ACPS to APS

[Anonymous]

For those who have switched from Alexandria to Arlington, in what year did you make the switch (i.e., elementary, middle, high school?) and what were the pros and cons of the switch?

[Anonymous]

No one?

[Anonymous]

Anybody go the other way? APS has so many challenges right now ACPS might be a good alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody go the other way? APS has so many challenges right now ACPS might be a good alternative.

Said no one ever.

[Anonymous]

Neither is very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody go the other way? APS has so many challenges right now ACPS might be a good alternative.

ACPS is #259 out of 333 in best VA high schools! You truly want your kid to go there? It was a big mistake for my kid in retrospect. Drinking the cool aid is cute until it isn't. We've had decades in Alexandria City to work on ACPS academics and we didn't. We failed.

Overview
T.C. Williams High School is ranked 259th within Virginia. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. The AP® participation rate at T.C. Williams High School is 54%. The total minority enrollment is 79%, and 46% of students are economically disadvantaged. T.C. Williams High School is the only high school in the Alexandria City Public Schools.

[Anonymous]

And just for a little perspective here...
Wakefield high school in Arlington has almost identical stats, and ranks 69 in the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And just for a little perspective here...
Wakefield high school in Arlington has almost identical stats, and ranks 69 in the state.

I didn't even look this up. But to me, a 40 year resident in Alexandria City, if true, it justs shows how badly we have failed our kids and residents!

[Anonymous]

I can tell you this- working in APS is much, much better than ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And just for a little perspective here...
Wakefield high school in Arlington has almost identical stats, and ranks 69 in the state.

No, it doesn't, and I bet you are aware of the exact differences between Wakefield and TC Williams as well.

[Anonymous]

ACPS seems loss to me. Lived hear for every. The City and ACPS School Board just don't get the importance of public school quality education. It's tragic, as City and School Board claim other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who have switched from Alexandria to Arlington, in what year did you make the switch (i.e., elementary, middle, high school?) and what were the pros and cons of the switch?

We did this before middle school.

Pros: Arlington schools are dramatically superior in programming, parent engagement and resources. We were really shocked as people who trick themselves into thinking ACPS is just fine have never experienced anything else. From enrichment programs in ES to school plays to science opportunities in the outdoor lab to TJ as an option, APS just operates on a completely different level. Ask any of the plethora of Alexandria parents who have made the switch.

Cons: Overcrowding and Affluenza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And just for a little perspective here...
Wakefield high school in Arlington has almost identical stats, and ranks 69 in the state.

No, it doesn't, and I bet you are aware of the exact differences between Wakefield and TC Williams as well.

Excuse me? Yes they do. Approximately the same free reduced lunch numbers. Both about 3/4 minority.
They have similar AP participation rates.
It’s a pretty good apples to apples comparison.

[Anonymous]

Sorry ^^ lived here for many decades.

[Anonymous]

Wakefield has more asians and Multiracials, and fewer AAs. Not by a huge amount , but they are not identical.

They have very similar SAT and ACT scores.

They have similar reading proficiency scores but Wakefield has significantly higher math proficiency scores.

Arlington seems to be doing a better job, but its not nearly as dramatic as the US News ranking makes it look.