Reply to South Arlington elementary school boundary adjustments 2019

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]South Arlington parent here - PP is right. It is really only the UMC south arlington parents like me that are complaining. And yes, I could not afford the house I wanted in north arlington otherwise I would have moved there because of the schools. I care deeply about the education of the lower income kids because my family was there once, but they are doing the best they can. I think the scores and research show that those schools with the right demographic balance give them a better shot at academic success, but considering the circumstances these kids are coming from where everything in the American dream seems so unattainable, they are doing pretty darn good.

My kid and others like him are doing fine. That isn't the question, are they doing as well as they could be in north arlington? My kid is probably doing better where he is because he has ADHD and the title I school he goes to has a lot of resources to help him that would not be available north of 50. There is nothing cut-throat in his school, the teacher challenges him based on his level, and frankly the poorer kids are not the ones with behavior issues generally.

So, the next question is whether his "experience" is the same or as good as it would be north of 50. As far as being completely colorblind, that is a good thing. However, he does not have a pretty school, it is run down. Yards are a mess because there is no PTA paying for gardening. After school enrichment is much more limited than other schools. Fewer perks in the classroom and fancy festivals and things that I see at other schools. He doesn't know the difference. I do.

[b]I am more concerned about the behaviors he will see in middle school. I will likely move by then because that is when the worst poverty-based behaviors tend to emerge. [/quote][/b]

What are these poverty-based behaviors? Drug abuse? Drinking? Skipping school? Sex? Because I don't think you're going to escape these by moving to North Arlington. Don't you read ArlNow? Also, while you may get some better "experiences" like festivals at the ES level, I don't think what you're looking for exists in terms of manicured grounds. Have you seen the school yards? With the exception of the recently built or renovated schools, they all look run down. If your kid plays sports surely you've noticed. I don't know what you mean by "classroom perks." Field trips? Only the poorest schools lack in field trips as far as I can tell. As for after school enrichment, I do think wealthier ES have a leg up here, but the after school offerings at the MS level are equally poor. The wealthier HS have more clubs, though, because they are based on student interest.

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I agree.  My child is also in a title 1 elementary school, but younger.  We are very happy and are  supplementing with enrichment outside of school  (although  the school offers some options).  I actually know many upper middle class, education people in my part of S. Arlington with kids at TJ and Kenmore. Many of those parents opted not to send their kids to the local elementary school  I'm not  sure which middle school you're afraid of.  Bad behaviors intensify in general in middle school.  It's important to keep your child engaged in activities and find good peer groups at school and elsewhere (activities, religious organizations, scouts, teams, arts groups).  Of course my kids are younger now, so maybe I am naive.  But I see plenty of happy families at S. Arlington middle schools.  [/quote]

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