Best Arlington Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Pass advanced is SOL over 500. However it matters what course you are talking about. You have 6th graders taking Math 8 SOL Math 6 SOL. 7th graders can take the Math 7,8, or Alg 1 SOL. 8th graders can take the Math 8, Alg 1, or Geometry SOL. Depending on what course they are taking. It doesn’t mean they are an advanced student necessarily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a LOT of williamsburg hate. We are zoned to WMS and DC1 will start next year. We are white and (relatively) wealthy, but certainly not popular. I’ve heard all of the same “drinking, drugs, bullying” rumors, but it is always hearsay – never firsthand. I am absolutely not a williamsburg defender, but is it possible that it is just an easy target?

I'm not a Williamsburg parent. But the poster is correct in that there is a lot of WMS bashing in Arlington. But the question is "why is that?" Individually, all the parents I know are very nice. But collectively, relative to the parent communities of other middle schools, the school gives the impression of being rather "entitled" and "self-focused" while invoking a facade of selfless concern via a charitable nod to the plight of others. The source of the elitist and entitled attitude may also stem from its excessive wealth and PTA resources that far exceeded the rest, along with its isolated location in the far north corner of the County.

Still, WMS does nothing to warrant a different impression other than all the parents saying things like "I hear about those things, but that's not been our experience."

Hamm is new; so it's too soon to know if it stands out in any way.

WMS parent. Kid has not had problems with bullying, drugs or drinking personally. Found some nice kids to be friends with. Some really good teachers, a few horrible ones. Counselor not so hot. Good academics but an overly heavy workload. The admin is awful, harsh and unfriendly.

So this is highly subjective but I have 2 at WMS. Like the school. Mostly good teachers. Administration is fine and generally responsive when it matters. But I do not relate to the complaint about workload. My kids never had too much to do. Pre or during pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pass advanced is SOL over 500. However it matters what course you are talking about. You have 6th graders taking Math 8 SOL Math 6 SOL. 7th graders can take the Math 7,8, or Alg 1 SOL. 8th graders can take the Math 8, Alg 1, or Geometry SOL. Depending on what course they are taking. It doesn’t mean they are an advanced student necessarily.

I guess you could look at the # of kids who took the geometry SOL at a MS and calculate the % of the population (or grade) who took it. And out of those students look at the % proficient & advanced scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.

Hamm is only in its second year.....

[Anonymous]

So?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.

Hamm is only in its second year.....

Starting its third year…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…

..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…

..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.

NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…



..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.



NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.

They most certainly area comparing the schools, NP. Read the above closely.
The mentality here is that richer and whiter equals better. Sad to see this in Arlington, which is supposedly progressive and supportive of diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…



..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.



NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.



*They most certainly are comparing the schools, NP. Read the above closely.
The mentality here is that richer and whiter equals better. Sad to see this in Arlington, which is supposedly progressive and supportive of diversity.
[Report Post]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…



..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.



NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.



*They most certainly are comparing the schools, NP. Read the above closely.
The mentality here is that richer and whiter equals better. Sad to see this in Arlington, which is supposedly progressive and supportive of diversity.
[Report Post]

That was precisely my point. They're not comparing instruction or academics. They're comparing the student body. TJ is far more diverse, but has gotten "whiter" so it's inferior but improving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…



..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.



NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.



*They most certainly are comparing the schools, NP. Read the above closely.
The mentality here is that richer and whiter equals better. Sad to see this in Arlington, which is supposedly progressive and supportive of diversity.
[Report Post]



That was precisely my point. They're not comparing instruction or academics. They're comparing the student body. TJ is far more diverse, but has gotten "whiter" so it's inferior but improving.

And you accept this logic? Sounds like you do.

[Anonymous]

WMS parent, DD is now a freshman at YHS. DD has an IEP and was in private for 6 and 7. For a variety of reasons we moved her back in 8th, which of course was all virtual, and went in with low expectations. WMS was amazing. DD had an incredible team who took a real interest in DD and she had one of her best years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:



Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Jefferson obviously isn't on a par with Hamm or Williamsburg, but it's the fastest improving APS MS. No longer one to avoid.



Hamm is only in its second year.....



Starting its third year…



..and still not around long enough for another school, which has been around much longer, to be judged as being "not on a par" with it.



NP. They aren't comparing the schools. They're comparing the school demographics. Doesn't matter how long Hamm's been around....it's wealthy and in the north.



*They most certainly are comparing the schools, NP. Read the above closely.
The mentality here is that richer and whiter equals better. Sad to see this in Arlington, which is supposedly progressive and supportive of diversity.
[Report Post]



That was precisely my point. They're not comparing instruction or academics. They're comparing the student body. TJ is far more diverse, but has gotten "whiter" so it's inferior but improving.

And you accept this logic? Sounds like you do.

No. I'm just explaining it. Sounds like you want to read into things unnecessarily just to pick arguments.

[Anonymous]

Does Hamm offer gifted English or Social Studies programming, does anyone know? My child was previously identified and I can’t tell how it is structured in middle school. TY!