Anonymous wrote:But increased poverty at Wakefield from density & massive affordable housing projects is OK? I don't get it.

One thing at a time

But increased poverty at Wakefield from density & massive affordable housing projects is OK? I don't get it.

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

This is an increase from redistrictiing existing units, which is definitely the responsibility of the school board.

If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

Again, not a Wakefield parent, but I have to speak out about this kind of nonsense. It is certainly consistent to say that there comes a point where there are too many low-income students concentrated in one school.

BTW, there are plenty of N. Arlington families who jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. In fact, if we judge by the numbers entering the lottery, parents at N. Arlington elementary schools are far more interested in HB than parents in S. Arlington. Do you think this says something about W-L and Yorktown?

Yes. It says that some WL and Yorktown parents are overly concerned with getting some type of perceived advantage when test scores indicate most kids will be fine in their neighborhood schools.

I agree ^^^ 100%

I think this is why Arlington should move away from special programs like ATS, H-B, and even IB. These were all established to serve completely different purposes than the current reality, which the PP accurately points out is to gain some kind of perceived advantage over going to a regular neighborhood school. These options are being fought over by families seeking to bail out from schools they view as "worse" as well as families coming from otherwise excellent schools who in most cases have no justification for wanting these programs other than they are perceived to be "better" than other programs. I think very few parents of ATS or H-B students could really justify why it is so beneficial for their kids to attend these programs over their home programs because of specific elements that are unique or beneficial to their style of learning etc. Most of the parents I've ever heard from are only interested in these because they perceive them to be better based on test scores or hearsay or simply feel compelled to enter lotteries because everyone else is. Totally not the point! Imagine elementary populations/sizes if ATS could be a neighborhood school, and imagine middle and high school demographics if the H-B and IB kids went to their home schools instead? Wouldn't solve all the problems but would be a step in the right direction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for WL but it will be years before my kids enter HS. The APS folks said at the past two meetings 10/6 and the 10/12 that IB is integrated into WL (as in a teacher might teach 1 IB class and then all non-other IB classes). I don't really mind if they move IB to Wakefield. I doubt it would move enough folks from the north to Wakefield though. I would not want my kid to travel outside of our neighborhood just for IB. I feel the same even if it were moved to Yorktown. As for the Yorktown parents who someone overheard saying they wanted IB at their school. I find it highly unlikely they would ever do that given how far north it is.

If they moved it out of WL to a different site, maybe the S. Arlington folks would try and get their kids into that program, which is fine, I get it. I just think it's funny that so many of them on this board seem to talk about how they support diversity (so long as it's not approaching 50% or higher). I thought someone on this board stated Wakefield is already at 46%. But then it seems they'd be ready to jump ship if they could get their own kids out. So what is it? Do you really support diversity but only within a certain range and then you'll jump ship like you already accuse the N. Arlington parents of already having done? Would the S. Arlington parents jump ship even if the FARMS rate wasn't going to increase and they were given a chance to send their kids to a northern HS? Just curious.

For the record, I think it's deplorable to cripple any one school with extremely high number of poor kids. I seriously believe the CB and SB need to be held accountable for contributing to this problem and that something does need to be done to address this, particularly in 2020.

Do you really not understand this? The research is clear that schools really struggle when they have a large number of low-income students. It makes perfect sense that someone might look at Wakefield and say, "I'm okay with the status quo, but we can't tip this balance any further." How is this funny/strange?

You yourself think it's deplorable to cripple a school with an extremely high number of poor kids, but you think it's funny when people in South Arlington feel the same? That makes no sense.

--not a Wakefield parent

You can still think the county's actions are deplorable b/c it concentrates a huge number of poorer kids in the south. But you are still allowed to point out how inconsistent Wakefield parents are about this. A lot of them seem to accuse north arlington parents of being racist but then when confronted with the reality of their choice are outraged and trying to scramble out themselves.

Np- what that hell are you talking about? The Wakefield parents have been very consistent on their positions. Wakefield has the highest concentration of poverty, and the middle class families are ok with the current demographics. The county, however, has already given them more than their fair share. Even a couple percent more disadvantaged students is too many. If you move the needle any further, they ( middle class families) will have to pull out. That is completely consistent.

Really? Because the stat on the Wakefield website that covers 2012 to 2015 data shows the farms rate at your schook is actually 52% not 42 or 46! That same report showde it over 50 another previous year so all the south Arlington folks who threaten to move should it get near majority should do so. At least the parents on the barcroft thread are more honest. A number if them admitted they could afford to move out. The same report has wl at 35 and Yorktown at 17.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for WL but it will be years before my kids enter HS. The APS folks said at the past two meetings 10/6 and the 10/12 that IB is integrated into WL (as in a teacher might teach 1 IB class and then all non-other IB classes). I don't really mind if they move IB to Wakefield. I doubt it would move enough folks from the north to Wakefield though. I would not want my kid to travel outside of our neighborhood just for IB. I feel the same even if it were moved to Yorktown. As for the Yorktown parents who someone overheard saying they wanted IB at their school. I find it highly unlikely they would ever do that given how far north it is.

If they moved it out of WL to a different site, maybe the S. Arlington folks would try and get their kids into that program, which is fine, I get it. I just think it's funny that so many of them on this board seem to talk about how they support diversity (so long as it's not approaching 50% or higher). I thought someone on this board stated Wakefield is already at 46%. But then it seems they'd be ready to jump ship if they could get their own kids out. So what is it? Do you really support diversity but only within a certain range and then you'll jump ship like you already accuse the N. Arlington parents of already having done? Would the S. Arlington parents jump ship even if the FARMS rate wasn't going to increase and they were given a chance to send their kids to a northern HS? Just curious.

For the record, I think it's deplorable to cripple any one school with extremely high number of poor kids. I seriously believe the CB and SB need to be held accountable for contributing to this problem and that something does need to be done to address this, particularly in 2020.

Do you really not understand this? The research is clear that schools really struggle when they have a large number of low-income students. It makes perfect sense that someone might look at Wakefield and say, "I'm okay with the status quo, but we can't tip this balance any further." How is this funny/strange?

You yourself think it's deplorable to cripple a school with an extremely high number of poor kids, but you think it's funny when people in South Arlington feel the same? That makes no sense.

--not a Wakefield parent

You can still think the county's actions are deplorable b/c it concentrates a huge number of poorer kids in the south. But you are still allowed to point out how inconsistent Wakefield parents are about this. A lot of them seem to accuse north arlington parents of being racist but then when confronted with the reality of their choice are outraged and trying to scramble out themselves.

Np- what that hell are you talking about? The Wakefield parents have been very consistent on their positions. Wakefield has the highest concentration of poverty, and the middle class families are ok with the current demographics. The county, however, has already given them more than their fair share. Even a couple percent more disadvantaged students is too many. If you move the needle any further, they ( middle class families) will have to pull out. That is completely consistent.

IF you are at WL, d you get first dibs at IB spots? A neighbor in the YT/WL border said they didn't want to move to Yorktown b/c then their kid would have to lottery into IB, but wouldn't need to lottery if they stayed W-L. Is that true? If so, the SB should definitely fix that for equity around the whole county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

Again, not a Wakefield parent, but I have to speak out about this kind of nonsense. It is certainly consistent to say that there comes a point where there are too many low-income students concentrated in one school.

BTW, there are plenty of N. Arlington families who jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. In fact, if we judge by the numbers entering the lottery, parents at N. Arlington elementary schools are far more interested in HB than parents in S. Arlington. Do you think this says something about W-L and Yorktown?

Yes. It says that some WL and Yorktown parents are overly concerned with getting some type of perceived advantage when test scores indicate most kids will be fine in their neighborhood schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for WL but it will be years before my kids enter HS. The APS folks said at the past two meetings 10/6 and the 10/12 that IB is integrated into WL (as in a teacher might teach 1 IB class and then all non-other IB classes). I don't really mind if they move IB to Wakefield. I doubt it would move enough folks from the north to Wakefield though. I would not want my kid to travel outside of our neighborhood just for IB. I feel the same even if it were moved to Yorktown. As for the Yorktown parents who someone overheard saying they wanted IB at their school. I find it highly unlikely they would ever do that given how far north it is.

If they moved it out of WL to a different site, maybe the S. Arlington folks would try and get their kids into that program, which is fine, I get it. I just think it's funny that so many of them on this board seem to talk about how they support diversity (so long as it's not approaching 50% or higher). I thought someone on this board stated Wakefield is already at 46%. But then it seems they'd be ready to jump ship if they could get their own kids out. So what is it? Do you really support diversity but only within a certain range and then you'll jump ship like you already accuse the N. Arlington parents of already having done? Would the S. Arlington parents jump ship even if the FARMS rate wasn't going to increase and they were given a chance to send their kids to a northern HS? Just curious.

For the record, I think it's deplorable to cripple any one school with extremely high number of poor kids. I seriously believe the CB and SB need to be held accountable for contributing to this problem and that something does need to be done to address this, particularly in 2020.

Do you really not understand this? The research is clear that schools really struggle when they have a large number of low-income students. It makes perfect sense that someone might look at Wakefield and say, "I'm okay with the status quo, but we can't tip this balance any further." How is this funny/strange?

You yourself think it's deplorable to cripple a school with an extremely high number of poor kids, but you think it's funny when people in South Arlington feel the same? That makes no sense.

--not a Wakefield parent

You can still think the county's actions are deplorable b/c it concentrates a huge number of poorer kids in the south. But you are still allowed to point out how inconsistent Wakefield parents are about this. A lot of them seem to accuse north arlington parents of being racist but then when confronted with the reality of their choice are outraged and trying to scramble out themselves.

Anonymous wrote:So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

Again, not a Wakefield parent, but I have to speak out about this kind of nonsense. It is certainly consistent to say that there comes a point where there are too many low-income students concentrated in one school.

BTW, there are plenty of N. Arlington families who jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. In fact, if we judge by the numbers entering the lottery, parents at N. Arlington elementary schools are far more interested in HB than parents in S. Arlington. Do you think this says something about W-L and Yorktown?

Anonymous wrote:We are zoned for WL but it will be years before my kids enter HS. The APS folks said at the past two meetings 10/6 and the 10/12 that IB is integrated into WL (as in a teacher might teach 1 IB class and then all non-other IB classes). I don't really mind if they move IB to Wakefield. I doubt it would move enough folks from the north to Wakefield though. I would not want my kid to travel outside of our neighborhood just for IB. I feel the same even if it were moved to Yorktown. As for the Yorktown parents who someone overheard saying they wanted IB at their school. I find it highly unlikely they would ever do that given how far north it is.

If they moved it out of WL to a different site, maybe the S. Arlington folks would try and get their kids into that program, which is fine, I get it. I just think it's funny that so many of them on this board seem to talk about how they support diversity (so long as it's not approaching 50% or higher). I thought someone on this board stated Wakefield is already at 46%. But then it seems they'd be ready to jump ship if they could get their own kids out. So what is it? Do you really support diversity but only within a certain range and then you'll jump ship like you already accuse the N. Arlington parents of already having done? Would the S. Arlington parents jump ship even if the FARMS rate wasn't going to increase and they were given a chance to send their kids to a northern HS? Just curious.

For the record, I think it's deplorable to cripple any one school with extremely high number of poor kids. I seriously believe the CB and SB need to be held accountable for contributing to this problem and that something does need to be done to address this, particularly in 2020.

Do you really not understand this? The research is clear that schools really struggle when they have a large number of low-income students. It makes perfect sense that someone might look at Wakefield and say, "I'm okay with the status quo, but we can't tip this balance any further." How is this funny/strange?

You yourself think it's deplorable to cripple a school with an extremely high number of poor kids, but you think it's funny when people in South Arlington feel the same? That makes no sense.

--not a Wakefield parent

So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

We are zoned for WL but it will be years before my kids enter HS. The APS folks said at the past two meetings 10/6 and the 10/12 that IB is integrated into WL (as in a teacher might teach 1 IB class and then all non-other IB classes). I don't really mind if they move IB to Wakefield. I doubt it would move enough folks from the north to Wakefield though. I would not want my kid to travel outside of our neighborhood just for IB. I feel the same even if it were moved to Yorktown. As for the Yorktown parents who someone overheard saying they wanted IB at their school. I find it highly unlikely they would ever do that given how far north it is.

If they moved it out of WL to a different site, maybe the S. Arlington folks would try and get their kids into that program, which is fine, I get it. I just think it's funny that so many of them on this board seem to talk about how they support diversity (so long as it's not approaching 50% or higher). I thought someone on this board stated Wakefield is already at 46%. But then it seems they'd be ready to jump ship if they could get their own kids out. So what is it? Do you really support diversity but only within a certain range and then you'll jump ship like you already accuse the N. Arlington parents of already having done? Would the S. Arlington parents jump ship even if the FARMS rate wasn't going to increase and they were given a chance to send their kids to a northern HS? Just curious.

For the record, I think it's deplorable to cripple any one school with extremely high number of poor kids. I seriously believe the CB and SB need to be held accountable for contributing to this problem and that something does need to be done to address this, particularly in 2020.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if they moved IB to the Billy Buck site?

I believe someone upthread mentioned that IB is woven into the fabric of WL in a way that would make it difficult to move.

All I think that means is some people worry W-L's test scores will decline if it loses IB transfer students from Yorktown and Wakefield.

Or it could be a legitimate observation.

Doubt it. There's nothing about IB that can't be unwoven from a school, particularly one that already has AP.

Another Yorktown parent jealous of W-L's IB program.

I don't know about jealous, but I did overhear two YHS parents arguing with APS staff that IB should be moved THERE. I'm a future Wakefield parent and find this ridiculous. Really selfish, out of touch. You want all the things, and damn it, you deserve them! I know you're not all like this, but WTF. Your school is not in crisis because a handful of your top students transfer out to W-L. You make all the other reasonable YHS parents look bad.