ACPS -- what am I missing?

[Anonymous]

OP unfortunately it's just not a good system, as much as we wish it was. Not much has changed in 20yrs and not much will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria Times, March 17, 2022
Your Views: Times columnists need viewpoint diversity
https://alextimes.com/2022/03/your-views-times-columnists-need-viewpoint-diversity/


"....I was disheartened to learn that no economically disadvantaged student – or perhaps one, concealed by rounding – at my neighborhood elementary school, Naomi L. Brooks, earned a passing grade in science last year. According to the Virginia Department of Education, the share of economically disadvantaged students at Naomi Brooks who passed science declined from 47% in 2018-2019 to 0% in 2020-2021; mathematics dropped from 39% to 3%.

At Alexandria City High School, these figures decline from 56% to 26% and 58% to 28%, respectively. With no irony, the ACPS website header features “Equity for All” in large type. We have a duty to foster educational excellence and to hold public officials accountable for the same.

Alexandria’s education leaders use this platform to pay lip service to unspecified equity goals rather than leading with concrete actions addressing the gravest scandal in our city: the staggering achievement gap among our most vulnerable children...."

I think we can agree that last year’s scores were outliers for obvious reasons. I’m more interested in what happens this year and next. Economically disadvantaged children were less likely during virtual learning to actually attend class and do the work. They were less likely to have someone at home making sure they weren’t just joining the meeting and then going off and playing video games. Plenty of advantaged kids did that too, but the affects weren’t as significant in many cases.

I agree, last year's (2020-2021) score were outliers. BUT the pre-covid scores were pretty awful too. And that's where the systemic problems come in, ACPS has been failing the most vulnerable kids for years.

Using Brooks as the example again, pre-pandemic only 42% economically disadvantaged kids were proficient in reading and and 39% in math. And looking at the other ES that are considered "good schools", George Mason was at 38% in reading and 46% in math. Barrett looked like rockstars by breaking 50% at 54% for reading and 58% for math. These kids have been failed for years, well before the covid shut downs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

Puhlease. The FB groups are sounding board echo chambers for the same 2 dozen loud mouth moms that do nothing but cheerlead. None of them actual help, volunteer, coach etc. Maaaaayyyybe they chaperone once in a blue moon. But the whole point of this for them is attention seeking. Always makes me wonder what they are lacking at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

+1.

How about the PTAC member that was banned from her kid's elementary school for celebrating violence against children? It's like something out of Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

+1.

How about the PTAC member that was banned from her kid's elementary school for celebrating violence against children? It's like something out of Florida.

NP here. She lives in my neighborhood and is still bat$hit crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

There is no way YOU live in ACPS if you suggest a parent can publicly complain about ACPS, even mildly, without facing backlash or being censored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

Puhlease. The FB groups are sounding board echo chambers for the same 2 dozen loud mouth moms that do nothing but cheerlead. None of them actual help, volunteer, coach etc. Maaaaayyyybe they chaperone once in a blue moon. But the whole point of this for them is attention seeking. Always makes me wonder what they are lacking at home.

You can post on those groups looking to connect with parents from a school or on a specific topic and then you take the conversation off of the public forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

+1.

How about the PTAC member that was banned from her kid's elementary school for celebrating violence against children? It's like something out of Florida.

NP here. She lives in my neighborhood and is still bat$hit crazy.

+2

[Anonymous]

The superintendent is starting a school police advisory group but keeping the public out of the meetings so members can voice support for law enforcement without being attacked. https://wtop.com/alexandria/2022/04/alexandria-school-board-oks-school-police-advisory-group/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The superintendent is starting a school police advisory group but keeping the public out of the meetings so members can voice support for law enforcement without being attacked. https://wtop.com/alexandria/2022/04/alexandria-school-board-oks-school-police-advisory-group/

You can bet that Tenants and Workers are already scheming to their advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The superintendent is starting a school police advisory group but keeping the public out of the meetings so members can voice support for law enforcement without being attacked. https://wtop.com/alexandria/2022/04/alexandria-school-board-oks-school-police-advisory-group/

You can bet that Tenants and Workers are already scheming to their advantage.

I am no ACPS cheerleader, but there you go again blaming everything on TWU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP-I recommend connecting with people on some of the ACPS Facebook groups or in person. Discussions on ACPS and Alexandria in general on this board get nutty in a way I’ve never experienced in real life and I’ve lived here for 17 years and have 2 kids in ACPS. It’s not all rosy, but I think the anonymity of this board lets people say things in a way they would never dream of saying it in person (not limited to ACPS-on almost any topic). It’s also impossible to tell if the extreme views (pro and con) are multiple people or 1 or 2 really vocal people. Or people who actually have any experience with the schools.

Agree. This is a terrible forum to ask for opinions on ACPS. The anonymity takes away from the credibility of the commentary. You will never know if the person actually is at ACPS. This anonymity of the forum also enables racist tropes and racist commentary about a diverse school system. I would recommend the ACPS Facebook groups as mentioned, the school PTAs (all have Facebook pages themselves), and NextDoor, as well as visiting the schools and getting to know the parents and communities through play dates and events.

While I agree there are some racist tropes here, there is also a lot of truth here on ACPS especially compared with the ACPS Facebook groups that are “monitored” (ie censored) and filled with ACPS cheerleaders. There are plenty of parents of former ACPS students (like me - we tried for two stints) who can speak to the flaws in the system:

+1.

How about the PTAC member that was banned from her kid's elementary school for celebrating violence against children? It's like something out of Florida.

NP here. She lives in my neighborhood and is still bat$hit crazy.

I've heard about this. It tells me everything I need to know about the PTAC/PTA crew if this is who they chose as their leadership.