I've been thinking about what is bothering me about these threads, given that there are many things about ACPS that I am unhappy and disappointed with.

Yes, there are serious issues with violence in the schools that vastly disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic students.
Yes, programs like the STEM Academy and AP classes do not mirror the racial makeup of the school.

These are real problems.

However, I find it troubling that people continuously claim that all Black and Hispanic students are constantly in trouble, and not enrolled to any extent in good academic programs and classes. That is just not true. There are absolutely Black and Hispanic students who are successful and go on to four year colleges. The problem is that the number is not proportional to the number of students at the school.

My kids experience diversity out in the burbs but the POC are viewed as equals who just look different. In ACPS, due to vast socioeconomic differences, your kids are segregated and generally only experience diversity in sports or witnessing discipline. It's not healthy as the human brain naturally makes associations so when your child sees black or Latino children engaged in brawls and being arrested, they are going to make permanent associations between those POC and violence, poverty, and lack of education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Track is a weird add to that list. It's a mix of Black and white kids. Cross country and crew, not so much. But track?


Ineloquent, but the point was that band and track are the child's only exposure to those "diverse" friends

But what difference does that make? My stepkids go to a different school further out in the suburbs. They don't really have diverse friends through any of their classes or activities.

My kids experience diversity out in the burbs but the POC are viewed as equals who just look different. In ACPS, due to vast socioeconomic differences, your kids are segregated and generally only experience diversity in sports or witnessing discipline. It's not healthy as the human brain naturally makes associations so when your child sees black or Latino children engaged in brawls and being arrested, they are going to make permanent associations between those POC and violence, poverty, and lack of education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find the diversity to be lip service. There is a difference between racial and ethnic diversity and economic diversity. Kids with low social and economic backgrounds tend to engage in antisocial behaviors. They are separated from the school community despite the principal and social worker and PTA doing everything to support and include. I try to develop real friendships with other parents but I rarely see them at school events and they don't tend to play rec sports or do scouts or band. The only place my kids interact with kids from different socio economic background is the community rec center and playground. The parents allow their kids to roam our neighborhood unsupervised, have phones, be out past dark. I am not comfortable with those things. I realize I have the resources and economic mobility but I don't see these families enrolling in rec or Baroody which are free.

Rec and Baroody aren't free at our school!!

Anonymous wrote:

Track is a weird add to that list. It's a mix of Black and white kids. Cross country and crew, not so much. But track?


Ineloquent, but the point was that band and track are the child's only exposure to those "diverse" friends

But what difference does that make? My stepkids go to a different school further out in the suburbs. They don't really have diverse friends through any of their classes or activities.

Track is a weird add to that list. It's a mix of Black and white kids. Cross country and crew, not so much. But track?


Ineloquent, but the point was that band and track are the child's only exposure to those "diverse" friends

There is no middle school play or musical? That’s sad.


There are school plays at GW! My oldest child was in one a few years ago, right before the pandemic. And a group of theater kids just did a really neat program with Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC. Hopefully there are plans for a play this coming spring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At GW there were so many opportunities for sports, orchestra, and activities that were substantial (Model UN where they got to travel, Theater, Clubs where they could volunteer and have leadership opportunities).

When was this? My son goes there now. They still have orchestra and NJHS, but not model UN or a school play.

There is no middle school play or musical? That’s sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Or is your child in Academy 2, thus de facto segregated from everyone except for band and track?

Track is a weird add to that list. It's a mix of Black and white kids. Cross country and crew, not so much. But track?

Anonymous wrote:

Kids with low social and economic backgrounds tend to engage in antisocial behaviors.

I have no idea what a "low social background" is supposed to mean, that is distinct from a low economic background. However, I have a feeling I would not want to, so don't feel the need to bother explaining.

Anonymous wrote:

At GW there were so many opportunities for sports, orchestra, and activities that were substantial (Model UN where they got to travel, Theater, Clubs where they could volunteer and have leadership opportunities).

When was this? My son goes there now. They still have orchestra and NJHS, but not model UN or a school play.

Or is your child in Academy 2, thus de facto segregated from everyone except for band and track?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are not special needs but they thrived at ACPS LCTA/GW/TC. What was good? Small classes in ES especially 12-15 kids K-2 and never more than 22 3-5 - that was the policy back then and it was truly amazing. In addition to a great ES foundation in arts, academics and world cultures (LCTA was a core knowledge school so lessons had an international focus), they had lots of great teachers over the years - way more good than bad. At GW there were so many opportunities for sports, orchestra, and activities that were substantial (Model UN where they got to travel, Theater, Clubs where they could volunteer and have leadership opportunities). Minnie Howard (9th grade ) included the Stem program including Engineering in 9th grade, trips to colleges and universities and all sorts of special projects. TC offered even more opportunities plus trips to the White House and other places all around DC and many special speakers over the years. My kids are thankful for the diversity ACPS offered and how comfortable they are all sorts of social situations. It worked for my kids - they made life long friends and so did I. ACPS proud.

LCTA is the only Core Knowledge elem school in ACPS. Your kids are lucky that they could go there and get the start that they did. If ACPS was truly committed to equity, they would allow every elementary school child access to the same good start your kids had.

We're there now (LCTA). Class size is at least 27 for both of my kids and given another's comment about Model UN, it sounds like the experience above may be outdated, certainly pre-pandemic and pre-Hutchings.

Yeah - clearly outdated take on ACPS. Reveals how much they don't know about the current state of ACPS.

Anonymous wrote:I find the diversity to be lip service. There is a difference between racial and ethnic diversity and economic diversity. Kids with low social and economic backgrounds tend to engage in antisocial behaviors. They are separated from the school community despite the principal and social worker and PTA doing everything to support and include. I try to develop real friendships with other parents but I rarely see them at school events and they don't tend to play rec sports or do scouts or band. The only place my kids interact with kids from different socio economic background is the community rec center and playground. The parents allow their kids to roam our neighborhood unsupervised, have phones, be out past dark. I am not comfortable with those things. I realize I have the resources and economic mobility but I don't see these families enrolling in rec or Baroody which are free.