Tell me about Thoreau Middle School

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[Post New]11/26/2013 13:16
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Anonymous
... and how easily we are into the if it is not AAP Level IV at a Center the courses are "a joke"... blah, blah, blah...
[Post New]11/26/2013 14:21
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Incorrect. The most recent principal was promoted out. I can't speak for the front office, as I haven't encountered them yet, and can't imagine why I would. Middle school kids take care of most things on their own. As a side note, The teachers at Kilmer are amazing.
[Post New]11/26/2013 14:29
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Anonymous
We are at Thoreau, 7th grade. DD loves it. Principal is very supportive of honors for everyone in some subjects, says it has definitely elicited better work from some kids, so academic skills are definitely valued. Just had 7th grade family dinner, nice atmosphere, everyone (kids and parents) had a good time.
[Post New]11/26/2013 14:49
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Incorrect. The most recent principal was promoted out. I can't speak for the front office, as I haven't encountered them yet, and can't imagine why I would. Middle school kids take care of most things on their own. As a side note, The teachers at Kilmer are amazing.


FCPS has a long history of reshuffling incompetent administrators to other schools and giving them jobs at Gatehouse where they can do less harm. The last two Kilmer principals were for all practical purposes demoted.
[Post New]11/26/2013 18:24
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Anonymous
... again....blah, blah, blah with your intrigue
[Post New]11/26/2013 20:23
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Anonymous
Thoreau is a fantastic school. Most Vienna parents want their child there, it is a strong school with a good community of students, teachers, admin and parents. Academics are solid and the atmosphere is of students is good and motivated.

Good luck with your move.
[Post New]11/27/2013 21:27
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Thoreau is a fantastic school. Most Vienna parents want their child there, it is a strong school with a good community of students, teachers, admin and parents. Academics are solid and the atmosphere is of students is good and motivated.

Good luck with your move.


OP here. Thanks! That sounds so much better than the middle school my daughter is in.
[Post New]12/04/2013 09:39
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Anonymous
20:23, I'm not sure how you concluded that "most Vienna parents want their child there." Vienna parents who are looking for academic rigor want their kids in the AAP Center in Kilmer or Luther Jackson. More and more parents in the Thoreau boundary are opting for Luther Jackson because Thoreau just doesn't provide a challenge for AAP kids. (The academics at LJ are outstanding and the kids are completely prepared for high school.) Thoreau is a nice school, but the homework is minimal, everyone is in "honors," and I have heard of many kids who feel totally overwhelmed in 9th grade because they don't know how to manage a high school workload. If your child is an average student, Thoreau will be just fine. Socially, etc. it is a nice environment and your child will have fun because she won't be spending lots of time on schoolwork. Just an FYI on the honors issue at Thoreau - the decision to make some classes honors for the entire school was not made for substantive reasons (to challenge all of the kids); it was made to accommodate the scheduling difficulties of having trying to have honors and base-level sections of every academic subject.
[Post New]12/04/2013 09:47
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:20:23, I'm not sure how you concluded that "most Vienna parents want their child there." Vienna parents who are looking for academic rigor want their kids in the AAP Center in Kilmer or Luther Jackson. More and more parents in the Thoreau boundary are opting for Luther Jackson because Thoreau just doesn't provide a challenge for AAP kids. (The academics at LJ are outstanding and the kids are completely prepared for high school.) Thoreau is a nice school, but the homework is minimal, everyone is in "honors," and I have heard of many kids who feel totally overwhelmed in 9th grade because they don't know how to manage a high school workload. If your child is an average student, Thoreau will be just fine. Socially, etc. it is a nice environment and your child will have fun because she won't be spending lots of time on schoolwork. Just an FYI on the honors issue at Thoreau - the decision to make some classes honors for the entire school was not made for substantive reasons (to challenge all of the kids); it was made to accommodate the scheduling difficulties of having trying to have honors and base-level sections of every academic subject.


Right. Only AAP kids can handle a high school workload.


[Post New]12/04/2013 09:47
quote
DS63
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:20:23, I'm not sure how you concluded that "most Vienna parents want their child there." Vienna parents who are looking for academic rigor want their kids in the AAP Center in Kilmer or Luther Jackson. More and more parents in the Thoreau boundary are opting for Luther Jackson because Thoreau just doesn't provide a challenge for AAP kids. (The academics at LJ are outstanding and the kids are completely prepared for high school.) Thoreau is a nice school, but the homework is minimal, everyone is in "honors," and I have heard of many kids who feel totally overwhelmed in 9th grade because they don't know how to manage a high school workload. If your child is an average student, Thoreau will be just fine. Socially, etc. it is a nice environment and your child will have fun because she won't be spending lots of time on schoolwork. Just an FYI on the honors issue at Thoreau - the decision to make some classes honors for the entire school was not made for substantive reasons (to challenge all of the kids); it was made to accommodate the scheduling difficulties of having trying to have honors and base-level sections of every academic subject.



I am the parent of a sixth grader at Louise Archer. I have not spoken to all of the parents, but the ones I have spoken to are split. Most of us would prefer AAP and Thoreau. But, that is not an option. We like the idea of our kids remaining in the community. My DD will follow the crowd. She will go to where her friends are going. If they split, I am not sure.

But, again, most LA parents want AAP and Thoreau.
[Post New]12/04/2013 10:30
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Thoreau is a fantastic school. Most Vienna parents want their child there, it is a strong school with a good community of students, teachers, admin and parents. Academics are solid and the atmosphere is of students is good and motivated.

Good luck with your move.


30% of students make straight As so everyone is happy. You have to work hard to make a C!
[Post New]12/04/2013 10:55
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:20:23, I'm not sure how you concluded that "most Vienna parents want their child there." Vienna parents who are looking for academic rigor want their kids in the AAP Center in Kilmer or Luther Jackson. More and more parents in the Thoreau boundary are opting for Luther Jackson because Thoreau just doesn't provide a challenge for AAP kids. (The academics at LJ are outstanding and the kids are completely prepared for high school.) Thoreau is a nice school, but the homework is minimal, everyone is in "honors," and I have heard of many kids who feel totally overwhelmed in 9th grade because they don't know how to manage a high school workload. If your child is an average student, Thoreau will be just fine. Socially, etc. it is a nice environment and your child will have fun because she won't be spending lots of time on schoolwork. Just an FYI on the honors issue at Thoreau - the decision to make some classes honors for the entire school was not made for substantive reasons (to challenge all of the kids); it was made to accommodate the scheduling difficulties of having trying to have honors and base-level sections of every academic subject.


Right. Only AAP kids can handle a high school workload.


Seriously... parents of AAP kids who actually believe this must not have kids in high school yet. Visit any NoVA high school and you will find boatloads of high-achieving students, most of whom were never in AAP. The AAP label certainly gives parents and their kids a false sense of accomplishment. Once those kids get to high school, they are just one of many and no one remembers or cares who was in AAP way back when.
[Post New]12/04/2013 10:59
quote
Anonymous
Both are very good. Kilmer has more TJ students

http://vienna.patch.com/groups/schools/p/kilmer-remains-top-feeder-school-for-tj
[Post New]12/04/2013 11:51
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Both are very good. Kilmer has more TJ students

http://vienna.patch.com/groups/schools/p/kilmer-remains-top-feeder-school-for-tj


Who was asking about Kilmer? Thought this thread was about Thoreau.

Anyway, Carson, Longfellow and Rocky Run send more kids to TJ than Kilmer.
[Post New]12/04/2013 11:57
quote
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Both are very good. Kilmer has more TJ students

http://vienna.patch.com/groups/schools/p/kilmer-remains-top-feeder-school-for-tj


Who was asking about Kilmer? Thought this thread was about Thoreau.

Anyway, Carson, Longfellow and Rocky Run send more kids to TJ than Kilmer.


It was asked you tard
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