Questions about Being an OOS Student

Colleges & Universities University of Virginia
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<p>Thanks again, Hazelorb, OldUvaGrad, and if couse, Dean J.</p>

<p>We’ve decided my DH will drive the 2 1/2 day trip, and I will fly out and meet up with him once he arrives. This way we’ll avoid shipping fees by transporting everything ourselves, avoid one airline fee, and have a large vehicle available to use while we’re there. Our D must be at UVA early for practice and we’ve been told the younger athletes always stay with older ones who have apartments and then move into their dorms. I definitely think we’ll be able to avoid this in the spring, though. I’m hopeful one of us can simply fly up, rent a car, help her pack and transport things to a storage unit (or utilize the company suggested on this thread that will come pick it up), and fly back home; all things to consider. </p>

<p>I was very surprised to learn of the high poverty rate in Cville. We hadn’t really seen any evidence of this while we were there. Well, again, thank you all for the fabulous suggestions. My H has not yet seen the school and is very eager to see it during orientation this summer. He’s curious to get a firsthand look, and see why she gravitated to UVa over other options. Thanks again!</p>

22

<p>Are you sure the athletics department won’t cover early move in cost with your far away living situation?</p>

<p>This data doesn’t guarantee its accuracy says the bottom but it estimates higher than I quoted
[Charlottesville</a>, Virginia (VA) poverty rate data - information about poor and low income residents living in this city](<a href=“http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Charlottesville-Virginia.html]Charlottesville”>http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Charlottesville-Virginia.html)</p>

<p>This I would say is more accurate and corresponds to what I quoted earlier
[City</a> confronts rising poverty | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_confronts_rising_poverty/29345/]City”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_confronts_rising_poverty/29345/)
Note the 50% free or reduced lunch statistic which is highly accurate from my work in elementary schools here and fits with what I said about students above the poverty level but poor by decent standards – <a href=“http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/notices/iegs/IEGs09-10.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/governance/notices/iegs/IEGs09-10.pdf&lt;/a&gt; (pg 3)</p>

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<p>Hazelorb, OldUVAgrad, Jingle, and anyone else who’s lived in the area for a while…why, if you had to speculate, would you say Charlottesville has such a high poverty rate? If I read through this correctly, this statistic does not include the students at UVA, right?</p>

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<p>No it should not include students.</p>

<p>There is a large refugee center here (compared to surrounding VA areas) so a lot of people come for that.</p>

<p>Then as far as African Americans, this is the South, laws were not exactly friendly as far as helping ex-slaves move up in SES. This is interesting – <a href=“http://www.justice4all.org/files/Rock%20House%20Brochure_final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.justice4all.org/files/Rock%20House%20Brochure_final.pdf&lt;/a&gt; In addition, if you’re not aware of the Massive Resistance movement in VA then you might google that. Charlottesville was a part of this movement, closing and reapportioning schools. For instance:</p>

<p>Elem schools
Venable - closed during MR; built 1926; all white
Clark - built 1930 (it was one of two elem schools before MR, I wonder what kind of school it was…)
Johnson - built 1954
Burnley-Moran - built 1954
Greenbrier - built 1962
Jackson-Via - built 1969
(so notice how CVille built new schools in typically black areas to avoid integration)</p>

<p>Middle schools
Walker upper elem - built 1966
Buford - built 1966; both Buford and walker served the same grades then (so I “wonder” why they needed 2)</p>

<p>High schools
Lane high school - closed for MR, all white before integration
Burley high school - all black hs until after MR with albemarle co (now a middle school in alb co)
CHS - built 1974</p>

<p>So you can also note a reliable source on Lane’s wikipedia article says negative integration really lasted until about 1969, to put the dates in perspective (1954 - Brown vs BOE = build schools in typically black areas to avoid integration, 1958 - MR, 1959 - forced integration, 1969 - integration doesn’t result in black students being bullied anymore).</p>

<p>And if you think this is bad, in surrounding counties black students weren’t expected to be educated past middle school (there were no black hs’s). Well if I were black at that time, I would have wanted my kids to get an education, even if it were at an all black school, better than no education. So I would have lived here. Might explain some things? Also, this is highly interesting <a href=“http://www.centerforpolitics.org/downloads/vphp09transcript1.pdf[/url]”>http://www.centerforpolitics.org/downloads/vphp09transcript1.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Clearly there are still some problems as far as this goes; CHS graduation rates are less than optimal (see VDOE’s school report card, <a href=“https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/[/url]”>https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/&lt;/a&gt; , at <a href=“Virginia School Report Card Moved”>Virginia School Report Card Moved; and then this article talks about it as well [Black</a> dropout rate in county triples | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/education/article/black_dropout_rate_in_county_triples/47749/]Black”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/education/article/black_dropout_rate_in_county_triples/47749/) )…</p>

<p>Education is CVille is challenging; schools are comprised of poorer students (typically AA) who are low achieving, with professors’ children, who are high achieving. I’m not stereotyping, I’ve worked in local elementary schools since my first year here (I’m in the ed program) and when they start ability grouping in 3rd grade for math, the bottom group is entirely AA and they usually are 2+ grade levels behind in reading as well. How do they compete with professors’ kids who come in reading way ahead grade level (one time a 1st grader was already reading on a 6th grade level). It is a sad situation and I’m not sure what the solution is.</p>

<p>I hope this has helped you get an understanding of why poverty exists in CVille…</p>

25

<p>jc,</p>

<p>The poverty rate reflects the city population, not the University population or even the Albemarle County population. This 2008 Daily Progress article discusses it more fully.</p>

<p>[City</a> confronts rising poverty | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_confronts_rising_poverty/29345/]City”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_confronts_rising_poverty/29345/)</p>

<p>A big factor is the cost of living here. In many respects, it rivals that of NOVA. Many of our teachers in Charlottesville and Albemarle cannot afford to live here; instead they reside in the surrounding counties where the housing costs are lower. It is also difficult to find work. Even the jobs that the uneducated poor are qualified for are often scooped up by others who are considered “overqualified.” I know someone who was given a head custodial job over other candidates because of his degree from UVA! Many of our Teaching Assistants in the schools are actually fully certified teachers, some with an M.Ed. In addition, the city is flooded with highly qualified UVA grads (like my husband and me:)) who never leave, spouses of professors, and eager high school and college students, so jobs are hard to get.</p>

<p>I have three children, my older two will be in their junior and senior year next year. They and their friends enjoy attending “Fridays After Five” on the Downtown Mall. We find that even though it is downtown, the mall is a safe environment, particularly during the day and even at night as long as certain rules are adhered to. One, stay on the mall. Two, stick with a buddy, preferably several. Three, leave the mall by 10 (or, if they are attending a movie, leave when the movie is over). I would not encourage young people to be out alone downtown or even in a pair after 11 or so (a group would be better), especially in the area surrounding the mall. One of my friends and her husband were attacked last year on Belmont bridge by what they think were members of a gang. Basically, it pays to use common sense. The old rule, “Nothing good happens after midnight” is a good one to live by when you are out downtown. And, take friends with you if you are going downtown at night.</p>

<p>The University community is kind of like its own world, especially the first year. It is a pretty safe environment over all and I would feel perfectly comfortable sending my children to UVA as full time students.</p>

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<p>1) you can’t ship a bed, one will be provided.
2) why are you doing this, instead of your daughter? She’s a big girl, she needs to learn to handle her own possessions.</p>