Reply to HB Woodlawn and ATS

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Reply to "HB Woodlawn and ATS"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’ll say it again — I don’t think we should get rid of the special programs, I think we should find a way to offer more of them. Create a second ATS and house it at whichever of the neighborhood elementary schools is currently most underenrolled. Those parents would be IRATE but all the parents who get into the new ATS would be thrilled. Then use part of the WL building for a new HB Woodlawn. That way W-L doesn’t have to be so big and APS doesn’t have to find additional space for a new HB Woodlawn. Just use the WL space. [/quote]

+ 1 million[/quote]

Or they could just improve the instruction at all the other schools so every kid can have "the best."[/quote]

It's not just about being "the best."  HB has a particular model that works well for some and doesn't work well for others.  [b]There are kids who get that lottery seat then transfer out after a couple years, or more likely for HS, for many reasons.[/b]

The issue is they don't have enough seats for those who do want it. That's why it's a great idea to use WL to create those seats in a new HB program.  Neither transforming all HS to the HB model nor getting rid of HB altogether would be an ideal outcome.[/quote]

To emphasize your "for many reasons," this isn't usually due to methodology.  Yes, some find it not a good fit; but often any who jump ship for high school do so because of HBW's lack of sports and marching band - not because the academic model doesn't suit them.  Also, the model isn't what's attracting families the way it did originally.  What's attracting families is HB's reputation and its size. Just about every single parent of an HB student or wanna-be-student has cited the smaller environment being better for their kid, for the more individualized attention and teacher-student relationships that smaller size brings.  The second-most cited reason is because their kid is "different" or "quirky" or would be more welcomed and emotionally supported there than in their assigned high school.  Not a single one ever mentions the HBW instructional model as their reason for applying.[/quote]

Well, I just don't believe you've talked to every single family whose kid has transferred out of HBW.  I have talked to some who have cited fewer choices of courses, as an example.

But say you're right - are you arguing against creating another HB?  Why?[/quote]

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