To the Editor:
As the new Jefferson-Houston school building gets rave reviews and is about to open its doors to students this fall, I watch with anticipation to see over the next year (or years) whether a new building is enough to attract families, diversify the student body, and change the tide of the past 10 to 11 years of failing to meet testing benchmarks. The School Board would counter that it is not just the new building.
Jefferson-Houston recently became an official International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school and the Superintendent is seeking a new lead principal to help guide Jefferson-Houston to new heights. My prediction is that the majority of parents and students will not take a chance on Jefferson-Houston unless it gains accreditation which may involve shaking up the student body, rebalancing student assignments, and potentially re-growing the school. We all have a vested interest in helping our community school become a high-achieving institution for years to come – a $44.2 million vested interest as City of Alexandria residents as well as our vested interest in the next generation. I welcome wider community involvement and the extra scrutiny that will inevitably result from the new building as efforts continue to improve Jefferson-Houston and student achievement.
Jennifer Topping
Alexandria