APS How F’ed are the schools with MM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school.

That's what eminent domain is for. Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school. that's the whole problem. You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities. That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen. If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it. I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...). Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.

Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that. Or just keep crowding kids into WL? County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.

Let this go. It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense. Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other. There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech? Nothing like this currently exists. How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?

DP. And they still need space for these programs.

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it. People fall all over themselves to get into HB. Why would this be any different if marketed well. I'm telling you they've already started doing this. They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream. Over subscribed and lottery in place. A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.

Basically AT is going to be viewed as vocational plus, with DE credit that only applies in-state schools more or less. With its co-location with actual vocational programs like hair styling, cooking, and HVAC repair at Career Center, it will never have the wide appeal of HB.

But there still may be enough interest to fill the schools and have a waitlist; and I’m sure eventually they will expand the campus with trailers and expand the AT program. It won’t have the protected capped population of HB lofted off in The Heights.

This is not true and already not true. It is billed as a rigorous STEM program (the word rigorous is used by APS) and many high achieving, college-bound kids are choosing it and excited about it. I have a middle school kid and know parents of 8th graders. Kids were clamoring to get in and feeling good about getting a spot following the lottery.

Just because it's in the same building as vocational programs, it's not tainted as you are suggesting (which yes is kind of gross for you to say). It's specific to APS that programs are not more often co-located. In many districts, vocational programs and college-track courses are in the same facilities and the students are all together.

BS. I went to a rural school district and our vocational program was call “Cowtown Tech” and was it’s own separate campus.

Btw PP that’s the problem with the “Tech” moniker. TJ is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

But most vocational schools are call vo-tech schools, and then co-locating it at Career Center really muddies the message.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational-technical_school

PP is right. It will be swamped with applicants desperate to leave Wakefield, so it will be as “popular” as HB.

But they will expand the size. You can build modular trailers on a rooftop surface lot. They can increase class size or make career center students do night shift. Don’t worry it’s coming.

It really hasn’t muddied the message for most people but I guess you are slow. Because the idea they would put trailers on the of a 4 level parking deck is flat out dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school.

That's what eminent domain is for. Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school. that's the whole problem. You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities. That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen. If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it. I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...). Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.

Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that. Or just keep crowding kids into WL? County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.

Let this go. It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense. Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other. There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech? Nothing like this currently exists. How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?

DP. And they still need space for these programs.

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it. People fall all over themselves to get into HB. Why would this be any different if marketed well. I'm telling you they've already started doing this. They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream. Over subscribed and lottery in place. A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.

Basically AT is going to be viewed as vocational plus, with DE credit that only applies in-state schools more or less. With its co-location with actual vocational programs like hair styling, cooking, and HVAC repair at Career Center, it will never have the wide appeal of HB.

But there still may be enough interest to fill the schools and have a waitlist; and I’m sure eventually they will expand the campus with trailers and expand the AT program. It won’t have the protected capped population of HB lofted off in The Heights.

This is not true and already not true. It is billed as a rigorous STEM program (the word rigorous is used by APS) and many high achieving, college-bound kids are choosing it and excited about it. I have a middle school kid and know parents of 8th graders. Kids were clamoring to get in and feeling good about getting a spot following the lottery.

Just because it's in the same building as vocational programs, it's not tainted as you are suggesting (which yes is kind of gross for you to say). It's specific to APS that programs are not more often co-located. In many districts, vocational programs and college-track courses are in the same facilities and the students are all together.

BS. I went to a rural school district and our vocational program was call “Cowtown Tech” and was it’s own separate campus.

Btw PP that’s the problem with the “Tech” moniker. TJ is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

But most vocational schools are call vo-tech schools, and then co-locating it at Career Center really muddies the message.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational-technical_school

PP is right. It will be swamped with applicants desperate to leave Wakefield, so it will be as “popular” as HB.

But they will expand the size. You can build modular trailers on a rooftop surface lot. They can increase class size or make career center students do night shift. Don’t worry it’s coming.

It really hasn’t muddied the message for most people but I guess you are slow. Because the idea they would put trailers on the of a 4 level parking deck is flat out dumb.

Do you think it’s physically impossible — it’s not because there are modular versions. Do you think it’s a bad idea for students? Sure but that hasn’t stopped a lot of dumb APS decisions. They could designate them as career center space and free up rooms for AT for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school.

That's what eminent domain is for. Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school. that's the whole problem. You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities. That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen. If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it. I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...). Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.

Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that. Or just keep crowding kids into WL? County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.

Let this go. It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense. Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other. There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech? Nothing like this currently exists. How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?

DP. And they still need space for these programs.

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it. People fall all over themselves to get into HB. Why would this be any different if marketed well. I'm telling you they've already started doing this. They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream. Over subscribed and lottery in place. A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.

Basically AT is going to be viewed as vocational plus, with DE credit that only applies in-state schools more or less. With its co-location with actual vocational programs like hair styling, cooking, and HVAC repair at Career Center, it will never have the wide appeal of HB.

But there still may be enough interest to fill the schools and have a waitlist; and I’m sure eventually they will expand the campus with trailers and expand the AT program. It won’t have the protected capped population of HB lofted off in The Heights.

This is not true and already not true. It is billed as a rigorous STEM program (the word rigorous is used by APS) and many high achieving, college-bound kids are choosing it and excited about it. I have a middle school kid and know parents of 8th graders. Kids were clamoring to get in and feeling good about getting a spot following the lottery.

Just because it's in the same building as vocational programs, it's not tainted as you are suggesting (which yes is kind of gross for you to say). It's specific to APS that programs are not more often co-located. In many districts, vocational programs and college-track courses are in the same facilities and the students are all together.

BS. I went to a rural school district and our vocational program was call “Cowtown Tech” and was it’s own separate campus.

Btw PP that’s the problem with the “Tech” moniker. TJ is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

But most vocational schools are call vo-tech schools, and then co-locating it at Career Center really muddies the message.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational-technical_school

PP is right. It will be swamped with applicants desperate to leave Wakefield, so it will be as “popular” as HB.

But they will expand the size. You can build modular trailers on a rooftop surface lot. They can increase class size or make career center students do night shift. Don’t worry it’s coming.

It really hasn’t muddied the message for most people but I guess you are slow. Because the idea they would put trailers on the of a 4 level parking deck is flat out dumb.

Wow you fell for the marketing as it being a mini-TJ didn’t you.

[Anonymous]

NP. I'm involved in Career Center campus makeover. I just want to clarify about trailers - they won't happen. There is swing/grow space built into plan. The idea is to build more of the building at corner 7th and Walter Reed. I guess a backup to that backup is to leave the Henry building standing, but that would be truly stupid because half the reason to do the whole campus thing is because the Henry building is soooo old it must be torn down. Rehabbing was prohibitely expensive even money was cheap. Anyway, while it's true that ArlTech will be "capped", the cap is above what will be built. If you build out the new building to its full extent you can get the number of HS seats up to 2300 alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I'm involved in Career Center campus makeover. I just want to clarify about trailers - they won't happen. There is swing/grow space built into plan. The idea is to build more of the building at corner 7th and Walter Reed. I guess a backup to that backup is to leave the Henry building standing, but that would be truly stupid because half the reason to do the whole campus thing is because the Henry building is soooo old it must be torn down. Rehabbing was prohibitely expensive even money was cheap. Anyway, while it's true that ArlTech will be "capped", the cap is above what will be built. If you build out the new building to its full extent you can get the number of HS seats up to 2300 alone.

Thanks for clarifying. So AT will expand in size as a release valve for other high schools, unlike HB which has the firm 450 high school cap.

[Anonymous]

I also meant to add that the whole idea of building out/trailers for option schools doesn't happen for good reasons. I think people who are not in option programs often see them as quick fixes for short-term student population surges in neighborhood schools. While they absolutely help meet surges within the system, you can't just pop up and dump trailers in options programs. Why? Once you admit students you have to be prepared to host them for the whole journey of the program. If you admit 2X immersion students from K one year because of a demographic surge, you have to then be able to host them through5th or 8th. You don't kick out students later and say "sorry, we only let you in for a year because your neighborhood was crowded."

[Anonymous]

APS approved the design for the Career Center that was for 1550 students. That is the larger design. PP above is misinformed. See: https://www.apsva.us/engage/arlington-career-center-project/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS approved the design for the Career Center that was for 1550 students. That is the larger design. PP above is misinformed. See: https://www.apsva.us/engage/arlington-career-center-project/

But it does have the space for future buildings which would bump it to 2300. It’s already planned on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school.

That's what eminent domain is for. Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school. that's the whole problem. You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities. That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen. If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it. I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...). Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.

Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that. Or just keep crowding kids into WL? County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.

Let this go. It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense. Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other. There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech? Nothing like this currently exists. How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?

DP. And they still need space for these programs.

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it. People fall all over themselves to get into HB. Why would this be any different if marketed well. I'm telling you they've already started doing this. They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream. Over subscribed and lottery in place. A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.

Basically AT is going to be viewed as vocational plus, with DE credit that only applies in-state schools more or less. With its co-location with actual vocational programs like hair styling, cooking, and HVAC repair at Career Center, it will never have the wide appeal of HB.

But there still may be enough interest to fill the schools and have a waitlist; and I’m sure eventually they will expand the campus with trailers and expand the AT program. It won’t have the protected capped population of HB lofted off in The Heights.

This is not true and already not true. It is billed as a rigorous STEM program (the word rigorous is used by APS) and many high achieving, college-bound kids are choosing it and excited about it. I have a middle school kid and know parents of 8th graders. Kids were clamoring to get in and feeling good about getting a spot following the lottery.

Just because it's in the same building as vocational programs, it's not tainted as you are suggesting (which yes is kind of gross for you to say). It's specific to APS that programs are not more often co-located. In many districts, vocational programs and college-track courses are in the same facilities and the students are all together.

BS. I went to a rural school district and our vocational program was call “Cowtown Tech” and was it’s own separate campus.

Btw PP that’s the problem with the “Tech” moniker. TJ is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

But most vocational schools are call vo-tech schools, and then co-locating it at Career Center really muddies the message.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational-technical_school

PP is right. It will be swamped with applicants desperate to leave Wakefield, so it will be as “popular” as HB.

But they will expand the size. You can build modular trailers on a rooftop surface lot. They can increase class size or make career center students do night shift. Don’t worry it’s coming.

It really hasn’t muddied the message for most people but I guess you are slow. Because the idea they would put trailers on the of a 4 level parking deck is flat out dumb.

Wow you fell for the marketing as it being a mini-TJ didn’t you.

It was NEVER marketed as such!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also meant to add that the whole idea of building out/trailers for option schools doesn't happen for good reasons. I think people who are not in option programs often see them as quick fixes for short-term student population surges in neighborhood schools. While they absolutely help meet surges within the system, you can't just pop up and dump trailers in options programs. Why? Once you admit students you have to be prepared to host them for the whole journey of the program. If you admit 2X immersion students from K one year because of a demographic surge, you have to then be able to host them through5th or 8th. You don't kick out students later and say "sorry, we only let you in for a year because your neighborhood was crowded."

Um...so you're saying you can't expand option schools because you're stuck with the kids all the way through; but you can over-extend a neighborhood school with no definite timeframe for any boundary shifts or additions or new schools being built. That it's not fair to kick-out program kids; but you can kick-out neighborhood kids.

Option schools should not be insurance policies for families to avoid overcrowding. I get the not kicking-out because it means a different curriculum (immersion, for example...ATS, not a different program per se; just what all neighborhood schools should be doing. Montessori and HB, not a huge deal either as far as programs, IMO but others will disagree) Anyway, I disagree. You don't get to ditch out of your undesired neighborhood school and then also be protected from overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS approved the design for the Career Center that was for 1550 students. That is the larger design. PP above is misinformed. See: https://www.apsva.us/engage/arlington-career-center-project/

But it does have the space for future buildings which would bump it to 2300. It’s already planned on.

No, that's not correct. 1550 is the expanded design. You are thinking of the last plans. There are no plans for the new building to ever grow to that size. They are building the extra space now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS approved the design for the Career Center that was for 1550 students. That is the larger design. PP above is misinformed. See: https://www.apsva.us/engage/arlington-career-center-project/

But it does have the space for future buildings which would bump it to 2300. It’s already planned on.

No, that's not correct. 1550 is the expanded design. You are thinking of the last plans. There are no plans for the new building to ever grow to that size. They are building the extra space now.

No, take a look at the final approved design - the corner of 7th and Walter Reed was not built out. It remains growth space for additional seats later. And, get this, you can build it 3-4 stories. I know what you're saying about there are no plans and you're right. But there is a plan for what to do if there is ever a need to build out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also meant to add that the whole idea of building out/trailers for option schools doesn't happen for good reasons. I think people who are not in option programs often see them as quick fixes for short-term student population surges in neighborhood schools. While they absolutely help meet surges within the system, you can't just pop up and dump trailers in options programs. Why? Once you admit students you have to be prepared to host them for the whole journey of the program. If you admit 2X immersion students from K one year because of a demographic surge, you have to then be able to host them through5th or 8th. You don't kick out students later and say "sorry, we only let you in for a year because your neighborhood was crowded."

Um...so you're saying you can't expand option schools because you're stuck with the kids all the way through; but you can over-extend a neighborhood school with no definite timeframe for any boundary shifts or additions or new schools being built. That it's not fair to kick-out program kids; but you can kick-out neighborhood kids.

Option schools should not be insurance policies for families to avoid overcrowding. I get the not kicking-out because it means a different curriculum (immersion, for example...ATS, not a different program per se; just what all neighborhood schools should be doing. Montessori and HB, not a huge deal either as far as programs, IMO but others will disagree) Anyway, I disagree. You don't get to ditch out of your undesired neighborhood school and then also be protected from overcrowding.

Its not that options are insurance policies for families in crowded neighborhoods, they are not at all. For starters, you have to get in one, and all options are limited by the very few open seats available every year. It's just that once you get in an option, that program must be ready to carry you all the way through, and in most options that means 8th grade. On the flip side, you are guaranteed a seat in your neighborhood. That may seem obvious but it's a big difference when you are designing a school system. If the Jamestown-to-Yorktown pyramid is important to you, all you have to do is be in-boundary and you're guaranteed a seat, no matter how overcrowded. Your neighborhood school must either add trailers or, in reality, reassign you to a new neighborhood in order to accommodate you. Another option is giving you preference to transfer to another school. But many people apply to get into Montessori or Immersion and never get the chance to begin with. There are pros and cons to both pathways, they just come in different ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS approved the design for the Career Center that was for 1550 students. That is the larger design. PP above is misinformed. See: https://www.apsva.us/engage/arlington-career-center-project/

But it does have the space for future buildings which would bump it to 2300. It’s already planned on.

No, that's not correct. 1550 is the expanded design. You are thinking of the last plans. There are no plans for the new building to ever grow to that size. They are building the extra space now.

No, take a look at the final approved design - the corner of 7th and Walter Reed was not built out. It remains growth space for additional seats later. And, get this, you can build it 3-4 stories. I know what you're saying about there are no plans and you're right. But there is a plan for what to do if there is ever a need to build out.

No. They said they were able to redesign the larger building to pull back more from 7th and Walter Reed. They did this to make it fit to the neighborhood better. They picked (and are building) the larger option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school.

That's what eminent domain is for. Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school. that's the whole problem. You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities. That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen. If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it. I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...). Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.


Certain schools are not allowed to have any trailers on their campus, due to the design layout. Examples are Discovery, Fleet, HB, and Arlington Tech, too, once it’s finished, iirc.
Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that. Or just keep crowding kids into WL? County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.

Let this go. It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense. Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other. There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech? Nothing like this currently exists. How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?

DP. And they still need space for these programs.

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it. People fall all over themselves to get into HB. Why would this be any different if marketed well. I'm telling you they've already started doing this. They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream. Over subscribed and lottery in place. A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.

Basically AT is going to be viewed as vocational plus, with DE credit that only applies in-state schools more or less. With its co-location with actual vocational programs like hair styling, cooking, and HVAC repair at Career Center, it will never have the wide appeal of HB.

But there still may be enough interest to fill the schools and have a waitlist; and I’m sure eventually they will expand the campus with trailers and expand the AT program. It won’t have the protected capped population of HB lofted off in The Heights.

This is not true and already not true. It is billed as a rigorous STEM program (the word rigorous is used by APS) and many high achieving, college-bound kids are choosing it and excited about it. I have a middle school kid and know parents of 8th graders. Kids were clamoring to get in and feeling good about getting a spot following the lottery.

Just because it's in the same building as vocational programs, it's not tainted as you are suggesting (which yes is kind of gross for you to say). It's specific to APS that programs are not more often co-located. In many districts, vocational programs and college-track courses are in the same facilities and the students are all together.

BS. I went to a rural school district and our vocational program was call “Cowtown Tech” and was it’s own separate campus.

Btw PP that’s the problem with the “Tech” moniker. TJ is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

But most vocational schools are call vo-tech schools, and then co-locating it at Career Center really muddies the message.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocational-technical_school

PP is right. It will be swamped with applicants desperate to leave Wakefield, so it will be as “popular” as HB.

But they will expand the size. You can build modular trailers on a rooftop surface lot. They can increase class size or make career center students do night shift. Don’t worry it’s coming.

It really hasn’t muddied the message for most people but I guess you are slow. Because the idea they would put trailers on the of a 4 level parking deck is flat out dumb.

Do you think it’s physically impossible — it’s not because there are modular versions. Do you think it’s a bad idea for students? Sure but that hasn’t stopped a lot of dumb APS decisions. They could designate them as career center space and free up rooms for AT for example.