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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So does this mean those of us with JH transfers won't need to worry about applying to private school for 2016-2017? :)[/quote]

Yes.

Someone posted a document on this board the other day. It was aggregated transfer data (as of last December.) 48% of ACPS students that live in the JH school zone do not attend JH. And 33% of students attending JH don't actually live in the JH school zone. Those are pretty shocking numbers. What it means is that if all of the students that lived in the JH zone actually attended JH, and JH wasn't the recipient of West End overflow, the FARMS rate would probably be in line with Maury (and if fewer people moved or went private for K, then JH would probably be at Lyles-Crouch FARMS level, which is lowest in the city.)

You can argue about chicken and egg (which comes first), and the need to improve test scores and/or administration. But a critical mass of involved parents/families from higher socioeconomic levels is the proven formula for turning around a school in Alexandria. This is what happened at Lyles-Crouch and at Maury. Meanwhile, JH has had a million different principals over the last decade with disastrous results, whereas MM and LC have benefited from stable/successful leadership.[/quote]

Talk about chicken before the egg question: why did a new Jefferson Houston Elementary get built in the first place at a mere $45 Million of taxpayer money? Why didn't the City/ACPS swap the land out with a commercial developer for a new plot in the West End or east of Potomac Yards? Old Town Alexandria development is HOT right now, just not for filling Jefferson Houston![/quote]

I don't think anyone on this forum can answer that question. Both the Superintendent and School Board that approved and launched the JH project have since been replaced. [b]So the current board and superintendent really didn't have a say.[/b] However, City Council did approve the funds, so they're the only ones left that can be held accountable (for not asking that very questions, for example.)[/quote]

Not true, regrettably. [b]The current school board was very much in place for years before the actual Jefferson Houston groundbreaking[/b] occurred and could definitely have reversed this boondoggle decision to proceed with it when very few Alexandrian's want to go there. Look at the exact time line:

"Alexandria is breaking ground on its new Jefferson-Houston School at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 at 1501 Cameron Street and the public is invited to attend the event.

City Council approved a $44-million proposal to rebuild Jefferson-Houston School in December 2012."

http://patch.com/virginia/oldtownalexandria/city-invites-public-to-jefferson-houston-groundbreaking
[/quote]

Not true. The previous board approved the project and City Council approved it before the current school board was in place.[/quote]

I am sorry, I did indeed have the wrong election year in mind. Still what a waste of $45 million if Jefferson Houston isn't fully utilized. It's an amazing building. Tax dollars are precious in our City.[/quote]

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