APS Boundary tool--anyone get it to work yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Washington-Lee just accepted fewer (or no more) IB transfers, would that solve the problem?

It would reduce the number of transfers by about 300 (http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Transfer-Report-2015-16.pdf), so in a sense, yes. But that would mean the IB program would get smaller, and that brings problems of its own.

I think requiring IB transfers to do full IB is reasonable. Not allowing any transfers doesn't sit well with me (and we are in a W-L PU that is not in play, and our kid is doing full IB).

Good point. A number of kids transfer in, not for IB, but to avoid Wakefield. They do partial IB to be allowed to continue at WL, but aren't serious IB students. I like the idea of requiring IB transfers to do the full program. Of course, that only helps with the numbers...not a full solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

So white students are nothing special, and need to get over their privilege, but it's critical for everyone else that they be rationed out to distant schools because...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

So white students are nothing special, and need to get over their privilege, but it's critical for everyone else that they be rationed out to distant schools because...?

Either you did not actually watch the segment, Neal, or you are being deliberately obtuse. I think it's both.

[Anonymous]

^^^ I'm a NP, a lawyer, and a liberal who favors diversity of all sorts in schools. It is not an easy issue. I didn't watch the clip but I can't imagine Jon Oliver, or anyone else, has come up with a ready solution to social problems that have been around now for generations. People tend to segregate themselves economically when it comes to where they live, simply as a matter of choosing to live where they can afford to live. People also tend to want to send their kids to school close to home if possible. Both of these are legitimate desires shared across all class, race, or any other lines. There's also a history of legal segregation here, and of more hidden tactics like redlining, which have had long-lasting effects on wealth accumulation, neighborhood demographics, and schools. But to try to overcome those issues all in one fell swoop does so on the backs of families who (1) are simply behaving like everyone else does in choosing where they live, and (2) themselves bear no responsibility for decisions of the past, and (3) are facing an ever more competitive world where they legitimately fear their children may not be better off than they themselves were. That's a tough pill to swallow, even if the solution is as simple as "just put them on a different bus."

I live in South Arlington BTW. Diversity is a value that's important to me, so I'm walking the walk. One of the things that is great about this county is that even the "bad" school is actually pretty darn good. The facility is beautiful, the teachers are top notch, and the kids are varied and work hard. I'll admit though, we are watching closely. DH and I grew up privileged and it wouldn't be any more fair for us to act out our bleeding heart principles if it comes at the cost of our children's futures, than to have the county force us to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

So white students are nothing special, and need to get over their privilege, but it's critical for everyone else that they be rationed out to distant schools because...?

That's in irrelevant question in Arlington, as there are no "distant" schools. More than half of the people in Arlington live within three miles of TWO high schools and the farthest cross-county trips to a high school (Crystal City to Yorktown, Chain Bridge to Wakefield) is eight miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

I think it's more accurate to say that there are more low-performing students at Wakefield than there are at most other high schools in NoVA. That doesn't mean the school isn't a good one, nor does it mean that there aren't plenty of high-performing students there as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

I think it's more accurate to say that there are more low-performing students at Wakefield than there are at most other high schools in NoVA. That doesn't mean the school isn't a good one, nor does it mean that there aren't plenty of high-performing students there as well.

There aren't "plenty" of high-performing students there now. Maybe that will change in the future if people buy into the notion that things can improve.

[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:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

I think it's more accurate to say that there are more low-performing students at Wakefield than there are at most other high schools in NoVA. That doesn't mean the school isn't a good one, nor does it mean that there aren't plenty of high-performing students there as well.

There aren't "plenty" of high-performing students there now. Maybe that will change in the future if people buy into the notion that things can improve.

What needs to improve? Isn't it a circular argument? If people wait for "things to improve," but things won't improve until more people with means make the choice to enroll there--the only way things will improve is if an outside actor--in this case, the school board--makes the decision for them. By changing the boundaries.

[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:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

I think it's more accurate to say that there are more low-performing students at Wakefield than there are at most other high schools in NoVA. That doesn't mean the school isn't a good one, nor does it mean that there aren't plenty of high-performing students there as well.

There aren't "plenty" of high-performing students there now. Maybe that will change in the future if people buy into the notion that things can improve.

Really? There aren't?
You don't think less affluent students can be high performers? Or do you think that there are only a handful, regardless of whether they are poor or well off? And what makes you say that? Honest question.

[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:
Don't assume PP is a troll. It is an interesting point. For everyone on here calling for the importance of diversity and the benefit to the disadvantaged kids at Wakefield, have you already submitting the transfer request to have your child attend Wakefield even though you are zoned for Yorktown or W-L? There is capacity, so your transfer request would be approved. It's very easy to be a liberal in far north Arlington and talk about the importance of diversity, but very hypocritical to not then live it when the opportunity exists.

Arlington county as a whole is about 30% economically disadvantaged, and so is W-L.

Wakefield is about 46%.
Yorktown is about 14%.

Can you see where the problem is?

The real problem is that there are six elementary schools over 50% and six elementary schools under 5%.

^^ That is de facto segregation.

Which is illegal by law. APS is above the law, it appears. At least in Loudoun it wasn't allowed...

What law do you believe APS is breaking?

NP. Presumably the Constitution, as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment was cited by the Supreme Court in Brown vs Board of Education when ruling that separate but equal schools were illegal.

Unfortunately, it was speaking of de jure segregation, not de facto segregation, so what Arlington is doing now is not illegal. But I think it is, as John Oliver pointed out last Sunday, bullshit to argue that de facto segregation (we're just doing it by neighborhood!) is a whole lot better than what Virginia was doing 50 years ago, if the end result is THE EXACT SAME.

In case anyone want to watch the segment, it's on youtube. Very timely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yiYCHMAlM

I saw this segment when it aired and thought about posting it here. It's a very sad dose of reality. Those who think we all have equal opportunities in this country are kidding themselves. That said, I'm not sure how much this applies to Wakefield, which, although it has low test scores influencing the Great Schools ranking seems like a relatively good school. That said, like many on this board I think it's imperative to keep the percentage of economically disadvantaged kids there the same as it is now, or reduce it. We are currently zoned for W&L, but we're in one of the PUs that could be moved to Wakefield, likely not this time, then possibly 2020-2022 when they do whatever they're going to do then. I have my fingers crossed that those who are chosen to move to WF don't send their kids private or move out of the district to avoid the school. I hope, instead, we/they will send our kids to WF and really get involved and do what we can to make it a great place to get an education. If we/they do choose to move PUs like mine to WF - more affluent PUs - then it's up to us whether we flee or take the opportunity to get together to make WF the best school possible for our kids.

Wakefield is a very low performing school so certainly there is considerable room for improvement.

I think it's more accurate to say that there are more low-performing students at Wakefield than there are at most other high schools in NoVA. That doesn't mean the school isn't a good one, nor does it mean that there aren't plenty of high-performing students there as well.

There aren't "plenty" of high-performing students there now. Maybe that will change in the future if people buy into the notion that things can improve.

Really? There aren't?
You don't think less affluent students can be high performers? Or do you think that there are only a handful, regardless of whether they are poor or well off? And what makes you say that? Honest question.

Test scores are low; the cohort of higher-performing students is a small percentage of the total population; and the number of students recognized (other than by APS) for academic achievement pales in comparison to the number from other area schools.

[Anonymous]

I watched the replay of the SB meeting from last night and found it interesting. Here's the link (the portion on HS boundaries starts around 30:00 and goes to at least 140:00 with the public comments and SB discussion):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=L-8H47Op3Og

Some highlights:
-The man quoted in the ArlNow article starts around the 85:00 mark & calls the process "ass-backwards."
-Lots of AF parents spoke against the transfer to Wakefield, but a couple spoke in favor.
-A student from the Student Advisory Board cautioned parents to use social media responsibly (drawing laughs from the audience) and said the students were reading comments made by parents and found many of them "embarrassing."
-One commentor from Nottingham/Yorktown expressed concern that too many PUs were being moved to both schools and W-L would be under capacity if any of the options were chosen (the SB later showed interest in this concern, asking to see scenarios where fewer PUs would be moved).
-SB question about rate of growth, and whether Wakefield was growing faster than Yorktown & how that should inform this process.
-Dr. Viola-Sanchez does NOT want to move Arlington Mill away from W-L. And she also made a comment about how the next high school "could be in this building [I assume she means the Ed Center/Buck Property?] and would provide relief to W-L"--another argument for moving fewer PUs from W-L right now.

[Anonymous]

PP here--I should add that the SB asked for quite a bit more data. I wouldn't be surprised if they make changes to the options.