Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about this so much? It's obsessive, almost. Just send your kids wherever.

This is about property values. Don't be a twit.

I'm glad I sold my property in North Arlington. The pandemonium with the school situation has and will continue to have a negative impact on home prices. The sooner the situation is resolved -- for better or for worse -- the better it will be for the real estate market there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about this so much? It's obsessive, almost. Just send your kids wherever.

That was our approach for our oldest, and it worked fine because there were enough seats. But if there isn't enough classroom space at enough sites to keep school size reasonable (I'd say 750 for ES, 1300 for MS, and 3000 for HS), that's unacceptable.

And it's not a high bar to clear; it just takes setting priorities and planning.

I don't care if you can't buy every kid a device (just buy them for high school kids who can't afford their own), I don't care if we don't have FLES (as long as high school foreign language is strong), I don't care if you don't play for every kid's AP and IB exam (again, just do it for the kids who can't afford it).

1000+

Anonymous wrote:Why do people care about this so much? It's obsessive, almost. Just send your kids wherever.

That was our approach for our oldest, and it worked fine because there were enough seats. But if there isn't enough classroom space at enough sites to keep school size reasonable (I'd say 750 for ES, 1300 for MS, and 3000 for HS), that's unacceptable.

And it's not a high bar to clear; it just takes setting priorities and planning.

I don't care if you can't buy every kid a device (just buy them for high school kids who can't afford their own), I don't care if we don't have FLES (as long as high school foreign language is strong), I don't care if you don't play for every kid's AP and IB exam (again, just do it for the kids who can't afford it).

Why do people care about this so much? It's obsessive, almost. Just send your kids wherever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Enjoy south Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:
Unlike the SB, I also believe choice schools should have a neighborhood option, meaning a small circle around and contiguous to the school, should have the option of going there or their "current" neighborhood school. This will give the surrounding neighborhood some benefits to outweigh the costs (traffic congestion, environmental issues, etc) of having the lottery school in their neighborhood.

I used to think that, until I saw the data that drawing a small 1/2 mile circle around the current choice schools would actually fill them.

I absolutely cannot believe I am writing this - but If the majority of people in Arlington want diversity, I am starting to believe Kenmore should be a comprehensive lottery high school. According to the Arlington County's poorly written survey, residents favor NEIGHBORHOOD elementary and middle schools - so keep those neighborhood schools (don't open more lottery schools at that level). But residents are more open to choice/lottery at the HS level if travel time is max 30 minutes. Kenmore's is sorta centrally located (the best we have), so more kids could get there in 30 minutes. The focus of the school (consistent with the survey) should be STEM. The school should include some summer courses that help or encourage FARM kids to apply.
Unlike the SB, I also believe choice schools should have a neighborhood option, meaning a small circle around and contiguous to the school, should have the option of going there or their "current" neighborhood school. This will give the surrounding neighborhood some benefits to outweigh the costs (traffic congestion, environmental issues, etc) of having the lottery school in their neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:Arl Tech will not move from Career Center. My understanding is the technical classrooms are very expensive and difficult to move. As a result, even growth at the CC campus has to work around the classrooms that are already there. The buildings will not simply be torn down and rebuilt.

This. They are already working on the design of the expansion of the CC for Arlington Tech. The architects have been told to make it flexible to allow for future expansion but those labs, plus the animal science program and greenhouses aren't something you easily move. If there's a desire for a competitive STEM/Tech program then it should be done at the CC not Kenmore.

Arl Tech will not move from Career Center. My understanding is the technical classrooms are very expensive and difficult to move. As a result, even growth at the CC campus has to work around the classrooms that are already there. The buildings will not simply be torn down and rebuilt.

Anonymous wrote:I'm leaning more and more to choice, although a week ago I really thought 4th comprehensive at Kenmore made the most sense. If there is no room for a 4th comprehensive with stadium, etc., then give a new high school at the Kenmore site some other draw and make it choice. It works for HB and doesn't involve huge boundary shifts.

How about moving the Arlington Tech program there, pump it full of buckyballs and steroids, DEFINE WHAT THE HELL IT IS CLEARLY, and give it a much stronger draw as a
competitive STEM school that parents and students actually are interested in? We would apply for that lottery from the far reaches of the county happily.

Then a program with a weaker draw than STEM can take the current Arlington Tech space at the Career Center.

I think this is not a bad idea.

My first choice would be a comprehensive high school at Kenmore.

My second choice would be a choice school at the Kenmore site for a program that would fill and draw away from the three comprehensive high schools, so either a second iteration of HB or a strong STEM/tech program. Depending on the size of this program you might even be able to leave Kenmore middle school in place (for now)..

Nope just sick of hearing the N Arlington shrill the schools are failing Failing! Guess what every school is going to suffer!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?

Still mad about the trolley?

Anonymous wrote:Guys, guys, guys,

You're missing the fact that eventually we're going to have to do EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS.

We're going to have to add seats to the Ed Center. We're gonna have to build at Kenmore. We're going to have to add seats to the Career center. We have that many kids coming down the pipe.

Right now the question is just where to start.

No we don't. Second shifts is the way to go.

Anonymous wrote:People are in denial about the obvious fact that every available option in APS is highly unsatisfactory to many people. Their kids are not going to get the education they expected, where they expected it.

But but but... north Arlington! But I spent so much money! How is it my kids will have to be in a crowded school? With poor kids?!?