APS: I can't keep up! (ASFS)

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

Maybe with the current boundary, but that is changing and it will move away from the lower income housing. It will ultimately look more like Taylor since that is Taylor boundary now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just watched the school board meeting. The ASFS parents really didn't come off well.
I know that it is a hard temptation to resist, but I wish we could collectively resist thinking that the current space capacity issue is someone's 'fault' and that there are other schools less burdened, in a better position to be overcrowded, etc.
The fact of the matter is- all the schools are overcrowded. ASFS really isn't special. ASFS is a relatively small building- with a capacity of 553, and an enrollment of 652. But the site is pretty typical- 6.6 acres
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FAC_1300-Analysis_Final_20170214-1.pdf
http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Capacity_Utilization_FallProjections17-26_Final_Web.pdf

It really falls in the middle of the pack in terms of overcrowding.

We need more schools.

You don't understand, at a PTA meeting with a school board member who is just voted out of office.they told us that SFS numbers would double when they convert key to a countywide program. It is only moderately over capacity it now, maybe 130%? That is totally tolerable. It's this policy change that will turn science focus into an 800 students school that is what we want to put the brakes on. Just to give the county and schoolboard time to actually do analysis and projections and plan. They should just do the boundary changes that they are proposing across all north Arlington and then make key countywide program at that point.

This is not correct. If JL said this, he is mistaken. Look at the data. First off, there will no longer be Jamestown and Taylor students in the incoming class as ASFS in 2018, since the team is going away. Then if you look at the additional number of students that *could* attend ASFS from the neighborhood, if there weren't any transfers elsewhere, and you get about 40 total kids. Then figure that there will be transfers out (to option schools) from this pool and we are talking about maybe an additional kindergarten class, give or take. That is what the numbers say.

ASFS is not going to go from 563 to 800. Pure crazy talk.

Certainly adding an additional kindergarten at ASFS is not ideal, but it does not approach the missing seats at McKinley (before addition) or Claremont or Henry or Oakridge. Nor does it create an 820+ elementary school, which is what Oakridge currently is.

There was a numbers staff member at the meeting. ASFS is currently 652, with about 150 Jamestown /Taylor. The staff member said about have the neighborhood attends ASFS, half key -- so the ASFS zone has about 1000 students between key and ASFS. Let's take away all those OOB students, and drop to 500, but if the countywide lottery (which is 12 schools -- so if key is 600, it's like ASFS zone will get 8% of that so, about 50 kids will continue to go to key.) so 1000 in-bound ASFS, 50 go to key, maybe another 15 ATS? You get to a 900 student school in a couple of years -- and you know that new boundary process will be BRUTAL and delayed). Plus we have 150 students grandfathered with siblings.

There are 23 kids from Jamestown, 105 from Taylor and 15 from other schools. Kids will be grandfathered in so you won't have 1,000 kids flooding your school. The key kids will stay at Key because they are grandfathered. You might have a larger kindergarten in the first year, but there will have to be a redistricting - countywide. Science Focus hasn't been a team or Choice school in years. Stop being selfish. Kids at Oakridge and McKinley have crowding. You do not. 70-80% of kids at Randolph and Carlin Springs struggle with food instability. Science Focus is vast majority affluent.

That only works if redistricting happens before the tidal way of former key students arrives -- the SB only realized that it needs to be done now, and I bet they delay it until Reed is ready to prevent serial redistricting. If they just wait to turn key into county wide lottery until they have balanced the schools it would be more prudent.

I agree McKinely over crowding is a lesson on what not to do, they totally screwed that up -- and what they are about to do ASFS will be far worse b/c of the shear number 800 students on a smaller school -- AND by choice b/c there is no need for the lottery chance. ASFS Is already crowded with trailers, not sure why you think not.

The 'food instability' is a red herring -- how does changing school lotteries address that?? As for affluence, ASFS is already quite economically diverse, far more so than Discovery, Taylor, Jamestown, or even McKinely. And many families can't afford to just buy a new home in discovery zone or go private -- instead they will be at school with trailers over the entire field and lunch running from 9:20 -3:20 b/c the facility is way over capacity.

Please tell me that you don't believe that. The key metric that APS uses to assess economic status is Free and Reduced Meals. The APS average is 30.12%. Below is a chart of the 23 elementary schools in APS. ASFS is well below the average at 20.48%. You are correct that ASFS is more economically diverse than the schools you mentioned. But realize that this is a very false narrative. Look at the chart. Be kind. Think about more than just the kids you know and love.

Also, food instability is not a red herring if we care about all students. These kids are the most at risk and are least able to adapt to changes that APS makes.

JAMESTOWN 2.20%
TUCKAHOE 2.41%
DISCOVERY 3.34%
NOTTINGHAM 3.59%
TAYLOR 4.17%
MCKINLEY 7.54%
GLEBE 17.93%
ARLINGTON SCIENCE FOCUS 20.48%
ASHLAWN 20.59%
ARLINGTON TRADITIONAL 21.08%
OAKRIDGE 25.52%
HENRY 33.23%
LONG BRANCH 34.57%
CLAREMONT 38.18%
KEY 44.26%
ABINGDON 47.43%
DREW 53.07%
HOFFMAN BOSTON 54.70%
CAMPBELL 55.79%
BARRETT 56.04%
BARCROFT 59.22%
RANDOLPH 73.16%
CARLIN SPRINGS 79.35%

In the end, ASFS will become less diverse as the boundary shifts closer to the school.

Not true. Look at the chart. The policy changes would mean more kids at ASFS from Key and fewer from Jamestown and Taylor. This would increase the economic diversity at ASFS. It might even bring it up to the average.

Wow you really have some axe to grind don't you?

Parents want decisions to be based in facts, not anecdotes or assumptions. That is all.

The fact is the boundary will change and unfortunately the population will become less diverse.

It's a shame that some people value diversity in their school and would like to preserve it but then others come and shit all over it and ultimately remove that diversity. Nice job.

[Anonymous]

And rather than saying "hey, here is a school that is creating this great environment for all of these kids, let's try to build on that and do MORE of that over the county" these a-holes criticize the school and ultimately will remove the diversity and ruin a good thing. You are shooting yourself in the foot.

[Anonymous]

I guess it would really matter which planning units wear matching t-shirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess it would really matter which planning units wear matching t-shirts.

[Anonymous]

If the ASFS families are so concerned with diversity, I propose we bus Barcroft apts ( zoned Randolph and Barcroft) to ASFS. They will get the diversity they so cherish and those 2 schools will get a fighting chance to improve.
Win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

How about Dawson Terrace? I'd have to look at the map but I'm sure there are some options.

I love that idea but converting community centers to schools (despite the fact that many of these centers were once schools!) is politically impossible. Madison would be a great idea too. Never going to happen.

Dawson Terrace lot is quite small. I don't see how they could put a school on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the ASFS families are so concerned with diversity, I propose we bus Barcroft apts ( zoned Randolph and Barcroft) to ASFS. They will get the diversity they so cherish and those 2 schools will get a fighting chance to improve.
Win-win.

So what exactly is your beef with ASFS, did a PTA parent there steal your pony? Busing is a nonstarter ANYWHERE in the US, so why not trial to think of valid proposals rather than continuing to throw guano?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

How about Dawson Terrace? I'd have to look at the map but I'm sure there are some options.

I love that idea but converting community centers to schools (despite the fact that many of these centers were once schools!) is politically impossible. Madison would be a great idea too. Never going to happen.

Dawson Terrace lot is quite small. I don't see how they could put a school on it.

Its also the only gren space for a LOT of dense housing there and all other parks cross Lee hwy -- there would be strong opposition most likely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And rather than saying "hey, here is a school that is creating this great environment for all of these kids, let's try to build on that and do MORE of that over the county" these a-holes criticize the school and ultimately will remove the diversity and ruin a good thing. You are shooting yourself in the foot.

As a former ASFS parent I agree with you that diversity is one of the schools' strengths though it has become less SES diverse over time. How do you propose to replicate this in the county without either major boundary changes or busing?

The sad reality is that the team concept that created ASFS is broken and many ES are overcrowded. Given these two facts, admission to ASFS has to change in one way or another. And if it's going to become a neighborhood school it should serve its actual neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the ASFS families are so concerned with diversity, I propose we bus Barcroft apts ( zoned Randolph and Barcroft) to ASFS. They will get the diversity they so cherish and those 2 schools will get a fighting chance to improve.
Win-win.

Which kids will be displaced? Are those parents are ok with a long bus ride?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm just worried that we will get screwed in redrawing boundaries and end up getting bussed across the county to discovery because my planning unit doesn't contribute as much to political campaigns as the folks in Lyon village.

A. I don't think that would be the way boundaries would be redrawn
B. You need a better sense of distances.


Love,
You neighbor

Not true. I live in a condo in Clarendon and am equidistant between ASFS and Long Branch. My kids are zoned for Williamsburg currently. On a asfs mailing list I'm on (my kids go there), they said that private talks with school board members have indicated that their leaning is to put the parts of courthouse/rosslyn zoned for Williamsburg and Yorktown at discovery. There are benefits to this for the community, selfishly I want to be able to keep walking my kids to school rather than bussing them across county. The asfs list I was on was saying that backhand politics was the best way to "encourage the walk zone" for asfs at this point. Sickening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the ASFS families are so concerned with diversity, I propose we bus Barcroft apts ( zoned Randolph and Barcroft) to ASFS. They will get the diversity they so cherish and those 2 schools will get a fighting chance to improve.
Win-win.

So what exactly is your beef with ASFS, did a PTA parent there steal your pony? Busing is a nonstarter ANYWHERE in the US, so why not trial to think of valid proposals rather than continuing to throw guano?

Oh so you're not worried about lack of diversity? I was confused, because the posts here seemed to imply making it a neighborhood school would be terrible because it would make it too wealthy. Did I misread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm just worried that we will get screwed in redrawing boundaries and end up getting bussed across the county to discovery because my planning unit doesn't contribute as much to political campaigns as the folks in Lyon village.

A. I don't think that would be the way boundaries would be redrawn
B. You need a better sense of distances.


Love,
You neighbor

Not true. I live in a condo in Clarendon and am equidistant between ASFS and Long Branch. My kids are zoned for Williamsburg currently. On a asfs mailing list I'm on (my kids go there), they said that private talks with school board members have indicated that their leaning is to put the parts of courthouse/rosslyn zoned for Williamsburg and Yorktown at discovery. There are benefits to this for the community, selfishly I want to be able to keep walking my kids to school rather than bussing them across county. The asfs list I was on was saying that backhand politics was the best way to "encourage the walk zone" for asfs at this point. Sickening.

Why would they send kids to Discovery instead of just sending enough of the eastern part of Key zone to Taylor to make up for the new walk zone from Taylor to ASFS? Just because Discovery has space and they want to piss off the fewest number of people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And rather than saying "hey, here is a school that is creating this great environment for all of these kids, let's try to build on that and do MORE of that over the county" these a-holes criticize the school and ultimately will remove the diversity and ruin a good thing. You are shooting yourself in the foot.

As a former ASFS parent I agree with you that diversity is one of the schools' strengths though it has become less SES diverse over time. How do you propose to replicate this in the county without either major boundary changes or busing?

The sad reality is that the team concept that created ASFS is broken and many ES are overcrowded. Given these two facts, admission to ASFS has to change in one way or another. And if it's going to become a neighborhood school it should serve its actual neighborhood.

I'm in Courthouse up by Lee Highway. If ASFS becomes local to the houses surrounding it (fairly logical), where are my kids supposed to go if I don't want bilingual education? There are no walkable schools. I don't actually care at this point because my last kid is in the upper grades and this won't affect us, but they should have stopped allowing transfers in from anywhere that wasn't right nearby (e.g., Jamestown kids go to Jamestown, and northern Taylor go to a Taylor). ASFS is a lovely neighborhood school, and it just needs some boundary adjustments and no more "teaming". The big mistake was made when ASFS/Key wasn't included in the boundary redraw exercise.