Kenmore MS (Arlington) - happy, or did you transfer/go private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Kenmore seems to have interesting electives that appeal to DD (e.g. robotics/innovation and great selection of the arts), but their reading and math scores are much lower than other APS MS. Does anyone know if the school is undertaking any strong initiative to improve these?

Test scores tend to be reflective of demographics, not teaching quality.

There is also a body of research that shows schools above 40-45 percent poverty don’t meet expected test scores across the student body. Take it for what you will.

[Anonymous]

OK but what do you think the teachers are focused on? They’re stretched thin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK but what do you think the teachers are focused on? They’re stretched thin.

Is this a question for the immediate PP (me?)

I don’t think the research shows that it’s the fault of the teachers. There is a poverty tipping point where the whole school is impacted. It’s not the teachers’ fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK but what do you think the teachers are focused on? They’re stretched thin.

Is this a question for the immediate PP (me?)

I don’t think the research shows that it’s the fault of the teachers. There is a poverty tipping point where the whole school is impacted. It’s not the teachers’ fault.

What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK but what do you think the teachers are focused on? They’re stretched thin.

Is this a question for the immediate PP (me?)

I don’t think the research shows that it’s the fault of the teachers. There is a poverty tipping point where the whole school is impacted. It’s not the teachers’ fault.

What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.

Honestly i think you'd be hard pressed to find any APS parent raving about their gifted child's middle school experience (or experience at any school level, frankly). In my family's experience and the experience of many close friends, across the board there isn't much they do for the gifted kids (we are a Kenmore family, close friends at Jefferson, Swanson and Gunston had similar academic experiences). I think the intensified courses next year will be a nice way for students who want a little more to get it...

I have one kid at Kenmore now and one former Kenmore student who is now in high school. We've been pleased with the vast majority of teachers, the administration, and the Kenmore specific STEAM classes/program. Some teachers are more meh than others but on balance they're really good, and care a lot about what they do and the students. The middle school.shenanigans that have gone on honestly aren't that much different than the kind that happen elsewhere, and didn't/don't really faze my kids. Both of my kids have very different personalities but found nice "a little bit nerdy good kid" friend groups at Kenmore.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had two kids at Kenmore, the second is there now. If your kid likes arts they have excellent programs. One kid in band with an excellent teacher. My older child enjoyed art class and dance PE. It’s our neighborhood school - not sure I would have transferred into it - but if you have a kid interested in art, music, or theater they would enjoy those programs. I think Kenmore’s auditorium is nicer than W-L’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK but what do you think the teachers are focused on? They’re stretched thin.

Is this a question for the immediate PP (me?)

I don’t think the research shows that it’s the fault of the teachers. There is a poverty tipping point where the whole school is impacted. It’s not the teachers’ fault.

What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.

Honestly i think you'd be hard pressed to find any APS parent raving about their gifted child's middle school experience (or experience at any school level, frankly). In my family's experience and the experience of many close friends, across the board there isn't much they do for the gifted kids (we are a Kenmore family, close friends at Jefferson, Swanson and Gunston had similar academic experiences). I think the intensified courses next year will be a nice way for students who want a little more to get it...

I have one kid at Kenmore now and one former Kenmore student who is now in high school. We've been pleased with the vast majority of teachers, the administration, and the Kenmore specific STEAM classes/program. Some teachers are more meh than others but on balance they're really good, and care a lot about what they do and the students. The middle school.shenanigans that have gone on honestly aren't that much different than the kind that happen elsewhere, and didn't/don't really faze my kids. Both of my kids have very different personalities but found nice "a little bit nerdy good kid" friend groups at Kenmore.

I was pretty happy with my gifted kids’ experiences in an Arlington MS. Lots of similarly motivated kids clustered together. Often different assignments for gifted cluster. Offered opportunities to participle in lunch time debates and discussions. Encouraged and mentored to do sciience projects and VJAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had two kids at Kenmore, the second is there now. If your kid likes arts they have excellent programs. One kid in band with an excellent teacher. My older child enjoyed art class and dance PE. It’s our neighborhood school - not sure I would have transferred into it - but if you have a kid interested in art, music, or theater they would enjoy those programs. I think Kenmore’s auditorium is nicer than W-L’s.

Kenmore has the largest auditorium in all of APS due to the Arts magnet there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.



Honestly i think you'd be hard pressed to find any APS parent raving about their gifted child's middle school experience (or experience at any school level, frankly). In my family's experience and the experience of many close friends, across the board there isn't much they do for the gifted kids (we are a Kenmore family, close friends at Jefferson, Swanson and Gunston had similar academic experiences). I think the intensified courses next year will be a nice way for students who want a little more to get it...

I have one kid at Kenmore now and one former Kenmore student who is now in high school. We've been pleased with the vast majority of teachers, the administration, and the Kenmore specific STEAM classes/program. Some teachers are more meh than others but on balance they're really good, and care a lot about what they do and the students. The middle school.shenanigans that have gone on honestly aren't that much different than the kind that happen elsewhere, and didn't/don't really faze my kids. Both of my kids have very different personalities but found nice "a little bit nerdy good kid" friend groups at Kenmore.

For years, APS parents have made fun of the "tiger moms" in Fairfax and the Fairfax AAP program as too much pressure, but then they complain that their gifted kids in APS don't get enough attention. If you want more attention for gifted kids, you need to push for it and go down the road FFX has. Otherwise, stop complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had two kids at Kenmore, the second is there now. If your kid likes arts they have excellent programs. One kid in band with an excellent teacher. My older child enjoyed art class and dance PE. It’s our neighborhood school - not sure I would have transferred into it - but if you have a kid interested in art, music, or theater they would enjoy those programs. I think Kenmore’s auditorium is nicer than W-L’s.

Kenmore has the largest auditorium in all of APS due to the Arts magnet there.

My gifted kid was at Kenmore and now at Yorktown, and the Kenmore auditorium is so much better than Yorktown's.

Also, she did well there, didn't see any fights and/or wasn't affected by them, and they have the best principal in all of ATS.

https://twitter.com/APSKenmore/status/1242107473223397379

[Anonymous]

13:46: Whoops, APS.

Mr. McBride is awesome. And super dedicated to the school. Check out that twitter link for his message during the beginning of Lockdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had two kids at Kenmore, the second is there now. If your kid likes arts they have excellent programs. One kid in band with an excellent teacher. My older child enjoyed art class and dance PE. It’s our neighborhood school - not sure I would have transferred into it - but if you have a kid interested in art, music, or theater they would enjoy those programs. I think Kenmore’s auditorium is nicer than W-L’s.

Kenmore has the largest auditorium in all of APS due to the Arts magnet there.

My gifted kid was at Kenmore and now at Yorktown, and the Kenmore auditorium is so much better than Yorktown's.

Also, she did well there, didn't see any fights and/or wasn't affected by them, and they have the best principal in all of ATS.

https://twitter.com/APSKenmore/status/1242107473223397379

As a cost savings measure the original 1960s era Yorktown auditorium was renovated and not rebuilt. The new (now decade old) YHS school building surrounds it so it blends in seamlessly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:46: Whoops, APS.

Mr. McBride is awesome. And super dedicated to the school. Check out that twitter link for his message during the beginning of Lockdown.

wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.



Honestly i think you'd be hard pressed to find any APS parent raving about their gifted child's middle school experience (or experience at any school level, frankly). In my family's experience and the experience of many close friends, across the board there isn't much they do for the gifted kids (we are a Kenmore family, close friends at Jefferson, Swanson and Gunston had similar academic experiences). I think the intensified courses next year will be a nice way for students who want a little more to get it...

I have one kid at Kenmore now and one former Kenmore student who is now in high school. We've been pleased with the vast majority of teachers, the administration, and the Kenmore specific STEAM classes/program. Some teachers are more meh than others but on balance they're really good, and care a lot about what they do and the students. The middle school.shenanigans that have gone on honestly aren't that much different than the kind that happen elsewhere, and didn't/don't really faze my kids. Both of my kids have very different personalities but found nice "a little bit nerdy good kid" friend groups at Kenmore.

For years, APS parents have made fun of the "tiger moms" in Fairfax and the Fairfax AAP program as too much pressure, but then they complain that their gifted kids in APS don't get enough attention. If you want more attention for gifted kids, you need to push for it and go down the road FFX has. Otherwise, stop complaining.

Our biggest regret is we wanted a low pressure school experience, no need for tiger mom pressure cooker. But we did not know that meant our bright kids would essentially be left to their own devices for most of the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


What I meant was, and this school, where majority of students are struggling, the teachers are spread even more thin. OP is looking for how much support her gifted child will get. Across-the-board APS does not do a great job with this especially at the middle school level. We have yet to hear from anyone from Kenmore Who has had a positive experience with their gifted students.



Honestly i think you'd be hard pressed to find any APS parent raving about their gifted child's middle school experience (or experience at any school level, frankly). In my family's experience and the experience of many close friends, across the board there isn't much they do for the gifted kids (we are a Kenmore family, close friends at Jefferson, Swanson and Gunston had similar academic experiences). I think the intensified courses next year will be a nice way for students who want a little more to get it...

I have one kid at Kenmore now and one former Kenmore student who is now in high school. We've been pleased with the vast majority of teachers, the administration, and the Kenmore specific STEAM classes/program. Some teachers are more meh than others but on balance they're really good, and care a lot about what they do and the students. The middle school.shenanigans that have gone on honestly aren't that much different than the kind that happen elsewhere, and didn't/don't really faze my kids. Both of my kids have very different personalities but found nice "a little bit nerdy good kid" friend groups at Kenmore.

For years, APS parents have made fun of the "tiger moms" in Fairfax and the Fairfax AAP program as too much pressure, but then they complain that their gifted kids in APS don't get enough attention. If you want more attention for gifted kids, you need to push for it and go down the road FFX has. Otherwise, stop complaining.

Our biggest regret is we wanted a low pressure school experience, no need for tiger mom pressure cooker. But we did not know that meant our bright kids would essentially be left to their own devices for most of the school day.

Was this at Kenmore?