APS: Four options for Ed Center seats: STEAM, Performing Arts, Early College or IB expansion

[Anonymous]

These options were revealed last night by Dr. Nattress at the meeting at the Ed Center.

STEAM high school
Performing Arts high school
Early College
Expansion of IB program

Survey is here: https://survey.k12insight.com/survey.aspx?k=RQsSRTVsXUSsPsPsP&lang=0&data=

[Anonymous]

So why isn't this being done in conjunction with the seats going to the Career Center? Does W-L get first dibs and then the Career Center gets the runner-up program? Or did they already decide that the Career Center seats are going to be folded into Arlington Tech, in which case both STEAM academy/Early College at W-L seems redundant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So why isn't this being done in conjunction with the seats going to the Career Center? Does W-L get first dibs and then the Career Center gets the runner-up program? Or did they already decide that the Career Center seats are going to be folded into Arlington Tech, in which case both STEAM academy/Early College at W-L seems redundant.

I don't know why these aren't being done at the same time. The website doesn't say much except it looks like the decisions will be made for the Ed Center first. I didn't attend the meeting last night--I only streamed it afterward--and I don't recall any mention of the Career Ctr.

There were incredibly few ppl there last night from what I could see. I didn't even know this was haopening until I randomly saw a tweet about it.

[Anonymous]

What is early college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why isn't this being done in conjunction with the seats going to the Career Center? Does W-L get first dibs and then the Career Center gets the runner-up program? Or did they already decide that the Career Center seats are going to be folded into Arlington Tech, in which case both STEAM academy/Early College at W-L seems redundant.

I don't know why these aren't being done at the same time. The website doesn't say much except it looks like the decisions will be made for the Ed Center first. I didn't attend the meeting last night--I only streamed it afterward--and I don't recall any mention of the Career Ctr.

There were incredibly few ppl there last night from what I could see. I didn't even know this was haopening until I randomly saw a tweet about it.

At the beginning there were a number of neighborhood baby boomers complaining about traffic. Only about 5 or so actual current parents of APS students were present. Unfortunate since this is hugely important, but my guess is so many people are focused on the MS boundaries and are stretched thin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why isn't this being done in conjunction with the seats going to the Career Center? Does W-L get first dibs and then the Career Center gets the runner-up program? Or did they already decide that the Career Center seats are going to be folded into Arlington Tech, in which case both STEAM academy/Early College at W-L seems redundant.

I don't know why these aren't being done at the same time. The website doesn't say much except it looks like the decisions will be made for the Ed Center first. I didn't attend the meeting last night--I only streamed it afterward--and I don't recall any mention of the Career Ctr.

There were incredibly few ppl there last night from what I could see. I didn't even know this was haopening until I randomly saw a tweet about it.

At the beginning there were a number of neighborhood baby boomers complaining about traffic. Only about 5 or so actual current parents of APS students were present. Unfortunate since this is hugely important, but my guess is so many people are focused on the MS boundaries and are stretched thin.

I rolled my eyes so hard at the traffic comments. So sick of them. And not even remotely germane to the discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is early college?

Every graduating high school senior would also graduate with an associate's degree.

[Anonymous]

How is steam different, in practice, from a normal high school that has science/tech and arts classes?

Also, how is it in any way possible that Arlington would have three population for a performing arts high school? I love FAME as much as the next person, but is that practical here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is early college?

Every graduating high school senior would also graduate with an associate's degree.

Seems useless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is steam different, in practice, from a normal high school that has science/tech and arts classes?

Also, how is it in any way possible that Arlington would have three population for a performing arts high school? I love FAME as much as the next person, but is that practical here?

I had the same thought about STEAM. I don't understand the practical difference and how it would compare/contrast to either a school like Arlington Tech or a school like TJ.

I also agree about the Performing Arts School. Dr. Nattress brought up Duke Ellington as an example. I believe that Duke Ellington actually accepts some out-of-state students, right? A few Arlington kids attend? I don't think you'd be able to find 600 additional students clamoring for that here. Dr. Nattress said that demand was an important factor, as they would have to fill all the seats. For that reason I don't see how a PA school would work.

[Anonymous]

Unless the IB program is going to provide equal access across the county, I don't think we should add seats that give preference to one geographical area (W-L students). Otherwise, it will not provide the proportional capacity assistance the projections show that we need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless the IB program is going to provide equal access across the county, I don't think we should add seats that give preference to one geographical area (W-L students). Otherwise, it will not provide the proportional capacity assistance the projections show that we need.

I'm fairly certain it would be county-wide. In the presentation there was an emphasis on equal opportunity to all students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless the IB program is going to provide equal access across the county, I don't think we should add seats that give preference to one geographical area (W-L students). Otherwise, it will not provide the proportional capacity assistance the projections show that we need.

I'm fairly certain it would be county-wide. In the presentation there was an emphasis on equal opportunity to all students.

Seems like IB is the best option (but I did an IB diploma back in the day so I'm biased).

[Anonymous]

Expansion of IB seems best.
I work in the performing and think performing Arts high school is terrible idea. Duke Ellington is nothing to aspire to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is early college?

Every graduating high school senior would also graduate with an associate's degree.

Seems useless

For kids going to public university, they can skip two years of instruction, which can save a huge amount of tuition. For some families and kids with modest academic aspirations it can work well.

My HS had it, so I had almost two years of community college credit; but I went out of state to a more rigorous private university and the credits were worthless. As academics, it was a mixed bag, I think better than most Honors courses, but not as valuable as AP/IB. But without the high stakes of the AP test to get credit, which again for mainstream academics is a good deal.