Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP that is a new middle school option with no track record. I think ES which 'become' MS tend to still treat their new MS students like ES students. I wonder if they keep students in the same class altogether like an ES or offer a wide range of subjects like traditional MS? Anybody the number of students and the number of classes they are hoping for?

Does a traditional middle school offer a wide range of subjects? I attended a small school (even smaller than IT will be) and they split us up for math instruction (some kids took algebra; others did not). Are there usually a lot of "electives" in middle school?

I think what the PP might have been trying to surmise is that through the Center for Inspired Teaching's partnership with teaching residents at Cap City, maybe IT PCS will have some "lessons learned" from that program that they can put into place at IT for its middle school from day 1.

Also, teachers at IT don't swap with teachers at Cap City. Residents swap. Just like medical residents do rotations, they get to learn at a different site for a week. The master and lead teachers all stay in their own classrooms at IT.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cap City Middle School is not a great option.

Not everyone can get into Deal, Basis or Latin. CC is a fine middle school option.

No, it's really not. It's a 4 out of 10.

Two Rivers is a 6, Hardy, Jefferson and Stuart Hobson are 5s. A 4 puts it in the same tier with Raymond EC, CHEC, and Takoma EC.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with PP that is a new middle school option with no track record. I think ES which 'become' MS tend to still treat their new MS students like ES students. I wonder if they keep students in the same class altogether like an ES or offer a wide range of subjects like traditional MS? Anybody the number of students and the number of classes they are hoping for?

Full middle school in 2 years (6th-8th). They will alternate classes. 44-50 students each grade. Next year, they will only have 6th. 6th and 5th will alternate classes beginning next year, then 6th and 7th 2015 etc.

I agree with PP that is a new middle school option with no track record. I think ES which 'become' MS tend to still treat their new MS students like ES students. I wonder if they keep students in the same class altogether like an ES or offer a wide range of subjects like traditional MS? Anybody the number of students and the number of classes they are hoping for?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know. With all the complaints about the city lacking good middle school options, here is one front and center and WITH openings. You'd be smart to get your 5th or 6th grader into the school now: Innovative teaching, smart teachers, nurturing community.

-current elementary IT parent

it does not have a track record - so it is hard to know if it is a good middle school option.

You're correct. We have been accepted to one and high WL # to another that feeds to DCI. DCI doesn't have a track record either. From meeting the leaders at DCI feeder and IT, I am confidant that they will both be fine middle schools. Also, IT has partnership with Cap City that I'm sure will prove to be beneficial.

What's the partnership between IT and Cap City? Are you referring to the fellowship program at the Center for Inspired Teaching which provides residents to both schools? I'm not aware of a partnership between the schools. But both of them get teaching residents from the same place.

They also do a staff swap for a week. ITS teachers teach at CC and vice versa. It's pretty cool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know. With all the complaints about the city lacking good middle school options, here is one front and center and WITH openings. You'd be smart to get your 5th or 6th grader into the school now: Innovative teaching, smart teachers, nurturing community.

-current elementary IT parent

it does not have a track record - so it is hard to know if it is a good middle school option.

You're correct. We have been accepted to one and high WL # to another that feeds to DCI. DCI doesn't have a track record either. From meeting the leaders at DCI feeder and IT, I am confidant that they will both be fine middle schools. Also, IT has partnership with Cap City that I'm sure will prove to be beneficial.

What's the partnership between IT and Cap City? Are you referring to the fellowship program at the Center for Inspired Teaching which provides residents to both schools? I'm not aware of a partnership between the schools. But both of them get teaching residents from the same place.

Anonymous wrote:Cap City Middle School is not a great option.

Not everyone can get into Deal, Basis or Latin. CC is a fine middle school option.

Cap City Middle School is not a great option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know. With all the complaints about the city lacking good middle school options, here is one front and center and WITH openings. You'd be smart to get your 5th or 6th grader into the school now: Innovative teaching, smart teachers, nurturing community.

-current elementary IT parent

it does not have a track record - so it is hard to know if it is a good middle school option.

You're correct. We have been accepted to one and high WL # to another that feeds to DCI. DCI doesn't have a track record either. From meeting the leaders at DCI feeder and IT, I am confidant that they will both be fine middle schools. Also, IT has partnership with Cap City that I'm sure will prove to be beneficial.

Anonymous wrote:I know. With all the complaints about the city lacking good middle school options, here is one front and center and WITH openings. You'd be smart to get your 5th or 6th grader into the school now: Innovative teaching, smart teachers, nurturing community.

-current elementary IT parent

it does not have a track record - so it is hard to know if it is a good middle school option.

I don't have first hand experience in the upper grades, but my child is in early elementary. I know most of these families plan on staying through 8th.

The preS to 8 model in several schools has been a problem for the MS level. Strong students leave for "real" MS experiences, and students new to the school enter and the teachers are starting with a class of students that has weaker skills. Also, being in the first grade or 2 of a "leading edge" in a charter has traditionally been difficult.

That said, can anyone in the current 4th grade or 5th grade at IT comment on how many students are staying, how the MS plan is at this school?

I know. With all the complaints about the city lacking good middle school options, here is one front and center and WITH openings. You'd be smart to get your 5th or 6th grader into the school now: Innovative teaching, smart teachers, nurturing community.

-current elementary IT parent

As I've been eagerly checking the Inspired Teaching waitlist for 4th grade, I noticed that no one seems to be waitlisted for 5th or 6th. (Not sure if that means there are open seats or if the next person to apply becomes #1 on the waitlist.) Either way--thought this might potentially help someone who hadn't considered this option for middle school.

Good luck to us all!