Reply to Goodbye Barcroft (APS)?

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[quote=Anonymous]Barcroft will likely become an option school. If it hadn't had its previous dud of a principal for the last few years, fewer MC families hadn't opted out, and the year-round calendar had been changed to a regular schedule, it might have had a chance. But coulda, shoulda, woulda. It's a shame, because with a bit more time (coupled with a regular calendar), the new principal could have really turned things around; more MC families would have stayed, Barcroft could have had a balanced FARMs rate (comparable to HB or Abingdon), etc.

But it looks like time has run out. With Fleet opening, the SB must feel the lure of rezoning Alcova Heights away from Barcroft and to Fleet. George Mason is deemed uncrossable for walkers now; moving Alcova (which is walkable to Fleet) reduces buses. But rezoning Alcova, which is mostly all MC families, away from Barcroft would shoot Barcroft's 60% FARMs rate to the stratosphere. And there simply aren't enough (any?) MC zones that could be moved to Barcroft to make up for it. That neighborhood is basically hemmed in by low-income housing and ED. So the SB will almost certainly want to do SOMETHING to avoid another potential Carlin Springs situation at Barcroft IF they rezone Alcova Heights. That something is likely an option school.

Hopefully this "doing something" doesn't make what is currently a tenable (but far from ideal) situation even worse.

If they make Barcroft option, they need to give very careful consideration to how that neighborhood is divided. It's almost a given that not all of the ED will choose an option school, so how are they going to "better" disperse the poverty at Barcroft among the already-poor schools in the area? Carlin Springs and Campbell are off the table since they will be option. Randolph and Barret both have HIGHER poverty rates than Barcroft does, at 74% and 62% FARMs.

By choosing to do "something" (with noble intent) the situation could actually end up much, much worse. I'm not worried about the MC kids. They will be fine; they'll option, move, or go private. But the ED students will be screwed.

Alternatively, the SB could keep Barcroft as a neighborhood, keep Alcova Heights zoned for Barcroft, scrap the modified school year calendar, and give Barcroft a fighting chance. It's FARMs rate is now already lower than Barrett's, and with the new principal/VP, more MC families are giving it a chance. Barring a very good plan/strategy to improve (vice tank) the nearby schools, perhaps the SB should give Barcroft a chance too. 
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