South Arlington and North Arlington Schools
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
I think I can partially answer my own question: they somehow limited the class size to 15 -18 kids ! |
Anonymous
You make an interesting point. One that I've seen over on the MD boards talkng about the east /west disparities in montgomery county. Namely, shouldn't they be trying to encourage the middle class residents to stick with the local schools to bring SES balance to the demographics? Wouldn't that Be the key to providing better outcomes for everyone? From what I can glean of the decision making in Montgomery County, they're scrambling so hard just to have enough facilities to accommodate everyone that they really don't care if you're happy with the system. In fact, it's not an altogether bad outcome if you move or go private - because omg there's no room! South Arlington's plight has some similarities. I think it's been an open secret for a long time that if you want great schooks, you move to N Arlington, and with overcrowding, the demographic makeup of the studnt population of any given school takes back burner to the issue of space. I agree with you that you are the exact kind of family they should be trying to keep in the south, but it's too nuanced to make it's way into the actual and final decision making. Feel your pain.... |
Anonymous
How can they mandate a property owner keep a complex affordable? How is that legal? If the owner wants to renovate and make it market rate, how can the county stop that? |
Anonymous
You must be new to Arlngton. |
Anonymous
No I'm not. I just don't see how that is legal. |
Anonymous
I thought the same thing. Are there incentives? |
Anonymous
I got very good reports from Barrett parents last year when I was asking for a friend looking at a house in their district. They said the teachers were extremely dedicated and very good at giving as much time to those who were doing well, those who were having trouble, and those in the middle. |
Anonymous
sounds too good to be true |
Anonymous
| When Barrett was the opt-out if you didn't want year-round at Barcroft, many of my neighbors had kids there and said much the same thing. They were very happy. |
Anonymous
|
I have several friends there who are very happy with it. Part of that, I think, is that it pulls from the Arlington Forest neighborhood which seems to be a very tight, friendly community.
Back in the early 2000s, Barrett was actually losing population and so they made it the science choice school for that part of the county but you never hear of that anymore because there was a huge baby boom in Arlington Forest and now they fill to capacity and beyond with in-bound kids. |
Anonymous
So Barrett does not seem to be bothered in the least by their super high FARMS rate? I mean, I've heard from various families that they are happy at many different APS schools, and I remember a family (years back) who spoke of the very dedicated teachers at Randolph, too, for example, and the "small family feel". But other families, especially those who have experienced both high and low FARMS schools, have said that it is not the same experience at all. Or do some people feel that it's not such a big deal in elementary, while later on in middle and high school there is more differentiation going on? ....surely, most people would agree that there are kids who would do very well no matter the setting... But some PPs described "day and night" differences despite great teachers, and thus, the same should apply to Barrett, doesn't matter if your almost 60% FARMS school has a north or south in its address. So what's the "truth", if you will: - "people making a big deal out of nothing", or "very valid concerns about highly unequal educational experiences"? |
Anonymous
|
News on Barrett, their FARMs rate is about to skyrocket. The buildings in Buckinghsm undergoing renovation and expansion are about to open and be filled with kids. That will not only increase the FARMs rate at thst school, but turn it from its current under capacity to an over capacity school. One reason those kids do so well is they are UNDER capacity.
On Barcorft apartments. You want county permission to expand, you must agree to keep its terms. Obviously the owner of that complex is willing to do that. I don't think that complex could go market rate anyways bc the surrounding area is too poor. If food star turns into a successful high end development and the area across the steet follows? Then perhaps, but the county already locked barcroft apt in. And, how much you bet the same county that lacks money for schools and a street car would spend tens of millions above the market rate to purchase that complex to keep it affordable? How much was the county non profit allowed to spend to purchase the Presbyterian church on Monroe? Like 8million for a ACRE of land? That is way over market value and the county allowed it. |
Anonymous
I think the difference is Barrett's "super high FARMS rate" is still almost 30 percentage points lower than Carlin Springs and Randolph, and 15 lower than Barcroft. So while still high, their numbers are more balanced than the other schools I referenced, for now. If you look at Patrick Henry, they have a high number of FARM eligible students and are Title 1, but also a Blue Ribbon School. So, it's possible to have many FARM students and still be "successful" overall. But, generally, it becomes more challenging as the numbers increase. There just aren't the resources, or the number of parents to volunteer their time, and donate money, once you have an overwhelming majority of students who are FARM eligible. And the parents who are trying to do more to make up the difference wind up getting burned out. I've seen it happen plenty. It's just a different reality. If you volunteer for something, you are going to get called every single time. There's no jockeying to see who can come in to cut paper for some art craft. You are it. And while I'm happy and able to do that right now, that may not always be the case. So for me, I don't like to complain too much because, all things considered, I think my kid will be fine. We can afford to give him any "extras" that he may not get at school. But I think about the other kids, his friends, who won't have that opportunity. And that makes me sad. And I think about the entire generation of students in this county who won't even interact with another child who isn't similarly privileged and that makes me sad, too. Some things just can't be taught, they have to be lived to be learned. |
Anonymous
|
The prior post here is absolutely right. Having low income kids in schools is an asset to the school itself and the kids. The unequal education starts to happen when a school rises above 50% FARMS, like barcroft, Randolph and carlin springs. Henry is in danger of losing its Title I status because I believe it is at about 40% FARMs. Oakridge is at about 30%. And guess what, that is a sweet spot ratio where everyone benefits from diversity and the lower income kids are getting the resources they need and doing well in school. What we have now, partly because of the market, and unfortunately by political design and policy, is separate and unequal educational system in large sections of the county. APS touts a world class education, and that should Apply to all the kids in the county, not just to those with wealthier parents.
Reading through this really long thread it seams like a lot of you get it. Do something about it. Join CARD. |
Anonymous
| Blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah. Just move to Loudoun County where the clock is set back to 1994. |