Reply to Who said there isn't a North-South divide?

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Reply to "Who said there isn't a North-South divide?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]

Yes, it does, but Arlington is the smallest county in the nation. There is really no excuse for it to have the disparities that it has. Comparing it to Fairfax doesn't make much sense: Fairfax has 180,000 students, and APS has 25,700 students.[/quote]

But in every other place people with money choose to live in certain areas to be at certain schools- McLean or great falls is an example. No one is chiding them for not taking more affordable housing into their attendance zones.

The disparity between north and south is not one of services at the schools or even facilities. Both parents in the north and south are advocating neighborhood schools. I would even argue that the teaching quality is higher at schools like barcroft because of student need. However these students take years to become proficient enough to do well on standardized tests as English learners and the tests are not well-designed for them. That doesn’t mean they are not receiving quality instruction.[/quote]

I think that's mostly true but it also means that those kids are getting intensive SOL cramming - carlin springs for instance. It's a real turnoff for parents, UMC or otherwise, for whom passing a standardized test is a simple by product of paying attention in class, not an accomplishment. The pace of instruction is most definitely slower and that is a  if reason, not racism or direct classism that The UMC avoids SA schools that aren't option schools. They are so segregated that it has thrown instruction out of balance.[/quote]

This, exactly.  The teaching quality is absolutely equal, if not better.  But the goalpost becomes the least common denominator rather than the same high goalpost kids at the other schools are being pushed toward.  Pace of instruction is definitely different, as well as instructional opportunities like group projects, independent projects, or even just projects in general. These elementary schools don't put on theatrical productions or musicals.  They aren't doing independent research papers or building science projects.  Not because the students aren't capable - but because they have to spend more time being taught to the test and don't have time for more interesting or engaging academic instruction.  They don't go as deep into subject matter because they are focused on that least common denominator.  Therefore, those already above that denominator are not being pushed to their potential.[/quote]

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