Which APS elementary schools should close?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

LOL

The argument is that underenrolled schools in north Arlington because we built NEW schools up there to address all the people buying in 22207 and 22209 15-20 years ago to avoid south Arlington and now we have too much capacity is the drain on our resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split ATS and make Drew the S. Arlington version and the current ATS the N. Arlington version, like Key and Claremont. It increases ATS spots, which is extremely popular, and will fill Drew. Then close Nottingham.

Not going to happen WRT Drew. It’s untouchable as a neighborhood school and with a seat deficit predicted in the adjacent Oakridge zone, it’s going to get more kids.

Redistricting students to Drew is just going to make parents unhappy. If you make it an option school, you don't reduce the number of seats and parents voluntarily enroll instead of kicking and screaming about being moved.

Stop beating a dead horse. You’re not incorrect that parents will be mad, but it is what it is.

The seat surplus is most acute in the NW. Just move Pre-K-6 Montessori there and close the 7-8 middle years and be done with it. Then we don’t need a crazy expensive build out at the Career Center site. Saves money there, frees up a little space at Gunston, and prevents APS from having to sell more land if they “close” a school in the NW. Why are we contorting ourselves and going into debt to expand an option program that is NOT desired by the overall community and taxpayers? There is NO waitlist for the MS years. It’s a ridiculous concept for that age group. Keep it through 6th since that’s the cohort grouping of 3 years. Tear down the old CC and Henry buildings and add some more green space for the kids at the CC and to offset the heat island along the Pike and for the community along the Pike to use when school isn’t in session.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

LOL

The argument is that underenrolled schools in north Arlington because we built NEW schools up there to address all the people buying in 22207 and 22209 15-20 years ago to avoid south Arlington and now we have too much capacity is the drain on our resources.

Busing students to choice schools costs a lot of money and not everyone has access to those schools.

Every school should be as rigorous as ATS claims because not everyone can get into ATS. If Drew is closed, that entire school population should get first choice to ATS or another option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

Sure, let's open more with all of our magic money.

[Anonymous]

The reasons why parents flee Drew could largely be solved by leadership. When they expanded the Drew boundaries the admin was great and made an effort to build bridges with the community. The current admin is less interested in building relationships with the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

Sure, let's open more with all of our magic money.

Ok, but this made me laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

LOL

The argument is that underenrolled schools in north Arlington because we built NEW schools up there to address all the people buying in 22207 and 22209 15-20 years ago to avoid south Arlington and now we have too much capacity is the drain on our resources.

Busing students to choice schools costs a lot of money and not everyone has access to those schools.

Every school should be as rigorous as ATS claims because not everyone can get into ATS. If Drew is closed, that entire school population should get first choice to ATS or another option.

I would love to see how much it costs to bus kids to option schools. I’m guessing it’s much less than people assume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Split ATS and make Drew the S. Arlington version and the current ATS the N. Arlington version, like Key and Claremont. It increases ATS spots, which is extremely popular, and will fill Drew. Then close Nottingham.

Not going to happen WRT Drew. It’s untouchable as a neighborhood school and with a seat deficit predicted in the adjacent Oakridge zone, it’s going to get more kids.

Redistricting students to Drew is just going to make parents unhappy. If you make it an option school, you don't reduce the number of seats and parents voluntarily enroll instead of kicking and screaming about being moved.

Stop beating a dead horse. You’re not incorrect that parents will be mad, but it is what it is.

The seat surplus is most acute in the NW. Just move Pre-K-6 Montessori there and close the 7-8 middle years and be done with it. Then we don’t need a crazy expensive build out at the Career Center site. Saves money there, frees up a little space at Gunston, and prevents APS from having to sell more land if they “close” a school in the NW. Why are we contorting ourselves and going into debt to expand an option program that is NOT desired by the overall community and taxpayers? There is NO waitlist for the MS years. It’s a ridiculous concept for that age group. Keep it through 6th since that’s the cohort grouping of 3 years. Tear down the old CC and Henry buildings and add some more green space for the kids at the CC and to offset the heat island along the Pike and for the community along the Pike to use when school isn’t in session.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

Sure, let's open more with all of our magic money.

if we close the under enrolled schools like Drew, then we can do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

LOL

The argument is that underenrolled schools in north Arlington because we built NEW schools up there to address all the people buying in 22207 and 22209 15-20 years ago to avoid south Arlington and now we have too much capacity is the drain on our resources.

Busing students to choice schools costs a lot of money and not everyone has access to those schools.

Every school should be as rigorous as ATS claims because not everyone can get into ATS. If Drew is closed, that entire school population should get first choice to ATS or another option.

I would love to see how much it costs to bus kids to option schools. I’m guessing it’s much less than people assume.

It’s not nearly as much as keeping an entire school building operating each year and paying the salaries of surplus staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t we move Montessori back into Drew?

I know politics but is that really going to get in the way of the most obvious and cheapest fix?

That was a terrible idea then and a terrible idea today. Drew deserves to be its own neighborhood school. AMAC needs to stop sucking all of the oxygen.

Why does Drew "deserve" this when it's chronically under enrolled and bleeding money? What about what's good for the rest of the system?

Why does MPSA "deserve" its own program? It's basically middle class white parents who want APS to build them a private school. What about what's good for the rest of the system?

Same could be said for ATS!

Same could be said for all of the option schools

ATS and the other option programs aren't asking for a fancy building for themselves. Two out of the five would rather be in their old buildings tbh.

But yes, particularly for Claremont, ATS and Montessori, they do function to keep those precious white and/or privileged BIPOC kids out of S. Arlington schools.

Which S Arlington school do your kids go to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

AMAC has joined the conversation. The Mary Coup didn't work so now they'll go after the Title I schools.

PP here. I don't even know what AMAC is (I assume montessori?), so I can assure you I'm not part of it.

So then you’re like a clueless Northie who wants to keep your extra schools open? At the expense of a school like Drew?!??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

so again you really want to close the highest performing and most popular schools? we should be opening more of them, not less.

close the low performing neighborhood schools that no one wants to go to.

Sure, let's open more with all of our magic money.

if we close the under enrolled schools like Drew, then we can do it.

Where do you think Drew children will go? Abingdon is over capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The option schools.

You mean close the high performing schools that are full and super popular with waiting lists, while there are under enrolled elem schools that no one wants to go to (ahem Drew). lol, no.

The programs are super popular because middle class families don't want to send their children to the low-performing schools. Not everyone can access those programs and the busing is a drain on our resources.

LOL

The argument is that underenrolled schools in north Arlington because we built NEW schools up there to address all the people buying in 22207 and 22209 15-20 years ago to avoid south Arlington and now we have too much capacity is the drain on our resources.

Busing students to choice schools costs a lot of money and not everyone has access to those schools.

Every school should be as rigorous as ATS claims because not everyone can get into ATS. If Drew is closed, that entire school population should get first choice to ATS or another option.

I would love to see how much it costs to bus kids to option schools. I’m guessing it’s much less than people assume.

It’s not nearly as much as keeping an entire school building operating each year and paying the salaries of surplus staff.

APS doesn't have all the money anymore. Our budget seasons are projected to be quite lean over the next few years. Transportation costs to bus kids across the county has to be in play as well as do we really need more Montessori seats? It may end up just as under enrolled as the last experiment, Innovation.