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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DC is a new 9th grader there. The transition has gone really well. DC likes all the teachers, although has a friend who is unexpectedly struggling in English (both DC and the friend were top students at their k-8) and says that no one in that class has higher than an 80 (different teacher for that section). I haven’t been able to get more info, so that’s very much third-hand information, take with a grain of salt.

DC absolutely LOVES the block schedule, so that newly assigned homework is never due the next day. Both math and science teachers allow and encourage students to do test corrections for partial credit of what they missed (about 1/3 of the missed points can be earned, so it’s not a retake, but it makes mistakes into opportunities to keep learning, which I think is great).

The schedule has 8 class periods divided across two days, and one period must be a study hall (required in 9th) or free period (higher grades), so 7 classes max, and 6 minimum (including arts, music, etc—not only academic subjects). There is free time at the end of every day when all teachers are available so kids can meet to ask questions or do homework. My DC does a great job of taking advantage of study/free time to get a jump on homework, which I highly recommend. Sports or being involved in the fall play/spring musical can keep kids at school until 5:30 or even later (the play is heading into tech next week, for example, so it’s 6:30 pickup for two weeks after that).

The little interaction we’ve needed to have with admin has been impressively responsive. There was a mix up with the schedule, and they fixed it within an hour of me emailing—and I emailed the advisor but it was the US head who responded to assure me it would be taken care of promptly, and it was. There’s less teacher/parent mmunication than in our k-8, but I would expect that—the students are the first line of communication now. But DC’s advisor reached out after the first marking period to say everything seemed to be going well and assure us that we can always contact her with questions, and I get the impression that had there been any concerns, academically or socially, we’d have been alerted.

DC is in the academic center for one period as well, and while it’s honestly not really needed at this point because our k-8 did a stupendous job of teaching study skills and helping kids learn to advocate for themselves, etc, it’s good for DC to get to know the staff there and the assigned advisor there, and to feel comfortable with the center as a resource for the next four years (even DC agrees, although sometimes grumbles at the “lessons” in note taking techniques, etc, that take away time from just doing homework). We expect that after the first semester DC will not need to be assigned an actual class period in the academic center, but we love it as a supportive resource.

Overall we (DC and parents) have been very happy with the first few months at the school. [/quote

We are also a new 9th grade family and would echo the sentiments of this poster.  Our DC came out of a local k-8 and has had a fantastic transition. We were definitely a little anxious, but it has gone better than any of us expected. DC really loves the school and is doing very well academically, although it really has been an adjustment with the work load and rigor of the classes. DC likes all of their teachers and will readily tell you the classes are hard, but good. They are having a fantastic English class experience, unlike some of the posters. FWIW - they are in physics and geometry for the science and math tracks. DC doesn't participate in the Academic Center program. They love the block schedule, the extracurriulars, the study hall, and STAT. Says all the kids are nice and has made friends quickly

We had a little apprehension about the school based on some of the things we had heard about the middle school, but honestly so far our entire family is very happy with all aspects of the school [/quote]

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