Spread my hate? I’m not sure why this is so upsetting to you, it’s not surprising that there are people who think this way where we live and I’m not sure how admitting that I’ve heard these people express this makes me hateful. Quite the opposite.

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived here for ten years, and I know that there are people in the former neighborhood zone that chose ASFS over Key because the demographics at Key were not what they wanted. They believed a lower ranking and a higher FARMS rate made it a worse school, and some of them view Asians as a model
immigrant group, so they’re okay with FARMS students who are Asian, but not Hispanic. They’re not willing to say this in public, but let’s not pretend it isn’t true for some, and that it hasn’t influenced the current situation. Of course, this is not everyone in the former zone,, considering half of the students at Key still come from the neighborhood.

We just know different people— but we should not pretend like this speaks for the entire asfs community or the neighborhood around key. If people wanted a school with demographics like Jamestown, why wouldn’t they just move closer to there? The housing is much cheaper there than in Lyon village or Rosslyn. Why wouldn’t these people have advocated against the swap then since that would have made asfs significantly less diverse ethnically and socioeconomically?
Arguments like this just don’t pass the sniff test. Spread your hate somewhere else.

I’ve lived here for ten years, and I know that there are people in the former neighborhood zone that chose ASFS over Key because the demographics at Key were not what they wanted. They believed a lower ranking and a higher FARMS rate made it a worse school, and some of them view Asians as a model
immigrant group, so they’re okay with FARMS students who are Asian, but not Hispanic. They’re not willing to say this in public, but let’s not pretend it isn’t true for some, and that it hasn’t influenced the current situation. Of course, this is not everyone in the former zone,, considering half of the students at Key still come from the neighborhood.

Anonymous wrote:One thing that I think complicates this whole dialogue is that there have long been anti-diversity whispers coming from some residents close to Key who would prefer to have a neighborhood school whose demographics align more closely with other North Arlington schools. So when people start making arguments about how the swap is necessary, even when those arguments have some merit, it’s hard not to question the true motive behind those fighting most aggressively for the change.

Where have you heard that? From the key pta?
I’ve lived in the area around key for over 15 years. This is not true, plain and simple.
When they dissolved the team concept and key became a pure option school, there were comments that definitely had this undertone made. From my recollection, they were made by transfers into ASFS (the parents who spoke at the school board meetings) that wanted both ASFS and key to become pure option schools. People were mad at the time because that type of thinking does not reflect our values. I don’t know a single person who lives around the key/ASFS neighborhood who thinks this. People live in our neighborhood because they value diversity and walkability. Don’t try to imply otherwise, because it’s just not true.
I’m really disturbed by this because I saw the same thing said on AEM by a key parent. Dislike the swap for whatever reason, but don’t say it’s because you think the people who live in the key/ASFS neighborhoods don’t want a neighborhood school that doesn’t reflect the diversity of the neighborhood.

One thing that I think complicates this whole dialogue is that there have long been anti-diversity whispers coming from some residents close to Key who would prefer to have a neighborhood school whose demographics align more closely with other North Arlington schools. So when people start making arguments about how the swap is necessary, even when those arguments have some merit, it’s hard not to question the true motive behind those fighting most aggressively for the change.

Anonymous wrote:I know this doesn’t apply to everyone at ASFS, but as an outside observer it really looks like it is a school where parents have a lot of money and they’re used to getting what they want. Let’s build a lab to the tune of $200k. Sure, no problem, we’ll just buy that for ourselves. We don’t want to be zoned out of our preferred school assignment. Let’s just get the board to give us another school’s building. Oh, and make sure you move the lab with us because our privately funded project on public school property wasn’t meant for any new occupants of the ASFS building, but rather it was intended for the use of the community that could afford to pay for it.

Honest question - why don’t you just enroll your children in private school if you want to pick and choose the location and quality of your school facilities, and want some measure of control over who attends your child’s school.

What do you mean by this one?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The county is loaded with disadvantaged ELL school children. Therefore immersion is a NEED.

No, that’s not at all what immersion in APS is about. You know nothing about the immersion program here.

As I parent of two kids who have gone through the immersion program in APS (Key and Gunston), its clearly not an absolute need. But many people want it, it produces superior academic outcomes for both non-English speakers and English speakers, and it doesn't cost more (in terms of dollars) than non-immersion programming. So why wouldn't APS want to continue (and expand) the program if there is demand for it).

I have no issue with Immersion or other Option Programs - as long as they understand that their location may need to move from time to time to accommodate the unpredictability of neighborhood school growth. Many of the neighborhood kids tried but didn’t get into an Option. Totally not fair to punish neighborhood kids at the expense of Countywide programs that can be moved.

The Immersion suppprters who say we can’t move Key (unless we are racists) are full of it. Moving Key could serve so many more Spanish-speaking FARMS kids.

Anonymous wrote:I know this doesn’t apply to everyone at ASFS, but as an outside observer it really looks like it is a school where parents have a lot of money and they’re used to getting what they want. Let’s build a lab to the tune of $200k. Sure, no problem, we’ll just buy that for ourselves. We don’t want to be zoned out of our preferred school assignment. Let’s just get the board to give us another school’s building. Oh, and make sure you move the lab with us because our privately funded project on public school property wasn’t meant for any new occupants of the ASFS building, but rather it was intended for the use of the community that could afford to pay for it.

Honest question - why don’t you just enroll your children in private school if you want to pick and choose the location and quality of your school facilities, and want some measure of control over who attends your child’s school.

The best privates are too far away. We chose our home for location and convenience. Duh.

I know this doesn’t apply to everyone at ASFS, but as an outside observer it really looks like it is a school where parents have a lot of money and they’re used to getting what they want. Let’s build a lab to the tune of $200k. Sure, no problem, we’ll just buy that for ourselves. We don’t want to be zoned out of our preferred school assignment. Let’s just get the board to give us another school’s building. Oh, and make sure you move the lab with us because our privately funded project on public school property wasn’t meant for any new occupants of the ASFS building, but rather it was intended for the use of the community that could afford to pay for it.

Honest question - why don’t you just enroll your children in private school if you want to pick and choose the location and quality of your school facilities, and want some measure of control over who attends your child’s school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The county is loaded with disadvantaged ELL school children. Therefore immersion is a NEED.

No, that’s not at all what immersion in APS is about. You know nothing about the immersion program here.

As I parent of two kids who have gone through the immersion program in APS (Key and Gunston), its clearly not an absolute need. But many people want it, it produces superior academic outcomes for both non-English speakers and English speakers, and it doesn't cost more (in terms of dollars) than non-immersion programming. So why wouldn't APS want to continue (and expand) the program if there is demand for it).

Anonymous wrote:The county is loaded with disadvantaged ELL school children. Therefore immersion is a NEED.

No, that’s not at all what immersion in APS is about. You know nothing about the immersion program here.

The county is loaded with disadvantaged ELL school children. Therefore immersion is a NEED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immersion to Carlin Springs and/or Barcroft. That is where the Spanish speakers are. And they have incredible numbers transferring out. Breaks up pockets of generational poverty.

It is two way immersion, not ESOL. There is a huge difference and, if you understood that, you would know that the student population should not ideally be 100% native Spanish speaking.

Either it’s imperative that the program be located near native speakers, in which case Barcroft or Carlin springs would work, or it’s not important and the program can go anywhere, including NW Arlington. You can’t have it both ways.

It’s actually not imperative that immersion has to be offered at all.

Third grade economics - want vs. need.

The county does not need immersion. However, some people want it. Pre-K math for you: The greater good is served by converting Key into a nonimmersion neighborhood school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immersion to Carlin Springs and/or Barcroft. That is where the Spanish speakers are. And they have incredible numbers transferring out. Breaks up pockets of generational poverty.

It is two way immersion, not ESOL. There is a huge difference and, if you understood that, you would know that the student population should not ideally be 100% native Spanish speaking.

Either it’s imperative that the program be located near native speakers, in which case Barcroft or Carlin springs would work, or it’s not important and the program can go anywhere, including NW Arlington. You can’t have it both ways.

It’s actually not imperative that immersion has to be offered at all.

Third grade economics - want vs. need.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immersion to Carlin Springs and/or Barcroft. That is where the Spanish speakers are. And they have incredible numbers transferring out. Breaks up pockets of generational poverty.

It is two way immersion, not ESOL. There is a huge difference and, if you understood that, you would know that the student population should not ideally be 100% native Spanish speaking.

Either it’s imperative that the program be located near native speakers, in which case Barcroft or Carlin springs would work, or it’s not important and the program can go anywhere, including NW Arlington. You can’t have it both ways.

It’s actually not imperative that immersion has to be offered at all.