Reply to Experiences with Long Branch Elementary and Jefferson Middle?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]It's not my intention to criticize you; but I just don't understand the issue with the one or two fundraisers being at Pupatella on Walter Reed. It's a few blocks from the school; so if you would have been willing to buy to go to TJ, I don't get why the location of the limited events was a thing.

There are differences in middle school programs and offerings. IB at TJ, for instance. Music and art programs are much stronger at other middle schools. Some small differences in course offerings. From the parents I've talked to[b], homework is different[/b]. And, as you suggest, there is definitely a difference in the population, and the PTAs and PTA fundraisers and activities. [/quote]

How is homework different?[/quote]

My kids went to Long Branch and TJ.  On the homework thing, I've heard from parents who had kids at both TJ and either Swanson or Williamsburg that the homework load was a lot heavier at those schools vs. TJ and, for some kids, that made the HS transition more of a shock for TJ kids.  My kids didn't have an issue with it and have done well in tough schedules at W-L so I was fine with a more relaxed middle school experience.

I think Long Branch/TJ is generally a bit of a more relaxed, less competitive vibe than some other schools. We were happy with both.  Long Branch did have a very long-serving principal who has retired a couple years ago so that may impact the school somewhat, I haven't heard anything from current families.

I think the main potential negative of the Long Branch/TJ neighborhood is that at TJ it is only the Long Branch kids that go on to W-L. Everyone else at TJ goes to Wakefield.  This can be tough for kids who make a new batch of friends in MS. DS had one friend who opted to transfer to Wakefield to stay with friends.  DS makes friends easily and had no issue with the shift in friend groups. Others, including DD, have stayed tighter with ES friends than they might otherwise have done if all their middle school group had gone to HS together.[/quote]

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