Capital City PCS - Middle School

[Anonymous]

Huh, this sounds a lot like Truth's Montessori style for middle school approach. I wonder if CC could regain some traction as a middle school backup option, given that Truth's waitlist numbers skyrocketed this year. Sounds like an opportunity for some good marketing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, this sounds a lot like Truth's Montessori style for middle school approach. I wonder if CC could regain some traction as a middle school backup option, given that Truth's waitlist numbers skyrocketed this year. Sounds like an opportunity for some good marketing!

The waitlist is up because the number of seats offered is way down. They actually have fewer 6th grade matches+waitlisters than last year. The 9th grade total is up so that does show some traction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, this sounds a lot like Truth's Montessori style for middle school approach. I wonder if CC could regain some traction as a middle school backup option, given that Truth's waitlist numbers skyrocketed this year. Sounds like an opportunity for some good marketing!

Good point!

[Anonymous]

I observed a significant focus on test scores at Cap City when we were there before the pandemic. They had pull-out groups at different academic levels to help each set improve their test scores, some of which were led by the math/reading instructional specialist. Their EL (expeditionary learning) philosophy involved projects, but they focused on test-based assessments, too.

As for how they deal with above grade-level students, again before the pandemic, they had some activities for this group, especially debate, where there have been some regional and I think even national champions. I also found many of the teachers to be very smart and often thinking about how to challenge these students.

From the stories that came home, it seemed like the big struggle was with behavior. Lots of kids from difficult circumstances thriving, but also not thriving, and a lot of what I would have guessed was undiagnosed and/or unmedicated emotional issues. Most individual Special Ed teachers were great, but the head of that department (who I think has since departed?) never struck me as particularly effective. So there were a lot of kids whose behavior would disrupt the class, frustrate the teachers, etc., and that could be wearying on the kids at all levels who wanted to learn. I don't know how behavior is going now, though.

I think the school has a lot of potential, but middle school is a rough time for the most resourced kids--more so for the less resourced ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I observed a significant focus on test scores at Cap City when we were there before the pandemic. They had pull-out groups at different academic levels to help each set improve their test scores, some of which were led by the math/reading instructional specialist. Their EL (expeditionary learning) philosophy involved projects, but they focused on test-based assessments, too.

As for how they deal with above grade-level students, again before the pandemic, they had some activities for this group, especially debate, where there have been some regional and I think even national champions. I also found many of the teachers to be very smart and often thinking about how to challenge these students.

From the stories that came home, it seemed like the big struggle was with behavior. Lots of kids from difficult circumstances thriving, but also not thriving, and a lot of what I would have guessed was undiagnosed and/or unmedicated emotional issues. Most individual Special Ed teachers were great, but the head of that department (who I think has since departed?) never struck me as particularly effective. So there were a lot of kids whose behavior would disrupt the class, frustrate the teachers, etc., and that could be wearying on the kids at all levels who wanted to learn. I don't know how behavior is going now, though.

I think the school has a lot of potential, but middle school is a rough time for the most resourced kids--more so for the less resourced ones.

Thanks so much for this response - very much appreciate it. I wonder how behavioral issues are handled post-pandemic.