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[quote=Anonymous]19:10 - we're an ATS family (1 2nd-grader, active in the school community), so I can address your questions.

1 - though you didn't ask, we did the summer school thing even though we probably didn't need it.  (child was in a good preschool/pre-K program and had all the skills we were told she should have going into K.)  It was stuff she knew already, but she had fun re-learning it.  They did school stuff for about 3 hours every day and the rest of the day was fun extended day programming - arts, crafts, field trips, recess, swimming, entertainment.  The staff was terrific, and it was a good introduction to the school system for us.  Also, it may not be this way anymore, but it was seriously cheap.  The program was $100, plus extended day costs of around $620.  So for 3-4 weeks, we paid $720 for full-day care, which is cheap given the cost of camps here.  So I recommend it.

2 - we love the school and most of the kids we know here seem to be doing well.  Most of the parents seem pretty happy with it.  Yes, it is fairly structured and orderly.  But the kids spend a lot of time on specials (art, music, library, PE, computer lab, FLES) and they have plenty of recess.  All 4th graders do choir, all 5th graders play an instrument, and most (all?) classes have a class play.

3 - most of the teachers are terrific.  ATS has a great reputation, so they don't have trouble attracting good staff.  (I think most schools in Arlington could say the same thing.)  I don't think they teach to the test.

4 - we have an active, engaged PTA who does a lot for the teachers, students and parents.  there's no "mean girl" atmosphere like you occasionally hear about.  (i.e. no "bad moms" scenarios here!)  Our principal is a fierce advocate for the students and the school; our VP is a real sweetie.

5 - we have been mostly happy with extended day; because the school starts pretty early (8:15), morning care is very sparsely attended, but afternoon care is very popular.  They keep the preschoolers and kindergartners separate from the rest of the kids for most of the year, then they get mixed with the older kids in first grade.  There are lots of areas of the school open for the kids to use, and a decent variety of enrichment activities you can choose from.

6 - the school is pretty diverse.  We have a pretty good demographic mix, and about 21% of FARMS, which doesn't overwhelm the school.  Whatever race or religion your kid is, they'll have plenty of company here.  We have a lot of international families and a fair number of ESL speakers, maybe another 20%? (I should look it up.)

7 - there is not a lot of turnover - people tend to stick around.  My daughter's cohort started with 73 kids or so, and I'd guess that maybe only 10% of them have transferred out, or plan to do so.  (and 3 of those were in the same family.)

8 - families are active in scouting, soccer and softball/baseball, all of which are good ways to meet other parents.

The big downside for me - and frankly, the only downside - is that you do miss out on the interaction with other neighborhood families.  We live on a block with a LOT of kids who go to the neighborhood school, and we are definitely the outsiders.  That makes me sad.  We say hi and do the block parties and stuff, but it's not a substitute for standing at the bus stop together every day.  So if this is a factor for you, think hard about it.

Good luck with your decision![/quote]

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