South Arlington and North Arlington Schools

[Anonymous]

Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a thought. ATS, Claremont and Key are choice schools and they are already mixed in terms of demographics. If ASFS being a "special" school is causing so many problems, why don't you take away the extra science education and just have it be the regular neighborhood school that it mostly is. Most people at this point probably aren't buying there for the science; they're buying there because the test scores are high and it's close-in to DC and Clarendon, and they're not interested in Key immersion.

Then you could put another "choice" school in South Arlington, giving preference to South Arlington addresses. Then put a science/tech magnet program into one of the South Arlington middles and into Wakefield.

That, plus more affordable housing along Lee Hwy or wherever else, should help balance things a bit. But you're never going to get a truly integrated county. Wherever you go in this country (and others), there are richer and poorer areas. In my Kansas hometown, there are richer, whiter schools and poorer schools with more FARMS and more minorities. The real estate in the richer school boundaries is expensive for the area and almost solely SFH. The poorer schools include lots of apartments, townhouses and smaller, older homes in their boundaries. I think it's just harder for people here to accept that even if they're spending $500K on a house, that doesn't put them in the richer school boundary, because anywhere else, $500K is a lot of money.

That may be part of it, but I think there's also the fact that the county is such a geographically small area. Many of the higher SES families in the South are acutely aware of the stark differences between schools that are, in some instances, less than 1.5 miles apart because our kids play sports with and have friends just on the other side of the boundaries. And Arlington, even South Arlington, has a very educated population with a lot of money. Maybe not enough money for a $1.3-$1.7 million new build in a "good" neighborhood, but enough to have choices about where to live and where to send our kids to school. The avg. SFH is selling for around $700,000 in my neighborhood, and we are zoned for a school where almost 70% of the students are eligible to receive free or reduced meals. And unless something changes, we're going to wind up with a school system that more closely resembles Alexandria or DC in terms of both disparity and buy-in.

It's easier to obscure that in a larger county, but not in one like ours. I don't think you want a mass exodus of higher SES from South Arlington. Because there is a finite budget, and there are certainly many people who feel that since they pay more, they deserve more. How long will it be before that comes at the expense of those who do not have power and influence? And how much harder will it become for someone who was born into a less ideal situation escape that situation if we pull the ladder up behind us?

I say all of this as someone who has choices. If I ever feel like my child's education is suffering, you can bet I will make a different choice. But I'm trying to stick it out, because I do care about other children living in my community, and if those of us with the means and time to devote to making our neighborhoods and schools better places to live and learn, all of our community will suffer.

[Anonymous]

It's not even the $500K - I think for a lot of the young families in the South, housing is a pretty big part of the budget. Maybe not as much as it is for those looking for and qualifying for affordable houses, but its a lot. There's not the option to just go private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I would be fine with ATS being moved to the old Patrick Henry site- as long as it's open to south Arlington kids first and any left over slots can go north.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of moving a choice school south?

Not if it serves almost exclusively south Arlington kids. Relieves our overcrowding and gives us an out from neighborhood schools.

South Arlington needs seats. Moving ATS doesn't solve this problem. Moving Montessori opens space up at Drew.

It does if ATS is only used by south Arlington

But if ATS weren't a county -wide school anymore, wouldn't it just be another south Arlington school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I would be fine with ATS being moved to the old Patrick Henry site- as long as it's open to south Arlington kids first and any left over slots can go north.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of moving a choice school south?

Not if it serves almost exclusively south Arlington kids. Relieves our overcrowding and gives us an out from neighborhood schools.

South Arlington needs seats. Moving ATS doesn't solve this problem. Moving Montessori opens space up at Drew.

It does if ATS is only used by south Arlington

But if ATS weren't a county -wide school anymore, wouldn't it just be another south Arlington school?

Just another south Arlington school... For middle class kids to choice into and out of their neighborhood school.
We are talking about assuring south Arlington parents that their kids can choice out of their local school.
I'm not sure how to spell it out any clearer.

As of now - there is so much crowding in south Arlington, there are fewer possibilities to choice out. We aren't worried about trailers. We are worried our kids are stuck in slow moving, sol focused classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

are you sure you can't transfer in? ask the school admin, don't rely on internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

are you sure you can't transfer in? ask the school admin, don't rely on internet.

I'm going off of what the School Board says which schools you can attend/apply for a lottery based on where you live: http://www.apsva.us/page/3008

School transfers are very limited now due to so many schools being at or over capacity. I'm talking about a choice school that is widely open for South Arlington families that has a FARM rate under 40%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

are you sure you can't transfer in? ask the school admin, don't rely on internet.

You think that will be an option in a few more years?
We're not talking about band aids for now. That is not a lasting solution. If it doesn't effect your kids now that is fine. It will be a problem if you need to sell in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Do people on this board have any idea of the level of development planned in south Arlington? Both affordable and market rate? It is all on county website. Thousands of new apartments. What I cannot understand is why this county allows all this development but does not plan for the infrastructure to support it.

Oh, and Barcroft apartment is from a practical perspective a CAF. In order for the owner to renovate and expand the units to hold more bedrooms a couple years ago they had to commit to keep it "affordable." So, the family will remain a slum lord indefinitely.

and what about the crime in west arlington? Prostitution is a regular thing around Arlington Mill and the strip mall across the street? And we wonder why no one wants to be a tenant in the community center. Robberies and assaults are a regular thing not only along the Pike, but into the single family neighborhoods as well.

No choice but to choice school route. Otherwise, people like me who can afford to leave will leave. The county does not care what happens to the single family homes say in Douglas park or barcroft. They will just make it "affordable". People like me spend money in south Arlington, north folks do not.. People like me making almost $200k a year and one kid living in a fabulous house help keep places in business and stay involved in the community and PTAs. If the county gave a crap, they would listen to people like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

are you sure you can't transfer in? ask the school admin, don't rely on internet.

Yes, I'm sure. Hoffman Boston is only for that neighborhood and the adjacent Drew neighborhood - it was never a choice school in that sense for anyone outside that rather small attendance zone. However, it was a failing school several years ago, and they turned around; I wonder if anyone here knows how they made that happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hoffman Boston is the de facto ASFSS. no need another one. no thanks.

You are missing the point.

what's the point? it has STEM focus and everyone can choice in. what else do you want?

Not everyone can choice in. Hoffman-Boston is only open to that neighborhood and to kids zoned to Drew. Other South Arlington neighborhoods don't have a STEM choice.

are you sure you can't transfer in? ask the school admin, don't rely on internet.

I'm going off of what the School Board says which schools you can attend/apply for a lottery based on where you live: http://www.apsva.us/page/3008

School transfers are very limited now due to so many schools being at or over capacity. I'm talking about a choice school that is widely open for South Arlington families that has a FARM rate under 40%.

There is none, you are right. Patrick Henry, Claremont, and Oakridge are the only schools under 40% in the south.

And Barrett and Key are the only ones with a FARMS rate HIGHER than 40% in the north.

Speaking of which, I don't hear much about Barrett (and I don't know any parents there). It is 56% FARMS! Higher than Abington, Drew, same as Hoffman Boston and roughly, Campbell. I wonder, if Barrett parents are having the same woes and challenges - (less PTA funding? smaller pool of engaged parents? Tons of focus on testing? ESOL/HILT predominance? "Doing OK " children falling through cracks? Etc.) and if they do, aren't they dismayed they are surrounded by 18% FARMS or less? I mean it is so uneven in our tiny county!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I would be fine with ATS being moved to the old Patrick Henry site- as long as it's open to south Arlington kids first and any left over slots can go north.

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of moving a choice school south?

Not if it serves almost exclusively south Arlington kids. Relieves our overcrowding and gives us an out from neighborhood schools.

South Arlington needs seats. Moving ATS doesn't solve this problem. Moving Montessori opens space up at Drew.

It does if ATS is only used by south Arlington

But if ATS weren't a county -wide school anymore, wouldn't it just be another south Arlington school?

Just another south Arlington school... For middle class kids to choice into and out of their neighborhood school.
We are talking about assuring south Arlington parents that their kids can choice out of their local school.
I'm not sure how to spell it out any clearer.

As of now - there is so much crowding in south Arlington, there are fewer possibilities to choice out. We aren't worried about trailers. We are worried our kids are stuck in slow moving, sol focused classrooms.

Oh, but I am worried about trailers and overcrowding, and you should be, too! Have you seen the projections? They are UGLY, for all schools, and just in a few short years! I toured a few schools, and besides loosing green space to trailers, you are also loosing all the specialty rooms in that school, when they have to convert more and more rooms to open additional classes. No music room, no art rooms. No pull out rooms. Combine that with all the other problems and you have a hot mess, and high stress levels for students and staff.