Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

No. Absolutely not. HB doesn't have staff that don't teach, even administrators like principals and vice principals at HB teach, they don't have counselors and other non-teaching administrators, so there is no extra cost!!!! It does NOT cost more. Do not spread misinformation.

Yeah they don’t need dedicated counselors because the problem children with checked out or incarcerated parents aren’t at HB, because there is zero change they would navigate the lottery and deadline.

No. The teachers act as counselors. They have "TA" classes every few days and check in with their assigned TAs. It works.

I have a kid who had problems in elementary school and has an IEP, and we are at HB now. We were lucky to get in. There are benefits and trade offs but this is a much better fit for us than our elementary school experience. From my kid's friends and classmates there are definitely other kids with problems at the school. I mean, I guess I'm not incarcerated or checked out, so maybe my kid doesn't count to you.

1) exactly. They don’t need dedicated counselors, the teachers do it on adhoc basis. I’m assuming the WL and YHS counselors aren’t sitting around munching edibles all day, but I guess it’s possible.

2) you are like the opposite of the problem parents — you took the initiative and had resources to obtain an IEP. But you won’t get kids bringing tasers to school. Any school requiring extra effort to attend has that barrier to entry for families with challenges. You are so obtuse.

“ While HBW’s demographic profile does not mirror the county’s overall makeup (61 percent of HBW’s students are white compared with 47 percent among all students in the county), HBW’s student population is significantly more diverse than it would be if HBW served as a neighborhood school. HBW’s students come from 46 different countries and speak 27 different languages at home. In addition, HBW’s student body matches the county’s distribution of special education students. HBW’s special education students make up 15.8% of the student body compared to 14 percent county-wide.”

Curious, aren’t “gifted” considers special education students? But I’m sure the IEP crowd counts too, again with plugged in parents.

https://hbwoodlawn.apsva.us/parents-pages/pac-site/pac/frequently-asked-questions/

And 12% free lunch, vs WL 26%. It’s closer to Yorktown’s 9%. For a county wide program.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/SNPMonthlyEligibilityReport.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

And regarding busing, APS already owned the site and wanted to use it for a brand new school. Busing would have been a component whatever the program or school.

Not if they made it an elementary school, which is needed in Rosslyn

Oh right. Lots of 5, 6 and 7 year olds walking to and from school at that site. Have you actually been there? Walked around? I can't imagine many Arlington parents wanting their little ones walking to school in that quagmire of construction, sidewalks, and city mess. Plus, since HB opened at that location, there have been so many construction projects going on. It made sense to make it a school where older kids attended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

I complain about option school busing all the time.

You are misinformed about the busing. With hub stops, institutes pre-pandemic, costs are down and it is a more efficient way to transport the kids. My HB DD takes the bus and picks it up at a hub stop. It also stops at the career center. At one time it stopped at the Arlington HS at the Langston building.

I'd rather start a discussion about how many parents drop their kids off at school - more cars on the road, more pollution, blocking intersections waiting for their kids at the end of the day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

No. Absolutely not. HB doesn't have staff that don't teach, even administrators like principals and vice principals at HB teach, they don't have counselors and other non-teaching administrators, so there is no extra cost!!!! It does NOT cost more. Do not spread misinformation.

Yeah they don’t need dedicated counselors because the problem children with checked out or incarcerated parents aren’t at HB, because there is zero change they would navigate the lottery and deadline.

No. The teachers act as counselors. They have "TA" classes every few days and check in with their assigned TAs. It works.

I have a kid who had problems in elementary school and has an IEP, and we are at HB now. We were lucky to get in. There are benefits and trade offs but this is a much better fit for us than our elementary school experience. From my kid's friends and classmates there are definitely other kids with problems at the school. I mean, I guess I'm not incarcerated or checked out, so maybe my kid doesn't count to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

No. Absolutely not. HB doesn't have staff that don't teach, even administrators like principals and vice principals at HB teach, they don't have counselors and other non-teaching administrators, so there is no extra cost!!!! It does NOT cost more. Do not spread misinformation.

Yeah they don’t need dedicated counselors because the problem children with checked out or incarcerated parents aren’t at HB, because there is zero change they would navigate the lottery and deadline.

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

I complain about option school busing all the time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

And regarding busing, APS already owned the site and wanted to use it for a brand new school. Busing would have been a component whatever the program or school.

Not if they made it an elementary school, which is needed in Rosslyn

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

No. Absolutely not. HB doesn't have staff that don't teach, even administrators like principals and vice principals at HB teach, they don't have counselors and other non-teaching administrators, so there is no extra cost!!!! It does NOT cost more. Do not spread misinformation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

That's not true.

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Plenty of people complain about the busing to those programs. All option programs cost most than neighborhood schools. HB costs significantly more because it, on avg, has smaller class sizes than the comprehensive high schools and staff is the largest cost.

Anonymous wrote:The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

And regarding busing, APS already owned the site and wanted to use it for a brand new school. Busing would have been a component whatever the program or school.

The building was needed whether for HB or Hamm. If you think the building was too much, go advocate to the board the next time they want to build a new building to lower the cost. The actual program doesn’t cost more than at a standard HS, other than busing. And I don’t see anyone complaining about the busing at Claremont, Key, MPSA, ATS, or Gunston.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh Lord, this is going to be fun...

I'll start. What is it? A waste of taxpayer dollars.

Because.....we wouldn't be paying to educate those kids in the other schools....?

There are increased busing costs, not to mentioned the $100M building

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh Lord, this is going to be fun...

I'll start. What is it? A waste of taxpayer dollars.

Because.....we wouldn't be paying to educate those kids in the other schools....?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad was in the first graduating class from HB in the 70s! And my brother went there too. (I went to YHS).

HB is a magical place that helps students thrive - if it is the right fit. It quite literally saved my brothers life after a traumatic middle school experience at Williamsburg. He is still extremely tight with his group of friends from HB and he is in touch with several teachers and administrators too. Its a tight-night community.

I do think it has changed since the early 2000's when we were in school but I give HB a lot of credit. It is awesome.

Takeaway: your brother would be dead today sadly bc the odds of getting into HB are so small since everyone is trying to avoid the awful middle school experience and overcrowded high schools.

Why can’t we build a 2nd HB? It’s clear they will have political will to build a 4th comprehensive high school (yay pandemic for saving their bacon on enrollment and basically skimming all the demanding parents to private schools).

While multiple small HB’s would undoubtedly fill up due to demand, they would likely draw the most motivated families away from the traditional large middle and high schools. I could be wrong, but that might be one of the unstated reasons. That may also be why Arlington Tech is not exactly a TJHSST replacement, or why there has been ambivalence towards the creation of specialized high schools like a performing and fine arts middle/high school.

Imagine if APS was concerned about something – ANYTHING – other than preserving its own mediocrity.

Oh, I really hope you are running to be on the school board! You seem like you know all the right answers and solutions to all the problems of our public school system. Please tell me you are.

You’ve got me – I’m pretty down on APS these days. I’m not crapping on teachers or school-based administration AT ALL, but I do not have any praise for the central office and their endless meaningless surveys.