Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

And parents want their kids to go to HB because it’s an excellent program, not necessarily because their neighborhood school is overcrowded.

BS. People know it’s essentially private school on the public dime. Never over crowded. It has the same curriculum, so it has lost lots of its luster from years past. It’s like ATS, the real secret sauce is that it’s opt-in so you get motivated parents. The independent study aspect of the program also filters likewise. Now it has a new marquee building, it should be as crowded as all the high schools and then we’ll see if people apply at same rate.

+1,000,000

I've had four kids go thru or are currently in APS and every year in fifth grade something like 98% of my kids' friends' parents tell me they are putting the kid into the HB lottery because it is essentially "free" private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C2RT7M7546E4/$file/F-1%20Supts%20Proposed%20FY%202022-2024%20CIP%20Presentation.pdf

All the money for secondary seats will go to building a new choice MS/HS at the Career Center. And a new Montessori building on the site of the old CC (even though it's elementary and we don't urgently need ES seats).

Middle school seats continue to have a huge deficit.

Virtual school is envisioned as the answer to the capacity problems:

"Virtual Learning May Impact Capacity Needs
•APS will have a virtual school for 2021-22
•A long-term virtual school will likely remain available for students who find it works better for them and their needs
•Virtual learning could reduce the needs for in-person seats, we will get a better sense of the impact over the next several years"

So, are they relocating the Montessori MS seats from Gunston AND adding MS seats to Arl Tech? How many seats short are they then?

For 2024-25 school year they are -531 seats; for 2025-26 they are -671. No relief for those MS students is planned at all it seems.

If this CIP proposal is adopted with the 1300 seat plan for the choice MS/HS at the Career Center, APS will still be short 500 seats for MS students.

If the 1800 seat proposal is adopted [the CIP document released yesterday says nothing about projected costs], APS will still be short 150 seats for MS students.

There is still no plan to build at Kenmore even though that campus is huge and under-utilized.

When APS chose to do a limited one-year plan last year, the SB directed staff to develop a CIP this year that meets all projected seat needs. This proposal doesn't accomplish that. From last year's CIP:

"The FY 2022 Four-to-Six-Year CIP will need to do the following:
• Meet the projected need for seats at all levels based on the Fall 2020 projections
• Potentially include additions, modifications, program moves, leased space, new construction, and/or other solutions that fit within the projected 10-year CIP funding"

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-08-26-CIP_Report_Complete.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Enrollment across APS was down this year. I'm sure a lot of people didn't want to start their kids in an immersion program during a distance learning year. Some people also delayed enrolling their 5 year olds in kindergarten and are waiting for in-person next year.

20-21 still offered 140 slot for K and only 121 (Key) and 128 (Claremont) are currently enrolled. That's actually pretty consistent with the last few years enrollment. This year they cut the numbers because both schools are overcrowded and need to be cut down. In past years every kid who wants a spot ended up being offered off the waitlist because a lot of people apply as a backup to another preferred school or just because. This year people might actually end up being shut out because of the smaller number of kindergartens offered and the larger than usual incoming K class.

Anyone know what the 1st grade waitlist looks like at Key and Claremont? I suspect it's larger than usual too.

For 1st grade, 0 seats open for English speakers at Claremont, 26 waitlisted. 4 Spanish speakers in lottery all got offers.

2 open seats for English speakers at key, 24 waitlisted. 8 Spanish speakers in lottery all got offers

How do you know all of this? Are these numbers posted somewhere?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Enrollment across APS was down this year. I'm sure a lot of people didn't want to start their kids in an immersion program during a distance learning year. Some people also delayed enrolling their 5 year olds in kindergarten and are waiting for in-person next year.

20-21 still offered 140 slot for K and only 121 (Key) and 128 (Claremont) are currently enrolled. That's actually pretty consistent with the last few years enrollment. This year they cut the numbers because both schools are overcrowded and need to be cut down. In past years every kid who wants a spot ended up being offered off the waitlist because a lot of people apply as a backup to another preferred school or just because. This year people might actually end up being shut out because of the smaller number of kindergartens offered and the larger than usual incoming K class.

Anyone know what the 1st grade waitlist looks like at Key and Claremont? I suspect it's larger than usual too.

For 1st grade, 0 seats open for English speakers at Claremont, 26 waitlisted. 4 Spanish speakers in lottery all got offers.

2 open seats for English speakers at key, 24 waitlisted. 8 Spanish speakers in lottery all got offers

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

They’re trying to bring it back to a 50/50 balance. If they can’t get enough Spanish speakers to pair with the English speakers, they shouldn’t have additional K classes. It undermines the fidelity of the program. And there are neighborhood seats in South Arlington. Drew is accepting transfers.

How convenient. We can’t make our school overcrowded because it would disrupt the delicate ratio of our program. I’m sure if there are 4 more English speaking kids per class they will manage. They need to absorb the over crowding just like neighborhood schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

And parents want their kids to go to HB because it’s an excellent program, not necessarily because their neighborhood school is overcrowded.

BS. People know it’s essentially private school on the public dime. Never over crowded. It has the same curriculum, so it has lost lots of its luster from years past. It’s like ATS, the real secret sauce is that it’s opt-in so you get motivated parents. The independent study aspect of the program also filters likewise. Now it has a new marquee building, it should be as crowded as all the high schools and then we’ll see if people apply at same rate.

Anonymous wrote:https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/arlington/Board.nsf/files/C2RT7M7546E4/$file/F-1%20Supts%20Proposed%20FY%202022-2024%20CIP%20Presentation.pdf

All the money for secondary seats will go to building a new choice MS/HS at the Career Center. And a new Montessori building on the site of the old CC (even though it's elementary and we don't urgently need ES seats).

Middle school seats continue to have a huge deficit.

Virtual school is envisioned as the answer to the capacity problems:

"Virtual Learning May Impact Capacity Needs
•APS will have a virtual school for 2021-22
•A long-term virtual school will likely remain available for students who find it works better for them and their needs
•Virtual learning could reduce the needs for in-person seats, we will get a better sense of the impact over the next several years"

So, are they relocating the Montessori MS seats from Gunston AND adding MS seats to Arl Tech? How many seats short are they then?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

They’re trying to bring it back to a 50/50 balance. If they can’t get enough Spanish speakers to pair with the English speakers, they shouldn’t have additional K classes. It undermines the fidelity of the program. And there are neighborhood seats in South Arlington. Drew is accepting transfers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Enrollment across APS was down this year. I'm sure a lot of people didn't want to start their kids in an immersion program during a distance learning year. Some people also delayed enrolling their 5 year olds in kindergarten and are waiting for in-person next year.

20-21 still offered 140 slot for K and only 121 (Key) and 128 (Claremont) are currently enrolled. That's actually pretty consistent with the last few years enrollment. This year they cut the numbers because both schools are overcrowded and need to be cut down. In past years every kid who wants a spot ended up being offered off the waitlist because a lot of people apply as a backup to another preferred school or just because. This year people might actually end up being shut out because of the smaller number of kindergartens offered and the larger than usual incoming K class.

Anyone know what the 1st grade waitlist looks like at Key and Claremont? I suspect it's larger than usual too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Enrollment across APS was down this year. I'm sure a lot of people didn't want to start their kids in an immersion program during a distance learning year. Some people also delayed enrolling their 5 year olds in kindergarten and are waiting for in-person next year.

20-21 still offered 140 slot for K and only 121 (Key) and 128 (Claremont) are currently enrolled. That's actually pretty consistent with the last few years enrollment. This year they cut the numbers because both schools are overcrowded and need to be cut down. In past years every kid who wants a spot ended up being offered off the waitlist because a lot of people apply as a backup to another preferred school or just because. This year people might actually end up being shut out because of the smaller number of kindergartens offered and the larger than usual incoming K class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Enrollment across APS was down this year. I'm sure a lot of people didn't want to start their kids in an immersion program during a distance learning year. Some people also delayed enrolling their 5 year olds in kindergarten and are waiting for in-person next year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

Claremont also gets a lot of English speakers who are just trying to not go to their high FARMS neighborhood school. I'm not saying I wouldn't do the same thing, just pointing out it's a dynamic that happens in S Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

And parents want their kids to go to HB because it’s an excellent program, not necessarily because their neighborhood school is overcrowded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.

It sounds like they need more Kindergardens. What a shortsighted decision!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the *** does Montessori need another school? Both of our dual language programs are way over capacity (and now even more so, thanks school moves.) If there's anything that APS needs option-school wise, it's another elementary immersion program.

They shrunk both immersion programs to 96 K students this year. There were 8 Spanish speakers waitlisted at Key and none at Claremont. Claremont had a 91 person waitlist for English speakers and 33 at Key

Option schools should be as overcrowded as the most crowded neighborhood school, otherwise people start opting for the options to escape a packed school rather than actually for the program. This is the fatal flaw in HB for example.