Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

How would they determine that? Tests, applications? Teachers' recommendations are subjective, as are parents'. I don't think you would narrow down the applicant pool that much, so how do you choose if not lottery?

HB should be high school only

No IB no AP, with more independent study and fluid education as it was designed to be.

That will filter out the “private school on public dime” people to students who actually want and need that model.

No, middle schoolers should have access, too.

We are short high school seats but have plenty of middle school seats.

There was a lengthy thread on this a while ago... I think it showed that we are not short high school seats when you factor in the WL additional seats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

+1, and I say this as a parent of an HB kid whose elementary counselor said she always hoped DD would get into HB because it’s the perfect school for her (and she fits the HB stereotype perfectly). If the other options were equally good, then sure, keep HB open for kids who do best with all that autonomy and don’t care about leaving their friends. But that’s not the case, sadly.

Ah...the misconception feeding the sense of superiority among HB parents - that other middle schools aren't as good. It's truly miraculous how so many APS graduates who are forced to endure their neighborhood middle and high schools turn out to be so successful.

No one is saying they can't be successful, but look at the other thread about fights and gangs at Kenmore! The middle schools are not all equal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

+1, and I say this as a parent of an HB kid whose elementary counselor said she always hoped DD would get into HB because it’s the perfect school for her (and she fits the HB stereotype perfectly). If the other options were equally good, then sure, keep HB open for kids who do best with all that autonomy and don’t care about leaving their friends. But that’s not the case, sadly.

Ah...the misconception feeding the sense of superiority among HB parents - that other middle schools aren't as good. It's truly miraculous how so many APS graduates who are forced to endure their neighborhood middle and high schools turn out to be so successful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

+1, and I say this as a parent of an HB kid whose elementary counselor said she always hoped DD would get into HB because it’s the perfect school for her (and she fits the HB stereotype perfectly). If the other options were equally good, then sure, keep HB open for kids who do best with all that autonomy and don’t care about leaving their friends. But that’s not the case, sadly.

Ah...the misconception feeding the sense of superiority among HB parents - that other middle schools aren't as good. It's truly miraculous how so many APS graduates who are forced to endure their neighborhood middle and high schools turn out to be so successful.

Some kids need a smaller environment to be successful. It doesn't mean a school is "better," just a better fit for a particular kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

How would they determine that? Tests, applications? Teachers' recommendations are subjective, as are parents'. I don't think you would narrow down the applicant pool that much, so how do you choose if not lottery?

HB should be high school only

No IB no AP, with more independent study and fluid education as it was designed to be.

That will filter out the “private school on public dime” people to students who actually want and need that model.

No, middle schoolers should have access, too.

We are short high school seats but have plenty of middle school seats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

+1, and I say this as a parent of an HB kid whose elementary counselor said she always hoped DD would get into HB because it’s the perfect school for her (and she fits the HB stereotype perfectly). If the other options were equally good, then sure, keep HB open for kids who do best with all that autonomy and don’t care about leaving their friends. But that’s not the case, sadly.

Ah...the misconception feeding the sense of superiority among HB parents - that other middle schools aren't as good. It's truly miraculous how so many APS graduates who are forced to endure their neighborhood middle and high schools turn out to be so successful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

How would they determine that? Tests, applications? Teachers' recommendations are subjective, as are parents'. I don't think you would narrow down the applicant pool that much, so how do you choose if not lottery?

HB should be high school only

No IB no AP, with more independent study and fluid education as it was designed to be.

That will filter out the “private school on public dime” people to students who actually want and need that model.

No, middle schoolers should have access, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

+1, and I say this as a parent of an HB kid whose elementary counselor said she always hoped DD would get into HB because it’s the perfect school for her (and she fits the HB stereotype perfectly). If the other options were equally good, then sure, keep HB open for kids who do best with all that autonomy and don’t care about leaving their friends. But that’s not the case, sadly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

How would they determine that? Tests, applications? Teachers' recommendations are subjective, as are parents'. I don't think you would narrow down the applicant pool that much, so how do you choose if not lottery?

HB should be high school only

No IB no AP, with more independent study and fluid education as it was designed to be.

That will filter out the “private school on public dime” people to students who actually want and need that model.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

How would they determine that? Tests, applications? Teachers' recommendations are subjective, as are parents'. I don't think you would narrow down the applicant pool that much, so how do you choose if not lottery?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.

So we should give up the opportunity for our kid to be at a program that would benefit them because they, an 11 year old, aren't concerned about their neighborhood school and want to stay with friends? Umm, no. I entered the lottery and my student got a spot. I am going to take the spot and they are going to attend. This is a lottery program right now. If you want to turn it into some sort of countywide program where students meet certain criteria to be able to attend, then that's a completely different program you are describing. By that same turn, you could change Arlington Tech, WL IB, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We threw our DC’s name in the hat and she was selected, although she doesn’t want to leave her friends.
Anyone with experience at Hamm vs HB?

HB parent here. I strongly recommend having your child attend the visit day at HB. A lot of kids go into it thinking they don't want to leave their friends at other schools, but fall in love with HB once they've spent a full day there.

NP. If more parents would just accept their kids' desire to stay with friends, or heed their kids' lack of concern about their neighborhood school, HB would be available to more kids who actually need or would significantly benefit from the program v. their neighborhood school. This is why the lottery system needs to change. If we're going to spend all that money on special programs, they should be making every effort to ensure those programs are being accessed by the students who would most benefit from them.