Reply to APS middle school boundary process

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]school board policy is not to make any new islands- it doesn't necessarily mean they have to get rid of an existing island.

I honestly don't think there is a good answer to a tough problem.  I hate to see economic disparity increased beyond what it currently is- but the only option that gets Williamsburg to a larger FARMS rate (17%), drops Swanson to 7% (Option B) and I don't see that as a net benefit to anyone.

H is probably about the most balanced- it has Gunston/Jefferson/Kenmore between 40-45% and Stratford Swanson at roughly 25%.  Of course it also puts Williamsburg at4% FARMS and only 93% capacity- and that doesn't seem right either.[/quote]

That's why J plus adding some (bus riders from Kenmore and Jefferson (adjacent) to Swanson, Stratford and the Williamsburg island might help address this.[/quote]

Exactly. [/quote]

J increases Kenmore's fr/l rate by 6 percentage points and Gunston's by 7 percentage points (not just 6 or 7 percent, for those of you who can do math).

To accept J, but with some islands carved out, is to say that we value diversity but only if it's the poor kids who have to get less sleep and travel farther far from their homes. This is a non-starter. What else have you got? [/quote]

DP here. I may be reading this wrong, but J appears to keep the same Kenmore boundary and only alter Gunston a little bit around the eastern Pike. Where can I look to see the increases in numbers of fr/l? Is it purely a function of projections of increased population, some of which will be fr/l? [/quote]

That may be correct. I can't tell exactly without an overlay. But if it's a function of increased fr/l population with the current boundary, are you saying APS should not attempt to balance this out by adjusting boundaries?

Most recently available fr/l numbers are here (from October 2016): https://www.apsva.us/statistics/free-and-reduced-price-meals/

[/quote]

I'm not suggesting that. I'm just trying to understand whether it's (a) the population will naturally do that on its own or (b) something about these shifts is causing a more artificially accelerated increase in the rate. In the end, you're right, the numbers are what they are and should be addressed. It's just a question of context for how to advocate for addressing them. And, if the projections tell us that all South Arl schools are heading towards 50% FARMs, that's obviously a bigger hill to climb and simple boundary tweaks within the south may not be enough. It might be grounds to advocate for an H, with Kenmore reaching way up into the north.[/quote]

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