Any opinions on Drew Model School or Arlington Traditional School? (neighborhood, elementary schools)

[arlingtonChris]

Does anyone have any opinions (good or bad) about either of these 2 Arlington Elementary schools? My son is currently in a Montessori class and will be in kindergarten next year. We are considering whether either of these schools are a good option.

Thanks in advance

[FunE]

I have two children who attend ATS. It is an excellent school and the staff/most teachers are top-notch. The principal is incredibly dedicated. The school is a good fit if your child likes structure and to be challenged in the basics-reading, math, sciences and social studies. One thing ATS does very well is getting students to practice speaking in public. They are required to do a play every year where each child has a role (singing, speaking, music etc.) My kids are very confident in front of 400+ kids-I would have been a wreck at that age. ATS isn't a good fit if your child doesn't like structure or is highly intelligent (although the gifted program throughout Arlington elementary schools isn't nearly sufficient.) I don't know anything about Drew but if your child is thriving in montessori you may want to keep him in that track. A negative about ATS is because it is a lottery-based admission-there is a lot of sour grapes towards the school. Neighborhood schools people will resent you-especially if they live near ATS and didn't get in. It has been exacerbated lately because of the boundary issues.

[arlingtonChris]

Thanks for the feedback. I had no idea there was any animosity towards the out-of-neighborhood families at ATS - certainly something to take into account. Based on the latest, ammended Supervisors recommendation concerning boundaries it looks like they won't be moving my son's current Montessori class after all so I may not have to make a decision about all this for one more year.