Reply to Are the City of Alexandria public schools really that bad?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thanks, 10:39. I really appreciate the details. I'm certainly interested in hearing the negative from other people too, but if it's "I drove by Mount Vernon Community School and the kids I saw are not the same kids I saw playing there on the weekend" or something like that, then yes, I'll think you're a racist.

I read these boards all the time. [b]So far, the specific negatives I've heard on here have been; problems with the administration; for ES, they don't tell you about transfers soon enough; good kids have been seated between the troublemakers; kids don't have iPads like Arlington; and there was something about "boob day" on a middle school tour (this one was awhile ago, but it really sticks in a person's brain[/b]).

I've also seen the comment that parents don't know how shitty the schools are until they leave. But what is it, specifically, that is happening once you leave? Kid is learning more quickly, kid is happier, school is more responsive?

I think there's so much attacking on here sometimes that the important facts are getting buried in the vitriol. [/quote]

As a person with younger kids, I eagerly look forward to the TC + Maret parent responding. In the meantime, I'll try to answer some of these:

[u]Problems with the administration[/u]. I think there is definitely a certain amount of dysfunction at the administration. I also think that as a small school system (compared to Fairfax, one of the country's largest) you can get to know very specific personalities, so one individual's faults might show up more distinctly then if you are dealing with a cast of thousands. Like any organization, I don't think it's possible to completely eliminate staff that are frustrating or less-than-stellar. I've come to see ACPS's relatively small size as a positive. You have far more access to School Board members, and they are able to develop closer relationships with each school because they have fewer schools under their responsibility. If you do have a problem/issue, the small size means there are fewer levels of bureaucracy you have to wade through to get your grievance addressed. At this current time, there is only one person in the central office I truly despise, but as someone who has befriended a number of teachers and staff, I also know I'm not the only person that dislikes this person, and I think the prevailing attitude is to work around this person in order to get stuff done. This kind of thing might be less apparent to someone outside ACPS, but again, I don't think it's much different from what goes on in any organization, and I'm sure there are parallels in the neighboring jurisdictions.

[u]Don't tell you about transfers soon enough[/u].  Arlington and Fairfax parents are DCUM have complained plenty about the overcrowding at their schools. The big increase in school population is happening all across the region. The transfer situation in ACPS is our version of it. Like the other jurisdictions, we have placed "learning cottages" at some of the schools to address the problem. Transfers become part of the mix in Alexandria because of the property lines of some of the schools involved. Tucker elementary on the West End was the first school to run out of space. It also happens to be built on a lot that can not have any additional structures placed on it. (If you are familiar with school, this might seems strange as there is a big park next to it, but that park is actually federal land, so ACPS has no jurisdiction over it. The only option for Tucker zone was the transfers. Now obviously, the ultimate solutions is that they are going to need to redistrict. If I have one complaint about the School Board, both current and former, it's that they are dragging their feet on the redistricting issue. However, reading these boards and listening to the woes of parents in Arlington and Fairfax, its seems we are not the only jurisdiction with this problem. The notification of the transfers most definitely was too late, and they have tried to improve that. I believe Tucker families knew by June of last year if they were going to be attending Tucker, or assigned elsewhere. The people that are really screwed under this current system are folks that are moving into the area in mid summer. Again, I'd love for this to be resolved in a more permanent way by redistricting, and hope that enough folks will put enough pressure on the School Board to make this happen.

[u]Good kids have been seated between troublemakers[/u]. Based on the conversations on the boards, their are teachers doing this all over the country, so this is hardly an ACPS question. If you have a problem with your child's seating in the classroom, contact the teacher, and say that current seating arrangement is making it difficult for your child to concentrate. If teacher doesn't respond, move on up to the principal. Done. I made a request like this once, and it was honored without any difficulty whatsoever.

[u]Kids don't have iPads like in Arlington[/u]. [Shrug] Plenty of privates don't have iPads either. They do have tons of technology. My kids used computers every day in 4th and 5th grade, and frequently in grades K-3. At the middle school, there is an almost 1:1 ratio of computers to students. Starting in 9th grade, every student is issued a laptop. Not really seeing a technology deficit in ACPS schools.

[u]Boob day[/u]. One and only place I've ever heard about this is on DCUM. Not from the multiple parents I know with kids currently enrolled at GW. During every period change, teachers are in hallways, and throughout the day, there are hall monitors stationed throughout the school. I just don't think this is a real thing now, or if it ever was.

[u]Parents don't know how bad it is until they leave.[/u] Many folks post here to say they've transferred into ACPS, and that they are happy. These voices tend to be drowned out. Hopefully we will hear more from the parent with one at TC and one at Maret. I have no doubt that there are some folks that for whatever reason do end up happier in another jurisdiction, but again, I don't think that opinion/experience should completely invalidate the views of ACPS families. For myself, I grew up in the military, attending schools in multiple jurisdictions across the country, and some overseas. I attending Fairfax county schools, and also Title I schools in a tiny town on the Texas/Mexico border. Some of the most amazing teachers and resources I had were in the "bad" school districts.

Let me know if you have more questions!

[/quote]

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