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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why on earth would you want to?

You can in Falls Church City but I want to say it was $17k when we looked into it. [/quote]

You pick the school?[/quote]

Have you looked at FCC?  There’s only one school for each level. No you don’t get to pick. [/quote]

Well, they want to go to a better school than FCPS, so why would they look at Falls Church City?[/quote]

You do realize FCPS and FCC are completely different school systems.  FCC is better than all 3 of the neighboring systems. [/quote]

Yes I do and no it isn’t. Much like a private school, it’s successful because it’s small, rich and exclusive to families who have the means to make it successful, not because the schools are great. [/quote]

I generally agree but did you know the #1 public elementary school in all of Virginia is Arlington Traditional, with a 30 percent FARMS rate?  It’s closing the achievement gap and it’s a lottery school.  So presumably all parents have the wherewithal to apply for the lottery, but that’s it. It’s better than the “rich” schools in North Arlington.

[b]I have no idea what they are doing but I wish schools would try and duplicate it.[/b][/quote]

Keeping out families who don’t have the wherewithal to apply for the lottery.[/quote]

That still doesn’t explain why it would perform better than a “rich” school like the ones people are discussing upthread.  The school deserves some credit.[/quote]

actually it does.  What makes the biggest difference to student achievement is parental involvement- there are lots of studies to support this.  In general, income is a proxy for parental involvement- wealthier families tend to be more involved in their kids schooling.  But its a proxy, its not a determinant in and of itself.  There are also poor families or middle of the road families who are heavily involved in their kids schooling.  ATS is a lottery school.  You have to apply to get in.  By definition, if you go to the trouble of applying, you are involved in your kids schooling.  
Also- ATS actively discourages kids with some significant disabilities, like ADHD from applying for, or staying at the school- saying its not 'a good fit.'  That also helps with their achievement.
The only other thing that ATS is really doing right is it embraced teaching phonics and never fell into the lucy calkins trap that the rest of APS plummeted into.  [/quote]
I haven’t looked at ATS scores compared to other option schools to see if they are comparable. 
I do think that the stayed emphasis on behavior and character is a big factor. Parents who care about and emphasize those things at home are drawn to ATS. Same with homework, if you think it’s good and valuable for kids you’re likely to apply and spend extra time with your kid doing it. I am an ATS parent and definitely know a few kids who don’t meet the behavioral standards but it’s nowhere close to our old school or the schools where I have worked. FWIW there have been several SPED students in my child’s class. As a SPED teacher I do see how it wouldn’t always be a good fit but they do have a MIPPA class so they don’t “discourage” all kids with significant needs. [/quote]

Thanks PP.[/quote]

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