My DD entered ATS as a transfer student in 2nd grade. She had been a struggling reader at her former APS school and we could never get her any reading support from the school. After a year at ATS her reading has improved so much. She likes reading and is now at grade level. We didn't have to ask for reading support. They saw that she was struggling within about 6 weeks of school starting last year and began to pull her for small group reading twice a week (virtually since we were still online at that point). If my child hadn't switched to ATS I think she would still be a struggling reader today. In that sense, I feel that ATS has had a profound effect on the trajectory of my child's education. I will take the good with the bad that every school has and continue to be grateful that there is a strong literacy program at ATS.

Anonymous wrote:So basically ATS has a better music program, is more diverse and allows us to avoid any boundary changes. Nottingham has smaller class sizes and better playgrounds. Does that summarize the differences? Not OP but I have a son in pre-k and am considering applying to ATS based on this discussion. Also reading on ATS’ website that they have homework and “teacher led instruction.” Have no idea what that means but it sounds like how we were taught as kids? I’m guessing it is somewhat different now?

Homework every night for every grade and a requirement that kids be reading by the end of K are ATS trademarks. The good part of that is that ATS was (I think) doing RAN testing before a lot of other APS elementaries.

When we were looking at ES, it was clear that ATS might be fine for the oldest but would be a disaster for Kid 2. Friends whose kids attended were very happy there.

Anonymous wrote:The playgrounds at the old ATS building were lovely. It's true that the facilities at the new ATS (old McKinley) aren't as nice. But what's important is that the community remained intact and is still a nice place for kids to learn. The teachers are supportive and dedicated.

lovely is a stretch.

I mean this in a nice way, as the parent of a dork, but ATS is a good school for nerdy kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So basically ATS has a better music program, is more diverse and allows us to avoid any boundary changes. Nottingham has smaller class sizes and better playgrounds. Does that summarize the differences? Not OP but I have a son in pre-k and am considering applying to ATS based on this discussion. Also reading on ATS’ website that they have homework and “teacher led instruction.” Have no idea what that means but it sounds like how we were taught as kids? I’m guessing it is somewhat different now?

\

Two literacy blocks a day, instead of one, in the lower grades.
Early interventions for those who need it.
School-led IEP/504 process rather than parent-request for those who weren't helped enough by early interventions.

Basically, what every neighborhood school should be but isn't.

Anonymous wrote:So basically ATS has a better music program, is more diverse and allows us to avoid any boundary changes. Nottingham has smaller class sizes and better playgrounds. Does that summarize the differences? Not OP but I have a son in pre-k and am considering applying to ATS based on this discussion. Also reading on ATS’ website that they have homework and “teacher led instruction.” Have no idea what that means but it sounds like how we were taught as kids? I’m guessing it is somewhat different now?

\

Two literacy blocks a day, instead of one, in the lower grades.
Early interventions for those who need it.
School-led IEP/504 process rather than parent-request for those who weren't helped enough by early interventions.

We loved our time at ATS. The teachers, the administration, the after school club. Everything there was exemplary. If you have the opportunity take it! You won’t regret it.

So basically ATS has a better music program, is more diverse and allows us to avoid any boundary changes. Nottingham has smaller class sizes and better playgrounds. Does that summarize the differences? Not OP but I have a son in pre-k and am considering applying to ATS based on this discussion. Also reading on ATS’ website that they have homework and “teacher led instruction.” Have no idea what that means but it sounds like how we were taught as kids? I’m guessing it is somewhat different now?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.

True, although I'd take bets that Nottingham or Tuckahoe becomes host to an option school in the next few years and enrollment goes up at whichever remains a neighborhood school accordingly.

OP this is an added benefit. Nottingham may end up being an option school which means your child may end up switching schools if she stays in Nottingham. Easiest way to avoid this possibility is by accepting the spot at ATS. I know two families that accepted spots in an option school because they wanted to avoid the uncertainty of boundary changes. I know another family who enrolled their child in an option school because they knew they would eventually move to a bigger house and didn’t want to be limited to looking at homes in their neighborhood or make their kids switch schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.

True, although I'd take bets that Nottingham or Tuckahoe becomes host to an option school in the next few years and enrollment goes up at whichever remains a neighborhood school accordingly.

APS Planning does have a bias in favor of centrally located (Rt 50, Wilson Blvd) neighborhood schools becoming options schools. This was loud and clear during the expensive Rube Goldberg school changes last year (Key > ATS, ATS > McK, McK > Cardinal).

But they're targeting the more under-enrolled schools for the discussion and acknowledge you can't put all the choice schools in the centrally-located facilities, that those areas need/want neighborhood schools too. They may acknowledge the benefits of centrally-located choice schools; but they're going to prioritize building utilization.

Exactly--ATS is now at the edge of county boundaries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.

True, although I'd take bets that Nottingham or Tuckahoe becomes host to an option school in the next few years and enrollment goes up at whichever remains a neighborhood school accordingly.

APS Planning does have a bias in favor of centrally located (Rt 50, Wilson Blvd) neighborhood schools becoming options schools. This was loud and clear during the expensive Rube Goldberg school changes last year (Key > ATS, ATS > McK, McK > Cardinal).

But they're targeting the more under-enrolled schools for the discussion and acknowledge you can't put all the choice schools in the centrally-located facilities, that those areas need/want neighborhood schools too. They may acknowledge the benefits of centrally-located choice schools; but they're going to prioritize building utilization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.

True, although I'd take bets that Nottingham or Tuckahoe becomes host to an option school in the next few years and enrollment goes up at whichever remains a neighborhood school accordingly.

APS Planning does have a bias in favor of centrally located (Rt 50, Wilson Blvd) neighborhood schools becoming options schools. This was loud and clear during the expensive Rube Goldberg school changes last year (Key > ATS, ATS > McK, McK > Cardinal).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.

True, although I'd take bets that Nottingham or Tuckahoe becomes host to an option school in the next few years and enrollment goes up at whichever remains a neighborhood school accordingly.

The playgrounds at the old ATS building were lovely. It's true that the facilities at the new ATS (old McKinley) aren't as nice. But what's important is that the community remained intact and is still a nice place for kids to learn. The teachers are supportive and dedicated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no real difference between Nottingham and ATS. I wouldn't bother.

I'm not sure if PP was just referring to music/art, but a real difference between the two schools is diversity. Looking at the latest statistics I found with a quick search: as of 9/20, ATS was 23% Asian, 17% black, 13% Hispanic, 37% white, 10% mixed (I'm doing some rounding). Nottingham was 7% Asian, 0.5% black, 8% Hispanic, 73% white, 11% mixed. In October 2019, ATS was 31% free lunch, while Nottingham was 4%.

and size - ATS has more kids in total and per class and per grade but in a smaller space, Nottingham has small everything yet bigger space, indoors and outdoors both, and bigger/better/nicer playground.