Another Nottingham parent here. I would like to see more diversity in the school. I am frustrated by the (frequent, here and elsewhere) responses of people who don't want to live there just because it's not sufficiently diverse - if everyone selfselects away, it will never become more diverse. It's not something that current families are doing, it's something that incoming families are choosing to avoid. My son (white) has three best friends - one is biracial (AA and white parents), one has a mom from Bolivia and a white American dad, and one has parents from the Bronx (just kidding, I know New Yorker's aren't a different ethnic group!). No, there are not a ton of non-white kids, but it's not like they don't exist and, more importantly, from what I've observed, the non-white kids aren't treated any differently.

Honestly, I'd say the bigger divide is SES. We're a two income Fed family, and I sometimes feel like the "poor" family. I know that's not true, but there are a lot of people who take more expensive trips, or wear fancier brands than we do. While my kids haven't really noticed yet, I'm thinking that will be the issue I want to watch out for as they got older. I don't want them to be snobs against people who have less than we do, and I don't want them to think that they're (really very nice) standard of living is somehow sub-par.

I have not read the whole thread, but let me chime in. We were at ATS. My kids had very diverse classrooms. It was really why we wanted our kids to go. My kids have friends from every imaginable religion and race. I would not have it any other way. Honestly, to me it seems that race is really a non issue for them.

Nottingham parent here - I understand your concerns, but can assure you from my own experience, that I have not seen anything that would suggest your children have anything to worry about for being minority. Its all about how kids are raised to understand/respect kids that appear different, and I think for the most part, parents handle this very well. I had the same concerns, but am happy to see my child has befriended some minority kids at school. They all seem to get along fantastic, actually.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASF highly diverse. I think my Caucasian Kindergartner may be in the minority.

As its grown to be filled solely by those in the zone- diversity has increased in recent years.

Here are the stats for ASFS and all the other Arlington schools. Looks like the county started having a multiple race column in 2010 which brought the white percent down somewhat at ASFS after that. But other than that, it's been pretty much the same over time.

Oops, here's the link:

http://www.apsva.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1116

Anonymous wrote:ASF highly diverse. I think my Caucasian Kindergartner may be in the minority.

As its grown to be filled solely by those in the zone- diversity has increased in recent years.

Here are the stats for ASFS and all the other Arlington schools. Looks like the county started having a multiple race column in 2010 which brought the white percent down somewhat at ASFS after that. But other than that, it's been pretty much the same over time.

Anonymous wrote:These answers make me not want to move to North Arlington

Indeed. Angry people in overpriced shacks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These answers make me not want to move to North Arlington

At least we're honest and not putting on airs.

The reality is, diversity does not enrich the educational experience. It's not even a criteria for anyone but a small segment of white folks who fantasize about their school resembling a Benetton ad. They want "safe" diversity. They don't want to hear that the kids self-segregate, the black kids despise the white kids (who are startled to learn anyone would hold them in contempt), and the Hispanics have no interest at all in assimilation (particularly the illegals).

LOL. As if you had any experience being a family in a diverse school. STFU.

I do speak from experience, actually. A bad one.

I'm sorry you had that experience. What school?