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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We are solidly within the boundary for Wakefield but have lived overseas for a while. We are looking at returning and our oldest would attend Wakefield. Any parents with students in the AP class track or regular curriculum willing to share insight about the school and life experience entering as a "new" 9th grader (e.g. did not attend middle school in Arlington to have a group of friends to identify with). How is the faculty? Do your kids feel comfortable, lost, engaged? I am aware of the challenges APS faces for overcrowding and lack of supports for learning disabilities, but we don't really have a choice of where to live or go to school (priced out, cannot afford private, waitlisted for HB, uncertain if we want to continue IB at W/L and that would require another miracle for double blind lottery). TIA [/quote]

We have a Wakefield freshman this year, following social isolation through middle school due to their own shyness and insecurities.  COVID didn't help; but it wasn't COVID that caused the social isolation.  I will note that even if a rising freshman has a circle of friends from middle school, in Arlington, they don't necessarily end up at the same high school; so more kids than you might think actually start off like your child despite attending middle school in Arlington. AND, they aren't guaranteed to get into the same classes or lunch periods and may not see each other during the school day anyway.  All of our older student's friends ended up at other high schools (or relocated out of the country due to parents' work reassignments....lots of transience here, as you know). Our freshman has been very fortunate to have lunch with one person from middle school and a few other kids that person knows through music class, one who is new to Arlington this year.

Wakefield uses a "house" system for freshmen.  Essentially, each house is a "team" of teachers and the students are within that team for all of their classes (music and art excepted).  So there's a higher chance you will have multiple classes with some of the same kids; there's a specific sub-set of teachers; etc.  I don't know if the kids really notice anything different, but the house system is only in 9th grade and everyone's just out there with the entire grade and all the teachers in 10th and up.

The counselors also stay with the students throughout their years.  We've been pleased with both kids' counselors - very approachable and (with the exception of the virtual learning year) very responsive.  In our dealings, I have encountered a few admin I was not particularly impressed with and am glad are not permanent or prominent aspects of our kids' high school careers, though I'm sure others find them perfectly fine.  It just may be that they didn't know my kid and weren't familiar enough to be helpful or effective.

Our freshman is taking AP World History - the only AP course offered to freshmen - as well as intensified classes in the other core subjects.  IF your child is a top student who would take AP world history, I would recommend doing it as a freshman.  It has been challenging in terms of workload relative to APS middle schools and is far better preparation for more demanding classes than the general ed or even some of the intensified classes.  The teacher approaches it in a way to introduce the students to AP classes and demands, emphasizing the academic skills they will need and preparing them for future AP classes.  A lot of parents are afraid for their 9th grader to take an AP class; but I think it has been very good experience for our freshman who was most un-challenged through middle school. They definitely had to learn some time management skills, and getting more experience earlier with writing and studying and delving deeper than the regular classes provide.  Even though our child hasn't gotten straight A's in the class, they've done well and are better prepared for more advanced classes through the rest of high school.

Socially, our freshman still doesn't engage with any friends outside of school; but life in school has been really good.  Good rapport with teachers and interacting with peers during lunch as well as within classes.  Participating in marching band was a huge boost overall, IMO.  Neither of our kids is a social butterfly or enthusiastically engaged in lots of activities (our older one isn't involved in any extra-curriculars); but neither has felt lost and both have peers to interact with. I feel our freshman is in a better place overall, having an interest and activity to engage in.

Last year's virtual year does not enable us to be as aware of the broader teacher pool quality as we otherwise would have been; but based on what we have seen through in-person school, like most places, there are outstanding teachers and very good teachers along with ok and one or two notably poor ones.  Mostly, the teachers have been very strong or better.  It's the APS curriculum within some of the classes that we take issue with - particularly English.  Even intensified English is disappointingly (even alarmingly?) light on reading and writing.  Better than general ed English as far as quality; but they just don't read very many books and don't write long papers.  I would recommend the 2 AP Capstone courses which will teach the kids how to do a real in-depth research paper and presentation.  AP English isn't offered until junior year and our junior isn't taking it.  I'd love to hear from others who are familiar what the AP English curriculum includes!

If you're coming from a more demanding IB program, you might feel you want to continue that - given my comments about the English program. But Wakefield offers plenty of AP classes and the AP Capstone program. Even if freshman year ends up being a little lighter load than you anticipate, that affords your child the opportunity to really get engaged, try out different activities and clubs, and find their niche early. There's a lot of positives to be said for that![/quote]

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