Region 4 elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Looking at Cardinal Forest, rolling Valley, keene mill, and all the other region four schools. Are they mostly comparable or do you find some better than others? On paper they seem largely the same but wanted to see if there are some clear favorites

[Anonymous]

They're mostly comparable. There are quite a few schools in region 4 so it's usually more helpful to look at what high school they'll be going to when you're trying to compare them.

[Anonymous]

The high school question is interesting as I think at least one school may be redistricted from West Springfield to another school. For now just looking at the elementary.

[Anonymous]

They are all great schools.

Keene Mill is an AAP center, which might be a plus or minus for your family.

When my kid did AAP pre covid, we specifically looked for schools that did not feed into Keene Mill for AAP and only looked for Sangster feeders. There is always a bit of a divide in the center school populations between AAP kids and zoned kids, but Keene Mill took it to a whole different level with things like special multiday overnight cabin camping field trips only for the AAP kids, while the non AAP kids stayed at school. They were the only school that did this exclusive trip, and it went on for years. It just didn't seem like the kind of culture I wanted for my kid, even though they would have been AAP. Sangster did a wilderness ropes course day trip, but it was the entire 6th grade class, with AAP and non AAP mingled together. There was nothing just for AAP kids.

That was pre covid, and Keene Mill has gone through at least one new principal since then. They might not even offer that special AAP only field trip any longer, but it would be worth researching if you are looking at houses zoned for Keene Mill.

[Anonymous]

We love Rolling Valley! And we know families and all the schools you mentioned who love their schools too. I think all the Region 4 schools are good. Just do a little research on the potential boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

Keene mill community and AAP parent here- great school and that field trip does not exist any more. (What a nightmare it must have been though!). I liked that Keene Mill gave homework when other schools did not. All the schools are good here though. Cardinal Forest I hear mostly good about, as well as rolling forest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keene mill community and AAP parent here- great school and that field trip does not exist any more. (What a nightmare it must have been though!). I liked that Keene Mill gave homework when other schools did not. All the schools are good here though. Cardinal Forest I hear mostly good about, as well as rolling forest.

PP here.

That is wonderful to hear.

I learned about it from a friend whose older 2 were AAP and went on the trip each year, but then the younger sibling did not qualify for AAP and was crushed that they couldn't go.

It was never a good idea, especially since it was flaunted in front of all the kids who were zoned for Keene Mill but did not qualify for AAP.

Did it end with covid closures or before?

[Anonymous]

Sangster parent here. We have friends who are very happy at Rolling valley and Cardinal forest. We liked Sangster and don’t forget Kings Park/Glen. Also great. Do seriously look at the possible boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keene mill community and AAP parent here- great school and that field trip does not exist any more. (What a nightmare it must have been though!). I liked that Keene Mill gave homework when other schools did not. All the schools are good here though. Cardinal Forest I hear mostly good about, as well as rolling forest.

PP here.

That is wonderful to hear.

I learned about it from a friend whose older 2 were AAP and went on the trip each year, but then the younger sibling did not qualify for AAP and was crushed that they couldn't go.

It was never a good idea, especially since it was flaunted in front of all the kids who were zoned for Keene Mill but did not qualify for AAP.

Did it end with covid closures or before?

PP- My kid is in Irving now, but we didn’t encounter it. She went through AAP during/post COVID, but I didn’t hear much about it in k-2 either, though you are less likely to hear because those grades are pre-AAP. That is as much info as I know.

[Anonymous]

This appears to be someone looking to move into the area. The schools are all fine. Your efforts should be on finding the house you like and can afford without having to work crazy hours or have nothing leftover once you pay the mortgage. Think about the commute and what impact that would have on your time with family.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sangster parent here. We have friends who are very happy at Rolling valley and Cardinal forest. We liked Sangster and don’t forget Kings Park/Glen. Also great. Do seriously look at the possible boundary changes.

Cherry Run, Orange Hunt, Hunt Valley, all exceptional schools.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone!!