Barcroft or Randolph ES Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Barcroft calendar was put in place to help the low income families in the area. They go back to their home companies sometimes several times a year. The year round schedule means their kids miss less school.

No, I think it was to help them have more time that they didn't need to find care for their kids (camps are expensive), and to address students' retention/summer backsliding (clearly this hasn't helped in that regard). Money would be better spent creating high quality/low-cost summer camps for students in need? Or make this an option school for families who need/want an alternative calendar.

[Anonymous]

It would be great if they changed the calendar, but there are quite a few families in SFH that like it. Less money on summer camp, family vacations during non-peak times. If it weren't for my work schedule, I would have jumped at that opportunity. Many school districts across the nation use year-round schools.

The issue is that a large percentage of upper middle-class families in the two feeder neighborhoods send their kids to parochial schools, and to the other option schools if they can get in.

Totally agree that a great principal could, over time, change things.

And, don't send the Gillian Place kids there - that will again send it over the edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Barcroft went on downward trajectory with the new (now outgoing) principal. She was in way over her head (first time principal) and scores fell, experienced teachers left, morale dropped and there was much less emphasis on selling the school to neighborhood parents. Shame because before that (4-6 years ago) there was actually an increase for several years of families sending their kids there. New administration could improve things there, and I have heard they will be taking a hard look at dropping the calendar.

Why did APS put a first-time principal at Barcroft, especially considering the shoes she had to fill? Seems like a poor choice from the get-go.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully, they will make a better choice this time. Not sure if there's been a pick yet.

[Anonymous]

It was a poor choice. She is leaving (and not moving up within APS). But the damage was done. That poor school lost dozens and dozens of families and many good experienced teachers.

[Anonymous]

Eh... ok, she wasn't the best choice, but that's not what did Barcroft in. They were suddenly overcrowded, and with the highest need population of kids. She's a principal not Dumbledore.
Barcroft was screwed by the county board, AH agenda, and developers.
APS shakers some blame because of the unwillingness to acknowledge some very simple truths, and to plan accordingly. They had no clue, or weren't concerned ( not sure which is worse) about the uptick in FARMS/ELL kids that were about to show up for that school.
We just aren't good at this stuff, and I don't understand why. We are such a well educated county, but we are acting like a bunch of rubes.

[Anonymous]

Well, they are not overcrowded anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, they are not overcrowded anymore.

I take it back. The principal IS a magician! She made all the middle class students disappear!

Just kidding. I know that's not fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh... ok, she wasn't the best choice, but that's not what did Barcroft in. They were suddenly overcrowded, and with the highest need population of kids. She's a principal not Dumbledore.
Barcroft was screwed by the county board, AH agenda, and developers.
APS shakers some blame because of the unwillingness to acknowledge some very simple truths, and to plan accordingly. They had no clue, or weren't concerned ( not sure which is worse) about the uptick in FARMS/ELL kids that were about to show up for that school.
We just aren't good at this stuff, and I don't understand why. We are such a well educated county, but we are acting like a bunch of rubes.

I really worry that APS is essentially mismanaged and no one seems to have any solutions....

[Anonymous]

Parents in SFH left in droves - literally sold their homes. Not a single family along my street sends a kid to Barcroft. People move into Barcroft AFTER their kid is accepted to a choice school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents in SFH left in droves - literally sold their homes. Not a single family along my street sends a kid to Barcroft. People move into Barcroft AFTER their kid is accepted to a choice school.

more reason to kill this choice school nonsense once and for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents in SFH left in droves - literally sold their homes. Not a single family along my street sends a kid to Barcroft. People move into Barcroft AFTER their kid is accepted to a choice school.

more reason to kill this choice school nonsense once and for all.

Not if they are going to keep stuffing the same 3 neighborhoods with Affordable housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents in SFH left in droves - literally sold their homes. Not a single family along my street sends a kid to Barcroft. People move into Barcroft AFTER their kid is accepted to a choice school.

more reason to kill this choice school nonsense once and for all.

So they can flee to McKinley or Tuckahoe like my neighbors did? Or just not move here at all and then the neighborhood and neighborhood school becomes even more segregated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Barcroft calendar was put in place to help the low income families in the area. They go back to their home companies sometimes several times a year. The year round schedule means their kids miss less school.

No, I think it was to help them have more time that they didn't need to find care for their kids (camps are expensive), and to address students' retention/summer backsliding (clearly this hasn't helped in that regard). Money would be better spent creating high quality/low-cost summer camps for students in need? Or make this an option school for families who need/want an alternative calendar.

I'm not entirely sure, why the year round calendar was created at Barcroft, but low income families already receive free summer school all summer at the regular calendar schools in Arlington. I actually think it must be harder for Barcroft parents to find care and camps, etc. outside of the regular calendar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh... ok, she wasn't the best choice, but that's not what did Barcroft in. They were suddenly overcrowded, and with the highest need population of kids. She's a principal not Dumbledore.
Barcroft was screwed by the county board, AH agenda, and developers.
APS shakers some blame because of the unwillingness to acknowledge some very simple truths, and to plan accordingly. They had no clue, or weren't concerned ( not sure which is worse) about the uptick in FARMS/ELL kids that were about to show up for that school.
We just aren't good at this stuff, and I don't understand why. We are such a well educated county, but we are acting like a bunch of rubes.

I really worry that APS is essentially mismanaged and no one seems to have any solutions....

This is what happens, when you offer free child care, education, meals, enrichment, classes, translators, etc. to all comers from other countries in the world with no questions asked. Word of mouth. Who would not take up such an offer?

The county has put zero thought into this.