Tell me about Thoreau Middle School

[Anonymous]

Are most people happy with it? Is it populated with good kids? Can a student do her best work there around other students trying to do their best? I ask because we are in a middle school outside the DC area and we are very unhappy with it. I want my child in a school with other children who want to learn, where the majority are motivated or at the very least not disruptive, where you can go into selective classes if you want them. We used to live in the area and are thinking of moving back. The middle school experience has been the breaking point for me. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are most people happy with it? Is it populated with good kids? Can a student do her best work there around other students trying to do their best? I ask because we are in a middle school outside the DC area and we are very unhappy with it. I want my child in a school with other children who want to learn, where the majority are motivated or at the very least not disruptive, where you can go into selective classes if you want them. We used to live in the area and are thinking of moving back. The middle school experience has been the breaking point for me. Thanks!

Yes, yes, yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are most people happy with it? Is it populated with good kids? Can a student do her best work there around other students trying to do their best? I ask because we are in a middle school outside the DC area and we are very unhappy with it. I want my child in a school with other children who want to learn, where the majority are motivated or at the very least not disruptive, where you can go into selective classes if you want them. We used to live in the area and are thinking of moving back. The middle school experience has been the breaking point for me. Thanks!

Yes, yes, yes!

Great! Thanks for the reply.

[Anonymous]

A peaceful and supportive school and somewhat easy academically.

[Anonymous]

Vienna especially has excellent schools.

[Anonymous]

Thoreau does not have the highest level of advanced classes (AAP, which a child has to apply for), but they do have both regular and honors classes. I've heard nothing but great things about the school.

[Anonymous]

How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Kilmer has a better reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Thoreau doesn't have AAP but people are happier than at Kilmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Kilmer has a better reputation.

Nope. Kilmer has had a string of bad principals who were forced out, it's overcrowded, and the front office has a terrible reputation for being rude. Check the parent reviews on GreatSchools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Kilmer has a better reputation.

Kilmer is MUCH more academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Thoreau doesn't have AAP but people are happier than at Kilmer.

Wow, pretty broad statement there. You don't know how happy everyone is or isn't; if your kid's experience there was a happy one, that's great, but say just that, and keep the implied slap at Kilmer "happiness" to yourself. (And no, I don't have a kid at Kilmer and never have.)

OP: Thoreau has overall a good reputation and I know a lot of families who are pleased with the school. As others have noted, isn't necessarily the best option if you are looking for more challenge and more interesting work academically. It offers honors classes but then says that all kids take honors classes in some subjects. If everyone takes honors, I'm not sure how it's still "honors." If you are thinking of moving back for school reasons, do some extensive visiting first and check out all of the local middle schools, the AAP programs, the general ed programs, after-school offerings, how active the PTAs are, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Thoreau doesn't have AAP but people are happier than at Kilmer.

Wow, pretty broad statement there. You don't know how happy everyone is or isn't; if your kid's experience there was a happy one, that's great, but say just that, and keep the implied slap at Kilmer "happiness" to yourself. (And no, I don't have a kid at Kilmer and never have.)

OP: Thoreau has overall a good reputation and I know a lot of families who are pleased with the school. As others have noted, isn't necessarily the best option if you are looking for more challenge and more interesting work academically. It offers honors classes but then says that all kids take honors classes in some subjects. If everyone takes honors, I'm not sure how it's still "honors." If you are thinking of moving back for school reasons, do some extensive visiting first and check out all of the local middle schools, the AAP programs, the general ed programs, after-school offerings, how active the PTAs are, etc.

Thank you for the detailed reply. I actually don't need more academic challenge for my child. She is an average to above average student, which is why I was concerned about the general academic tone of the school. I am fine with general ed. for her but would like the general ed. classes to be filled with hard-working students, in general. Where we are now, her classes have lots of disruptive students who don't seem to value education. I also like the idea that if the classes are too easy she can opt for more challenging ones. That is not an option here.

I am focusing only on Thoreau because that's the pyramid we were in when we lived there before, but we left during elementary school, so we haven't experienced Thoreau directly. It is where her previous friends would be going so it would make the move easier.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Thoreau vs. Kilmer?

Thoreau doesn't have AAP but people are happier than at Kilmer.

Wow, pretty broad statement there. You don't know how happy everyone is or isn't; if your kid's experience there was a happy one, that's great, but say just that, and keep the implied slap at Kilmer "happiness" to yourself. (And no, I don't have a kid at Kilmer and never have.)

OP: Thoreau has overall a good reputation and I know a lot of families who are pleased with the school. As others have noted, isn't necessarily the best option if you are looking for more challenge and more interesting work academically. It offers honors classes but then says that all kids take honors classes in some subjects. If everyone takes honors, I'm not sure how it's still "honors." If you are thinking of moving back for school reasons, do some extensive visiting first and check out all of the local middle schools, the AAP programs, the general ed programs, after-school offerings, how active the PTAs are, etc.

It is not a disruptive environment there. The "honors" classes are a joke -- super easy, my DC was repeating the 5th grade there.

[Anonymous]

Many Thoreau parents of AAP kids send their kids there rather than to the overcrowded AAP centers. The academics are great and they get to stay with their friends.