APS middle school boundary process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:It wouldn't make any sense to move IB to Williamsburg if IB stays at W-L. At least from Jefferson there's already a large group continuing to W-L. Doesn't mean they won't do it, but it would be short-sighted.

Except Jefferson is too crowded to allow transfers, so they have to move it somewhere where all kids have a shot to attend. Same as W-L. We're not in that boundary either, but planned to apply to the program because we really want IB. We're a family with an international background and I would like our kids to get IB diplomas so that they are better poised to apply to colleges abroad.

There is really no connection between the Middle Years IB program and Jefferson and the IB Diploma at W-L so while I can appreciate wanting your kids in that program (my kids go there), not going there won't hurt their ability to pursue the IB diploma.

I still want them to have equal access to the middle years program. Or it's not a program, in which case they can do away with it. Just like the RD. Either everyone has equal access or they are eliminated.

Meant to say, just like the ES.

FYI there is currently one elementary IB program at Randolph.

I know. And they were talking about making it a program school with a second one at Reed. Since that isn't happening, it's going to become STEAM like all other non-program schools.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can one of you tell me where it shows Williamsburg dropping to 1%? Seriously, what is wrong with the SB? Why can't Williamsburg MS pick up more planning units in Swanson to at least alleviate overcrowding at Swanson?!

Glebe didn't want to be split between three MS, which I agree with. It looks like they sent them all to Swanson, rather than splitting between 2 MS. Of course, if you read the comments and feedback, Discovery and Jamestown also believe that all of their children should all stay together from K-12.

And now they're splitting Abindgon between 3 MS instead. Basically, the families who have the least warning and least amount of time to complain get the least desirable outcomes. The Arlington Way!

Given that the school board will be redrawing elementary boundaries in the spring, it wouldn't surprise me if they're anticipating that the northern portion of Abingdon (which would go to Kenmore in this map) will be moved to Carlin Springs, which would keep the kids in those units with their classmates from elementary to middle school.

Why would they be moving more kids from Abingdon into Carlin Springs? CS is estimated to be over capacity. Meanwhile, Drew needs to fill seats.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem. They simply can't improve diversity at Williamsburg through any rational boundary drawing, so they're giving themselves options to do it other ways. Assuming those plans move forward (and as a future Williamsburg parent, I hope they do), the ED and capacity numbers won't stay that way because people from other parts of the county will transfer in. This is a good compromise because those who believe busing is a good option for their kids will have a chance to do it, but kids won't be forced out of walk zones onto a bus if that's not what they want.

Sure they will. What a convenient solution to justify keeping Williamsburg so below capacity.

Signed a North Arlington parent.

Do you think you get more credit for being a North Arlington parent? It's otherwise a pretty worthless label to give yourself here since it doesn't tell us anything about which schools you're in or what your priorities are.

We are completely happy with our new MS. All I'm saying is that the SB is pretty tone deaf to also allow williamsburg to be below capacity by that much when other schools will be so overcrowded. you think they could at least attempt to fix that situation. And then of course the amount of economically disadvantaged students drops to 1%, which is also absurd.

When parents of kids from Glebe say they don't want to go to Williamsburg to be the token minorities there and would rather stay with their classmates from elementary school, how is that tone deaf? How do you get the diversity? Bus kids from S. Arlington? That is just not the priority for most people - most want to stay with their neighborhood and school friends and be close to the schools they attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem. They simply can't improve diversity at Williamsburg through any rational boundary drawing, so they're giving themselves options to do it other ways. Assuming those plans move forward (and as a future Williamsburg parent, I hope they do), the ED and capacity numbers won't stay that way because people from other parts of the county will transfer in. This is a good compromise because those who believe busing is a good option for their kids will have a chance to do it, but kids won't be forced out of walk zones onto a bus if that's not what they want.

Sure they will. What a convenient solution to justify keeping Williamsburg so below capacity.

Signed a North Arlington parent.

Do you think you get more credit for being a North Arlington parent? It's otherwise a pretty worthless label to give yourself here since it doesn't tell us anything about which schools you're in or what your priorities are.

We are completely happy with our new MS. All I'm saying is that the SB is pretty tone deaf to also allow williamsburg to be below capacity by that much when other schools will be so overcrowded. you think they could at least attempt to fix that situation. And then of course the amount of economically disadvantaged students drops to 1%, which is also absurd.

When parents of kids from Glebe say they don't want to go to Williamsburg to be the token minorities there and would rather stay with their classmates from elementary school, how is that tone deaf? How do you get the diversity? Bus kids from S. Arlington? That is just not the priority for most people - most want to stay with their neighborhood and school friends and be close to the schools they attend.

As a minority here that is not true for us. I want to be where the monied are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem. They simply can't improve diversity at Williamsburg through any rational boundary drawing, so they're giving themselves options to do it other ways. Assuming those plans move forward (and as a future Williamsburg parent, I hope they do), the ED and capacity numbers won't stay that way because people from other parts of the county will transfer in. This is a good compromise because those who believe busing is a good option for their kids will have a chance to do it, but kids won't be forced out of walk zones onto a bus if that's not what they want.

Sure they will. What a convenient solution to justify keeping Williamsburg so below capacity.

Signed a North Arlington parent.

Do you think you get more credit for being a North Arlington parent? It's otherwise a pretty worthless label to give yourself here since it doesn't tell us anything about which schools you're in or what your priorities are.

We are completely happy with our new MS. All I'm saying is that the SB is pretty tone deaf to also allow williamsburg to be below capacity by that much when other schools will be so overcrowded. you think they could at least attempt to fix that situation. And then of course the amount of economically disadvantaged students drops to 1%, which is also absurd.

To repeat what 10:05 wrote:

Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem. They simply can't improve diversity at Williamsburg through any rational boundary drawing, so they're giving themselves options to do it other ways. Assuming those plans move forward (and as a future Williamsburg parent, I hope they do), the ED and capacity numbers won't stay that way because people from other parts of the county will transfer in. This is a good compromise because those who believe busing is a good option for their kids will have a chance to do it, but kids won't be forced out of walk zones onto a bus if that's not what they want.

Sure they will. What a convenient solution to justify keeping Williamsburg so below capacity.

Signed a North Arlington parent.

Do you think you get more credit for being a North Arlington parent? It's otherwise a pretty worthless label to give yourself here since it doesn't tell us anything about which schools you're in or what your priorities are.

We are completely happy with our new MS. All I'm saying is that the SB is pretty tone deaf to also allow williamsburg to be below capacity by that much when other schools will be so overcrowded. you think they could at least attempt to fix that situation. And then of course the amount of economically disadvantaged students drops to 1%, which is also absurd.

To repeat what 10:05 wrote:

Did you guys even read the whole thing? They specifically said the plan is making room for future transfers and possibly a choice program at Williamsburg to alleviate the diversity problem.

I think that is a good option for Williamsburg. I don't think that's the reason why they did it, but since this is how the numbers panned out, it's a good alternative.

[Anonymous]

They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

As a Swanson family I agree. As a practical matter, I don't know which one. They tried to move multiple Glebe units, but those families were in the outer edge of the 1.5mi Swanson walk zone and protested at being split between 3 middle schools so they were put back at Swanson. They've moved a tiny corner of East Falls Church that bus to Swanson to end up busing to Williamsburg as a partial offset.

There really aren't any more easy units to move if you agree with the overall community sense that proximity is the over-arching important priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

As a Swanson family I agree. As a practical matter, I don't know which one. They tried to move multiple Glebe units, but those families were in the outer edge of the 1.5mi Swanson walk zone and protested at being split between 3 middle schools so they were put back at Swanson. They've moved a tiny corner of East Falls Church that bus to Swanson to end up busing to Williamsburg as a partial offset.

There really aren't any more easy units to move if you agree with the overall community sense that proximity is the over-arching important priority.

If they were on the outer edge of a 1.5 mile walk zone they should be moved back to Wburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

As a Swanson family I agree. As a practical matter, I don't know which one. They tried to move multiple Glebe units, but those families were in the outer edge of the 1.5mi Swanson walk zone and protested at being split between 3 middle schools so they were put back at Swanson. They've moved a tiny corner of East Falls Church that bus to Swanson to end up busing to Williamsburg as a partial offset.

There really aren't any more easy units to move if you agree with the overall community sense that proximity is the over-arching important priority.

If they were on the outer edge of a 1.5 mile walk zone they should be moved back to Wburg.

I think it was the splitting into 3 middle schools from Glebe that was the issue more than the walk zone. Right now, Glebe splits into Williamsburg and Swanson. They had proposed Williamsburg, Swanson, and Stratford and people were really upset. The result was they actually moved all the Williamsburg kids to Swanson so now Glebe will be split between Swanson and Stratford (if this gets approved).

[Anonymous]

Here we go again. Just like the W-L parents last year. All riled up about the overcrowding, but no one wants to be the planning unit to leave. Swanson parents can't have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

As a Swanson family I agree. As a practical matter, I don't know which one. They tried to move multiple Glebe units, but those families were in the outer edge of the 1.5mi Swanson walk zone and protested at being split between 3 middle schools so they were put back at Swanson. They've moved a tiny corner of East Falls Church that bus to Swanson to end up busing to Williamsburg as a partial offset.

There really aren't any more easy units to move if you agree with the overall community sense that proximity is the over-arching important priority.

If they were on the outer edge of a 1.5 mile walk zone they should be moved back to Wburg.

I think it was the splitting into 3 middle schools from Glebe that was the issue more than the walk zone. Right now, Glebe splits into Williamsburg and Swanson. They had proposed Williamsburg, Swanson, and Stratford and people were really upset. The result was they actually moved all the Williamsburg kids to Swanson so now Glebe will be split between Swanson and Stratford (if this gets approved).

I'm wondering then why APS didn't go the reverse and send the last remaining Glebe units from Swanson to Williamsburg. I don't have time to dig into the data right now in terms of the location of those units and the population numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should send another Swanson PU over to WB. There is no excuse for having Swanson at 111%.

As a Swanson family I agree. As a practical matter, I don't know which one. They tried to move multiple Glebe units, but those families were in the outer edge of the 1.5mi Swanson walk zone and protested at being split between 3 middle schools so they were put back at Swanson. They've moved a tiny corner of East Falls Church that bus to Swanson to end up busing to Williamsburg as a partial offset.

There really aren't any more easy units to move if you agree with the overall community sense that proximity is the over-arching important priority.

If they were on the outer edge of a 1.5 mile walk zone they should be moved back to Wburg.

I think it was the splitting into 3 middle schools from Glebe that was the issue more than the walk zone. Right now, Glebe splits into Williamsburg and Swanson. They had proposed Williamsburg, Swanson, and Stratford and people were really upset. The result was they actually moved all the Williamsburg kids to Swanson so now Glebe will be split between Swanson and Stratford (if this gets approved).

I'm wondering then why APS didn't go the reverse and send the last remaining Glebe units from Swanson to Williamsburg. I don't have time to dig into the data right now in terms of the location of those units and the population numbers.

One of the Glebe units is a pretty easy walk to Swanson and they wanted to stay walkable. Also, the Halls Hill PU was pretty vocal about not wanting to be the token PU that brought SES diversity to WMS. (They apparently made up 3% of the 4% at WMS in the last map, given that the new map reduces FARMS at WMS to 1%.) I'm guessing that geography is what drove the Glebe split btw Swanson and Stratford instead of Williamsburg and Stratford.

[Anonymous]

Is this the best APS can do for our Economically Disadvantaged? With some vague plan to attract diversity to Williamsburg with a Program? Sad!

I thought we had the best and brightest running our school system? A monkey could have done a better job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the best APS can do for our Economically Disadvantaged? With some vague plan to attract diversity to Williamsburg with a Program? Sad!

I thought we had the best and brightest running our school system? A monkey could have done a better job.

Ya know what? Tough. I’m tired of hearing about getting the ED numbers spread around. People are self segregating. Quit blaming the school board. There are several beautiful homes sitting unsold in my South Arlington neighborhood. Nobody wants them. Upper middle class people won’t accept BARCROFT/RANDOLPH/DREW plus the middle and high school that go along with.
If you feel so strongly start pushing for multi family, low income housing along Lee highway.

Tell your big law colleagues that Wakefield is a perfectly great school.
You won’t. Nobody does.
So here we are.