Tell me about Alexandria and South Arlington Schools

[Anonymous]

Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

You realize that you're quoting Great Schools, right? And that Great Schools isn't exactly taken seriously by anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Barrett (in North Arlington) also tanked. Was a 7 last year and is a 4 this year. What is going on there?

What's going on there is Great Schools isn't a reliable arbiter of school quality. Full stop. Please don't think Internet school ratings systems are valid or contain any insight. That is truly stupidity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Oh, I'm sure most thought quite thoroughly about about what the school pyramid would of be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barrett (in North Arlington) also tanked. Was a 7 last year and is a 4 this year. What is going on there?

What's going on there is Great Schools isn't a reliable arbiter of school quality. Full stop. Please don't think Internet school ratings systems are valid or contain any insight. That is truly stupidity.

You must be a member of our county board! Nothing to see here folks! Move along...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barrett (in North Arlington) also tanked. Was a 7 last year and is a 4 this year. What is going on there?

What's going on there is Great Schools isn't a reliable arbiter of school quality. Full stop. Please don't think Internet school ratings systems are valid or contain any insight. That is truly stupidity.

You must be a member of our county board! Nothing to see here folks! Move along...

^Agree PP. Most likely is or some PTA President.

It's worth reading the (often pumped up and obviously admin/teacher pushed to be written) student comments on Great Schools for any school being considered. Once in a while a gem of truth comes through that cuts right through the chaff so you can see daylight in your decision making. Also good way to keep your finger on the pulse of an individual school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barrett (in North Arlington) also tanked. Was a 7 last year and is a 4 this year. What is going on there?

What's going on there is Great Schools isn't a reliable arbiter of school quality. Full stop. Please don't think Internet school ratings systems are valid or contain any insight. That is truly stupidity.

You must be a member of our county board! Nothing to see here folks! Move along...

^Agree PP. Most likely is or some PTA President.

It's worth reading the (often pumped up and obviously admin/teacher pushed to be written) student comments on Great Schools for any school being considered. Once in a while a gem of truth comes through that cuts right through the chaff so you can see daylight in your decision making. Also good way to keep your finger on the pulse of an individual school.

Holy cow! I just read some recent reviews. Not good (but are they actually parents)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Wrong school district. This is what ACPS has done with Jefferson-Houston. Take a look at the boundary for J-H. It makes no sense. It was a clear move to isolate the poorest students at one school so other failing schools (at the time) could succeed. And it worked. J-H bottomed out and several other schools improved.

Arlington's boundaries have always made sense geographically. North Arlington has gotten significantly more wealthy and whiter over the last 20 years. That evolution has been driven by a lot of variables and has more to do with the economic development policies of the County than some grand conspiracy to keep poor kids out of N Arlington schools. Go back in time 30-40 years and put the metro above ground and make different planning decisions in the rosslyn-ballston corridor and the County would likely look a lot different and there would be more naturally occurring diversity.

So what is your suggestion? Should we bus low-income kids into non-neighborhood schools in N. Arlington? Or vice versa? I'm interested to hear your practical solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Wrong school district. This is what ACPS has done with Jefferson-Houston. Take a look at the boundary for J-H. It makes no sense. It was a clear move to isolate the poorest students at one school so other failing schools (at the time) could succeed. And it worked. J-H bottomed out and several other schools improved.

Arlington's boundaries have always made sense geographically. North Arlington has gotten significantly more wealthy and whiter over the last 20 years. That evolution has been driven by a lot of variables and has more to do with the economic development policies of the County than some grand conspiracy to keep poor kids out of N Arlington schools. Go back in time 30-40 years and put the metro above ground and make different planning decisions in the rosslyn-ballston corridor and the County would likely look a lot different and there would be more naturally occurring diversity.

So what is your suggestion? Should we bus low-income kids into non-neighborhood schools in N. Arlington? Or vice versa? I'm interested to hear your practical solutions.

There has been like 1 million posts on this. The problem isn't how the school board draws the lines. It's how the county board pushes for affordable housing. Put a moratorium on it around Columbia Pike. Any additionally new low income housing should be located along Lee highway and zoned to north Arlington schools. It will take decades to fix at this point, but they need to start now if there is any hope to correct the issue.
In the mean time- have more choice options for south Arlington students.

Housing policy is school policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

I don't blame anyone it's human nature. What are the biggest drivers around here. Commute length and school quality.

If you redraw the school boundary lines property values will adjust and you will be right back where you started.

The actual solution is not giving up on your neighborhood school but again most parents want what it best for their kids and will go for AAP magnets or private if they are in a "lower performing" school district. The most drastic version of this is Alexandria Public schools and DC public schools. It is starting to happen more and more in South Arlington and Fairfax County. If the upper 1/3 of people in Alexandria actually used public schools the entire district would be much healthier. Again I don't blame parents for pulling their kids out but it's a pretty easy fix and would save the parents money too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Wrong school district. This is what ACPS has done with Jefferson-Houston. Take a look at the boundary for J-H. It makes no sense. It was a clear move to isolate the poorest students at one school so other failing schools (at the time) could succeed. And it worked. J-H bottomed out and several other schools improved.

Arlington's boundaries have always made sense geographically. North Arlington has gotten significantly more wealthy and whiter over the last 20 years. That evolution has been driven by a lot of variables and has more to do with the economic development policies of the County than some grand conspiracy to keep poor kids out of N Arlington schools. Go back in time 30-40 years and put the metro above ground and make different planning decisions in the rosslyn-ballston corridor and the County would likely look a lot different and there would be more naturally occurring diversity.

So what is your suggestion? Should we bus low-income kids into non-neighborhood schools in N. Arlington? Or vice versa? I'm interested to hear your practical solutions.

There has been like 1 million posts on this. The problem isn't how the school board draws the lines. It's how the county board pushes for affordable housing. Put a moratorium on it around Columbia Pike. Any additionally new low income housing should be located along Lee highway and zoned to north Arlington schools. It will take decades to fix at this point, but they need to start now if there is any hope to correct the issue.
In the mean time- have more choice options for south Arlington students.

Housing policy is school policy.

I'm guessing you don't know how much goes into actually finding properties and negotiating with developers to include affordable housing units. This is stating the obvious, but the government doesn't own all the land and just dictate the terms. Developers are in it to make money and it's all a lot more complicated (and costly) than you're making it out to be.

For a lot of reasons, there are a lot more workable options on Columbia Pike. So issuing a moratorium on Columbia Pike will effectively just mean less affordable housing.

I don't disagree with anything your saying really. I just think the suggested "fixes" are naive and simplistic and you're giving the County way too much credit. The government is one player in a free market environment. We still live in a free market economy.

[Anonymous]

I've got a pretty good idea how difficult it is to negotiate terms, space etc for AH. I however think it's naive not to acknowledge how much the county board has done to disrupt the free market in that part of town. Terrible social engineering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Wrong school district. This is what ACPS has done with Jefferson-Houston. Take a look at the boundary for J-H. It makes no sense. It was a clear move to isolate the poorest students at one school so other failing schools (at the time) could succeed. And it worked. J-H bottomed out and several other schools improved.

Arlington's boundaries have always made sense geographically. North Arlington has gotten significantly more wealthy and whiter over the last 20 years. That evolution has been driven by a lot of variables and has more to do with the economic development policies of the County than some grand conspiracy to keep poor kids out of N Arlington schools. Go back in time 30-40 years and put the metro above ground and make different planning decisions in the rosslyn-ballston corridor and the County would likely look a lot different and there would be more naturally occurring diversity.

So what is your suggestion? Should we bus low-income kids into non-neighborhood schools in N. Arlington? Or vice versa? I'm interested to hear your practical solutions.

There has been like 1 million posts on this. The problem isn't how the school board draws the lines. It's how the county board pushes for affordable housing. Put a moratorium on it around Columbia Pike. Any additionally new low income housing should be located along Lee highway and zoned to north Arlington schools. It will take decades to fix at this point, but they need to start now if there is any hope to correct the issue.
In the mean time- have more choice options for south Arlington students.

Housing policy is school policy.

My first suggestion is that people of means who are considering where to live should think long and hard about what makes a school a "good school" and they should consider what exactly it is they're buying into with their purchasing power. And yes, I would love it if more people who live in areas with "bad schools" sent their kids to public schools, but they aren't going to be the change alone. I suggest people who consider themselves progressive/liberal should live their ideals instead of just writing checks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a comparison of the ratings for elementaries in North Arlington

Jamestown - 10
Tuckahoe - 10
McKinley - 10
Nottingham - 10
Science Focus - 10
Ashlawn - 9
Taylor - 9
Glebe - 9
Long Branch - 8
Barret - 4


Swanson middle school - 9
Williamsburg middle - 9

Washington- Lee high school - 6
Yorktown high school - 7

Really all this proves to me is that Arlington has been successful at quietly doing what Loudoun is now being publicly criticized for, which is concentrating all the poor and ESL students at a few elementary schools in south Arlington (and one in north Arlington). We are on the wrong side of history, and I hope that anyone reading this post understands how when they choose to buy a home in north Arlington "for the schools" they are passively reinforcing segregation. Please understand, I'm not saying everyone who lives in north Arlington is a racist. I'm sure many (most) didn't even think about this issue when making their purchase. But that is the unintended consequence. Poor people can't afford to live in any of the "good school" zones in Arlington, so they aren't the ones making this choice.

Wrong school district. This is what ACPS has done with Jefferson-Houston. Take a look at the boundary for J-H. It makes no sense. It was a clear move to isolate the poorest students at one school so other failing schools (at the time) could succeed. And it worked. J-H bottomed out and several other schools improved.

Arlington's boundaries have always made sense geographically. North Arlington has gotten significantly more wealthy and whiter over the last 20 years. That evolution has been driven by a lot of variables and has more to do with the economic development policies of the County than some grand conspiracy to keep poor kids out of N Arlington schools. Go back in time 30-40 years and put the metro above ground and make different planning decisions in the rosslyn-ballston corridor and the County would likely look a lot different and there would be more naturally occurring diversity.

So what is your suggestion? Should we bus low-income kids into non-neighborhood schools in N. Arlington? Or vice versa? I'm interested to hear your practical solutions.

There has been like 1 million posts on this. The problem isn't how the school board draws the lines. It's how the county board pushes for affordable housing. Put a moratorium on it around Columbia Pike. Any additionally new low income housing should be located along Lee highway and zoned to north Arlington schools. It will take decades to fix at this point, but they need to start now if there is any hope to correct the issue.
In the mean time- have more choice options for south Arlington students.

Housing policy is school policy.

My first suggestion is that people of means who are considering where to live should think long and hard about what makes a school a "good school" and they should consider what exactly it is they're buying into with their purchasing power. And yes, I would love it if more people who live in areas with "bad schools" sent their kids to public schools, but they aren't going to be the change alone. I suggest people who consider themselves progressive/liberal should live their ideals instead of just writing checks.

Good idea and noble aspiration, but limousine liberals have been around for a long time and aren't going anywhere. Unless their snowflake's school in North Arlington gets too "diverse," that is.