Anonymous
Post 03/21/2012 15:00     Subject: Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
I am currently an educator in ACPS and here is the truth: there are some amazing teachers and there are some really bad ones....and you will find this to be true every where you go whether it be private or public schools and anywhere in the country.

There are a few things that I would like to contest in some of the previous poster's comments. First is the idea that students have accountability. As a teacher in the district, I HAVE to accept all late work for any reason and on top of that, students who don't do the assignments at all automatically get a 40% - this is a district policy that I can't even override in the electronic grade book. As another poster noted, in middle school there are no barriers to honors classes - if your parent knows to ask for them - so two problems have arisen, one is that differentiation is incredibly difficult for example, when a couple of students read at the first grade level (but are in middle school) a couple are gifted, and the rest of the students are really more of what would be found in a mainstream regular classroom. The other issue is that the non-honors classrooms now devoid of the regular mainstream students, are now left with SPED, ELL, and unfortunately behavior issues and those that need the extra attention are getting less of it. If anything, all the students would be better off in completely heterogeneous classrooms.
Anonymous
Post 03/19/2012 19:24     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a defender of ACPS or APS. My kids go to FCPS. I don't understand why people feel the need to bash any system or any particular school.


I'm not a basher, but I understand it. Alexandria is not cheap place to live. I moved to Alexandria 10 years ago and thought it was a fun, convenient place to live. I paid much more because I wanted to be in close proximity to my job in DC. But because of some weird issues that are totally unrelated to most of the current residents, the demographics of some the public schools have a high number of at risk students that are comparable to inner city schools in poor neighborhoods.

I know it is what it is and there are a lot of issues that aren't easily resolved that causes these unique issues. So instead of a nice, high ranking suburban school with a decent amount of diversity like say Bethesda Chevy Chase High School or Washington-Lee, we have the lowest ranked high school in Northern Virginia with no other options. Jefferson Houston in Parker Gray/North Old Town is probably the worst elementary school in the Nova and is comparable to those in SE DC.

Honestly, if I was making $30K a year and living in a $800 per month apartment, I'd think the education at TC Williams and ACPS is pretty darn good. But we all know the complainers here are paying way more and are shocked that the ACPS has way more issues than other systems.


Anonymous
Post 03/14/2012 10:48     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a defender of ACPS or APS. My kids go to FCPS. I don't understand why people feel the need to bash any system or any particular school. From what I've seen and experienced, there are great teachers in all schools and there are marginal teachers in all schools. The public schools are required to accept all students (as a PP noted), whether they've been in this country just a week, if they have intellectual diabilities, health issues or whatever. Come one, come all. My kids are some of those that drive down test scores. Two of them have learning disabilities and one is in an immersion program. Frankly, I don't care about test scores. My greatest concerns are if my child is being challenged and if they like going to school. I don't know of a single school in NOVA where that won't happen. Besides, research is quite clear that the greatest indicator of academic success is the mother's education level and the family's socio-economic level. I can only think that those who feel the need to bash are, in some way, trying to justify decisions they've made. That's their issue, not mine.


Can you share the research you're referring to?
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2012 09:40     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
I wish I could afford to be. I am in Annandale, but I feel that Annandale HS will offer a comparable experience to any of the others.
Anonymous
Post 03/14/2012 09:22     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:I'm not a defender of ACPS or APS. My kids go to FCPS. I don't understand why people feel the need to bash any system or any particular school. From what I've seen and experienced, there are great teachers in all schools and there are marginal teachers in all schools. The public schools are required to accept all students (as a PP noted), whether they've been in this country just a week, if they have intellectual diabilities, health issues or whatever. Come one, come all. My kids are some of those that drive down test scores. Two of them have learning disabilities and one is in an immersion program. Frankly, I don't care about test scores. My greatest concerns are if my child is being challenged and if they like going to school. I don't know of a single school in NOVA where that won't happen. Besides, research is quite clear that the greatest indicator of academic success is the mother's education level and the family's socio-economic level. I can only think that those who feel the need to bash are, in some way, trying to justify decisions they've made. That's their issue, not mine.


Come on, you can admit it. You're in the McLean or Langley zone, aren't you?
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 21:02     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
I'm not a defender of ACPS or APS. My kids go to FCPS. I don't understand why people feel the need to bash any system or any particular school. From what I've seen and experienced, there are great teachers in all schools and there are marginal teachers in all schools. The public schools are required to accept all students (as a PP noted), whether they've been in this country just a week, if they have intellectual diabilities, health issues or whatever. Come one, come all. My kids are some of those that drive down test scores. Two of them have learning disabilities and one is in an immersion program. Frankly, I don't care about test scores. My greatest concerns are if my child is being challenged and if they like going to school. I don't know of a single school in NOVA where that won't happen. Besides, research is quite clear that the greatest indicator of academic success is the mother's education level and the family's socio-economic level. I can only think that those who feel the need to bash are, in some way, trying to justify decisions they've made. That's their issue, not mine.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 20:58     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Or at the very least if you are going to compare against FCPS, name an actual school. As if you could even compare any HS in ACPS or Arlington against Langley HS or McLean HS (excluding TJ)?
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 18:33     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:ACPS has 19 total schools.
FCPS has 194 total schools.

Don't "summarize" FCPS in 1 general statement. It has 21 high schools.
ACPS can be summarized in 1 statement as it only has 1 high school. (and it's horrible).



I vote for leaving FCPS out of this. The big mud-slingers against ACPS are Arlington residents.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 17:47     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
ACPS has 19 total schools.
FCPS has 194 total schools.

Don't "summarize" FCPS in 1 general statement. It has 21 high schools.
ACPS can be summarized in 1 statement as it only has 1 high school. (and it's horrible).

Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 16:10     Subject: Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
You're right. You win. With this victory behind you, now you can focus all your attention on that Fairfax County gun-eating contest that you've been missing.

CHAN-TUCKY! WOOO-WEE!
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 14:54     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, very happy ACPS parents here. We are refugees from two private schools. The ACPS curriculum is more academically rigorous, the sensitivity to the personal preferences of the students and parents is greater at ACPS than at any of the privates, and we've seen ACPS graduates of TC frankly do better than graduates of the private schools, except for a handful of the very truly wealthiest private school kids. It might be counter-intuitive, but ACPS provides discernably greater individualized instruction than any private school in the region. And if your DC is advanced or possesses special skills, you can expect that to be identified and developed in the ACPS system. I see criticisms of ACPS on these boards all the time, but they don't seem to be coming primarily from current ACPS parents.



That alone makes me know you are just making things up and your kid never attended a school in Alexandria City



I don't understand why a person who has a positive ACPS comment is immediately dismissed as "making things up" (unless the smiley face was meant to indicate a joke? Sorry if that's the case!)
The truth is that none of us can claim omnipotent knowledge of every public and private school in the region. Some folks have had great public school experiences, some have had good private experiences. This person is relating their experience. They know of two private schools, and they truly feel that ACPS is better. They also take the time to list the reasons why. It's frustrating when folks who take the time to write thoughtful comments are dismissed with just a few words.
FWIW, my experience is very similar. I think my children are receiving a lot of individualized attention at ACPS. I feel that as they continue to move through ACPS they will have access to a rigorous academic program. As a district with a very diverse population, there are plenty of kids who will not avail themselves of this challenging academic curriculum, but that does not seem to deny my child that access.
ACPS is far from perfect. This latest revelation from the audit is just one example of problems that exist. DCUM also has plenty of posts with parents frustrated about different aspects of other districts. I think discussions would be more productive if people describe concrete pros and cons they experienced at specific schools, rather than turning everything into a ranking system, with a lot of one sentence declarations that one school/district is "best" and another school/district is "worst".


I wasn't joking. But I know you are.

Its a well known fact that the gifted program in the City schools is all but non-existant and what does is exist is very poor quality for elementary students and the honors program for Middle school has no barriers for entry.
In fact, they just hired a new woman to run the program to actually make it effective. ACPS acknowledges the programs deficiencies.
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 13:53     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, very happy ACPS parents here. We are refugees from two private schools. The ACPS curriculum is more academically rigorous, the sensitivity to the personal preferences of the students and parents is greater at ACPS than at any of the privates, and we've seen ACPS graduates of TC frankly do better than graduates of the private schools, except for a handful of the very truly wealthiest private school kids. It might be counter-intuitive, but ACPS provides discernably greater individualized instruction than any private school in the region. And if your DC is advanced or possesses special skills, you can expect that to be identified and developed in the ACPS system. I see criticisms of ACPS on these boards all the time, but they don't seem to be coming primarily from current ACPS parents.



That alone makes me know you are just making things up and your kid never attended a school in Alexandria City



I don't understand why a person who has a positive ACPS comment is immediately dismissed as "making things up" (unless the smiley face was meant to indicate a joke? Sorry if that's the case!)
The truth is that none of us can claim omnipotent knowledge of every public and private school in the region. Some folks have had great public school experiences, some have had good private experiences. This person is relating their experience. They know of two private schools, and they truly feel that ACPS is better. They also take the time to list the reasons why. It's frustrating when folks who take the time to write thoughtful comments are dismissed with just a few words.
FWIW, my experience is very similar. I think my children are receiving a lot of individualized attention at ACPS. I feel that as they continue to move through ACPS they will have access to a rigorous academic program. As a district with a very diverse population, there are plenty of kids who will not avail themselves of this challenging academic curriculum, but that does not seem to deny my child that access.
ACPS is far from perfect. This latest revelation from the audit is just one example of problems that exist. DCUM also has plenty of posts with parents frustrated about different aspects of other districts. I think discussions would be more productive if people describe concrete pros and cons they experienced at specific schools, rather than turning everything into a ranking system, with a lot of one sentence declarations that one school/district is "best" and another school/district is "worst".
Anonymous
Post 03/13/2012 12:49     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
Anonymous wrote:PP, very happy ACPS parents here. We are refugees from two private schools. The ACPS curriculum is more academically rigorous, the sensitivity to the personal preferences of the students and parents is greater at ACPS than at any of the privates, and we've seen ACPS graduates of TC frankly do better than graduates of the private schools, except for a handful of the very truly wealthiest private school kids. It might be counter-intuitive, but ACPS provides discernably greater individualized instruction than any private school in the region. And if your DC is advanced or possesses special skills, you can expect that to be identified and developed in the ACPS system. I see criticisms of ACPS on these boards all the time, but they don't seem to be coming primarily from current ACPS parents.



That alone makes me know you are just making things up and your kid never attended a school in Alexandria City

Anonymous
Post 03/12/2012 23:33     Subject: Re:Wonder what the ACPS defenders make of this
PP, very happy ACPS parents here. We are refugees from two private schools. The ACPS curriculum is more academically rigorous, the sensitivity to the personal preferences of the students and parents is greater at ACPS than at any of the privates, and we've seen ACPS graduates of TC frankly do better than graduates of the private schools, except for a handful of the very truly wealthiest private school kids. It might be counter-intuitive, but ACPS provides discernably greater individualized instruction than any private school in the region. And if your DC is advanced or possesses special skills, you can expect that to be identified and developed in the ACPS system. I see criticisms of ACPS on these boards all the time, but they don't seem to be coming primarily from current ACPS parents.