interests everywhere? The average sales and rentals prices don’t lie. People in this town are RICH - and increasingly so with each passing year.

I’m not aware of any MC or above community that has willingly sacrificed itself for the greater good on anything. The communities just have varying levels of effectiveness in getting what they want. That’s the truth.

You want to talk about privilege? It’s laughable that you think the Nott kids getting assigned to another wealthy N Arlington ES is “sacrificing yourself.” You need to get out more.

+1

+1000. Moving your kid to Jamestown, Taylor or Tuckahoe isn’t exactly a hardship. Cut me a break.

Yes, let’s take 2 slightly under capacity schools and a third under capacity school and create 2 over capacity schools complete with long waiting lists for extended day and classrooms in trailers. What a great idea!

FWIW, Nottingham currently has an extensive waiting list for extended day.

There are fewer than 400 kids at Nottingham. Just saying.

And how many will be at Tuckahoe, Taylor and Disocvery in 2026?

Why does it matter? All of these schools are under enrolled and have capacity for higher enrollment. They might become modestly over capacity. Not one of these schools is projected to become significantly overcrowded under this plan.

APS’s projections have been proven to be worse than worthless time and time again. I’m sure their numbers were computed correctly. Or at least I have no reason to doubt it. It’s just their methodology is so limited as to be useless.

People like to make fun of the moms who chose to move to North Arlington specifically for the schools. Problem is, in high enough numbers, this behavior will blow whatever projections APS has based on birth rates and historical patterns clear out of the water. They missed it before and I truly believe they are setting themselves out to miss it again.

I disagree bc the prices are high enough that a lot of people are choosing the neighborhood that they like best, and then paying for private. If you can afford a new SFH in Arlington, you don’t need the public schools.

I mean, you don’t have to believe it, but this is what people have told me. Many people at this point. I know, anecdote is not data, but maybe there’s something reflecting in the preschool waitlists that isn’t showing in APS’s numbers?

Also - not everyone is moving into a brand new house. We still have lots of 1940s stock here. And not everyone who is moving into a brand new house at today’s rates has an extra post-tax $100k to send a couple of kids to private school. There are cheaper places to live if all you’re looking for is a good commute and a leafy neighborhood.

But the replacement houses are going private at significant rates and the birth rate is going down. And you aren’t getting as much as a single CAF building in 22207. Your schools aren’t going to get overcrowded.

I know a ton of people that have moved within the last 2 years to new builds. None are going private, all public, which is partly the reason they moved here to begin with.

The shift to private is like nothing I have seen before in Arlington. I think it’s a problem for APS that the nuts running the insane asylum are happy to dismiss as fringe and “we don’t want those people anyway.” But, long term, you really really do want those people.