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[quote=Anonymous]DC is in grade 6, so we're new to LMS this year.  The general atmosphere seems pretty consistent with other middle schools (yes, there are fights; yes, there is some immature and self-destructive behavior), but I feel that effort is made to address problems.  The PTSA is in a rebuilding phase, but yes, they are trying. 
 We're impressed with DC's teachers: conferences, email communications, generalized contacts, assignment feedbacks, etc. have all been really good.  DC has been well supported inside and outside the classroom, loves the arts program, and is enjoying chances to engage both during and after school, at both beginner and more advanced levels.  DC has also made friends, made progress in their various arts skills, feels loyal to the school, and is glad and happy to be there.

It's important to acknowledge, though, that for those whose kids are already advanced and super-serious in a given art form, no school anywhere (short of something like the old show "Fame"!) will be able to provide the full, wraparound training that those kids need.  They will have to be engaged in other institutions, working with private teachers, performing in independent environments, taking auditions, and the like.  That doesn't mean LMS isn't doing its job, or that a super-serious kid can't still learn something and contribute in an area in which they are more experienced than their peers.  Or the super-serious kid can opt out of the school version of that particular art form, and no harm done.  (Fwiw, there are plenty of youth orchestras, youth sports teams, and other organizations that require their members to also be involved at their own schools, too.)

It's also important to realistically respect the fact that LMS is a whole-school arts magnet, a consortium option, and a neighborhood middle school all at the same time.  That means that different kids are there for different reasons: some of them just don't want computer science or aerospace engineering, some of them live nearby, some of them tried for a different lottery placement and didn't get it, some of them knew friends who were happy there and decided to give it a try regardless of subject areas or specializations, some of them super-ultra want to study one very specific thing.  The fact that my DC has generally found the social environment to be by and large accepting is, I think, a credit to the community there.

Is it perfect?  No, of course not.  But are we glad we're there right now?  Yes.[/quote]

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