Moving to avoid kenmore - go to fcps?

[Anonymous]

I am just not getting the idea of judging a normal, public middle school by its PE or dance or theater program. Academics I get. The above exchange is bizarre. I'd be far more interested in the demographics of Algebra I.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is judging Kenmore but its dance PE program (although I do think it's cool).

I would be interested in hearing about Algebra. I have heard that the advanced math classes are very large at Kenmore, like approaching 30 kids. This is much larger than other middle schools we've looked at. This is a concern - are they putting resources in other areas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone is judging Kenmore but its dance PE program (although I do think it's cool).

I would be interested in hearing about Algebra. I have heard that the advanced math classes are very large at Kenmore, like approaching 30 kids. This is much larger than other middle schools we've looked at. This is a concern - are they putting resources in other areas?

Looking at the class size report, that's not true. The Algebra 1 classes range from 22-26 and Alg 1 Int. range from 16-25.

However, there are fewer kids taking Algebra 1 at Kenmore -- 3 Algebra 1 and 3 Algebra 1 Intensified classes vs. 3&5 at TJ, 3&7 at Gunston. Still, that's about 60 kids taking the higher level Algebra which seems a reasonable sized peer group. Similarly about 60 kids taking intensified Geometry.

See p 4: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Class-Size-Report-2018-19-1.pdf

[Anonymous]

That’s a LOT fewer. Like 150 vs. 300+? What are the numbers at the other two schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone is judging Kenmore but its dance PE program (although I do think it's cool).

I would be interested in hearing about Algebra. I have heard that the advanced math classes are very large at Kenmore, like approaching 30 kids. This is much larger than other middle schools we've looked at. This is a concern - are they putting resources in other areas?

Looking at the class size report, that's not true. The Algebra 1 classes range from 22-26 and Alg 1 Int. range from 16-25.

However, there are fewer kids taking Algebra 1 at Kenmore -- 3 Algebra 1 and 3 Algebra 1 Intensified classes vs. 3&5 at TJ, 3&7 at Gunston. Still, that's about 60 kids taking the higher level Algebra which seems a reasonable sized peer group. Similarly about 60 kids taking intensified Geometry.

See p 4: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Class-Size-Report-2018-19-1.pdf

thanks for posting that. It's actually the pre algebra class. 29 kids. That's big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a LOT fewer. Like 150 vs. 300+? What are the numbers at the other two schools?

Good grief. How many peers does your snowflake need?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think anyone is judging Kenmore but its dance PE program (although I do think it's cool).

I would be interested in hearing about Algebra. I have heard that the advanced math classes are very large at Kenmore, like approaching 30 kids. This is much larger than other middle schools we've looked at. This is a concern - are they putting resources in other areas?

Looking at the class size report, that's not true. The Algebra 1 classes range from 22-26 and Alg 1 Int. range from 16-25.

However, there are fewer kids taking Algebra 1 at Kenmore -- 3 Algebra 1 and 3 Algebra 1 Intensified classes vs. 3&5 at TJ, 3&7 at Gunston. Still, that's about 60 kids taking the higher level Algebra which seems a reasonable sized peer group. Similarly about 60 kids taking intensified Geometry.

See p 4: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Class-Size-Report-2018-19-1.pdf

thanks for posting that. It's actually the pre algebra class. 29 kids. That's big.

Swanson also has a pre algebra class with 29 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s a LOT fewer. Like 150 vs. 300+? What are the numbers at the other two schools?

Good grief. How many peers does your snowflake need?

Numbers are directly comparable because Swanson/WMS are so much bigger. Looking at the 8th grade enrollment vs Intensified Geometry enrollment, the % of each 8th grade in that class is...

Gunston = 24%
Jefferson = 23%
Kenmore = 22%
Swanson = 22%
Williamsburg = 23%

So, there is no real difference between the schools in the highest math group for the current 8th grade.

Algebra is harder to calculate because it can include 7th or 8th graders. But, looking at % in Intensified Algebra out of the total school population, we do see a lower % taking that at Kenmore

Gunston = 11%
Jefferson = 10%
Kenmore = 6%
Swanson = 13%
Williamsburg = 14%

Def a higher rate at Swanson, Williamsburg. I wonder if some of that is due to parental involvement/influence? I had a friend with a child a WMS who was really surprised to hear from other parents how many were getting their kids through Intensified Algebra with tutors. They weren't able to handle it on their own but the parents had the resources to provide tutoring for the whole year. That's a lot less likely to happen at schools with fewer affluent families. Was it because those kids shouldn't have been in the class or the Algebra 1 teaching was weak? I don't know but when my kids were in Intensified Algebra at TJ I didn't know anyone who needed to use a tutor for it.

Also, around a third of the 8th graders at Gunston, TJ, Kenmore are in pre-algebra in 8th grade, so on track to take Algebra in 9th grade. At Swanson/Williamsburg it's about a quarter of the 8th grade. So, it's not like those schools are universally high-achieving populations.

[Anonymous]

There's an entire team of ELLs at Kenmore. I highly doubt many of them are taking intensified algebra in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Of the 3 teams per grade at Kenmore, one entire team is ELL--specifically designated as such? Isn't that segregation unwise? So ELL kids are not integrated with other kids for any core classes?