Anonymous wrote:What does extended day have to do with this? The school is severely underenrolled. If there’s an extended day wait list take it up with extended day. Doesn’t have anything to do with swing space!
It’s at 85% capacity. Is that really “severely under enrolled”? I googled other districts out of curiosity and the report I found from NYC had schools at 50% capacity. THAT seems like a problem.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
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.
It’s part of their plan to manage capacity. I’m only half kidding.
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.
Well, it’s not the fault of APS that people who can afford $2.5-3 million homes can often afford private schools, and people who prefer private schools aren’t going to be lured to APS by anything magical they could do. Perhaps more utilized elementary and saved $$ for MS-HS before Covid, but I don’t think they’re coming back. The difference is the cost of housing, and housing type being built, and who is buying the houses, which isn’t something APS can control. As the new housing replaces the old, the balance is shifting from public to private. Doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions, or that everyone is going private or can afford to, but certain areas with more of this high end housing are the ones losing students to private.
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.
Nobody has said that. But you don’t have any CAFS or other high-density housing. You’re not going to get any more crowded than anyone else. It’s fine.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
Alright you anonymous posters, this seems like an invitation to revisit all the dumb moves. I’ll start:
- Cardinal. Building/opening a whole new elementary in … NORTH Arlington.
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.
If you want your kids walking together with neighborhood friends, hanging out after school and know all the families, it might be time to move outside of Arlington. That's not how this area is set up anymore.
Obviously this is not true for most of Arlington.
Not all but most.
No, not true for most. Most areas do have a neighborhood school/community feel.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
Alright you anonymous posters, this seems like an invitation to revisit all the dumb moves. I’ll start:
- Cardinal. Building/opening a whole new elementary in … NORTH Arlington.
DP. I guess you weren't here back then. We needed more seats and we had few options/limited money. It was the least bad option.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
Alright you anonymous posters, this seems like an invitation to revisit all the dumb moves. I’ll start:
- Cardinal. Building/opening a whole new elementary in … NORTH Arlington.
I mean considering this whole discussion is about closing Nottingham- yeah that seems like a near-criminal mis-allocation of resources. Come ON.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
Alright you anonymous posters, this seems like an invitation to revisit all the dumb moves. I’ll start:
- Cardinal. Building/opening a whole new elementary in … NORTH Arlington.
DP. I guess you weren't here back then. We needed more seats and we had few options/limited money. It was the least bad option.
.
Honey I’ve got 50+ years in this community. Their “planning” was TERRIBLE. Who builds a brand new school that opens in what 2021(?) only to propose closing a nearby one just a couple of years later? Bad planning. Like laugh out loud bad.
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.
I'm in 22207 and know a ton of people in new builds with kids in public schools
+2, 22213
Change is hard. It’s going to be ok. I promise.
Problem for me is the frequency of these change (aka battles) and the fact that they are always wrong in hindsight. Think you could get more of the community behind them if they were a rarer occurrence and people felt that the end result was good for the community as a whole.
They aren’t always wrong in hindsight, there are just various people who can never let anything go. School moves was mostly right. It would have been even better to send Key straight to Reed, but the current outcome is fine.
Alright you anonymous posters, this seems like an invitation to revisit all the dumb moves. I’ll start:
- Cardinal. Building/opening a whole new elementary in … NORTH Arlington.
DP. I guess you weren't here back then. We needed more seats and we had few options/limited money. It was the least bad option.
.
Honey I’ve got 50+ years in this community. Their “planning” was TERRIBLE. Who builds a brand new school that opens in what 2021(?) only to propose closing a nearby one just a couple of years later? Bad planning. Like laugh out loud bad.
Exactly. This staff generated chaos is becoming an annual occurrence.
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