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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think there are some good elementary schools in ACPS and some students (gifted) can really excel at the high school BUT I think the middle school is really the downfall.

And, there is only one middle and one high school. We bailed on Alexandria City for Fairfax County.[/quote]

There's only one middle school?  Seriously?  That's simply incorrect; two buildings with five school assignments and front-offices.

[/quote]

They are thinking of collapsing those structures though. It's under review now.[/quote]

This is correct, although the "under review" status is largely the product of one single member of the School Board who carries little weight.  Both the Hammond and GW PTAs have appeared before the School Board at a formal session and asked that the consolidation of the campus sub-schools be stopped and the existing structure be preserved.  
[/quote]
Incorrect. I think there was some concern that the restructure might be pushed though at the end of the last school year, with the switch to take place in the fall, and there was push back from the community to do a more thorough evaluation, which has been ongoing throughout the summer and into the fall, with "workgroup" that includes staff, admin, parents, and school board members. To my knowledge, neither PTA has come out with a formal position rejecting restructuring.  [/quote]

Both indeed have.  See the School Board May 2013 meetings -- both PTA Presidents appeared in person.  That was around the time when the School Board member made the legendary comment regarding demographics.  [/quote]

Incorrect. The PTA of both schools wanted to make sure that nothing was changed in the coming (now current) school year. I was physically present at both the GW PTA meeting and the school board. The concern was immediate change.

Also, if you're going to denigrate the school system as a whole know your facts. There are two physical structures, Francis Hammond on Seminary,  George Washington on Mt. Vernon Ave. In the current structure,  Hammond has 3 schools, GW 2. All with their own administrative offices, combined electives (generally).

As to the quality of the middle schools?  I was in a near panic about them, and I have been blown away at how happy my kid is, how engaged she is, how interesting, and even in the age of Standards testing all the time,  how creative are the lessons.

My girl goes to school with FARM kids, which after reading this site a few weeks,  is an anathema on these boards. Some of those kids don't perform very well on the tests. I think ACPS could work to make that better. However, I think on a personal level, my daughter is engaged, challenged, has a wonderful group of friends and we really like the community.[/quote]

PP, I am the PP you quoted -- I think you missed my message.  I agree with you completely.  My complaint is that the ACPS MS system largely works, does indeed offer a terrific environment, can engage students (and does), and should NOT be tinkered with by ACPS's amateur school board.  And the GW and FCH MS PTA presidents did appear before the school board to say so in the May '13 meetings, before the MS working group was created.  [/quote]

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