Reply to TC Williams: what does a family new to Alexandria need to know?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Riddle me this.  If TC is so amazing, why will ACPS not allow a cohort of kids to attend TJ, specifically citing "brain drain"?  5-10 kids a year is brain drain?  Seems like they need every single literate kid they can get. [/quote]

Sigh.  Because the deal that Fairfax offered was a disruptive, misleading, rip-off.  First, sending kids to TJ from outside of Fairfax requires three (not two) rounds of transportation per day - trip to school;  trip from school regular hours;  and late bus, required due to co-curriculars - no late bus, no co-curriculars.  All three are required.  Second, ACPS would not have played any decisional role in admissions, at all.  Third, the number you cited was the proposed range for the cap - not the actual enrollment; it's possible that, in any given year, no one would have been enrolled.  Fourth, Alexandria would have been required to accept responsibility for unknown and undeclared future capital improvements, with no ceiling.  FCPS offered ACPS a simply lousy deal for the students, families, and school system.  The former superintendent was 100% right to turn it down.

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Sigh.  Lots here to find wrong.   FCPS and other jurisdictions only 2 two buses (FCPS has a Weds. late bus).

All non-sports Extracurriculars are during the school day at 8th period. That's right-- extracurriculars built into the school day.  For sports (and band) parents provide transportation/carpool/kids drive. Not hard for Alexandria, since TJ is, you know, in Alexandria.

Alexandria would have the right to have admin on the TJ advisory board, and appoint teachers to help review applications

It's possible no one from ACPS would be accepted in a given year.  But unlikely.  Especially because parents of STEM smart kids would be more likely to stay in ACPS if TJ were an option. And ACPS would not have to pay tuition for kids it didn't send.

And the Capital improvements are done, and the funding is set. Non-FCPS jurisdictions pay a sum above TJ tuition per pupil (seems like $1000 to $2000 a year per kid is what I remember) to offset renovation bond costs. APS, FCCS,PWCS and LCCS seem to be.ieve that whatecpver this amount is, it's reasonable.

Besides being factually incorrect on every single point, you're right.

Nice list  :lol:

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At least one of the sending divisions doesn't think so and is preparing to drop out of its TJ agreement.  And you can see the late buses - drive up and look, or call TJ and ask.  Every bus-authorized student has to have access to a late bus.  The advisory position would play no role in admissions decisions.  There were negotiating efforts on all of those points; no traction.  
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LCPS is considering dropping, if that is what you mean, because they now  they now have AOS for their students, without the huge trek.  AOS Is also high quality STEM magnet, and was years is the making, planning, and building.  But still a lot of resistance in LCPS among parents to pulling out of TJ.  So it will be interesting to see what LCPS decides to do.  Right now, their kids have two amazing opportunities..

And every jurisdiction buses separately. For FCPS, there is Wednesday late bus for part of the year, and that's it.  Now-- because of 8th period, TJ does not release from the standard school day until after 4:00, and TJ buses don't hit Western county depots until 5, or neighborhoods until 5:30.  TJ has a longer school day, and a much later release than other HSs, so it may look to you like there are late buses if you drive by the school-- because the ordinary buses leave and are on the roads really late by FCPS HS standards.  (BTW, when the Wednesday Late bus is running, it leave at 6:30 and runs until after 8.  If you don't see a fleet of buses leaving TJ at 6:30, those are not late buses). I guess PWCS or LCPS could run late busses.  But I would think not, because these kids are always on the FB groups looking to form band and sports carpools.

The Advisory Admin does not play a role in admissions decisions-- they advise. But the teachers from member jurisdictions absolutely do.  Who do you think decides TJ admissions?  The people reading the applications play a big role.

Just give it up.  4 other local jurisdictions were fine with the TJ terms. LCPS would continue to be fine, except they have a real, competitive viable alternative now.  ACPS not being a part of TJ has almost nothing o do with late buses or management, or emissions decisions. ACPS has always been clear that they do not want to lose top kids. That's stupid, because many top kids have parents  move to a different jusisdiction for ES/MS,  but that's the given rationale. 
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