APS middle school boundary process

[Anonymous]

I should add that my kids are currently at Swanson, but in eighth grade and I am not affected by any of this. They would probably be just as successful at Kenmore. Another thing I would worry about is the relative level of disciplinary problems at the schools as that can disrupt learning. I've never compared those levels between schools as I never had to choose between schools. Swanson and Williamsburg both seem to have problems associated with affluenza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are multiple routes to Kenmore that are safe. A 20-30 min walk is nothing. Many of the people crying about busing would be walkers to Kenmore.

“Low performing”, “dangerous walk”, “unsafe neighborhood” all seem like code words.

It's code for "I want my child to continue to have a 6min walk to the neighborhood school which by the way also has higher test scores than the school to which they will either be bussed or have a walk quadruple the length." Period.

Why does one school have higher test scores? What makes a school "high performing"? Crickets?

Yes. I would like someone to please explain to me:

School A: 40% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 5
School B: 10% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 9

redo boundaries, so now
School A: 25% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 7
School B: 20% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 8

Big improvement for School A, not much "harm" for School B, some additional kids get bused. Why are people fighting this so much?

Why would you expect anyone to acquiesce to any reduction in quality of the school they have to go to? Why would you expect anyone to support hurting (in their view) their child to benefit yours?
Furthermore, who gives a shit about great schools ratings?

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are multiple routes to Kenmore that are safe. A 20-30 min walk is nothing. Many of the people crying about busing would be walkers to Kenmore.

“Low performing”, “dangerous walk”, “unsafe neighborhood” all seem like code words.

It's code for "I want my child to continue to have a 6min walk to the neighborhood school which by the way also has higher test scores than the school to which they will either be bussed or have a walk quadruple the length." Period.

Why does one school have higher test scores? What makes a school "high performing"? Crickets?

Yes. I would like someone to please explain to me:

School A: 40% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 5
School B: 10% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 9

redo boundaries, so now
School A: 25% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 7
School B: 20% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 8

Big improvement for School A, not much "harm" for School B, some additional kids get bused. Why are people fighting this so much?

Why would you expect anyone to acquiesce to any reduction in quality of the school they have to go to? Why would you expect anyone to support hurting (in their view) their child to benefit yours?
Furthermore, who gives a shit about great schools ratings?

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

[Anonymous]

Where are you getting that Kenmore goes to 20 or 25 % FARMS? The scenarios I saw had it at 40 or 45%, which is the tipping point in the social science research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you getting that Kenmore goes to 20 or 25 % FARMS? The scenarios I saw had it at 40 or 45%, which is the tipping point in the social science research.

We should be getting it to 25%. We shouldn't be near any "tipping point." Arlington is an extremely wealthy community.

How are people not appalled by this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

So you admit that your argument is based entirely on conjecture. Cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

Peer effects are real, and many of those peers will not be college bound for a variety of reasons -- so the likelihood of your child going to college is reduced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are multiple routes to Kenmore that are safe. A 20-30 min walk is nothing. Many of the people crying about busing would be walkers to Kenmore.

“Low performing”, “dangerous walk”, “unsafe neighborhood” all seem like code words.

It's code for "I want my child to continue to have a 6min walk to the neighborhood school which by the way also has higher test scores than the school to which they will either be bussed or have a walk quadruple the length." Period.

Why does one school have higher test scores? What makes a school "high performing"? Crickets?

Yes. I would like someone to please explain to me:

School A: 40% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 5
School B: 10% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 9

redo boundaries, so now
School A: 25% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 7
School B: 20% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 8

Big improvement for School A, not much "harm" for School B, some additional kids get bused. Why are people fighting this so much?

Why would you expect anyone to acquiesce to any reduction in quality of the school they have to go to? Why would you expect anyone to support hurting (in their view) their child to benefit yours?
Furthermore, who gives a shit about great schools ratings?

because Betsy Devos is the Education Secretary and we share her love for charters and vouchers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

Peer effects are real, and many of those peers will not be college bound for a variety of reasons -- so the likelihood of your child going to college is reduced.

Yes, I'm sure the children of Johnny and Mary Harvard of Dominion Hills aren't going to go college because they went to Kenmore for eighth grade.

Do you see how ridiculous you sound?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are you getting that Kenmore goes to 20 or 25 % FARMS? The scenarios I saw had it at 40 or 45%, which is the tipping point in the social science research.

We should be getting it to 25%. We shouldn't be near any "tipping point." Arlington is an extremely wealthy community.

How are people not appalled by this?

Because the only way to get it to 25% is to bus the entire County (a la Single Factor Map 1G). But that would require breaking into 77% white/4% FARMS Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

Peer effects are real, and many of those peers will not be college bound for a variety of reasons -- so the likelihood of your child going to college is reduced.

Ffs! Really? How insecure are you people? You honestly believe your kid isn’t going to college because they went Kenmore?
Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are multiple routes to Kenmore that are safe. A 20-30 min walk is nothing. Many of the people crying about busing would be walkers to Kenmore.

“Low performing”, “dangerous walk”, “unsafe neighborhood” all seem like code words.

It's code for "I want my child to continue to have a 6min walk to the neighborhood school which by the way also has higher test scores than the school to which they will either be bussed or have a walk quadruple the length." Period.

Why does one school have higher test scores? What makes a school "high performing"? Crickets?

Yes. I would like someone to please explain to me:

School A: 40% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 5
School B: 10% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 9

redo boundaries, so now
School A: 25% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 7
School B: 20% FARMS, SOL scores = great schools rating of 8

Big improvement for School A, not much "harm" for School B, some additional kids get bused. Why are people fighting this so much?

Why would you expect anyone to acquiesce to any reduction in quality of the school they have to go to? Why would you expect anyone to support hurting (in their view) their child to benefit yours?
Furthermore, who gives a shit about great schools ratings?

Shorter PP: I've got mine, so fuck you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because it's one school system, the quality of the schools and the teachers are the same, well-off children perform the same no matter what school they go to, and it's better not to concentrate poverty for any number of well-documented reasons. You're not hurting your child, you're not really hurting your property values (which some have brought up), and you are helping other kids and helping reduce segregation which, in case you haven't noticed, is a problem in our society.

The bolded are statements of opinion and not supported argument.

I don't need a lot of social science to tell me that an upper middle class child in Arlington Virginia is not going to be permanently harmed by riding a bus to attend a middle school two miles from home with some kids who are poor and some kids who live in houses valued between $500K and $750K instead of $750K and $1M.

I don't need a lot of statistics to tell me that a house in a close-in suburb in an overall high-performing school district in the eighth wealthiest county in the country where home prices have risen 20 percent in the last decade is going to hold its value.

You're making excuses.

+1

--N.Arlington parent