Anonymous
05/12/2016 11:06
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Has there been any word about how they plan to use the 6 acre parcel the County acquired adjacent to Washington Lee HS? I had heard whispers about possibly using that as a 9th grade academy of sorts, but as far as I know the County also has not decided whether the parcel is even available for use by APS.
Anonymous
05/12/2016 10:40
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:The high school situation is the most critical and we the county to help. They love to talk about how people are moving/staying here for the schools and love to bring more people into our county. Please write to them to encourage their involvement in this process. APS needs more land. Some board members don't see any problem putting affordable housing on parkland, I don't see how they could object to a high school, especially b/c it will have another (freakin') pool.
OMG, I didn't even think about a pool. Another perk for the neighborhood! Plus a track--the one at W-L gets heavy use by the community.
Anonymous
05/12/2016 07:38
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
The high school situation is the most critical and we the county to help. They love to talk about how people are moving/staying here for the schools and love to bring more people into our county. Please write to them to encourage their involvement in this process. APS needs more land. Some board members don't see any problem putting affordable housing on parkland, I don't see how they could object to a high school, especially b/c it will have another (freakin') pool.
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:50
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?
If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.
Where?
The Henry/Fenwick area
Yes, instead of "Arlington Tech"
We need a full High School utilizing the entire space of the entire parcel.
I can't think of anywhere else in Arlington where that type of space is available - unless maybe around the Pentagon area??
Ok, sorry, just caught up with the thread!
I didn't know VHC is offering up 12 acres at their South Arlington site!
That would be awesome! Is this certain?
If it is, what are APS and the County waiting for?
VHC and the county have entered into a land swap. The county is giving VHC some land near the hospital. VHC is giving the option for the county to acquire the carlin springs parcel. No one knows what the county will do with the land - by no means is it pledged for any school, much less a 4th high school (which the school board in the past has disfavored). There are Lenny of people who would prefer to see it used as a park instead.
If you think the land should be made available to APS for use as a school, email the county board.
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:40
Subject: Re:APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How can it be possible that only 15% of households in Arlington have kids, when our kids can easily fill 25 (!) elementary schools, 6+ middle schools and 4 high schools? All in this tiny county you can drive past in 10 minutes?
Math was not your strongest subject, right?
Right! ? I just can't get over how we can have so many kids in this county, yet be labeled a "politically insignificant minority".
"Field of Screams" should be the new official motto of APS - "if they come, we won't build it."
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:37
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Count every person, not just the number of households.
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:23
Subject: Re:APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How can it be possible that only 15% of households in Arlington have kids, when our kids can easily fill 25 (!) elementary schools, 6+ middle schools and 4 high schools? All in this tiny county you can drive past in 10 minutes?
Math was not your strongest subject, right?
Right! ? I just can't get over how we can have so many kids in this county, yet be labeled a "politically insignificant minority".
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:16
Subject: Re:APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:How can it be possible that only 15% of households in Arlington have kids, when our kids can easily fill 25 (!) elementary schools, 6+ middle schools and 4 high schools? All in this tiny county you can drive past in 10 minutes?
Math was not your strongest subject, right?
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:15
Subject: Re:APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
How can it be possible that only 15% of households in Arlington have kids, when our kids can easily fill 25 (!) elementary schools, 6+ middle schools and 4 high schools? All in this tiny county you can drive past in 10 minutes?
Anonymous
05/11/2016 22:07
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?
If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.
Where?
The Henry/Fenwick area
Yes, instead of "Arlington Tech"
We need a full High School utilizing the entire space of the entire parcel.
I can't think of anywhere else in Arlington where that type of space is available - unless maybe around the Pentagon area??
Ok, sorry, just caught up with the thread!
I didn't know VHC is offering up 12 acres at their South Arlington site!
That would be awesome! Is this certain?
If it is, what are APS and the County waiting for?
Anonymous
05/11/2016 21:53
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How real are these projected numbers? I know FCPS can be wildly wrong when predicting short-term and long-term numbers. Is APS really going to have that many additional high school students in just a couple years?
If those are real, reliable numbers, then just build the fourth high school. Expensive, yes, but needed.
Where?
The Henry/Fenwick area
Yes, instead of "Arlington Tech"
We need a full High School utilizing the entire space of the entire parcel.
I can't think of anywhere else in Arlington where that type of space is available - unless maybe around the Pentagon area??
Anonymous
05/11/2016 21:49
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:^^ no kidding...
Also, has anyone thought about the demographics of a HS built at the carlin springs site?
Seems that would siphon off almost all the west end of Columbia pike. That's a huge portion of the county's AH.
True! I think then Wakefield and that new high school have demographics that mimic WL's.
Now that would be fantastic.
Agree!
But I still wonder if a 9th-grade-only school would be an easier pill for the neighborhood to swallow. (Assuming they perceive a school as a negative. PP is right that many people might think a school preferable to many other alternative uses for the site.)
--Charter member of the Let's Be Reasonable Committee, Bearer of Coffee
If that neighborhood (GlenCarlyn) is smart they will push for a high school there. As it stands now, they will likely be rezoned to Wakefield, away from Washington Lee. There aren't enough SFh's in GlenCarlyn to significantly alter Wakefield's demographics. Especially with all of the low income housing that would be redistricted along with it. I would imagine some of those homes will lose a little value in the process. Not a concern for older home owners, but a consideration to be sure.
If they place a high school at the VHC site, APS could effectively break up how the majority of the county's AH is zoned. Instead of Wakefield carrying the heaviest load, you could have three schools, each with a reasonable number of kids eligible for FARM's. No more than W-L has currently, which seems to be a reasonable percentage to maintain a diverse student body, that isn't over taxed by disadvantaged students.
There's your argument.
APS has been getting major flack about the lack of diversity, especially in the southern part of the county. If North Arlington could get on board with that argument as well, it would be tough for the neighborhood to fight. It will be a fight, and we need to have a very strong, CONCISE, point.
I think that's it.
Actually , now that I look at the map-
You could carve out the west end of Columbia pike - all the way up through part of Yorktown to form a new high school boundary. Seems it would have a nice blend.
Anonymous
05/11/2016 20:45
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Is there enough space at the VHC/carlin springs site for a comprehensive high school? With all the sports and outdoor facilities that entails? How does the size compare with the other three schools?
The Carlin Springs Rd parcel is almost 12 acres?
It's recommended to have 10 acres for a high school? I think?
Anonymous
05/11/2016 20:17
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Is there enough space at the VHC/carlin springs site for a comprehensive high school? With all the sports and outdoor facilities that entails? How does the size compare with the other three schools?
Anonymous
05/11/2016 20:13
Subject: APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:^^ no kidding...
Also, has anyone thought about the demographics of a HS built at the carlin springs site?
Seems that would siphon off almost all the west end of Columbia pike. That's a huge portion of the county's AH.
True! I think then Wakefield and that new high school have demographics that mimic WL's.
Now that would be fantastic.
Agree!
But I still wonder if a 9th-grade-only school would be an easier pill for the neighborhood to swallow. (Assuming they perceive a school as a negative. PP is right that many people might think a school preferable to many other alternative uses for the site.)
--Charter member of the Let's Be Reasonable Committee, Bearer of Coffee
If that neighborhood (GlenCarlyn) is smart they will push for a high school there. As it stands now, they will likely be rezoned to Wakefield, away from Washington Lee. There aren't enough SFh's in GlenCarlyn to significantly alter Wakefield's demographics. Especially with all of the low income housing that would be redistricted along with it. I would imagine some of those homes will lose a little value in the process. Not a concern for older home owners, but a consideration to be sure.
If they place a high school at the VHC site, APS could effectively break up how the majority of the county's AH is zoned. Instead of Wakefield carrying the heaviest load, you could have three schools, each with a reasonable number of kids eligible for FARM's. No more than W-L has currently, which seems to be a reasonable percentage to maintain a diverse student body, that isn't over taxed by disadvantaged students.
There's your argument.
APS has been getting major flack about the lack of diversity, especially in the southern part of the county. If North Arlington could get on board with that argument as well, it would be tough for the neighborhood to fight. It will be a fight, and we need to have a very strong, CONCISE, point.
I think that's it.