Seeking Recent and Honest Feedback on APS Kenmore MS.

[Anonymous]

several boys on our street go there and parents all say the positive things. on the internet though it's at best a mixed bag. trying to be open and positive while weighing private options.

one thing i do know is the principal is retiring so there's that factor.

specifically would like to hear more recent experiences. thx!

[Anonymous]

I have several friends with 6th and 7th graders at Kenmore and they've only had good things to say about it.

[Anonymous]

Know a teacher there. Works with what would be considered the hardest to serve/ most difficult kids. Says is fine. No big behavioral problems. Kids are nice. I mean, it's middle school... So, they are kinda turds no matter what school you are at.

[Anonymous]

With the school growth in the affluent north arlington neighborhoods that feed into it, the outlook looks good. And I've heard nothing but positive reviews on the school from parents with kids there.

[Anonymous]

I have one kid who went there and one who is currently there. Both are good students that pull from the relatively more affluent Arlington Forest neighborhood.

Overall, we thought the school was/is a good experience. The facility itself is great and the class sizes are on the small side. About 80% of the teachers are good/excellent. That said, both kids had one or two bad teachers - which required a outside intervention (private tutoring) on our part to address.

While I do think the school make up is evolving, it is still the case that white kids are in the minority. The diverse make-up of the schools didn't appear to cause problems though. In fact, overall, I would say it was a positive for my kids.

While I thought Dr. Work was a pretty decent Principal, his departure might be a good thing. He made some pretty questionable hiring decisions over the years. I also thought his obsession with equality of opportunity meant that differentiation opportunities were largely limited to math.

There is one feature of Kenmore that really stands out - remarkably little homework. We know kids that went to Swanson and it sounded like they would often have two hours or more of homework a night. At Kenmore. it was/is typically one hour or less. There are some advantages to this (more opportunity to explore other endeavors), but it does mean that the homework at W-L was something of a shock to my eldest

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one kid who went there and one who is currently there. Both are good students that pull from the relatively more affluent Arlington Forest neighborhood.

Overall, we thought the school was/is a good experience. The facility itself is great and the class sizes are on the small side. About 80% of the teachers are good/excellent. That said, both kids had one or two bad teachers - which required a outside intervention (private tutoring) on our part to address.

While I do think the school make up is evolving, it is still the case that white kids are in the minority. The diverse make-up of the schools didn't appear to cause problems though. In fact, overall, I would say it was a positive for my kids.

While I thought Dr. Work was a pretty decent Principal, his departure might be a good thing. He made some pretty questionable hiring decisions over the years. I also thought his obsession with equality of opportunity meant that differentiation opportunities were largely limited to math.

There is one feature of Kenmore that really stands out - remarkably little homework. We know kids that went to Swanson and it sounded like they would often have two hours or more of homework a night. At Kenmore. it was/is typically one hour or less. There are some advantages to this (more opportunity to explore other endeavors), but it does mean that the homework at W-L was something of a shock to my eldest

Yes, I think his departure will be a good thing. I have heard from other parents of current/recent past students that the lack of differentiation was/is a real concern, and that the issue of the "achievement gap" has been addressed by this principal by lowering performance standards for all students rather than by raising expectations for all students. We are years away from middle school, but if differentiation isn't happening by then, we will consider our other options. I am not risking my child falling behind so that a principal can game the SOLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I think his departure will be a good thing. I have heard from other parents of current/recent past students that the lack of differentiation was/is a real concern, and that the issue of the "achievement gap" has been addressed by this principal by lowering performance standards for all students rather than by raising expectations for all students. We are years away from middle school, but if differentiation isn't happening by then, we will consider our other options. I am not risking my child falling behind so that a principal can game the SOLs.

oh dear god

[Anonymous]

My DS attends KMS. Of course there are a few teachers that are not up to par (as in any work place.) Some of his teachers are exceptional and some are average. My DS really likes KMS, he made many friend from other schools and is still friends with some of the kids from elementary school. I think there is a place for everyone and he feels safe. Our neighborhood school is Williamsburg but we much preferred the diversity of Kenmore. I do like the way they introduce 6th graders to the school and allowed them time to get use to the school. All in all its 3 years - it went by very quickly.

What in the world are people talking about SOL's you have know idea ... (Im an APS teacher) Jeeze

Yes there isn't much homework - its ...enough. I feel the teachers are more efficient at teaching and don't require mundane homework assignments which many homework assignments are. DS has plenty other activities to keep him busy during the week. We will deal with HS homework when we get to HS.

[Anonymous]

The facility is fantastic! I love the work on arts, as well. My child is zoned for Swanson, but I hope the opportunity to transfer still exists when it comes time for MS.

[Anonymous]

Terrific theatre and performing arts. If you've got a kid who's interested in drama - they'll love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Terrific theatre and performing arts. If you've got a kid who's interested in drama - they'll love it.

Doesn't middle school have enough drama already?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS attends KMS. Of course there are a few teachers that are not up to par (as in any work place.) Some of his teachers are exceptional and some are average. My DS really likes KMS, he made many friend from other schools and is still friends with some of the kids from elementary school. I think there is a place for everyone and he feels safe. Our neighborhood school is Williamsburg but we much preferred the diversity of Kenmore. I do like the way they introduce 6th graders to the school and allowed them time to get use to the school. All in all its 3 years - it went by very quickly.

What in the world are people talking about SOL's you have know idea ... (Im an APS teacher) Jeeze

Yes there isn't much homework - its ...enough. I feel the teachers are more efficient at teaching and don't require mundane homework assignments which many homework assignments are. DS has plenty other activities to keep him busy during the week. We will deal with HS homework when we get to HS.

Care to elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the school growth in the affluent north arlington neighborhoods that feed into it, the outlook looks good. And I've heard nothing but positive reviews on the school from parents with kids there.

Affluent north Arlington neighborhoods feed into it? North of what? Just wondering in case I'm reading my boundary locator wrong....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the school growth in the affluent north arlington neighborhoods that feed into it, the outlook looks good. And I've heard nothing but positive reviews on the school from parents with kids there.

Affluent north Arlington neighborhoods feed into it? North of what? Just wondering in case I'm reading my boundary locator wrong....

North of Route 50

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the school growth in the affluent north arlington neighborhoods that feed into it, the outlook looks good. And I've heard nothing but positive reviews on the school from parents with kids there.

Affluent north Arlington neighborhoods feed into it? North of what? Just wondering in case I'm reading my boundary locator wrong....

I live in Arlington Forest (north of 50) and we feed into it. Tiny houses in my neighborhood go for $700K, so I agree with PP that the kids coming from this sort of neighborhood are going to be increasingly from affluent families. That said, I have no idea about the economics/makeup of kids in the other communities feeding into KMS. But specifically from north of 50? Yeah, even we couldn't afford our house if we bought it now as opposed to 5 years ago! (Tech worker and lawyer)