School Cluster Question

[Anonymous]

Hello,

We have purchased a home in the following school cluster:

-Kingsford Elementary

-Kettering Middle School

-Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School


We were wondering if anyone have children that have attended or is currently attending a school within this cluster. Please share your thoughts on why these schools are underperforming and any suggestions on how we can get involved to help this cluster become high performing. We strongly believe in neighborhood schools and want to see all of the kids in this cluster succeed and be on equal footing as their peers throughout the country.

With that being said, we drove around this weekend and saw a gated community and a bunch of middle class homes. However, we did not notice any apartment complexes. Typically, where there are a lot of apartments in an area you have lower test scores because the families are more transient but that does not seem to be the case here. From the outside looking in, the parents seems to be a part of the middle class judging by the homes, upkeep of the communities, and the cars in their yards. If their kids are the students who make up the student body of the schools in this cluster, why are the parents not complaining about the schools test scores. Are more than 85% of the parents involved with the PTA at these schools? Are the teachers able to do their jobs with the resources they have? What about the principals? What is going on here that is causing our schools to underperform within this cluster and cluster nearby?

Please share your suggestions on how we can get involved our little one will start pre-k in few years and we would like to be apart of the solution.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I don't have kids that attend that cluster but I can provide you with some tips that I found to be useful. I am going to break the article up by Dr. Linda Albert into multiple sections. It is pretty informative.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Linda Albert
National PTA and JCPenney

Parent involvement

Your involvement in education increases your children's chances for success in school. Studies show that children whose parents are involved in education are more motivated in school. Motivated students are more likely to participate in class, more likely to complete homework, and more likely to achieve academically. In short, motivated children become students with good chances for bright futures.

When you participate in your children's education, say hello to the warm feeling of satisfaction you get when you know that you've helped your children. The easy and effective tips that follow will show you how to get involved even if you are a busy parent with little time to spare from your work at home or at your place of employment.

Throughout these pages, brought to you through the combined efforts of the National PTA and JCPenney, you'll find many ideas for getting involved with your children, getting involved with your children's teachers, and getting involved with the school community. Start first with the ideas that appeal to you most and will easily fit into your schedule, and then add others as time permits. The good news is that no matter how little time you have, you will find a number of things in these pages that you can do to help your children.

The important thing to remember is this: Involved parents do make a difference.

[ Subsequent posts removed in order to comply with copyright laws ]

[Anonymous]

As a teacher and a parent, I think these are all great tips!

[Anonymous]

Here is the link to the entire article that was removed: http://www.pbs.org/weta/twoschools/getinvolved/empowering/busy.html