We're in Columbia Forest with two kids at Claremont and another on the way. Specifically moved to S Arlington to get into the Immersion program, and are fully committed to continuing through Gunston & Wakefield. I can see both sides of this argument. On one hand, I'm pretty sure we would not have moved here to attend Barcroft or Randolph. On the ohter, when there was talk of moving the middle school Immersion program to Williamsburg we were adamantly against it. Even though the test scores there are through the roof, it's just way too far for us - especially juggling 3 kids. Distance is an issue. I get why Patrick Henry performs so well, but I am struggling to understand why schools like Abingdon & Hoffman-Boston aren't facing the same issues.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I’m reading that wrong, but that 65% have a member of their family living in Arlington. Am I understanding that correctly?

No you are not reading it correctly. It says adult member of the household. Theoretically, there could be a new adult member of the household who lives outside of Arlington who moves into the household. I'm sure this happens occasionally- that there is a new adult member of the household from outside Arlington- but I doubt that it is a frequent occurrence because it is difficult to qualify for AH if you have 2 working adults in the household.
There is a person or group of people on this board who firmly believe that there is a grand conspiracy in Arlington to attract poor people into Arlington and that the "AH Lobby' is somehow profiting from this- and that AH is the reason why schools have poorer outcomes.
I strongly disagree both as a factual matter and a matter of philosophy, and I worry about this getting repeated so often that others began to believe it too.
First- as a matter of philosophy, I think it is unacceptable to try and drive lower income people out of Arlington (I could go into reasons why- but I don't want to derail.)
Second- if you accept the first point, AH is a good good thing. Living in affordable housing (as compared to market rate affordable housing) dramatically improves schools and school outcomes.
The biggest way you see this is in the dramatic reduction of turnover. Here is a sheet with facts about turnover of AH as compared to market rate affordable housing-
https://arlingtonva.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/02/Turnover-in-CAFs-August-2014.pdf

That improves schools because kids stay in the same school for longer, instead of moving around constantly.
It also reduces overcrowding. AH has a lot more controls. Reducing overcrowding also improves school outcomes. i am thinking in particular of one family I am familiar with- They were Arlington residents the whole time. Before they got a CAF, they were stuffing into a 1 bdrm with multiple people- at one point I think they had 6 people living in a 1 bdrm apartment. The kids never got enough sleep b/c of the overcrowding. Now they have an appropriately sized CAF the kids are sleeping more and their school performance has dramatically improved.

I'm curious if anyone who is so critical of AH and is sure that people are living in it fraudulently has ever tried to apply, or helped someone apply. The amount of documentation that has to be submitted and paperwork reqmts is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are so frustrated, run for School Board. Part of the problem is that everyone complains but no one is willing to step up and serve and we have no choices come election time.

We had choices Maura wasn’t elected. I think O’Grady could still be helpful. BK, RG, and MO’G are where we need to focus our energy.

I would vote for Maura again, if she ran. I was glad someone was able to stand up for the rest of us.

Sure, but no one else will. She has to do her time with the DNC. Prove that she’ll tow the line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are so frustrated, run for School Board. Part of the problem is that everyone complains but no one is willing to step up and serve and we have no choices come election time.

We had choices Maura wasn’t elected. I think O’Grady could still be helpful. BK, RG, and MO’G are where we need to focus our energy.

I would vote for Maura again, if she ran. I was glad someone was able to stand up for the rest of us.

Anonymous wrote:If you are so frustrated, run for School Board. Part of the problem is that everyone complains but no one is willing to step up and serve and we have no choices come election time.

We had choices Maura wasn’t elected. I think O’Grady could still be helpful. BK, RG, and MO’G are where we need to focus our energy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Also, I understand there is broad familial support at Randolph. That isn’t the source of my frustration. There is a history of strong immigrant communities in 22204, but the majority of the families moving into AH are not long time Arlington residents. Most of the studies done by the county have said that.

I'm assuming by AH you mean the committed affordable units, vs. the market rate affordable units. If we are talking committed affordable units, this statement is false.
The people moving into AH are indeed Arlington residents.
The most recent study showed that 66% were already in Arlington.
75% were either living or working in Arlington at move in.
https://arlingtonva.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/02/CAFs-Previous-Residence-of-Tenants.pdf

I'm not aware of any studies on market rate affordable units.

I think when CAFs are created through preservation/renovation they house primarily current Arlington residents (previous or current renters are given priority I believe). However, when a brand new CAF is built from the ground-up, there's no such priority given as other factors are weighted more heavily.

If you are so frustrated, run for School Board. Part of the problem is that everyone complains but no one is willing to step up and serve and we have no choices come election time.

Maybe I’m reading that wrong, but that 65% have a member of their family living in Arlington. Am I understanding that correctly?

Anonymous wrote:


Also, I understand there is broad familial support at Randolph. That isn’t the source of my frustration. There is a history of strong immigrant communities in 22204, but the majority of the families moving into AH are not long time Arlington residents. Most of the studies done by the county have said that.

I'm assuming by AH you mean the committed affordable units, vs. the market rate affordable units. If we are talking committed affordable units, this statement is false.
The people moving into AH are indeed Arlington residents.
The most recent study showed that 66% were already in Arlington.
75% were either living or working in Arlington at move in.
https://arlingtonva.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/02/CAFs-Previous-Residence-of-Tenants.pdf

I'm not aware of any studies on market rate affordable units.

That sounds promising and it sounds like they are really going to beef up the IB program over there. I’m not super familiar with what IB means at the elementary level, but plan to visit and attend open houses. I’m glad you are speaking about your experiences. People need to see it working for other families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year round calendar is for that benfit of the immigrant community.
After Tania Talento’s awful speech about how wonderful it is that people can choose where they live, and how much that community just wants to cluster together around a school, why don’t they just draw a line around all those crappy apartments and give the community what they want. Give them a school. The county board and school sees no issues with clustering poverty and championing walkability respectively. Give that community the school it’s asked for.

Treating your comment as serious and not just borne of frustration, I don't think it's fair to assume the community is okay with a far inferior school that is close by simply because they don't want to be bused to the Yorktown area. Those parents showed up to the HS rezoning meetings and they were not having any of moving them out of W-L in favor of Wakefield. (Yes, I think this was unfair to Wakefield but that is a separate issue.) They aren't just bowing and scraping happy to be here. And, Talento's wisdom aside, actually folks can't necessarily choose where they live. Certainly folks in AH can't be said to have much of a choice to live in North Arlington, because there isn't AH to speak of up there. Put those things together and I don't think your solution is the right one. I'm no fan of committed AH myself, but we have it and have obligations to the folks who live in it because they are members of the community just as we are.

*steps off soapbox*

So which is it? They want to be together or they don’t? My point is the county has created this scenario, actively worked to not only maintain, but encouraged this scenario, AND even gone so far as to celebrate this scenario. If they are so f#ckin proud of the wonderful work the’ve done and the outstanding policies they’ve implemented, then the middle class community should help them own it.
Let the state see how fantastic Arlington is doing.
Keeping the immigrant community together is a smoke screen for keeping them out of north Arlington. It’s wonderfully convenient for everyone. I understand it’s also easier for the lower income parents. I get it. But there is a 60 million dollar AH fund. Those f#ckers can pay for shuttles to the schools. It’s not hard to convince a community that has no formal education there is a difference among the schools. Not really hard to keep them content right where they are. So let them just be happy right where they are. Draw a big red line around them. Not like we don’t have a sterling history of that in Arlington, and it’s not like 5-10% middle class kids in attendance will make any sort of meaningful impact.
Of course people don’t have choices. It was outrageous she would dare utter those words. She’s an embarrassment.
Yes. I’m frustrated.

This isn't that surprising. Rich white people in N. Arlington want their kids to go to schools close to their homes that are in their communities. So do many immigrants in S. Arlington (at least at the elementary level). This is an even bigger deal for families where many parents are working multiple jobs and they may have to share cars or rely on buses for transportation. My child is at Randolph. There is a lot of support for the school among families from all cultures, and many parents and grandparents attend school events and meetings. That would be a lot harder if the school was further from home. I very much want all students to succeed and I understand why you are frustrated, but in many cases these communities have been in that part of Arlington longer than you have. 22204 is one of the most diverse zip codes on the eastern seaboard. When we chose our home it wasn't simply that this was the only part of Arlington where we could afford a house. It was also that we appreciated the cultural, racial and socioeconomic diversity of the neighborhood. It is important to understand the fabric of a community before making a decision to become part of it.

Please understand--I'm not saying we have to go 100% with the status quo, but please try to respect the needs and requests of all stakeholders in these schools.

We have a history in Arlington and in our country of making people of color move around in order to integrate. There is a lot of history and resentment there (especially in Nauck).

What grade is your Randolph kid? I’ve heard people get frustrated somewhere around 4th/ 5th grade. I’d be interested to hear positive stories from happy families in the upper grades.
Also, I understand there is broad familial support at Randolph. That isn’t the source of my frustration. There is a history of strong immigrant communities in 22204, but the majority of the families moving into AH are not long time Arlington residents. Most of the studies done by the county have said that.

Lower elementary. So we will see. We did go to the exhibit of 5th grade IB portfolio projects last year and I was impressed. Also there are two enrichment teachers---one for lower elementary and one for upper elementary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year round calendar is for that benfit of the immigrant community.
After Tania Talento’s awful speech about how wonderful it is that people can choose where they live, and how much that community just wants to cluster together around a school, why don’t they just draw a line around all those crappy apartments and give the community what they want. Give them a school. The county board and school sees no issues with clustering poverty and championing walkability respectively. Give that community the school it’s asked for.

Treating your comment as serious and not just borne of frustration, I don't think it's fair to assume the community is okay with a far inferior school that is close by simply because they don't want to be bused to the Yorktown area. Those parents showed up to the HS rezoning meetings and they were not having any of moving them out of W-L in favor of Wakefield. (Yes, I think this was unfair to Wakefield but that is a separate issue.) They aren't just bowing and scraping happy to be here. And, Talento's wisdom aside, actually folks can't necessarily choose where they live. Certainly folks in AH can't be said to have much of a choice to live in North Arlington, because there isn't AH to speak of up there. Put those things together and I don't think your solution is the right one. I'm no fan of committed AH myself, but we have it and have obligations to the folks who live in it because they are members of the community just as we are.

*steps off soapbox*

So which is it? They want to be together or they don’t? My point is the county has created this scenario, actively worked to not only maintain, but encouraged this scenario, AND even gone so far as to celebrate this scenario. If they are so f#ckin proud of the wonderful work the’ve done and the outstanding policies they’ve implemented, then the middle class community should help them own it.
Let the state see how fantastic Arlington is doing.
Keeping the immigrant community together is a smoke screen for keeping them out of north Arlington. It’s wonderfully convenient for everyone. I understand it’s also easier for the lower income parents. I get it. But there is a 60 million dollar AH fund. Those f#ckers can pay for shuttles to the schools. It’s not hard to convince a community that has no formal education there is a difference among the schools. Not really hard to keep them content right where they are. So let them just be happy right where they are. Draw a big red line around them. Not like we don’t have a sterling history of that in Arlington, and it’s not like 5-10% middle class kids in attendance will make any sort of meaningful impact.
Of course people don’t have choices. It was outrageous she would dare utter those words. She’s an embarrassment.
Yes. I’m frustrated.

This isn't that surprising. Rich white people in N. Arlington want their kids to go to schools close to their homes that are in their communities. So do many immigrants in S. Arlington (at least at the elementary level). This is an even bigger deal for families where many parents are working multiple jobs and they may have to share cars or rely on buses for transportation. My child is at Randolph. There is a lot of support for the school among families from all cultures, and many parents and grandparents attend school events and meetings. That would be a lot harder if the school was further from home. I very much want all students to succeed and I understand why you are frustrated, but in many cases these communities have been in that part of Arlington longer than you have. 22204 is one of the most diverse zip codes on the eastern seaboard. When we chose our home it wasn't simply that this was the only part of Arlington where we could afford a house. It was also that we appreciated the cultural, racial and socioeconomic diversity of the neighborhood. It is important to understand the fabric of a community before making a decision to become part of it.

Please understand--I'm not saying we have to go 100% with the status quo, but please try to respect the needs and requests of all stakeholders in these schools.

We have a history in Arlington and in our country of making people of color move around in order to integrate. There is a lot of history and resentment there (especially in Nauck).

What grade is your Randolph kid? I’ve heard people get frustrated somewhere around 4th/ 5th grade. I’d be interested to hear positive stories from happy families in the upper grades.
Also, I understand there is broad familial support at Randolph. That isn’t the source of my frustration. There is a history of strong immigrant communities in 22204, but the majority of the families moving into AH are not long time Arlington residents. Most of the studies done by the county have said that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year round calendar is for that benfit of the immigrant community.
After Tania Talento’s awful speech about how wonderful it is that people can choose where they live, and how much that community just wants to cluster together around a school, why don’t they just draw a line around all those crappy apartments and give the community what they want. Give them a school. The county board and school sees no issues with clustering poverty and championing walkability respectively. Give that community the school it’s asked for.

Treating your comment as serious and not just borne of frustration, I don't think it's fair to assume the community is okay with a far inferior school that is close by simply because they don't want to be bused to the Yorktown area. Those parents showed up to the HS rezoning meetings and they were not having any of moving them out of W-L in favor of Wakefield. (Yes, I think this was unfair to Wakefield but that is a separate issue.) They aren't just bowing and scraping happy to be here. And, Talento's wisdom aside, actually folks can't necessarily choose where they live. Certainly folks in AH can't be said to have much of a choice to live in North Arlington, because there isn't AH to speak of up there. Put those things together and I don't think your solution is the right one. I'm no fan of committed AH myself, but we have it and have obligations to the folks who live in it because they are members of the community just as we are.

*steps off soapbox*

So which is it? They want to be together or they don’t? My point is the county has created this scenario, actively worked to not only maintain, but encouraged this scenario, AND even gone so far as to celebrate this scenario. If they are so f#ckin proud of the wonderful work the’ve done and the outstanding policies they’ve implemented, then the middle class community should help them own it.
Let the state see how fantastic Arlington is doing.
Keeping the immigrant community together is a smoke screen for keeping them out of north Arlington. It’s wonderfully convenient for everyone. I understand it’s also easier for the lower income parents. I get it. But there is a 60 million dollar AH fund. Those f#ckers can pay for shuttles to the schools. It’s not hard to convince a community that has no formal education there is a difference among the schools. Not really hard to keep them content right where they are. So let them just be happy right where they are. Draw a big red line around them. Not like we don’t have a sterling history of that in Arlington, and it’s not like 5-10% middle class kids in attendance will make any sort of meaningful impact.
Of course people don’t have choices. It was outrageous she would dare utter those words. She’s an embarrassment.
Yes. I’m frustrated.

This isn't that surprising. Rich white people in N. Arlington want their kids to go to schools close to their homes that are in their communities. So do many immigrants in S. Arlington (at least at the elementary level). This is an even bigger deal for families where many parents are working multiple jobs and they may have to share cars or rely on buses for transportation. My child is at Randolph. There is a lot of support for the school among families from all cultures, and many parents and grandparents attend school events and meetings. That would be a lot harder if the school was further from home. I very much want all students to succeed and I understand why you are frustrated, but in many cases these communities have been in that part of Arlington longer than you have. 22204 is one of the most diverse zip codes on the eastern seaboard. When we chose our home it wasn't simply that this was the only part of Arlington where we could afford a house. It was also that we appreciated the cultural, racial and socioeconomic diversity of the neighborhood. It is important to understand the fabric of a community before making a decision to become part of it.

Please understand--I'm not saying we have to go 100% with the status quo, but please try to respect the needs and requests of all stakeholders in these schools.

We have a history in Arlington and in our country of making people of color move around in order to integrate. There is a lot of history and resentment there (especially in Nauck).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year round calendar is for that benfit of the immigrant community.
After Tania Talento’s awful speech about how wonderful it is that people can choose where they live, and how much that community just wants to cluster together around a school, why don’t they just draw a line around all those crappy apartments and give the community what they want. Give them a school. The county board and school sees no issues with clustering poverty and championing walkability respectively. Give that community the school it’s asked for.

Treating your comment as serious and not just borne of frustration, I don't think it's fair to assume the community is okay with a far inferior school that is close by simply because they don't want to be bused to the Yorktown area. Those parents showed up to the HS rezoning meetings and they were not having any of moving them out of W-L in favor of Wakefield. (Yes, I think this was unfair to Wakefield but that is a separate issue.) They aren't just bowing and scraping happy to be here. And, Talento's wisdom aside, actually folks can't necessarily choose where they live. Certainly folks in AH can't be said to have much of a choice to live in North Arlington, because there isn't AH to speak of up there. Put those things together and I don't think your solution is the right one. I'm no fan of committed AH myself, but we have it and have obligations to the folks who live in it because they are members of the community just as we are.

*steps off soapbox*

So which is it? They want to be together or they don’t? My point is the county has created this scenario, actively worked to not only maintain, but encouraged this scenario, AND even gone so far as to celebrate this scenario. If they are so f#ckin proud of the wonderful work the’ve done and the outstanding policies they’ve implemented, then the middle class community should help them own it.
Let the state see how fantastic Arlington is doing.
Keeping the immigrant community together is a smoke screen for keeping them out of north Arlington. It’s wonderfully convenient for everyone. I understand it’s also easier for the lower income parents. I get it. But there is a 60 million dollar AH fund. Those f#ckers can pay for shuttles to the schools. It’s not hard to convince a community that has no formal education there is a difference among the schools. Not really hard to keep them content right where they are. So let them just be happy right where they are. Draw a big red line around them. Not like we don’t have a sterling history of that in Arlington, and it’s not like 5-10% middle class kids in attendance will make any sort of meaningful impact.
Of course people don’t have choices. It was outrageous she would dare utter those words. She’s an embarrassment.
Yes. I’m frustrated.

Another Nauck resident here. My kid goes to Claremont. It will be interesting to see how the Drew student body changes with the elimination of guaranteed choice for Claremont in the Nauck neighborhood.

I agree with posters saying that the neighborhood program at Drew is neglected. I went on a tour of the school and they didn't even bother to showcase the neighborhood school portion. I have been to civic meetings and flat out asked the school board why they haven't addressed the achievement gap between the Montessori program and the Model program and received essentially no answer.

Hopefully the move to STEAM will help. But I think part of it is just going to be forcing people to go there. I don't know a single parent in the neighborhood (in my demographic) who sends their kid to the Model program.