Hardy/Deal vs Arlington middle schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

I don't think so -- it seems like OP wants to be in a school pyramid and is focused on either Ward 3 or Arlington. I don't think we should bring in BASIS (And I say this as someone who is happy there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

Upper NW DC is comparable to the northernmost part of Arlington and far less urban/diverse than the metro corridors. If you’re looking for street cred but you live in WOTP you are such a poser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

Nope.

Yorktown is the "whitest" high school in Arlington and it's only 56 percent white, and neither W-L nor Wakefield is even half while. Arlington is a very diverse school district overall.

Try again.

Snort. This is like Palisades claiming to be diverse. The average home in 22207 costs $1.5 million.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

Nope.

Yorktown is the "whitest" high school in Arlington and it's only 56 percent white, and neither W-L nor Wakefield is even half while. Arlington is a very diverse school district overall.

Try again.

Snort. This is like Palisades claiming to be diverse. The average home in 22207 costs $1.5 million.

The homes in upper northwest are not cheaper that that on average and there are plenty of families living in apartments or townhomes that go to all three APS high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

I don't think so -- it seems like OP wants to be in a school pyramid and is focused on either Ward 3 or Arlington. I don't think we should bring in BASIS (And I say this as someone who is happy there).

Correct. I'm glad there are good charter schools but we don't want to count on the lottery or that our kids would be a good fit for a niche school. We want the option of a regular high school that has regular and advanced classes (in addition to classes that support students who need more support).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

I don't think so -- it seems like OP wants to be in a school pyramid and is focused on either Ward 3 or Arlington. I don't think we should bring in BASIS (And I say this as someone who is happy there).

Correct. I'm glad there are good charter schools but we don't want to count on the lottery or that our kids would be a good fit for a niche school. We want the option of a regular high school that has regular and advanced classes (in addition to classes that support students who need more support).

Op if this is you, your kids will probably be better off on Arlington. My advice is to talk to friends and friends of friends with kids in APS. Talking to real people helped my family decide what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

You are completely missing the point PP. Your child does not attend a "school district." Your child is an individual, from an individual family, attending an individual school, with an individual group of peers, teachers, and opportunities. If I had to pick a random kid and drop them into a random school, yes, the odds of that kid having a better outcome are probably higher in ACPS. But a specific type of kid, and family, and a specific school? That kid might be better off in ACPS, might be better off in DCPS, or might do equally well in either.

ACPS is City of Alexandria public schools, which tells us you don't know much about the schools in Arlington (APS).

OP - you clearly care about education or you wouldn't be posting here, but you're not going to get good advice because the DCPS parents will view a move on your part to Arlington as treason, and must do their utmost to keep you within the fold, lest another UMC family leave for Arlington, Fairfax, or Montgomery for middle or high school.

Don't kid yourself. People in DC look down on people in the suburbs. If we wanted to commute all day to a McMansion in a soulless suburb just so our kid could go to school with 5,000 other white kids, we would -- but we don't.

This isn't about an exurb. it is about arlington; which is pretty much the same density as DC. The densest census block in the metro area is NOT in DC, it is in ballston. The big difference is the working class kid population in the schools are latinos and not african americans - who broadly are much more upwardly mobile economically. Commutes from arlington to many parts of DC are often shorter by transit, biking or driving than many other parts of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

I don't think so -- it seems like OP wants to be in a school pyramid and is focused on either Ward 3 or Arlington. I don't think we should bring in BASIS (And I say this as someone who is happy there).

Correct. I'm glad there are good charter schools but we don't want to count on the lottery or that our kids would be a good fit for a niche school. We want the option of a regular high school that has regular and advanced classes (in addition to classes that support students who need more support).

Op if this is you, your kids will probably be better off on Arlington. My advice is to talk to friends and friends of friends with kids in APS. Talking to real people helped my family decide what to do.

Also, let us squash the thing that "arlington" isn't a dense urban area and is some far flung exurb. It is one of the densest counties in America with heavy transit links and bike lanes to the main shopping and job centers - which are inside the county themselves. it is incredibly well run by US standards (they didn't end up paying Amazon for the new HQ since amazon didn't actually create jobs). it does have its NIMBYs, but by blue city standards it has densified the most. It is safer in every regard than DC (fewer traffic deaths, fewer violent deaths, etc). we're currently in DC. but we are honest, by high school we may need to move or switch to arlington privates - even though we live in NW. funnily, this probably means we will move to a denser neighborhood with better public transit and more ethnically diverse schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe that there’s a serious argument going on on DCUM on whether DCPS even at its best holds a candle to APS. The only reasonable argument that can be made is that sending your kids to a top school district isn’t necessary.

Those schools in Arlington are massive. Is it really that hard to imagine why a parent would prefer Latin or Walls or BASIS?

Better question: is it really hard to understand why a parent with a spot at BASIS would bail to Arlington anyway? We left BASIS after 2 years for a better public school in Arlington, superior in every way but for science challenge and maybe executive function coaching. The “massive” MS we went with had smaller classes than BASIS across the board. No kidding. It also had better teachers overall (with hardly any turnover or newbies) and fewer in-class disruptions.

Doesn't really seem like a good example since roughly half of BASIS's entire student body bails for somewhere else (usually because it's too hard).

BASIS isn't a DCPS

BASIS is the best you can do academically for MS in the DC public system for a STEM oriented kid. It's a lot better than Hardy and Deal for math and science. OP might want to consider BASIS.

I don't think so -- it seems like OP wants to be in a school pyramid and is focused on either Ward 3 or Arlington. I don't think we should bring in BASIS (And I say this as someone who is happy there).

Correct. I'm glad there are good charter schools but we don't want to count on the lottery or that our kids would be a good fit for a niche school. We want the option of a regular high school that has regular and advanced classes (in addition to classes that support students who need more support).

Op if this is you, your kids will probably be better off on Arlington. My advice is to talk to friends and friends of friends with kids in APS. Talking to real people helped my family decide what to do.

Also, let us squash the thing that "arlington" isn't a dense urban area and is some far flung exurb. It is one of the densest counties in America with heavy transit links and bike lanes to the main shopping and job centers - which are inside the county themselves. it is incredibly well run by US standards (they didn't end up paying Amazon for the new HQ since amazon didn't actually create jobs). it does have its NIMBYs, but by blue city standards it has densified the most. It is safer in every regard than DC (fewer traffic deaths, fewer violent deaths, etc). we're currently in DC. but we are honest, by high school we may need to move or switch to arlington privates - even though we live in NW. funnily, this probably means we will move to a denser neighborhood with better public transit and more ethnically diverse schools.

Taking schools out of the equation, Arlington may be dense but it’s a snore. Of course, so is much of Upper NW.

[Anonymous]

We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty.

My kid started taking metro by himself this year in 6th and it’s been great. But he is at a good charter. If that was not in the cards, it would have been the burbs.

There is no way I would trade a good middle/high school pyramid just for a little more independence. BTW, nephew lives in the burbs and can bike to school. It’s not like you can’t give yoir kid the independence you want. You can have your kid walk or bike to friends house, school, etc.. if it’s doable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty.

My kid started taking metro by himself this year in 6th and it’s been great. But he is at a good charter. If that was not in the cards, it would have been the burbs.

There is no way I would trade a good middle/high school pyramid just for a little more independence. BTW, nephew lives in the burbs and can bike to school. It’s not like you can’t give yoir kid the independence you want. You can have your kid walk or bike to friends house, school, etc.. if it’s doable.

+1 this really depends on house/school location. We're in Arlington. Our kids walked to TJ MS (am and pm). For HS, we're right at the edge of the W-L walk zone. I drive them in the a.m. to save time but they walk home with friends, often with a detour to hang out in Ballston. They also regularly walk to our nearby metro station to go into DC or to Tyson's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty.

My kid started taking metro by himself this year in 6th and it’s been great. But he is at a good charter. If that was not in the cards, it would have been the burbs.

There is no way I would trade a good middle/high school pyramid just for a little more independence. BTW, nephew lives in the burbs and can bike to school. It’s not like you can’t give yoir kid the independence you want. You can have your kid walk or bike to friends house, school, etc.. if it’s doable.

Yeah I live in Central DC but do find this a little silly -- Arlington is basically a part of DC (when you look at the map, it literally completes the square). It doesn't feel any more suburban to me than upper NW, and it's very easy to imagine a world where the boundary of DC had remained as that square.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are facing a similar decision to OP. We live EOTP and have never had luck in the lottery. Both of our kids are strong students and one will be starting MS in the fall. We love DC and don’t want to leave. Our eldest DS has a lot of freedom in our neighborhood to walk around, meet up with friends, and we think this gives him a sense of independence and confidence you can’t get everywhere. We went to an open house for a middle school in the suburbs and were surprised at how the school talked about the kids getting there, crossing the street, etc and addressing parent concerns that seemed suited to kids much younger than MS age. I’m worried my kids will end up a bit sheltered and stifled. But it may be worth it for the better schools and the certainty.

We left Capitol Hill for one of the N Arlington middle schools two years ago. I'm not finding that my kids are remotely sheltered or stifled in VA. Their 7th and 8th grade friends take city buses and Metro all around the DMV on their own to get to sports practices, music practices, to see friends, for scouting etc.