inspired teaching: upper grades

[Anonymous]

Hello:

Wondering about experience with Inspired Teaching PCS, particularly in the upper grades--say, grades 5th+. I've done a search but most of the discussion is about the younger ages.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I really liked it for 5th grade when I went to the open house--it was nice that the middle school had its own floor. The science teacher was really friendly and had a bearded dragon like Liz in the Magic School Bus (which is a big hit in my house). It is a small middle school and it's not going to be able to offer the extracurriculars and sports and such of a big school like Deal, but it felt cozy and the student work hung up looked pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really liked it for 5th grade when I went to the open house--it was nice that the middle school had its own floor. The science teacher was really friendly and had a bearded dragon like Liz in the Magic School Bus (which is a big hit in my house). It is a small middle school and it's not going to be able to offer the extracurriculars and sports and such of a big school like Deal, but it felt cozy and the student work hung up looked pretty good.

Should have said--despite all that we ranked some other schools higher because of commute and because we preferred schools that had 5th graders in elementary, not middle, and got into one of them.

[Anonymous]

I have a good impression from student work I've seen and the middle school principal. OP, the reason there's only limited first-hand experiences being shared on DCUM is since the school's first 8th grade class is being sent off just this school year and the upper grades are half the size of the younger grades (currently... will change as those grades move up). It's definitely for people attracted to a small school, but I've noticed efforts to add more clubs and extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a good impression from student work I've seen and the middle school principal. OP, the reason there's only limited first-hand experiences being shared on DCUM is since the school's first 8th grade class is being sent off just this school year and the upper grades are half the size of the younger grades (currently... will change as those grades move up). It's definitely for people attracted to a small school, but I've noticed efforts to add more clubs and extracurriculars.

From the 16-17 enrollment audit, there are now

15 6th graders,
22 7th graders and
15 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a good impression from student work I've seen and the middle school principal. OP, the reason there's only limited first-hand experiences being shared on DCUM is since the school's first 8th grade class is being sent off just this school year and the upper grades are half the size of the younger grades (currently... will change as those grades move up). It's definitely for people attracted to a small school, but I've noticed efforts to add more clubs and extracurriculars.

From the 16-17 enrollment audit, there are now

15 6th graders,
22 7th graders and
15 8th graders.

Middle school also consists of 5th grade at ITS. To PP, yes, they have dance team, basketball team, lacrosse for after school. I think they are starting track and field. They also have lots of in-school and after school extras like music, art, coding, capoeira to name a few. We will be in middle school there next year and are very excited to join.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you're interested in speaking with current middle school parents, I'd suggest you reach out to the Inspired Families Association ([e-mail]) with a little bit more context about your family and the type of information you're looking for (grade level, if you want input from a family at your grade level or older, school or neighborhood you're coming from, etc) and they'd be happy to connect you with some folks.