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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][quote=Anonymous] School board has been clear that there's no land to build another comprehensive high school. [/quote]

That's what eminent domain is for.  Just take over some lobbyists' office spaces, even if lobbying is protected by the first amendment.[/quote]

Taking over an office building isn't going to give you near enough space for a 4th comprehensive high school.  that's the whole problem.  You need space for all the fields and pools or whatever, or the kids at that school are just going to have to share the facilities at some preexisting high schools that already has too many kids fighting for use of the facilities.  That's why the discussion of doing the 4th comprehensive 10 (or whatever) years ago was key and the county just couldn't find a way to make it happen.  If they couldn't do it then, they won't do it now, or 5 years from now, or 10 -- because there is just not the land to do it.  I think washington country club should donate their golf course -- that might be enough space (though it's basically right in between WL and Yorktown so...).  Or maybe we could turn a park into a high school.

Meanwhile, if you don't do something drastic like that, it's flex scheduling or virtual schools on the table and I don't think anyone really wants that.  Or just keep crowding kids into WL?  County just keeps sitting on its hands thinking bonus density being used by developers is a good idea and teachers keep quitting so ... not really sure what's going to happen here.[/quote]

Let this go.  It's not happening and there is a compelling case for why it's not necessary and worth the enormous expense.  Siphon off kids who will self-select into high-quality specialty programs...STEM, performing arts, other.  There will be plenty of fields left for the kids who prioritize this kind of experience.[/quote]

WHAT high quality specialty programs are you talking about, besides Arlington Tech?  Nothing like this currently exists.  How long do you think it would take the county to budget and create something like that when currently NOTHING LIKE THAT is on their TO DO list or even running wild in their imaginations?[/quote]

DP.  And they still need space for these programs.[/quote]

Even if they just make Arlington Tech into a high quality math/science/engineering/CS program, they would clearly get lots of students to do it.   People fall all over themselves to get into HB.  Why would this be any different if marketed well.  I'm telling you they've already started doing this.  They have middle school kids thinking Arlington Tech is the dream.  Over subscribed and lottery in place.  A new building and expanded student body with more class offerings as a result means they will have plenty of takers and Chad and Ethan can be assured of their access to the lacrosse fields.[/quote]

Other than the Chad and Ethan comment, +1
APS, per usual, sucked at rolling out and promoting the AT program. Parents didn't understand the program and then the whole extracurriculars and no music classes thing. But now that students are graduating from the program with a year or two's worth of college credits due to all the dual enrollment classes and parents are seeing the schools graduates are applying to and going to, along with the long-delayed investment in new facilities, they're suddenly going to be clamoring to get their STEM kids in - even though it still is, and never will be, TJ Science and Technology. Of course, it was never intended to be, either.[/quote]

Yeah. Is it going to be a lottery or application? [/quote]

I'm sure it will continue to be like it is now - lottery with the requirement to complete Alg 2 before your sophomore year, not sure if there's a GPA requirement.
Personally, I think HB and AT should both have an application element in that there should be a case made as to why your child needs the program and/or why the program is a better fit for your child's academic or emotional wellness needs, including teacher recommendations.[/quote]

Oh man that would be great. DS adores math and science, and he has anxiety in crowds. It would be so great if he could go to AT. I wonder what the pros and cons are of the lottery system compared to what you’re proposing. [/quote]

IMO, the pros include matching student needs and learning styles to the academic programs' instruction and offerings.
I'm told the cons include teachers having to make recommendations, which I guess is a con for the teacher and maybe all the parents "advocating" to the child's teacher to get their kid recommended.
My personal opinion is that teachers are supposed to be the education experts and should be better-suited to know what learning style a student is and what academic approach/setting would be best. As it is, the HB program really no longer necessarily serves the learners it was designed to suit and is merely a matter of luck of the draw and luck of the people who somehow figure out how to work the system and get their kid in regardless of the lottery. I don't think any student is not served by the HB program; but I do believe there are many other students who would be far better served by HB than their neighborhood school. Most HB students would fare just as well academically (and socially) at their neighborhood school.
AT is an entirely different ball game. It's a very different academic program and it offers a very different approach. 
It's foolish to believe that only students who are well-suited to these programs are the ones entering the lottery.  AT more so for now, until such time it becomes more highly coveted by parents. HB absolutely not.[/quote]

or APS could develop more of these high school programs so that students would self select into the one that is the best fit without just running away from the huge high schools. probably a pipe dream i know.

i have a kid at hb and after they got in, multiple teachers and their elem school told me what a good fit it was for them. and it really is. i'm so thankful they are there. but we just got really really lucky. [/quote]

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