[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
No. The change in Math occurred last year not this year. So the scores should actually be better this year not worse.

And there are private schools outside of Alexandria which children may attend so leaving an Alexandria private doesn't mean automatically going to a City school. It could mean going to another private elsewhere.[/quote]

I couldn't find the statistic that PP quoted saying that 18% of 8th grade ACPS students passed the math SOL. Everything I read on the subject said that math scores were up in ACPS and reading scores were down (since reading tests changed this year). For example, in this chart it says that, for Algebra II, there was a 72% pass rate in ACPS, which is up 10% from last year. That's actually the most improvement of any county listed.

www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/lower-scores-on-new-virginia-sols/2013/08/20/336343b4-09f1-11e3-b87c-476db8ac34cd_graphic.html

The same article says that "Alexandria City Schools saw improvements in seven out of nine of its math assessments."[/quote]


You can find the stat I mentioned here:

http://www.alexandrianews.org/vdoe-releases-sol-results/

[quote=Anonymous]
No. The change in Math occurred last year not this year. So the scores should actually be better this year not worse.

And there are private schools outside of Alexandria which children may attend so leaving an Alexandria private doesn't mean automatically going to a City school. It could mean going to another private elsewhere.[/quote]

I couldn't find the statistic that PP quoted saying that 18% of 8th grade ACPS students passed the math SOL. Everything I read on the subject said that math scores were up in ACPS and reading scores were down (since reading tests changed this year). For example, in this chart it says that, for Algebra II, there was a 72% pass rate in ACPS, which is up 10% from last year. That's actually the most improvement of any county listed.

www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/lower-scores-on-new-virginia-sols/2013/08/20/336343b4-09f1-11e3-b87c-476db8ac34cd_graphic.html

The same article says that "Alexandria City Schools saw improvements in seven out of nine of its math assessments."

No. The change in Math occurred last year not this year. So the scores should actually be better this year not worse.

And there are private schools outside of Alexandria which children may attend so leaving an Alexandria private doesn't mean automatically going to a City school. It could mean going to another private elsewhere.

[quote=Anonymous]
Wrong. Plenty, and I mean plenty, of ACPS parents pulled their DCs from private schools because the social and academic environments at most ACPS schools are simply better than what is available at most privates in this region. In fact, several ACPS elementaries are well known to take in multiple ex-privates every year. It's not just about money, and it's not limited to one or two privates losing kids to publics. It happens every year.
[/quote]

It is often about money, and often about kids being counseled out of privates. And, sometimes it is a family deciding that a child needs a different environment. But the notion that parents who have decided on private school, can afford private school, and have children thriving at such schools will decide that ACPS is superior and pull their kids out of their privates and away from their friends so they can go to so-so public schools like GW and TC does not pass the smell test.

Sorry. Come up with something a bit more credible and honest next time.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

Wrong. [b] Plenty, and I mean plenty, of ACPS parents pulled their DCs from private schools [/b]because the social and academic environments at most ACPS schools are simply better than what is available at most privates in this region. In fact, several ACPS elementaries are well known to take in multiple ex-privates every year. It's not just about money, and it's not limited to one or two privates losing kids to publics. It happens every year.
[/quote]

This might be the case but I don't believe that those parents then send their kids to ACPS. They send them to Arlington or Fairfax schools.

In ACPS , The decline of students starts in 4th grade and continues through high school. You can look at historical data from the schools and see this happen every year for the past few years. The growth in enrollment over the past couple of years has been in the grades K-3 and mostly concentrated in K and 1st.

BTW SOL scores released today showed 18% of 8th graders passed the Math SOL. Down from 22% last year. Is that the better academic environment you would be referring to that surpasses the area private schools?[/quote]

All SOL scores are down. It's statewide. The state ed dept changed the test substantially (it's been in the Post for the last three days). And yes, the ex-private kids largely are going to ACPS. There aren't that many spaces in other privates for musical enrollment. ACPS has been net-receiving kids from privates since 2008.

[quote=Anonymous]

Wrong. [b] Plenty, and I mean plenty, of ACPS parents pulled their DCs from private schools [/b]because the social and academic environments at most ACPS schools are simply better than what is available at most privates in this region. In fact, several ACPS elementaries are well known to take in multiple ex-privates every year. It's not just about money, and it's not limited to one or two privates losing kids to publics. It happens every year.
[/quote]

This might be the case but I don't believe that those parents then send their kids to ACPS. They send them to Arlington or Fairfax schools.

In ACPS , The decline of students starts in 4th grade and continues through high school. You can look at historical data from the schools and see this happen every year for the past few years. The growth in enrollment over the past couple of years has been in the grades K-3 and mostly concentrated in K and 1st.

BTW SOL scores released today showed 18% of 8th graders passed the Math SOL. Down from 22% last year. Is that the better academic environment you would be referring to that surpasses the area private schools?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Who are you people? Why the hate? I dont get it at all. Just one more opinion, but I would never move my terrific kids out of ACPS - and - for the record, we moved from an expensive "well thoght of" private if that makes any difference. The move was our choice -and by that, I mean both kids and parents decided together. Why leave private? Our choice may seem strange since the kids were doing well - excelling in fact- and no social, financial or "learning" concerns - if that is on your mind - they were popular, engaged, top of the class etc. We moved for the neighborhood cohort - yes- we thought the friends and social situation in public was better because both the kids and parents seemed more mature - and more intellectual - a better peer group all around. We got sucked into the private school machine in pre school, but after a few years the kool-aid was sour. We thought the private teachers and administration were sub-par - and not worth the money. Our kids play sports and wanted to be with their team mates - lots of drama in our small private that seemed so silly - even to kids not yet in middle school. In public math and Science are much better, History and Language arts are equal, foreign language, art and music are much much better and field trips are about the same. I'm not afraid to say it - if you met my kids and their friends you would say wow- what great kids - polite, smart, poised, caring and motivated to help out and excel - little go getters that self organize and collaborate in ways that many adults would envy. They love their school and the environment it provides. They have bonded with some amazing teachers and have empathy for those less fortunate. Reading some of these posts I can't help but wonder where you negative types were raised and went to school ... I'm guessing not Alexandria City or ACPS.[/quote]

This doesn't quite ring true. Either you wanted to save the money, or your kids weren't really thriving at their schools, but no one really moves kids who are excelling in private school to APS because the peer group is "more mature" (except for the large number of chidren repeating grades) or "more intellectual." Not saying they may not be doing OK where they are, but this is just a sales job to try and convince people to send their kids to APS by playing to their fantasies. [/quote]

[b]Wrong. Plenty, and I mean plenty, of ACPS parents pulled their DCs from private schools because the social and academic environments at most ACPS schools are simply better than what is available at most privates in this region. In fact, several ACPS elementaries are well known to take in multiple ex-privates every year. It's not just about money, and it's not limited to one or two privates losing kids to publics. It happens every year. [/b]
[/quote]

good one, are you going to tell more jokes for comedic stand up routine?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Who are you people? Why the hate? I dont get it at all. Just one more opinion, but I would never move my terrific kids out of ACPS - and - for the record, we moved from an expensive "well thoght of" private if that makes any difference. The move was our choice -and by that, I mean both kids and parents decided together. Why leave private? Our choice may seem strange since the kids were doing well - excelling in fact- and no social, financial or "learning" concerns - if that is on your mind - they were popular, engaged, top of the class etc. We moved for the neighborhood cohort - yes- we thought the friends and social situation in public was better because both the kids and parents seemed more mature - and more intellectual - a better peer group all around. We got sucked into the private school machine in pre school, but after a few years the kool-aid was sour. We thought the private teachers and administration were sub-par - and not worth the money. Our kids play sports and wanted to be with their team mates - lots of drama in our small private that seemed so silly - even to kids not yet in middle school. In public math and Science are much better, History and Language arts are equal, foreign language, art and music are much much better and field trips are about the same. I'm not afraid to say it - if you met my kids and their friends you would say wow- what great kids - polite, smart, poised, caring and motivated to help out and excel - little go getters that self organize and collaborate in ways that many adults would envy. They love their school and the environment it provides. They have bonded with some amazing teachers and have empathy for those less fortunate. Reading some of these posts I can't help but wonder where you negative types were raised and went to school ... I'm guessing not Alexandria City or ACPS.[/quote]

This doesn't quite ring true. Either you wanted to save the money, or your kids weren't really thriving at their schools, but no one really moves kids who are excelling in private school to APS because the peer group is "more mature" (except for the large number of chidren repeating grades) or "more intellectual." Not saying they may not be doing OK where they are, but this is just a sales job to try and convince people to send their kids to APS by playing to their fantasies. [/quote]

Wrong. Plenty, and I mean plenty, of ACPS parents pulled their DCs from private schools because the social and academic environments at most ACPS schools are simply better than what is available at most privates in this region. In fact, several ACPS elementaries are well known to take in multiple ex-privates every year. It's not just about money, and it's not limited to one or two privates losing kids to publics. It happens every year.

Anonymous wrote:Who are you people? Why the hate? I dont get it at all. Just one more opinion, but I would never move my terrific kids out of ACPS - and - for the record, we moved from an expensive "well thoght of" private if that makes any difference. The move was our choice -and by that, I mean both kids and parents decided together. Why leave private? Our choice may seem strange since the kids were doing well - excelling in fact- and no social, financial or "learning" concerns - if that is on your mind - they were popular, engaged, top of the class etc. We moved for the neighborhood cohort - yes- we thought the friends and social situation in public was better because both the kids and parents seemed more mature - and more intellectual - a better peer group all around. We got sucked into the private school machine in pre school, but after a few years the kool-aid was sour. We thought the private teachers and administration were sub-par - and not worth the money. Our kids play sports and wanted to be with their team mates - lots of drama in our small private that seemed so silly - even to kids not yet in middle school. In public math and Science are much better, History and Language arts are equal, foreign language, art and music are much much better and field trips are about the same. I'm not afraid to say it - if you met my kids and their friends you would say wow- what great kids - polite, smart, poised, caring and motivated to help out and excel - little go getters that self organize and collaborate in ways that many adults would envy. They love their school and the environment it provides. They have bonded with some amazing teachers and have empathy for those less fortunate. Reading some of these posts I can't help but wonder where you negative types were raised and went to school ... I'm guessing not Alexandria City or ACPS.

This doesn't quite ring true. Either you wanted to save the money, or your kids weren't really thriving at their schools, but no one really moves kids who are excelling in private school to APS because the peer group is "more mature" (except for the large number of chidren repeating grades) or "more intellectual." Not saying they may not be doing OK where they are, but this is just a sales job to try and convince people to send their kids to APS by playing to their fantasies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where do you want the FARMS kids to go? And why do you think a school with more than a token number of FARMS students is bad?

If you looked at the FARMS rates in many rural communities, you might be surprised at how high they are. But you'd probably never make such a big deal out of it as you do here, where the FARMS kids are more likely to be Hispanic or AA rather than white.

Repeated research shows that when a school has too high of a FARMS rate, it hurts the educational environment for the nonFARMS kids.

My relatives teach in WVa so I am well aware that there are high FARMS rates in other rural areas and in those areas whites can make up a majority of those kids. Alexandria City historically has and still does have a higher AA and Hispanic portion of the population living closer to poverty levels.

But this has nothing to do with what the schools are or aren't doing wrong. They can't really do anything about the fact that there are more poor kids here than surrounding counties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another booster here - and my husband is a product of TC Williams, Amherst and UVA law, so it seems to have worked out for him.

I would guess that your husband also was white, intelligent and middle or upper middle class. And I will agree that TC does work out for that segment of the population pretty well.

I would guess that most DCUM posters are the same profile, yet ACPS bashers appear from no where to say anyone would be crazy to enroll their child.

I agree, ACPS is failing many poor black and immigrant children at Jefferson Houston and continuing through the system. But the educated, middle/upper class families I know in the system have had experiences ranging from decent to great.

Anonymous wrote:Another booster here - and my husband is a product of TC Williams, Amherst and UVA law, so it seems to have worked out for him.

I would guess that your husband also was white, intelligent and middle or upper middle class. And I will agree that TC does work out for that segment of the population pretty well.

Anonymous wrote:Where do you want the FARMS kids to go? And why do you think a school with more than a token number of FARMS students is bad?

If you looked at the FARMS rates in many rural communities, you might be surprised at how high they are. But you'd probably never make such a big deal out of it as you do here, where the FARMS kids are more likely to be Hispanic or AA rather than white.

Repeated research shows that when a school has too high of a FARMS rate, it hurts the educational environment for the nonFARMS kids.

My relatives teach in WVa so I am well aware that there are high FARMS rates in other rural areas and in those areas whites can make up a majority of those kids. Alexandria City historically has and still does have a higher AA and Hispanic portion of the population living closer to poverty levels.

Anonymous wrote:Who are you people? Why the hate? I dont get it at all. Just one more opinion, but I would never move my terrific kids out of ACPS - and - for the record, we moved from an expensive "well thoght of" private if that makes any difference. The move was our choice -and by that, I mean both kids and parents decided together. Why leave private? Our choice may seem strange since the kids were doing well - excelling in fact- and no social, financial or "learning" concerns - if that is on your mind - they were popular, engaged, top of the class etc. We moved for the neighborhood cohort - yes- we thought the friends and social situation in public was better because both the kids and parents seemed more mature - and more intellectual - a better peer group all around. We got sucked into the private school machine in pre school, but after a few years the kool-aid was sour. We thought the private teachers and administration were sub-par - and not worth the money. Our kids play sports and wanted to be with their team mates - lots of drama in our small private that seemed so silly - even to kids not yet in middle school. In public math and Science are much better, History and Language arts are equal, foreign language, art and music are much much better and field trips are about the same. I'm not afraid to say it - if you met my kids and their friends you would say wow- what great kids - polite, smart, poised, caring and motivated to help out and excel - little go getters that self organize and collaborate in ways that many adults would envy. They love their school and the environment it provides. They have bonded with some amazing teachers and have empathy for those less fortunate. Reading some of these posts I can't help but wonder where you negative types were raised and went to school ... I'm guessing not Alexandria City or ACPS.

+1. Our experience exactly.

Another booster here - and my husband is a product of TC Williams, Amherst and UVA law, so it seems to have worked out for him.