What's pathetic is that even with the tax base of multi million dollar homes it isn't enough to do anything other than give a bunch of black kids free lunch.

This isn't the case in other similar cities.

Anonymous wrote:My DC went to TC and took numerous AP classes. She got 5s on at least 6 exams, and was inspired and challenged by her teachers every day. What’s the “academic rigor” that’s missing? The only thing I can think of is perhaps the most advanced math classes at TJ. Or maybe you’re suggesting TC eliminate some of its vocational offerings? Why? This is a school that serves ALL of Alexandria’s youth. I do know kids who enjoyed stepping out of the college prep bubble sometimes. One student who ended up at MIT thoroughly enjoyed a shop-type class, for example.

ACPS does advertise it focuses on "the minimum", the latter said to benefit a whole student approach. Look where that hasn't gotten ACPS: from the bottom ranked school systems in the state of Virginia in decades!

Why should that failed approach continue then in Alexandria? I do not accept that it should:studies show that challenged students respond to academic challenge more than if non-challenged academically. Why do and why should Alexandria residents accept this school board and administrative approach.

Alexandria City Public Schools are a national laughing stock. Academicians and former residents, family, people alike know of our poor school system. I was working out one morning at a hotel gym in a large US city and chatted w a local who brought up ACPS when I mentioned I was from Alexandria City. Went on to say how despicable it is that a City like us allow lingering at the bottom of Virginia schools.

This is very frustrating and we residents have a duty to speak up about ACPS academics. It's embarrassing and wrong to intentionally choose a dumbed down curriculum (for lack of better term). NYC w it's millions of students has long pushed through problems such as ours, with notable success (and some failure).

I don’t understand what you mean.

PP, the difference is the color of your skin.

My DC went to TC and took numerous AP classes. She got 5s on at least 6 exams, and was inspired and challenged by her teachers every day. What’s the “academic rigor” that’s missing? The only thing I can think of is perhaps the most advanced math classes at TJ. Or maybe you’re suggesting TC eliminate some of its vocational offerings? Why? This is a school that serves ALL of Alexandria’s youth. I do know kids who enjoyed stepping out of the college prep bubble sometimes. One student who ended up at MIT thoroughly enjoyed a shop-type class, for example.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a B+/A student currently in 8th grade at GW, this is incredibly depressing.

Speak up at ACPS School Board meetings about mandatory improvement of academics. It's been decades that our ACPS academic results are poor and still the Alexandria community doesn't raise a stink. If this was Arlington County, this would never pass with taxpayers. ACPS focuses too little on academic rigor. And drain the Central Office swamp and rotten principals. The new superintendent better get on this!

Why aren't Alexandria residents upset about the state of ACPS and speaking up? Waiting for others to do it?

Because then they would appear un PC. Parents want and students need tracking starting in middle school but they don't want to do it because the school board believes that no non-white student could possibly ever get into honors classes

In a Alexandria, most would not. When half your student population lives in poverty, you have a different set of priorities that don’t include advanced academics. This is why many upper middle class white families leave before middle school. Been this way for years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a B+/A student currently in 8th grade at GW, this is incredibly depressing.

Speak up at ACPS School Board meetings about mandatory improvement of academics. It's been decades that our ACPS academic results are poor and still the Alexandria community doesn't raise a stink. If this was Arlington County, this would never pass with taxpayers. ACPS focuses too little on academic rigor. And drain the Central Office swamp and rotten principals. The new superintendent better get on this!

Why aren't Alexandria residents upset about the state of ACPS and speaking up? Waiting for others to do it?

ACPS is focused on the minimum and is very upfront and transparent about that. Has been for decades now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a B+/A student currently in 8th grade at GW, this is incredibly depressing.

Speak up at ACPS School Board meetings about mandatory improvement of academics. It's been decades that our ACPS academic results are poor and still the Alexandria community doesn't raise a stink. If this was Arlington County, this would never pass with taxpayers. ACPS focuses too little on academic rigor. And drain the Central Office swamp and rotten principals. The new superintendent better get on this!

Why aren't Alexandria residents upset about the state of ACPS and speaking up? Waiting for others to do it?

Because then they would appear un PC. Parents want and students need tracking starting in middle school but they don't want to do it because the school board believes that no non-white student could possibly ever get into honors classes

I would be way more interested in college graduation statistics. Undergrad degrees are nothing more than checking a box after graduation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a B+/A student currently in 8th grade at GW, this is incredibly depressing.

Speak up at ACPS School Board meetings about mandatory improvement of academics. It's been decades that our ACPS academic results are poor and still the Alexandria community doesn't raise a stink. If this was Arlington County, this would never pass with taxpayers. ACPS focuses too little on academic rigor. And drain the Central Office swamp and rotten principals. The new superintendent better get on this!

Why aren't Alexandria residents upset about the state of ACPS and speaking up? Waiting for others to do it?

Some parents have, and the school board then just lies about the facts on the ground and the problems worsen. A few parents have observed negative consequences for the kids of those parents. The school board makes all of the decisions in ACPS - the entire central office staff is merely there to churn files and provide cover, but only the school board matters one bit. Maybe the school board's composition will be changed in this election cycle. It certainly should be, because the school board, alone, is at fault for these results.

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of a B+/A student currently in 8th grade at GW, this is incredibly depressing.

Speak up at ACPS School Board meetings about mandatory improvement of academics. It's been decades that our ACPS academic results are poor and still the Alexandria community doesn't raise a stink. If this was Arlington County, this would never pass with taxpayers. ACPS focuses too little on academic rigor. And drain the Central Office swamp and rotten principals. The new superintendent better get on this!

Why aren't Alexandria residents upset about the state of ACPS and speaking up? Waiting for others to do it?

Anonymous wrote:The top 100 kids at TC did as well as many private schools' graduating classes of 100 students. Look at SSSAS's stats, for example.

Nope. The "top 100" at TC did not include five of the Ivies, did not include any but five of the rest of the non-public US News top 20, and did not include a single service academy. The UVa, W&M, and VA Tech headcount totals four percent of the graduating class. This is basically the worst college placement record TC Williams has ever seen, ever.

The top 100 kids at TC did as well as many private schools' graduating classes of 100 students. Look at SSSAS's stats, for example.

I think PP meant 40 to UVA. The school has gotten more competitive so they may be cutting down on the amount of NOVA kids they are taking.

Also surprised about the Tech and W&M numbers. I know Tech had an increase in apps, but most high schools send 20 kids to Tech. 14 to JMU is average.

These are actually pretty bad results. Worse than I would have expected. Although it is true that there are a lot of poor kids at TC Williams