I do recall the principal saying at the info session that she hoped to notify everyone by early May. I'm way too impatient!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Husband stopped by the school since they would not give the info over the phone. He just *had to know*.

Oh boo, I was just working up the nerve to call. I guess I'll have to wait for a letter now. Since it's been a couple days, I am assuming DD did not get a space.

I wouldn't assume that. I think that they will notify everyone - those to whom they will offer places, and those on the waitlist - by snail mail. Be patient! (I'm waiting, too.)

Anonymous wrote:Husband stopped by the school since they would not give the info over the phone. He just *had to know*.

Oh boo, I was just working up the nerve to call. I guess I'll have to wait for a letter now. Since it's been a couple days, I am assuming DD did not get a space.

ATS is quite a bit smaller than many other elementary schools. At least on our tour, it struck me as one of the things that made its model work. It also makes it hard to duplicate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

You really think this is the reason for the long waitlist at ATS? People in unstable living situations are not going to be the ones seeking out choice schools for the most part. They're understandably more focused on their day-to-day survival than on going to a bunch of information sessions (largely conducted in a language they may not speak) to apply.

I'm also not sure why you think that ATS would provide better ESOL services than the neighborhood schools. Do you have information to back that up?

No, I'm saying it would be good if there were more choices for people who want them (especially if Arlington housing policy is going to continue to concentrate low-income housing in a few small areas), and ATS has been shown to be a good model for the kids who have attended, and it has a huge wait list.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

You really think this is the reason for the long waitlist at ATS? People in unstable living situations are not going to be the ones seeking out choice schools for the most part. They're understandably more focused on their day-to-day survival than on going to a bunch of information sessions (largely conducted in a language they may not speak) to apply.

I'm also not sure why you think that ATS would provide better ESOL services than the neighborhood schools. Do you have information to back that up?

Husband stopped by the school since they would not give the info over the phone. He just *had to know*.

Anonymous wrote:Number 180 on the wait list! Whoot.

So, there were at least 180 in the lottery. Usual number is 240.

Did you get a letter or did you call?

Number 180 on the wait list! Whoot.

So, there were at least 180 in the lottery. Usual number is 240.

Anonymous wrote:

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

If you think ATS-level rigidity is the only way to provide stability, I do not want you making decisions for other people's kids.

And you do realize that speaking another language at home is not the same as instability, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

And plenty of people live in areas where a very high proportion of kids are low-income, don't speak English at home, or live in short-term rentals and move in and out all the time. Shouldn't some of those kids get the opportunity to go to a stable school? If there's such a big wait list for ATS, seems like the demand is there for another choice program.

ATS parent here - I had heard that there were fewer siblings this year, so the odds of entry were better. I haven't heard how many applicants there were, but the first day of information sessions looked to be about as crowded as the one last year. (I was volunteering in the classroom that day so I got to watch the parents troop through the classrooms.)

Don't forget, a few kids might get off the wait list for 1st grade too. We lost one kid from my daughter's K class this year, so there'll be at least one spot open for a 1st grader this fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes you wonder why ATS still exists. If it's as good, not so much better, then neighborhood schools, why not make it a neighborhood school? Preschool for #2 and McK are so far apart. 3 miles. Not looking forward to evening commute at all. No alternative is ideal.

Because the true believers are a vehement bunch. Maybe when the principal retires, it will change back to a neighborhood school? There's no budging it otherwise.

It has really good SOL scores and pulls from all over the county. They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Its been a countywide school forever so its not like anyone bought there thinking they could walk to a neighborhood school….not sure how this is any different from someone who lives 2 miles from the nearest elementary saying "they should build a school down the street so my kids can walk!" No, you should have bought a house in the walk zone for a neighborhood school if it was that important to you.

No, just no. Plenty of us choose not to apply to ATS because we don't think the learning style would work for our kids. I don't want my child pushed into something that would be a disaster for him.

Anonymous wrote:

It has really good SOL scores

Which appeals to people who don't know how to evaluate schools effectively.

and pulls from all over the county.

Because it's a countywide program.

They should go the other way--replicate the model in more schools.

Oh sweet flying spaghetti monster, no.

I also heard sib numbers were lower. Fingers crossed!