Try it. If you don’t like it, pull your kid out. What is your neighborhood school? Some are better than others.

Do you think APS relies too much on ipads or are you just listening to what folks say? My kids are both in ES and they maybe use the ipad for 10 minutes out of their day. MAYBE 20 minute at max. I sometimes think APS' use of ipads is overstated. Yes they have 1:1 but that doesn't mean kids are on ipads all day long.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child got into ATS. Our neighborhood school is a title one school and we never expected to get off the wait list. I know from the other thread that ATS is also very diverse which we want and like about our school.

We’re torn because we like our neighborhood school but we know ATS has a great reputation. Our child is pretty advanced already and we’re worried about them getting bored. APS is relying way too much on iPads. Not sure what it’s like at ATS but we hope they are more challenging (more “traditional?”).

But we both work full time and it will be hard to make the trek to pick up every day (bus home is not an option for us).

Really feeling torn about chasing something better, leaving a great school community, making our lives harder, but want to make sure our kid has their needs met too.

This isn't really true this school year. APS pulled way back on ipads this year. I have a kid in a neighborhood elementary and middle school and the difference was notable compared to pandemic years and last year.

In any case, I wouldn't use that as decision factor. I know a teacher at ATS. It's not really that much different than any other school. Same curriculum. They're required to take an instrument it's not optional. Max class sizes every year. The major factor is you get a very self-selected student body so much less chance of kids with uninvolved or checked out parents and the issues that tend to come with that. That's why everyone thinks it's so great. You weed out a lot of issues that way.

I agree. We live close to ATS but go to a different neighborhood school and my kids reported that they barely used their ipads this year. Maybe ipad use is school specific.

We know four kids who go to ATS, and one of them started at our neighborhood school. They like it just fine, but don't see much of a quality difference between the schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child got into ATS. Our neighborhood school is a title one school and we never expected to get off the wait list. I know from the other thread that ATS is also very diverse which we want and like about our school.

We’re torn because we like our neighborhood school but we know ATS has a great reputation. Our child is pretty advanced already and we’re worried about them getting bored. APS is relying way too much on iPads. Not sure what it’s like at ATS but we hope they are more challenging (more “traditional?”).

But we both work full time and it will be hard to make the trek to pick up every day (bus home is not an option for us).

Really feeling torn about chasing something better, leaving a great school community, making our lives harder, but want to make sure our kid has their needs met too.

This isn't really true this school year. APS pulled way back on ipads this year. I have a kid in a neighborhood elementary and middle school and the difference was notable compared to pandemic years and last year.

In any case, I wouldn't use that as decision factor. I know a teacher at ATS. It's not really that much different than any other school. Same curriculum. They're required to take an instrument it's not optional. Max class sizes every year. The major factor is you get a very self-selected student body so much less chance of kids with uninvolved or checked out parents and the issues that tend to come with that. That's why everyone thinks it's so great. You weed out a lot of issues that way.

Also more emphasis on homework. Homework in elementary is not evidence-based but some parents really want it. If your kid having homework is important to you, choose ATS. Most neighborhood schools have phased it out (and had done so pre-pandemic).

Anonymous wrote:Our child got into ATS. Our neighborhood school is a title one school and we never expected to get off the wait list. I know from the other thread that ATS is also very diverse which we want and like about our school.

We’re torn because we like our neighborhood school but we know ATS has a great reputation. Our child is pretty advanced already and we’re worried about them getting bored. APS is relying way too much on iPads. Not sure what it’s like at ATS but we hope they are more challenging (more “traditional?”).

But we both work full time and it will be hard to make the trek to pick up every day (bus home is not an option for us).

Really feeling torn about chasing something better, leaving a great school community, making our lives harder, but want to make sure our kid has their needs met too.

This isn't really true this school year. APS pulled way back on ipads this year. I have a kid in a neighborhood elementary and middle school and the difference was notable compared to pandemic years and last year.

In any case, I wouldn't use that as decision factor. I know a teacher at ATS. It's not really that much different than any other school. Same curriculum. They're required to take an instrument it's not optional. Max class sizes every year. The major factor is you get a very self-selected student body so much less chance of kids with uninvolved or checked out parents and the issues that tend to come with that. That's why everyone thinks it's so great. You weed out a lot of issues that way.

South Arlington parent whose neighbor was at ATS. They loved it. My kid loves our neighborhood school. They are both great options. But she mentioned several times how glad she was that she was a stay at home mom because driving across the county twice a day is a lot. It added a lot of stress and time, especially with constant construction. She didn't regret ATS, but said she would strongly consider switching to our neighborhood school if she returned to work.

In terms of academics, our kids got near identical scores at the beginning and end of the year. They both learned a ton and made friends and loved school. There definitely wasn't a "wrong" option

Anonymous wrote:Our child got into ATS. Our neighborhood school is a title one school and we never expected to get off the wait list. I know from the other thread that ATS is also very diverse which we want and like about our school.

We’re torn because we like our neighborhood school but we know ATS has a great reputation. Our child is pretty advanced already and we’re worried about them getting bored. APS is relying way too much on iPads. Not sure what it’s like at ATS but we hope they are more challenging (more “traditional?”).

But we both work full time and it will be hard to make the trek to pick up every day (bus home is not an option for us).

Really feeling torn about chasing something better, leaving a great school community, making our lives harder, but want to make sure our kid has their needs met too.

ATS parent here. Do it! If you don’t like and and decide it’s not worth it you can leave but the reverse isn’t true. It’s a wonderful school. The teachers are caring and really know how to teach. The student body is kind and there is very little bullying. Academics are top notch and if your child is behind they will get the help they need. If your child is advanced they will be adequately challenged whether they fall in the gifted category or not. iPad usage exists but it is minimal and there is a lot of focus on using pen and paper. It’s also a mini United Nations which is such a unique experience for an Arlington school. There are negatives though: (1) the transition to middle school may be more difficult because he/she didn’t go to the neighborhood school (2) the hub bus stops suck and (3) school starts really early (but as a plus it ends early too and you wouldn’t need extended day in the morning if that is something you would otherwise need to utilize). If you are on MONA or any of the Arlington Facebook groups post your question there as well.

Is extended day already full? There should be a waitlist. Also, Arlington is not that big so it may work out for you depending on traffic patterns.

If it doesn't work you can go back to neighborhood but you can't go the other way. How old is DC?

Our child got into ATS. Our neighborhood school is a title one school and we never expected to get off the wait list. I know from the other thread that ATS is also very diverse which we want and like about our school.

We’re torn because we like our neighborhood school but we know ATS has a great reputation. Our child is pretty advanced already and we’re worried about them getting bored. APS is relying way too much on iPads. Not sure what it’s like at ATS but we hope they are more challenging (more “traditional?”).

But we both work full time and it will be hard to make the trek to pick up every day (bus home is not an option for us).

Really feeling torn about chasing something better, leaving a great school community, making our lives harder, but want to make sure our kid has their needs met too.