Tell me about Kenmore Middle School in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Crime? Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much would it cost to send a kid to a reasonably priced private school for three years?

Our kids go to Burgundy Farm Country Day. Middle school tuition is a little over 30K next year, I believe. I don't know the exact amount. The website has the 2015-2016 tuition amounts.

I think most private schools without a religious focus are comparable.

We are very happy there. It's been life changing for our kids. We spent 4 years in APS.

How would you say it's been life changing for your kids? Did you have a bad experience in APS?

In no particular order:

My kids are excited about going to school. They want to get there as early as possible so they have time to play outside.

They talk about school and what they're learning a lot more. They are much more invested.

They are much more active learners. So much of what they do is hands-on.

They're actually learning grammar this year. Grammar was not s focus at our old school.

Their teachers have the flexibility to teach about things the kids are interested in. For example, one child's class was into national parks earlier this year. Their teacher then created a whole unit on national parks.

There is no such thing as indoor recess (kids can choose to play inside if they want, but outside is always an option.) My kids went outside multiple times a day this week even though it was raining.

They eat lunch in their classrooms, outside on picnic tables or while they're playing. They get to choose.

There is so much more social interaction going on.

At least three recesses a day.

An amazing science program.

They're both much more confident. They're taking more risks.

They are asked to think critically.

No SOL's!!! All they did last year was prep for those stupid tests.

Lots of intreresting field trips. My son's class also goes to a senior center about every two months. He has a senior buddy whom he adores. They have the sweetest relationship. I've been a few times and it makes me want to cry.

There's a lot more art, music, PE and they also have drama which they love.

They go to the school's WVA campus twice a year for two nights each time. I've not been yet. Word on the street is that those trips are transformative. My kids loved their time there this fall.

The school is much more diverse than their previous school.

School is much more fun for them. It's not s sterile environment that was mostly all business.

My kids mostly liked their previous school. My husband and I had a bad experience with the principal when we voiced some of our concerns. She was very dismissive and defensive and basically iced us (well, me because DH was hardly there) out for the rest of the year last year. It was extremely unprofessional. I will say the teachers we had there were wonderful.

APS is seriously overrated in general, and Kenmore is particularly bad, so none of this comes as a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

There was a stabbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

There was a stabbing.

At the school? I find this hard to believe unless there's some massive cover-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

There was a stabbing.

At the school? I find this hard to believe unless there's some massive cover-up.

It wasn't AT the school. It was around midnight, on a weekend, near the school last Fall...

https://www.arlnow.com/2015/09/08/man-stabbed-seriously-injured-while-trying-to-stop-purse-snatching/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

of course. It's tracked by the state of VA on each schools "report card" For Kenmore there were 23 incidents in 2014-2015 listed as "Other Offenses against Persons" - https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=7&schoolName=1704

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

of course. It's tracked by the state of VA on each schools "report card" For Kenmore there were 23 incidents in 2014-2015 listed as "Other Offenses against Persons" - https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=7&schoolName=1704

And, in the same year, Williamsbug had 35 "other offenses against persons" + 12 "disorderly or disruptive behavior". But I don't hear anyone suggesting violence is a problem at Williamsburg?
https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/report.do?division=7&schoolName=1702

The lowest number of offenses in the most recent year reported was 13 @ Swanson, followed by 20 @ Jefferson.

The worst record is at Gunston -- 41 "other offenses against person", 19 "offenses against students" and 10 "disorderly or disruptive behavior"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crime? Seriously?

There was a stabbing.

At the school? I find this hard to believe unless there's some massive cover-up.

It wasn't AT the school. It was around midnight, on a weekend, near the school last Fall...

https://www.arlnow.com/2015/09/08/man-stabbed-seriously-injured-while-trying-to-stop-purse-snatching/

What? That's the same as me asking whether Yorktown is safe because of this incident that happened blocks away: https://www.arlnow.com/2015/11/19/developing-armed-robbery-at-gas-station-on-lee-highway/