Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 22:19     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP this has been literally going on for YEARS. Why did you move somewhere with bad schools?


OP here. We lived here before kids and hoped it might improve. We learned that was lip service.

Yep I grew up here and ACPS had a bad reputation among people who didn’t actually go there or send their kids there, but for those actually experiencing the schools, it was a decent overall experience that I would have been happy to have my kids have. We moved back, and I assumed it would be the same. Sorry to see it has really gone downhill. We have our oldest in private bc we don’t want to give up the old town lifestyle, but our toddler is going to need special ed and I’m at a loss for options. There aren’t appropriate private options for here, and I have heard only bad things about ACPS special ed. I’m at a loss.


Take a look at linder academy in old town. I know a few families of SWDs who are there and love it
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 22:12     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP this has been literally going on for YEARS. Why did you move somewhere with bad schools?


OP here. We lived here before kids and hoped it might improve. We learned that was lip service.

Yep I grew up here and ACPS had a bad reputation among people who didn’t actually go there or send their kids there, but for those actually experiencing the schools, it was a decent overall experience that I would have been happy to have my kids have. We moved back, and I assumed it would be the same. Sorry to see it has really gone downhill. We have our oldest in private bc we don’t want to give up the old town lifestyle, but our toddler is going to need special ed and I’m at a loss for options. There aren’t appropriate private options for here, and I have heard only bad things about ACPS special ed. I’m at a loss.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 22:06     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
We loved living in Old Town Alexandria but had no choice but to move away before our child with special needs started school. We couldn’t afford private. We were zoned for J-H.

Where we live now is nothing like Old Town. We’ve been gone for a decade and still miss it.

Can’t say I’m surprised to hear that nothing has changed.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 21:58     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:APS is on a downward trajectory as well. Don’t go there. It’s fine for elementary but they are slowly devolving into low expectations and reduced rigor. The only differentiation is on iPads while teachers work with kids who need catching up. So many families our N Arlington neighborhood are making plans to go private for middle school.


Due to parent feedback, APS is strengthening the middle school curriculum for gifted students. If parents stay involved, I'm sure it will improve further. Arlington's high schools are fine and plenty challenging. Some families have even complained there's too much homework in the high schools.


DP and I am sorry to burst your bubble but pre-pandemic they had professionals evaluate the middle school gifted curriculum and they said it was terrible and anything but for gifted kids. They noted kids were reading books appropriate for 4th graders not middle school. ACPS did nothing after receiving the report from professionals so the idea that they would ch age due to parents concerns is laughable and just not going to happen.


Poster was talking about APS (Arlington) which a PP mentioned in comparison to ACPS. APS is in fact strengthening the gifted curriculum for middle schoolers based on parent feedback. Some parents were complaining that APS freshmen were not ready for the demanding high school coursework at W-L in particular, and that it was a stressful adjustment.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 21:56     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:APS is on a downward trajectory as well. Don’t go there. It’s fine for elementary but they are slowly devolving into low expectations and reduced rigor. The only differentiation is on iPads while teachers work with kids who need catching up. So many families our N Arlington neighborhood are making plans to go private for middle school.


Due to parent feedback, APS is strengthening the middle school curriculum for gifted students. If parents stay involved, I'm sure it will improve further. Arlington's high schools are fine and plenty challenging. Some families have even complained there's too much homework in the high schools.


DP and I am sorry to burst your bubble but pre-pandemic they had professionals evaluate the middle school gifted curriculum and they said it was terrible and anything but for gifted kids. They noted kids were reading books appropriate for 4th graders not middle school. ACPS did nothing after receiving the report from professionals so the idea that they would ch age due to parents concerns is laughable and just not going to happen.


NP but are you even in APS? They’re offering intensified classes in middle school starting next year.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 20:17     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:APS is on a downward trajectory as well. Don’t go there. It’s fine for elementary but they are slowly devolving into low expectations and reduced rigor. The only differentiation is on iPads while teachers work with kids who need catching up. So many families our N Arlington neighborhood are making plans to go private for middle school.


Due to parent feedback, APS is strengthening the middle school curriculum for gifted students. If parents stay involved, I'm sure it will improve further. Arlington's high schools are fine and plenty challenging. Some families have even complained there's too much homework in the high schools.


DP and I am sorry to burst your bubble but pre-pandemic they had professionals evaluate the middle school gifted curriculum and they said it was terrible and anything but for gifted kids. They noted kids were reading books appropriate for 4th graders not middle school. ACPS did nothing after receiving the report from professionals so the idea that they would ch age due to parents concerns is laughable and just not going to happen.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 20:16     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is what Alexandrians voted for. This is what the city wants.

I don't understand the problem.


Exactly, and no elections have even been close. Everything is great except for a few people on these forums.


Yup. This is what your all voted for over years and years. Why are you complaining now?

Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 20:00     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:This is what Alexandrians voted for. This is what the city wants.

I don't understand the problem.


Exactly, and no elections have even been close. Everything is great except for a few people on these forums.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 16:40     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
I won’t argue with you OP but this isn’t new. At all.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 15:33     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most of you are just afraid of poor and brown people.


You must mean something else, racist. Brown kids are excelling in school. Ever been to Ashburn?
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 15:29     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:APS is on a downward trajectory as well. Don’t go there. It’s fine for elementary but they are slowly devolving into low expectations and reduced rigor. The only differentiation is on iPads while teachers work with kids who need catching up. So many families our N Arlington neighborhood are making plans to go private for middle school.


Due to parent feedback, APS is strengthening the middle school curriculum for gifted students. If parents stay involved, I'm sure it will improve further. Arlington's high schools are fine and plenty challenging. Some families have even complained there's too much homework in the high schools.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 14:26     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Anonymous wrote:Most of you are just afraid of poor and brown people.


Sorry but I’m another sick of hearing this. We also are not white and by far not the wealthiest in our area and suggested moving to FCC or Vienna. We moved because we care about academics and safety.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 14:23     Subject: Re:Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
This is what Alexandrians voted for. This is what the city wants.

I don't understand the problem.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 13:35     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Alexandria is a lost cause now. It's time to move on to bigger a better things. Life it too short to spend it in Alexandria that's for sure.
Anonymous
Post 06/04/2023 13:29     Subject: Any other Alexandrians heartbroken about ACPS?
Mort Sherman, former ACPS superintendent, famously said, “private school is a good option for some” when challenged to do more for high-achieving students in the system.