Arlington Traditional

[Anonymous]

Parent of young kids here- What is ATS? I thought all schools had the same curriculum? What’s different? Seems to be a big deal, but why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of young kids here- What is ATS? I thought all schools had the same curriculum? What’s different? Seems to be a big deal, but why?

We found this video (a little dated, but still relevant) about ATS helpful in our decision-making when DD was offered a spot 4 years ago. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkZ5m5BAZ9o)
ATS is a Blue Ribbon school - here's a snapshot of what the school is about, without the bias opinions of forum posters - https://www.atspta.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ATS-Blue-Ribbon-Application-2019-Executive-Summary.pdf

[Anonymous]

In APS all schools don’t have the exact same curriculum. They have general standards the teachers are supposed to have the kids meet, but teachers have a lot of leeway in how they teach those standards (from what I understand). Also each elementary has its own hook. I think that Hoffman Boston is stem, maybe, but I know Oakridge is “Mosaic.” I have never been able to figure out exactly what that means.

Anyway I didn’t apply for ATS because I wanted to walk to school and I had a sense that my anxious child wouldn’t do well with homework. Maybe I was right, maybe not, but she had a great experience at Oakridge.

But I have never heard one ATS parent complain about anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of young kids here- What is ATS? I thought all schools had the same curriculum? What’s different? Seems to be a big deal, but why?

ATS has a more traditional approach in learning (in comparison to Montessori, Discovery, STEM etc...). It has been great with my rising 5th. Homework starts in Kindergarten (probably 30 mins or shorter depending on your kids). We had writing homework in K, just a short couple of sentences that likely requires some help from the parents. Reading is always part of HW from K-5. May be a math worksheet. We have lots of projects and events that are well rounded (science fair, international night, social studies, etc).

It's like having a little community. The PTA is very supportive and has been great. ATS is definitely more academic focused that some of the ES in Arlington (from comparing with my friends in other schools). It's definitely more structured than other schools. We have dress code (tuck-in, no spaghetti straps, nothing too shorts or offensive t-shirt) which doesn't bother me or my kids at all.

My kid joined in K and could read 4 words when they tested her in the beginning of school year and was grouped in the bottom readers. The teachers were wonderful and I don't know what happened by by mid-year, she jumped to the top reader group. The teachers in each grade (from our experience) have been above and beyond pre-covid and especially during covid to try to get the kids to engage. We had our music concerts via zoom. Kids got to showcase their talent and I'm grateful for the effort putting in trying to keep things as close to normal as possible.

If you don't like HW and structured environment, this isn't the right school for your kids. I have heard complaints from other parents about too much HW or too structured etc. but that's the culture of the school and my kid couldn't excel more in all areas thanks to ATS.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a ray of light in a strange school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of young kids here- What is ATS? I thought all schools had the same curriculum? What’s different? Seems to be a big deal, but why?

They are working on creating better parity so that all neighborhood schools have the same curriculum (they didn’t used to and it’s mess that the current Super is having to clean up), but option schools will retain distinct pedagogical differences, like Montessori, Expeditionary Learning, Spanish Immersion, etc. I am not sure how ATS fits into that, or what makes it distinct other than the lottery, but I think there is a process that should illuminate the answer to that question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ATS is the “my kid is too good for my neighborhood school” school. Total waste of tax dollars to have a minimally different learning environment so the rest of Arlington can pay for those elitist dumplings to be bussed.

And the “choice” is corrupt. The ATS teacher’s kids ALL somehow manage to get chosen in the lottery, as do the pre-chosen VPI kids. Its a BS program designed so parents feel elite.

Not true. I know bunches of teachers who live in Arlington and their kids didn't get in. in our 5 years there, I only saw 1 kid of the teacher who got in.

[Anonymous]

To those who are saying negative things about the families who send their kids to ATS, I never seem to hear you say similar things about the parents who send their children to the other option schools. I am really curious about that. I know this will be controversial, but it almost sounds like your resentment comes from a place of jealousy that some kids have something that your kid does not. Why don't you say the same about Campbell, Montessori or Immersion?

ATS is an excellent school and the truth is, some of it's techniques (strong emphasis on literacy, using the SOL's as a starting point and teaching much more than that, etc.) would benefit other APS schools. I'm not talking about the dress code or homework, per se. But there is so much hostility from some members of the APS community towards everything ATS that I don't feel like they would be open to APS implementing some of the things that make it so successful, at other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ATS is the “my kid is too good for my neighborhood school” school. Total waste of tax dollars to have a minimally different learning environment so the rest of Arlington can pay for those elitist dumplings to be bussed.

And the “choice” is corrupt. The ATS teacher’s kids ALL somehow manage to get chosen in the lottery, as do the pre-chosen VPI kids. Its a BS program designed so parents feel elite.

Sounds like someone is bitter. I am an APS teacher and know plenty of ATS teachers whose kids attend other Arlington elementary schools. Or most of APS teachers who can't even afford to live in Arlington at all.

Anyhow, it is a self-selecting population so that in and of itself is going to mean higher achievement because you have to want to not attend your neighborhood school. Many families use it to opt out of their South Arlington elementary school for whatever reason....

People who attend seem to be happy, it does have a lot of homework (which by the way, most other APS schools have done away with because it is not shown to be effective in research studies). No reason not to apply and see if you get a spot.

[Anonymous]

My child has learning difficulties and got into ATS mid-way from a neighborhood school. The remediation allowed him to move from 2 grade levels behind to on grade level in all but one academic area. He is also above grade level in two academic areas. Honestly, I feel like he got a private special needs school education while there and I am forever thankful.

I hope that Duran brings some of the core focus of literacy, writing, and math to all APS es's. The "principal rule" thing doesn't really work well at some of the schools and is confusing when navigating the system here.

[Anonymous]

re homework; the research shows that on average it doesn't help kids but for some, it does. For example, kids who are slow to read, write, do math. They need the remediation at home. and honestly, it's not much at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:re homework; the research shows that on average it doesn't help kids but for some, it does. For example, kids who are slow to read, write, do math. They need the remediation at home. and honestly, it's not much at all.

APS teacher again (on my lunch break!). The problem is, those low achievers are typically the ones with less support at home so less likely to do the homework. So the ones who need it most and could benefit don’t really benefit.

[Anonymous]

The homework in the early grades is a lot (by my standards) and was the deciding factor for me. Not a good fit for my family and our priorities. Talk to actual parents who have their kids there OP, if you are interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:re homework; the research shows that on average it doesn't help kids but for some, it does. For example, kids who are slow to read, write, do math. They need the remediation at home. and honestly, it's not much at all.

APS teacher again (on my lunch break!). The problem is, those low achievers are typically the ones with less support at home so less likely to do the homework. So the ones who need it most and could benefit don’t really benefit.

Respectfully, not in my experience. I'm the SN parent from above. With homework, we would have noticed earlier kid's failure to read and write. I'm not advocating for homework; my second doesn't need or benefit from it but helpful for the first. I like it as a parent but that's b/c I'm nerdy and like learning about ancient India or have a refresher course on ancient Chinese philosophies. Now, VA studies I could do without. Enjoy the last few days!

[Anonymous]

I posted above. I think APS could use ATS as an example of some things that work really well w/out implementing homework and dress code. I am talking about the emphasis on literacy that I feel goes above and beyond what we saw at our last APS school. I think it also involves teaching much more than the VA Standards of Learning requirements. That's a great baseline, but kids can and should learn more than that. It also has a culture of expecting "great things" from every teacher, child, administrator and valuing parents as key partners in their child's learning journey.
Why couldn't those things work at other APS schools? I am not saying they don't exist any some other APS schools (I know for sure they do and that there are many excellent neighborhood schools), but I do not believe they exist consistently across APS schools, and that's a pity.

Rather than tear ATS down and say it shouldn't exist (no one here on this thread has said it but I hear it A LOT) wouldn't parents who are unhappy with their child's school be better served to use ATS as a model of some (not all) of the types of things they would like to see implanted across the board? Just a thought.

If you ask APS to get rid of ATS, how does that send a message that you'd like to see some of the same qualities at your neighborhood school?