APS: I can't keep up! (ASFS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Families near other actual choice schools are bent out of shape. That's part of why HB is moving. No one wants to send their kid to an overcrowded school outside their neighborhood when there is a school with more space across the street. All choice schools should have a walk zone of guaranteed admittance.

No, choice schools should just be allowed to go over capacity like other schools -- there must be some fair way to manage that.

We're already there. Go look. There's a higher percentage of choice schools over capacity than neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

Hoo boy! Pro tip to ASFS parents : don't try to argue how economically diverse your school is by comparing it to Jamestown. Also, don't say food insecurity is a red herring. It makes you sound like a d bag.
Carry on...

[Anonymous]

Please ask yourself this question: Do I care about all of the students at APS or just the ones I know?

If the answer is the former, then please stop pitting your school against others and choice against neighborhood. The reality is that some schools at APS are better off than others and may need to "take one for the team" in the next round of changes. (This doesn't mean you must agree with all of the changes. But please understand how it affects everyone. And be constructive.)

If the answer is the latter, please carry on as before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^With O'Grady winning the SB slot, the SB will care less about neighborhood schools or about what Arlington County residence support. It's sad.

She hasn't been elected, yet. Comparing her to Lander, I'll take her all day long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^With O'Grady winning the SB slot, the SB will care less about neighborhood schools or about what Arlington County residence support. It's sad.

She hasn't been elected, yet. Comparing her to Lander, I'll take her all day long.

[Anonymous]

^^ Do you think the chance of O'Grady being elected is less than 100%? She is elected, in essence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

Hoo boy! Pro tip to ASFS parents : don't try to argue how economically diverse your school is by comparing it to Jamestown. Also, don't say food insecurity is a red herring. It makes you sound like a d bag.
Carry on...

Please, we are all for funding other schools and using our high taxes to help all APS students and have no qualms with that. In a discussion about school capacity, tossing in a sidebar about social issues far beyond the scope of capacity planning *is* a red herring, it has no bearing on the discussion unless PP is advocating busing as a means to diversify. My point is that ASFS parents are not afraid of diversity and ASFS is one of the lost diverse schools by all measure and certainly in a North arlington.

Classy personal attack, we are just discussing numbers and policies, you are the one throwing insults.

The school board is rushing these changes instead of redistricting and planning thoroughly, and just like McKinely ASFS will end up with capacity crisis. Why would we not use the lessons learned to help the SB find a better way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Exactly, these changes will turn ASFS into a wealthier Taylor demographically, while long branch will end up with all the diverse students population currently in Rosslyn (which includes everything from AH to diplomats living in high rises). ASFS parents value their diverse student body and this will be a loss for all involved. The school has done really well at bridging the achievement gap across race and socioeconomic boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

The vast majority of Spanish speaking families live in Rosslyn which will be cut off from ASFS when it becomes neighborhood school with Cherrydale, Lyon Village etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

Wow you really have some axe to grind don't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

Hoo boy! Pro tip to ASFS parents : don't try to argue how economically diverse your school is by comparing it to Jamestown. Also, don't say food insecurity is a red herring. It makes you sound like a d bag.
Carry on...

Please, we are all for funding other schools and using our high taxes to help all APS students and have no qualms with that. In a discussion about school capacity, tossing in a sidebar about social issues far beyond the scope of capacity planning *is* a red herring, it has no bearing on the discussion unless PP is advocating busing as a means to diversify. My point is that ASFS parents are not afraid of diversity and ASFS is one of the lost diverse schools by all measure and certainly in a North arlington.

Classy personal attack, we are just discussing numbers and policies, you are the one throwing insults.

The school board is rushing these changes instead of redistricting and planning thoroughly, and just like McKinely ASFS will end up with capacity crisis. Why would we not use the lessons learned to help the SB find a better way.

Glad to hear that you are interested in helping all students. So what do you think about the effects of the policy changes on the other elementary schools?

ASFS is not economically diverse, relative to the rest of APS. Sorry, that's just the facts.

I can't speak to the PP and any insullt, but when you wrote about the hardships of buying a house in a certain district, it seems to make the hardships of buying food relevant. The point is that we need to protect all students, especially those that are less fortunate and more at risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

Wow you really have some axe to grind don't you?

Parents want decisions to be based in facts, not anecdotes or assumptions. That is all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

I agree that ASFS will be less diverse if it becomes a true neighborhood school. The Taylor boundaries extend deep into Lyon Village as well as a good chunk of Cherrydale. If those planning units are assigned to a neighborhood ASFS then I bet even more currently zoned for Taylor families would attend ASFS.