Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The fact that you even have to ask this question is the best evidence that there is a problem. Do you ever see a thread saying are the North Arlington schools good? Of course not, bc they are good. By dark contrast, the SA schools are an unmitigated disaster.

Seriously?
Well no shit Sherlock. Affluent white people are cramming themselves like sardines on the north side and then boohooing that their precious snowflakes have to (gasp) sit in a trailer, after they paid a million dollars for their home. Aren't they entitled to the best?
Maybe so.
It's a no brainer that Jamestown is a "good" school.
You have to do some digging to find out what kind of experience your child will have in south Arlington. There will also be boundary changes on the immediate horizons.
More and more middle class families are giving it a go. More and more young parents aren't afraid of brown children.
No one is discribing those schools as a "disaster".
Except for you I guess.
Please, tell your first hand experience in south Arlington schools and paint us the picture of a " disaster".
We won't hold our breath waiting.

Anonymous wrote:The fact that you even have to ask this question is the best evidence that there is a problem. Do you ever see a thread saying are the North Arlington schools good? Of course not, bc they are good. By dark contrast, the SA schools are an unmitigated disaster.

Anonymous wrote:
Did you feel " worn down" by the needs of your impoverished students? Did you encounter excessive behavioral problems?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

So, what schools aren't test crazy? I feel like the SA school we're at isn't test crazy (based on school culture, but my kid isn't old enough to be subject to the SOL's, so I don't know if staff would agree). Can you name names? I interpret your assessment to mean that the lower performing schools ARE test crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to hear from a teacher at Carlin springs, Barcoft, or Randolph.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the demands of your students? Do you think the 1-2 middle class kids in your class are behind? Not really getting what they need? If they were your child, would you place them elsewhere?

I'm a teacher at a SA school, though not one of those. I've worked in several parts of the county. And here's what my ever-evolving assessment of the district has become most recently. There are APS schools that are hyper-focused on test scores, and those that aren't. (And yes, of course there are degrees, but let's generalize here.) There are a couple of different reasons a school could wind up in either of those categories, but I've come to realize that it almost doesn't matter why.

My own kids are wee ones (with a third on the way), and I'm thinking about our own school choices now. My first choice is a school that isn't test crazy. My second choice would be a school that is admittedly data crazy but with high-achieving students (which, sigh, does not bode well for its diversity). Coming in a very distant third is a test-crazy place where teachers are always under the gun to produce improved test scores, where real learning is considered far less important than the almighty data. I am so tired of entering data into endless spreadsheets, then spending countless hours talking about those scores, instead of putting my time and energy into instruction and my students.

But since you asked about those three: I used to teach at one of those schools. I wouldn't say the MC kids were behind. They got what they needed. Then I went to N Arlington, and found that I had more time to work with MC kids. Those kids got more than just what they needed.

I hope that makes sense and that it's helpful.

It's just a slightly more nuanced way of explaining that South Arlington schools aren't very good, but thanks.

Anonymous wrote:We live in Henry and there are so many white and Asian babies . 6 years ago when we moved in there were none to be seen. Now at least 30 between 0 and 3 in or near Arlington Village alone!

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft can also be improved with minor boundary changes.

If the triangle south of the Pike (all low-income apartments) is rezoned to Abingdon, that would counteract the addition of new AH students from Arlington Mill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Carlin Springs? Also a lost cause?

Agree that Barcroft and Carlin Springs have taken on the brunt of the AH impact.

Wonder if it's possible to nudge the demographics by bussing a small island from the current Barcroft/Carlin Springs zone to the new ES. They still won't become Oakridge/Henry, but that might be the only way to boost those schools.

There are going to winners and losers. There is no way around it.
there are how many elementary schools south of 50? 9?
In very particular order

Henry
Oakridge
Claremont
Hoffman Boston
Abingdon
Drew
Carlin springs
Barcroft
Randolph


I think we could have 7 high(ish) performing schools on that list, but yeah/ there are likely at least two lost causes up there.

Anonymous wrote:What about Carlin Springs? Also a lost cause?

Agree that Barcroft and Carlin Springs have taken on the brunt of the AH impact.

Wonder if it's possible to nudge the demographics by bussing a small island from the current Barcroft/Carlin Springs zone to the new ES. They still won't become Oakridge/Henry, but that might be the only way to boost those schools.

Anonymous wrote:^^^^ Also, forgot to add that the new Food Star development will be within the Barcroft neighborhood. I do think it will be a game changer. Already seeing that with SFH's being torn down and replaced with new builds. Schools will lag real estate, though, that's pretty much always the case.