Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I keep noticing posters writing about the Old Town lifestyle. As someone who does not live there, what is so special about it? That makes it somehow more special than the a walkable downtown with many small businesses and restaurants? Yes, the buildings are very pretty, but other than the aesthetics, what else makes up this "old town lifetstyle" and I am not a troll asking to be a jerk.

It's perfect setting for when you're coupled up and ready to end the night before midnight. Also, it's walkable like downtown but significantly less crime or homeless people bothering you. Not sure what you mean about small businesses in DC as I remember downtown being nothing but chain restaurants and stores.

As a family that has lived around the world and the country - Alexandria is a special place outside of old town. In our north ridge neighborhood, kids run barefoot from house to house excitedly showing new dance moves or toys. Neighbors watch your dog and hide your keys. Teens meet up with friends from school while walking the dog or hanging out at the neighborhood school playground with kids from all backgrounds

So the fact that our schools are failing us and our kids hits a particular nerve because the potential is astronomical. Alexandria is a mere couple miles from downtown dc and incredibly diverse and offers our kids the potential to be an everlasting place to call home. Parents stay because they see the potential....

I have all those things in my neighborhood in Arlington and only a few families in our neighborhood go to private school - all of them for religious reasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I keep noticing posters writing about the Old Town lifestyle. As someone who does not live there, what is so special about it? That makes it somehow more special than the a walkable downtown with many small businesses and restaurants? Yes, the buildings are very pretty, but other than the aesthetics, what else makes up this "old town lifetstyle" and I am not a troll asking to be a jerk.

It's perfect setting for when you're coupled up and ready to end the night before midnight. Also, it's walkable like downtown but significantly less crime or homeless people bothering you. Not sure what you mean about small businesses in DC as I remember downtown being nothing but chain restaurants and stores.

As a family that has lived around the world and the country - Alexandria is a special place outside of old town. In our north ridge neighborhood, kids run barefoot from house to house excitedly showing new dance moves or toys. Neighbors watch your dog and hide your keys. Teens meet up with friends from school while walking the dog or hanging out at the neighborhood school playground with kids from all backgrounds

So the fact that our schools are failing us and our kids hits a particular nerve because the potential is astronomical. Alexandria is a mere couple miles from downtown dc and incredibly diverse and offers our kids the potential to be an everlasting place to call home. Parents stay because they see the potential....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, I keep noticing posters writing about the Old Town lifestyle. As someone who does not live there, what is so special about it? That makes it somehow more special than the a walkable downtown with many small businesses and restaurants? Yes, the buildings are very pretty, but other than the aesthetics, what else makes up this "old town lifetstyle" and I am not a troll asking to be a jerk.

It's perfect setting for when you're coupled up and ready to end the night before midnight. Also, it's walkable like downtown but significantly less crime or homeless people bothering you. Not sure what you mean about small businesses in DC as I remember downtown being nothing but chain restaurants and stores.

Anonymous wrote:So, I keep noticing posters writing about the Old Town lifestyle. As someone who does not live there, what is so special about it? That makes it somehow more special than the a walkable downtown with many small businesses and restaurants? Yes, the buildings are very pretty, but other than the aesthetics, what else makes up this "old town lifetstyle" and I am not a troll asking to be a jerk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Cult-like is a perfect description. I used to be very involved in ACPS and events across the city. I regret the time, it was totally wasted.

Sorry to hear that (OP again). What motivates these people to behave the way they do? Is it really as simple as they benefit from being UMC and white and don't want that to change, lest it threaten their kid's position/rank in school?

NP. I think these people have a lot invested in convincing themselves staying in ACPS is the right thing and the choices they’ve made to date are valid. Calling it out would be calling out their own choices as parents on some level.

Yes. They get very defensive. After covid, when so many people were leaving our elementary school, a mom kept talking about how of course she could afford to send her many kids to private but she was choosing not to because ACPS was just so great. She got quite nasty about it and still is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Cult-like is a perfect description. I used to be very involved in ACPS and events across the city. I regret the time, it was totally wasted.

Sorry to hear that (OP again). What motivates these people to behave the way they do? Is it really as simple as they benefit from being UMC and white and don't want that to change, lest it threaten their kid's position/rank in school?

NP. I think these people have a lot invested in convincing themselves staying in ACPS is the right thing and the choices they’ve made to date are valid. Calling it out would be calling out their own choices as parents on some level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Cult-like is a perfect description. I used to be very involved in ACPS and events across the city. I regret the time, it was totally wasted.

Sorry to hear that (OP again). What motivates these people to behave the way they do? Is it really as simple as they benefit from being UMC and white and don't want that to change, lest it threaten their kid's position/rank in school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Cult-like is a perfect description. I used to be very involved in ACPS and events across the city. I regret the time, it was totally wasted.

Sorry to hear that (OP again). What motivates these people to behave the way they do? Is it really as simple as they benefit from being UMC and white and don't want that to change, lest it threaten their kid's position/rank in school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Cult-like is a perfect description. I used to be very involved in ACPS and events across the city. I regret the time, it was totally wasted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.

I'm OP and I have read and considered all the responses here. I completely understand what you mean PP... the very few times I've spoken out against ACPS leadership I've been met with cult-like disdain. It is, I realize, eroding my sense of community. With some thought I don't think I'll miss this aspect of living here at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an Old Town resident and lover of our vibrant city of Alexandria, I am so heartbroken by our public school system. We love and support our schools but wow it's like our school board refuses to make anything better and we all suffer as a result. Staying isn't safe and kids are segregated in our upper schools. Only the blind dispute this. It's just frustrating to know we need to move from this otherwise amazing place.

I'm sure there will be plenty of posters chiming in, finding ways to make fun of this and pick me apart. But, I think many others actually living and witnessing this know it's very much real.

What do you mean by segregated?

“My kid is doing/did very well at ACHS/GW/Hammond, is in honors classes and is thriving! He/she never sees any fights. We love ACPS!”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Time to grow up and move out of Old Town and Del Ray. You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you will.

"Grow up?" What a spiteful recommendation. You may not share the values of people who live here including walkability and sense of community. It's a rare thing in this area.

My sense of community was destroyed by Alexandria and ACPS. If you go along to get along, don't complain and follow the orders of the political establishment, you can enjoy the illusion of community. Trying speaking out against ACPS and the establishment. There is no community here just like there is no open mindedness.