Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the spot at ATS. Really great focus on creating a school community, great counselors to support kids, along with unparalleled academic achievement in APS for all subgroups.

It's the APS private school, with all the affluence benefits of choosing the right sorority/fraternity. Which is why it is particularly attractive to better off North Arl. But that is still entirely different than whether it's the right fit for a kid who has at least social awkwardness ... unless you're claiming ATS bubble people are just better humans, including taking in society's weirdos.

What a silly and inaccurate assertion. ATS is 37% economically disadvantaged, 37.3% English learners and only 34.3% white.

By comparison, Cardinal, OPs neighborhood school, is 6.2% economically disadvantaged, 4.5% English learners, and 76.1% white.

Tuckahoe, another North Arlington school is 2.3% economically disadvantaged, 6.6% English learners, and 73.5% white.

Taylor, another North Arlington School, is 8.2% economically disadvantaged, 8.7% English learners and 64.2% white.

So no, ATS is not the affluent, private like school that PP is imaging. That is more Jamestown, Tuckahoe, Nottingham, Cardinal, Discovery and Taylor. ATS is probably comparable to Glebe and Arlington Science Focus which are both diverse schools with a significant percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

OP I would try ATS. If you don’t like it you can always go back to Cardinal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the spot at ATS. Really great focus on creating a school community, great counselors to support kids, along with unparalleled academic achievement in APS for all subgroups.

It's the APS private school, with all the affluence benefits of choosing the right sorority/fraternity. Which is why it is particularly attractive to better off North Arl. But that is still entirely different than whether it's the right fit for a kid who has at least social awkwardness ... unless you're claiming ATS bubble people are just better humans, including taking in society's weirdos.

ATS does have more than it’s fair share of dorky kids in my experience.

Anonymous wrote:Take the spot at ATS. Really great focus on creating a school community, great counselors to support kids, along with unparalleled academic achievement in APS for all subgroups.

It's the APS private school, with all the affluence benefits of choosing the right sorority/fraternity. Which is why it is particularly attractive to better off North Arl. But that is still entirely different than whether it's the right fit for a kid who has at least social awkwardness ... unless you're claiming ATS bubble people are just better humans, including taking in society's weirdos.

I would take the spot at ATS. If you don’t like it you can always switch back to Cardinal.

Would not hesitate for a minute, take the spot at ATS. And if you were signed up for Extended Day already at your neighborhood school, that should transfer over. At least that’s what happened to us when we were offered a spot last year for first grade at ATS.

I would take the ATS seat in a heartbeat. We are still holding out hope to get in there this year!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the ATS spot if you think the program is right for your child, you can always go back to Cardinal if you don’t like it.

This.

Yep. I wouldn't worry about the middle school thing. Friends change so much between 2nd grade and the end of middle school. In fact, my high school student isn't friends with almost anyone from middle school at this point. You can always go back to Cardinal. It's worth check out ATS.

Anonymous wrote:The only lottery middle school you have a chance at is HB Woodlawn, and your odds are low either way but slightly better coming out of Cardinal.

Something to consider with ATS is that it doesn't feed into 1-2 middle schools. After 5th grade everyone goes back to their zoned middle school except the 3 kids that got into HB Woodlawn. Your kid has a much better chance of continuing to middle school with friends he knows if you leave him at Cardinal.

That is a downside, however once you get to middle school they put you onto a team and there's a good chance you'll rarely see your friends anyway. Lots of kids make entirely new friend groups when they hit middle school.

Anonymous wrote:Take the ATS spot if you think the program is right for your child, you can always go back to Cardinal if you don’t like it.

This.

Take the spot at ATS. Really great focus on creating a school community, great counselors to support kids, along with unparalleled academic achievement in APS for all subgroups.

The only lottery middle school you have a chance at is HB Woodlawn, and your odds are low either way but slightly better coming out of Cardinal.

Something to consider with ATS is that it doesn't feed into 1-2 middle schools. After 5th grade everyone goes back to their zoned middle school except the 3 kids that got into HB Woodlawn. Your kid has a much better chance of continuing to middle school with friends he knows if you leave him at Cardinal.

Anonymous wrote:Take the ATS spot if you think the program is right for your child, you can always go back to Cardinal if you don’t like it.

+1 Since he hasn't found a friend group at Cardinal I'd make the switch. For MS, you will still go to your zoned middle school unless you apply and get into HB Woodlawn for 6-12 or other programs that might be taking applicants at that time (Arts at Kenmore, IB at Jefferson)

Take the ATS spot if you think the program is right for your child, you can always go back to Cardinal if you don’t like it.

Anonymous wrote:Hello,

Our child just got off the wait list for ATS and we are trying to figure out if moving him is a good idea. Our son is getting ready to start second grade. He has done great academically so far, but social he's very awkward and doesn't seem to have made many friends at Cardinal.

What are the upsides to ATS over Cardinal? If he goes to ATS does he have an advantage at getting placed at a public charter middle school or is it just the lottery again. Also, does anyone know if there is currently a wait list for before school and after school care?

Thanks so much.

We don’t have Charter Schools in Arlington. There are a handful of public lottery programs and schools with distinct focuses. There is no preference for option MS, and no advantage relative to ES attended.

Hello,

Our child just got off the wait list for ATS and we are trying to figure out if moving him is a good idea. Our son is getting ready to start second grade. He has done great academically so far, but social he's very awkward and doesn't seem to have made many friends at Cardinal.

What are the upsides to ATS over Cardinal? If he goes to ATS does he have an advantage at getting placed at a public charter middle school or is it just the lottery again. Also, does anyone know if there is currently a wait list for before school and after school care?

Thanks so much.