MIDDLE SCHOOLS – HELP!!!
Who’s afraid of middle school? EVERYONE! While elementary schools are cozy and nurturing, it seems as if middle school dumps your precious little one right into a minefield of hormones and horrific loads of homework. Where you were once welcomed onto the elementary campus with open arms, it seems like you’re left outside giant metal gates at the middle school. How do you find the right choice for your ten or eleven year old without going crazy?
A few links to help you find the right school:
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/
http://www.hopechangechoices.org/
Meet the (Middle School) Magnets will be hosted by Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills on Wednesday, November 12, from 6:30 to 8:30.
In attendance will be representatives from:
Columbus Math/Science/Medical,
Frost Math/Science/Technology,
Henry Computer/Math/Science/Technology,
Holmes International Humanities,
Lawrence Gifted/Highly Gifted/High Ability,
Madison Health/Medical Careers/Science,
Nobel Math/Science/Technology,
Pacoima TV/Performing Arts and Computer/Math,
Porter Gifted/High Ability,
Sepulveda Gifted/High Ability,
Van Nuys Math/Science
I’m going to try to attend, but I have a conflict. But if anyone does attend, definitely let us know what you heard.
Hi all,
Just wanted to say our son starts this year at Walter Reed Humanities Honors Academy. we live in los feliz and decided not to go to King, we were looking for one of these smaller learning communities, having heard of their success and coming from a private school , thought it might be a good transition and fit.
we had no points towards magnets and feel lucky to have gotten in. they have a strong parent base and we’ll see, if people are interested in our experience, I’ll write again as time goes by and give details, let me know and i’ll be happy to share . good luck fellow travellers, annabelle
I’m definitely interested, Annabelle. Thanks for sharing. Your trek down this road will make it easier on the families that follow
My daughter just started Technology Honors last week at Walter Reed. After only four days, she said her world history/ geography and ancient history teacher is the best teacher she’s ever had. The place is huge and overwhelming, but I have high hopes that she’ll enjoy it. Only five girls in her class out of 34 kids though, the opposite problem with humanities honors. She’ll have this same class all three years so I hope she’ll make good friends.
Hi Annabelle
I have a son who will be starting the Humanities Honors program at Walter Reed this Fall (at least I hope that’s what we learn). He tested as gifted in elementary school and has always done quite well on his standardized tests.
Academically, I am not concerned about him at all, but do want to know that the classes are relatively small (30-35) and that the assignments provoke collaborative work, rather than lecture and worksheets. Since he goes to Riverside, most of his friends will be going to Milliken, so I have no one to ask. Thanks!
I went on a magnet tour in the West Valley today and a few questions to ask or things to listen for:
Do they cluster the 6th graders? Specifically, do the 6th graders take PE together alone? Do they let the 6th graders out for lunch early for a week (or two or three) so they learn the difference between the cafeteria, the hash lines, and other ways of finding sustenance? Are the 6th grade classes in one specific area of the campus (or even the entire magnet)?
Do they “core” the English-Social Studies and Math-Science classes so the kids have only two teachers for four subjects?
Do they keep their home room teacher for all three years?
Do they get to choose their electives in sixth grade or are they forced to take an “exploratory” set of electives unless they take up a musical instrument?
Do they share a bus with another magnet?
I’ll post some more but this is a start to the conversations.
Anyone loaded w/info on Walter Reed? Would love to know the difference in the IHP verses SAS programs or the Honors Humanities Academy.
There are basically three smaller learning communities at Reed: IHP which is only honors, humanities (there’s a regular and honors) and technology (regular and honors). The girls tend to go to humanities and the boys flock to tech. My daughter just started tech this year as a 6th grader and is only one of 5 girls out of 34 students. The SAS program is basically in the main Reed academic area, but scored higher on state testing. They aren’t in any of the smaller learning communities. It’s all very confusing!!!
Hi Marie,
I have friends with kids at Millikan, but not Reed. I’ll probably make time to go on one of their tours later this school year, or early in the choice season next. Please,report back what you hear.
Angel,
Am happy to report back after the openhouse on Jan. 14th…am touring the IHP that day and probably the SAS academy on Jan. 28th. Happy New Year! xo.
Hello, I read an article about all the research you have done regarding the LAUSD and navigating the complexities that come with it. I also live in the Valley in the city of San Fernando and I have a 9 year old daughter (Eva). As you can imagine I am frazzled trying to figure out what I’m going to do when Eva goes to middle school. Do you have any suggestions for middle schools here in the valley? While not identified as “gifted”, Eva is considered a “high acheiver” and was placed in the gifted 4th grade class. I would really appreciate any insight or guidance. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Sincerely,
Elena Hernandez
Hi there,
I am happy with my elementary school but want to start accumulating wait list points for middle school.
In the FAQ of Magnet Angel you write:
“Wanting to keep options open for middle school (GRADE 6), some parents start applying to magnet schools in GRADE 3 (picking schools they’re unlikely to get into–i.e. schools with many more applications than openings…”
So, do you mean apply in Jan. when my child is in 2nd grade FOR a 3rd grade spot in a magnet school? Or wait until he is IN 3rd grade going into 4th????
THANKS!!!
Alexis Curry
Alexis,
I wish there was a way to make a chart or graphic, but the easy answer is you start applying in 2nd:
Second grade for third grade (get rejected–4 points next year)
Third grade for fourth grade (get rejected again 4 more points/8 total next year)
Fourth grade for fifth grade (get rejected again 4 more points/12 total next year)
So when you apply in the middle of fifth grade you’ve been rejected three years in a row for a total of 12 points.
Good luck!
Hi Elena,
The benefit we have in San Fernando is our proximity to the 118 Freeway. Go ahead and apply this year (fourth going into fifth) and apply to a school you can’t likely get into–perhaps Valley Alternative or even Balboa Gifted. The upside is that in the extremely unlikely even your child got in, Balboa would truly meet her needs as gifted kid.
The much more likely scenario is you will be rejected. You will definitely have four points for the school being PHBAO (Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian or Other). You may or may not get overcrowded points, I’m not sure which schools in SF are giving points for overcrowding (you can ask the folks in your office). But by applying and getting rejected, you’d have a minimum of 8 points.
Magnets to look at include Sepulveda in North Hills, Holmes in Northridge, Nobel in Northridge, Frost in Granada Hills, and perhaps Lawrence in Chatsworth. In addition, depending on where you work, you might find that Millikan in Sherman Oaks or Walter Reed in North Hollywood are all options. All are just 15-25 minutes away by car. Since the brochure applications are due January 9th, the tours are mostly over, but you can find out when their open houses are in the spring to get a feel for them.
There are plenty of kids from San Fernando that have been to virtually all the schools I’ve listed, so your daughter won’t be the first, will likely not be the last, and she may find several of her classmates making the same trek.
Good luck, and if there’s anything that needs clarification, please holler and I’ll do my best. Good luck!!
LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan Invites You to her First Ever!
East Valley Middle School Night
Featuring presentations on:
Madison – Millikan – Reed – Romer – Van Nuys
Wednesday, February 4th * 6:30pm-8:00pm
Madison Middle School & Medical Magnet Multi-Purpose Room
13000 Hart Street, North Hollywood, 91605
(North of Vanowen St & Ethel Ave)
The transition between elementary and middles school can be scary for students – and parents! The purpose of this event is to expose parents of 3rd to 5th graders to the many programs their neighborhood middle school has to offer. We will have presentations on local Middle Schools: Madison (North Hollywood), Millikan (Sherman Oaks), Reed (North Hollywood), Romer (Van Nuys), and Van Nuys (Sherman Oaks). Additionally, we will have District representatives on Magnet programs, Middle Schools Programs office, and Food Services. We are excited about the prospect of highlighting the things that make LAUSD schools fantastic and encouraging more parents to consider public schools an option for their children.
Students are welcome!
Refreshments will be provided. RSVP at (213) 241-6386.
Hope to see you there,
Denise Campos
Director of Community Affairs
LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan
Board District 3
333 S. Beaudry Ave. 24th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 241-4588 direct
(213) 241-6386 main
Denise.Campos@lausd.net
Hi Gang,
Found the Walter Reed tour to be truly amazing…think the IHP gives a great deal of private school attention in a public school environment. Warning…does look like a heck of a lot of work for our wee 6th graders but, I have to say, every class I went into? The kids were joyful, talkative, and bright. We went to the humanities tour two weeks later and couldn’t get a feel for the “Real” teachers since they were all in conferences! Saw a bunch of subs who were testing the kids. I do have friends that have kids in that program and love it. They also differentiate between honors and regular classes in the humanities small community. Gosh, certainly a lot to wade thru and think about, isn’t it? Good luck, all, on your searches!
Oh, one more thing. I’ve heard a lot of folks talk about the point system? We have been collecting points since our daughter was in kindergarten, thinking we’d need them at some point. I’d recommend to everyone to apply EVERY Dec. whether it seems likely you’ll need them or not. How ironic. Walter Reed we’re ZONED for!
Take care!
My son graduated from Walter Reed’s IHP last year and had a blast. The work was challenging, but not overwhelmingly so. He didn’t have a lot of homework because Reed doesn’t seem to believe in busy work, but he did have to learn to budget his time. The projects were meaningful, and he had to learn to put thought into his work, especially in language arts. IHP kids do learn to write, even the ones who are more interested in math and science. Because the kids take three academically oriented trips, one in each grade, they tend to bond and make lifelong friends. The benefit we didn’t expect was the music education. Reed has long had an outstanding music department led by passionate teachers, and my son came away learning how to play three instruments. What he missed was a chance to play team sports with his classmates. Now that Reed is back on a traditional school year, I was hoping they’d bring back sports, but with all the budget problems in the LAUSD I don’t know. I have a 5th Grade daughter who’d love the IHP, but I’m not sure what lies ahead. Anybody know how smaller learning communities will be impacted??
Hi Marie!
Thanks for doing the legwork and reporting back! It sounds like you’ve got your choice made.
Still waffling if I want to go to the Tamar Galatzan thing tonight, but I have a few years before middle school and with everything so up in the air, I might just wait.
Re: #12
Linda – the IHP program has long been admired by parents… indeed a few years ago, I went to an evening meeting to learn about it prior to having to make the middle school decision. It turned out that our kids were accepted into the gifted magnet at Palms MS which was pretty much on par with Reed’s IHP and music programs.
LAUSD is moving towards replicating the Small Learning Communities (SLCs) in the middle schools. You will be hearing about these changes soon – keep an eye out for information on Personalized Learning Environments (PLEs). Why they couldn’t just call them SLCs for middle school is beyond me but SLCs have had their challenges. The Board of Ed passed a small schools resolution awhile back but the budget woes are likely to have an impact upon that plan even if Superintendent Cortines sticks with the SLCs.
One thing I’d like to see is a clear pathway to an IHP high school program for students at Reed’s IHP (and Emerson’s, too). There is a plan to develop several International Baccalaureate programs at a few LAUSD middle and high schools. I’ll post more when I know.
Bill Ring
Does anyone have a guess how many magnet points are needed for LACES? thanks
Word on the street suggests 19 or 20.
Hi WSE, don’t guess. Contact the magnet coordinator and ask: “Last year, how many points did it take for a (insert race)(insert gender) to get in?” The numbers may be different for white/minority and boy and girl.
If they hedge on answering, then rephrase it, “in the last few years, typically how many points…..”
Most coordinators will tell you when asked directly.
Hi wse,
I actually went to the openhouse for LACES and the coordinator was completely forthcoming w/the points info for previous years. We ended up with a different choice so I didn’t write them down. Angel is right. Just call them…they were great at the openhouse.
will do. this is all about next year for my son… we have 12 points… and i think our middle school gets us the extra 4…. looking at millikan performing arts, reed humanities, laces…
Frustration! Considering the unfabulous economy, we actually are in a position to take advantage of other’s misfortune and move closer to potential middle and high schools. We have been in our Silverlake house FOREVER so it is cheaper than an apartment, but my kids got into Wonderland so now we are magnet heads. But where do they go next?
Everyone loves Reed, Millikan SOCES and those Studio City North Hollywood private schools, so since we can, should we try and move closer? NO one in Silverlake keeps their boys here – they jaunt off to Pasadena for private school, or Ren Arts or??? Have a highly gifted and gifted kid and thinking we are going to end up at North Hollywood High. NO way the twins can both get in to LACES (no sibling points) and I will bust any move necessary to get my one science math geek, and super artsy creative kid into the same school. Why can’t we access the school admission boundary maps? How can I tell my real estate buddy where to look?
Geez, we suppose NO ONE in Silverlake has middle school-aged children, so instead of sticking to their guns and insisting on a GREAT Silverlake middle school option, fleeing is better? What if all the Wonderland people went on mass to the same Silverlake public middle school and insisted on the same excellence they experienced at Wonderland?
For the record, the Wonderland parents also flee their middle school, heading for the valley. I believe it is Burroughs.
A little history – we have been trying to move since it was twins instead of one, aiming at all the usual suspects; San Marino, La Canada and South Pasadena. These districts look great, on paper, to parents with unpredictable freelance incomes, but the price tag didn’t fit. We know LAUSD is a monster, but a many-tentacled one with lots of options for lots of different kinds of kids and I am sure there is something out there for my boys. It’s just that those teen years are coming, and they will soon be six feet tall and they are already boyish smelly, and hillside remodeling would entail nothing short of bankruptcy, and we could really use another shower. So what is the hardship with providing a little transparency and letting the public see those maps?!
Gee everyone with boys I know in Silverlake (and I know a LOT of Silverlake parents) keep their kids in Silverlake. Silverlake HAS a great middle school- King. Have you even taken an honest look at your neighborhood school?
Did the LA Parents Union thing and know that they are working on change, but in time? My kids are almost “special ed” in their needs – we do have an IEP – and I don’t think I can throw them into a student body of 2700+ kids.
Again, no one will give you the exact number of students on campus…you have to dig for it yourself. LAPU has found that smaller learning communities of 500 students or less create the successes like Ivanhoe and Wonderland, demanding accountability of the student population, and giving teachers more power in the process. Though Reed has a 1000 plus students, the successes mainly come form the smaller learning communities. And Thomas Starr King has not met the basic standards for program improvement nine years running. I have done the research. I have met with Yolie Aguilar. I have organized others and demanded change but I’m not sure it is going to be enough and in time for my kids. I thought fellow bloggers could shed some light and inspirations instead of criticism and blind blithe commentary.
Peggy, your information on King is way out of date and I’m sorry but your attitude towards neighborhood efforts and facilities comes across as a little elitist and superficial. We visited King, which will switch to the regular school calendar next year, has a very impressive new principal and a radically improved Magnet. We have applied to both King Magnet and Renaissance Arts, which we also found very impressive, in a quite different way. I don’t know what “almost special ed” can possibly mean but our normal, intelligent 10 year-old could do perfectly well in either of the above schools with the appropriate level of parental involvement in his education. I do not know anyone who is fleeing to Pasadena, resorting to private schools out of desperation, or who feels the need to leave the neighborhood in a fit of parental martyrdom to obtain a base-level standard of middle-school education for their children elsewhere. Your children are no more or less “special” than any of ours and most of us are content with the progress that has been made in the local educational facilities, while recognizing the need to remain always vigilant. I’m sorry but I suggest you update your research and calm down a little.
We’re in San Fernando and my son did Lawrence for middle school (in Chatsworth, and that’ll be too far for you) and Verdugo Magnet for high school–teachers, counselors and administrators were VERY accommodating for a highly gifted kid vascillating between a math/science curriculum and a passion for (multi)media.
Keep in mind that junior high sucks for every parent. I almost wish we could blow the middle school concept up and go back to K-8 span schools (like parochial schools without the uniforms and nuns). Too, I’ve had limited dialog with LAPU and small is better–to a point. When you have incredibly bright, quirky kids, too small won’t meet their needs. Just based on what it takes to fill out the “normal” electives and specialized math/science offerings, I almost swear it takes 2000 kids at a high school. SLC are fine, so long as there’s not some artificial barrier keeping kids from one community from taking classes at the other to accommodate scheduling.
Junior high, you’re really looking for a school willing to differentiate/challenge your children without overwhelming them with gobs of homework. Have you thought of separating the boys, or are they a strong support network for each other? Have you looked at Millikan? I have a friend with a gifted son there and he’s thriving. You’re looking for the best fit possible and in your case it might be a slightly less than perfect fit for each if they’re so wildly different.
I hope you did apply for a magnet, and you’re looking at a few SAS options and also a couple of charters if any are in your area. When you keep all your options open, the likelihood of getting into more than one and having the luxury of comparing “offers” will help you sleep at night. For what it’s worth, you’re just getting a head start on college applications. Having just gotten my son into school last fall, the skills and organization I learned over all those magnet years is what I needed to help him organize his college brochures, applications, acceptance offers, and finally the myriad of paperwork to get him enrolled and living on campus.
Good luck, and hang in there Peggy. There were days I thought I wanted to just give up, but kids are resilient, and no school is PERFECT. The sooner you accept “great” or “very good” the sooner your kids will learn to love their environs.
Peggy I am sorry you found my responses to be “criticism and blind blithe”, but your blanket statements were very insulting to all of us who keep our kids in local Silver Lake schools (note: our daughter was offered a spot in Wonderland when she was in 1st grade. We decided to keep her at Micheltorena because well it is a great school and we value neighborhood, community and we like the idea of allow our kid to walk to a friend’s house instead of driving to a “play date”)
Truth is, based on your pre existing bias, King would not be a good place you. I wish you and your sons luck.
For the record, leaving this fantastic community was the most difficult aspect of switching to a magnet, but we have made great efforts to keep up with our Silver Lake friends. Yes, it takes a lot of work to organize play dates with those in your bus and school community.
And as for King, my immediate neighbors send their boys to Poly, Mayfield, Wesley, Ren Arts and the Lycee. They all attended Ivanhoe, and one has a son at Marshall, but not a single parent on my street opted for King. And I live on a tiny street with 8 families total, (the others are singles and long time residents of the neighborhood.) So, that’s my sample.
I’m not going to try to mediate this discussion, but I live in a community I love–it’s walkable, it’s dynamic, and we have our own small-town police department with a 2 minute response time. I have been a city commissioner, and my son speaks out regularly at City Council meetings.
I also send my kids to schools outside my neighborhood. Oddly enough, my daughter’s best friend at that school (roughly 8-10 miles away) lives maybe 10 blocks away, so her parents chose the same for her. My son’s friends always came from his sport pursuits, not school. My daughter has friends through sports and through school.
We all want what’s best for our kids, and some people pursue that goal differently. There are all kinds of ways for a family to identify with a school community (or a church, or a sports organization, or you name it).
Thanks, Angel.
So maybe this is the real discussion:
Anyone actually at Middle School? Anyone happy with their public Middle School? Why? NOT happy – why? What kind of school is it – neighborhood, magnet, charter, public with application process, etc. How did you cope with the admission process?
Just a horror story to share regarding the above. When the Middle Schools came to present at Wonderland, one brave magnet parent asked the following question:
I have a smart kid who has not distinguished himself in any particular way. He does his work, he has decent grades, but he’s not a cello prodigy, or a thespian, or a spelling champ, or a chemist, or a black belt in karate. He’s your basic student, and he is not incredibly motivated beyond being just a kid. Do any of you have a program for him, that will motivate him to be his best?
Not one of the “specialty” schools (charter, magnet, admission process) stepped up to the plate. It was a very uncomfortable silence, filled only by the home school that has to take the kid. They said they would “work” with him. YIKES!
These are questions best answered by those already there, and those who have been there, sharing their knowledge and experience, helping those of us who have to survive the parent rumor mill, the stressful “admission process” and tours that only “show and tell” what the school wants to reveal.
King is in the midst of a gigantic overhaul. It is going to the regular school calendar, it has a brilliant, young, Harvard-educated new principal, it is dividing the 2800-student campus into four separate “pods” in order to foster greater intimacy, there is a large beautification program underway, its Magnet has been overhauled and the only contact the Magnet students get with the big, bad general poulation is at lunch and gym. Certain local demographic considerations, such as more middle- and high-school facilities coming online to the south have also proven helpful. If King had not done any of this, it would have been charterised, which would have cost the LAUSD a fortune, so local parents stand to benefit from bureaucratic self-interest, for once. I already mentioned, *we visited the school, attended Magnet classes, which were small-ish and very orderly, and met with the principal*. Have you visited King, Peggy? To rely on the “sample” you cite is preposterous because it does not take into account any recent developments and elevates ignorance of the facts to a credo. If you do not to your homework, how can you expect to avoid accusations of ignorance and elitism? If King is good enough for a large number of middle-class Silver-Lakers who would never have considered it a year ago (we certainly wouldn’t) what makes it so unsuitable for you that it doesn’t even justify due diligence on your part?
The only way to really evaluate a school is to visit, and talk to parents who send their children their.
In my course of work, I have visited King M.S., yes, they have their share of boisterous children, but they have great kids as well! Yes, I am very aware that a lot of the people who live in the neighborhood don’t send their kids to the school. That’s a shame! Some of the cruelest children I’ve encountered have been at the so called “right” schools. Everyone wants the best for their kids, but please be more objective and open minded when evaluating a public school. By the way, I am the parent of special needs kids, and they go to public school.
Oops! Long day at work, I do have a University degree and finished in the top 5% of my school, excuse the “their” instead of “there” in my prior post. Best wishes to all!
thanks Flora for supporting King and us parents who are or will be sending our kids to king- my daughter will be starting there fall 2011. we are hoping to get her in the magnet (we will have 12 rejection points by then) but if not, we have heard great stuff from many King SAS parents.
dorit
Has anyone visited or sent a kid to Bancroft?
To Barry. et. al.,
Which is exactly why I asked for information from people who have already enrolled their children at middle schools. But maybe you didn’t see that post.
Yes, King is undergoing a change. Yes, people appreciate the Magnet. But I am in a position where not one but two kids have to win the lottery at the SAME time. What would you do to extend not one, but two childrens’ chances of gaining simultaneous admission? Sibling points do not apply. So moving becomes a realistic, and possibly necessary option.
Also – is it such a good thing to have a divided community on campus? There is rancor in the canyon about FAIRNESS between home school opportunities and magnet opportunities. Not to mention that in Laurel Canyon, the distinction is hardly about class and race. So if it is a somewhat painful issue in the safe little enclave, I can’t imagine it could be so easily navigated as status quo at King. Maybe the divisiveness benefits the magnet kids, protects them from the big, bad world of the city they live in, but I am not sure it fosters a holistic approach to community. And isn’t that why many of us choose public school?
I have the advantage of waiting to see how the experiment at King takes root, since my entry date is Fall 2011, and I will go see for myself. But my family has been trying to move (unsuccessfully!) for EIGHT years. Oh the houses that went to so many other lucky bidders or flippers or contractors…We need another bathroom and we can’t configure one in our current location. So my field is wide open. I just would love to hear from parents ALREADY at middle schools. And I did start this post based on the idea of a move, I was just put over the wringer because of it. Should have just asked for opinions instead of venting personal frustrations…
Dear Peggy,
OMG, turn away for a minute and Silverlake middle school chat is heatin’ up the blog! I’m going to take a little time yet to carefully read through all this, but in the meantime I want to thank you, Peggy, for starting this frank and lively discussion– I think these are (in the end) productive and important exchanges to have in our city, to lift our expectations of ALL schools– And just as an FYI, I happen to know Barry is British, so while he’s a really good guy he never hesitates to use language that is well, er, colorful! Barry!
Love and good vibes to all of you from deep in The Nuys,
Sandra
Peggy,
I am not tring to harsh on you (in fact I wish I could say this to you email to email and not in a group seting). Its not that you asked about Silver Lake middle schools, its not that you are looking at all your choices, (all parents need to do that, even if it just leads back to the neighborhood school) but it was the words you used and the tone that you set right off the bat that pissed me off. You dissed us (parents who are or will send their kids to King) with out knowing us or knowing the school.
My daughter, Lucy Madden-Lunsford, now a senior at Marshall High School in the Magnet, attended King Magnet for middle school after Wonderland Magnet. She loved King and she especially loved her creative writing teacher, Steve Abee, who is an incredible teacher…they also had an after school basketball program for girls, and she did the winter play one year. The kids also made movies that premiered one Sunday at the Vista Theatre. She got very involved in school leadership at King too. We were happy there, and I did some writing workshops for kids there too. Location was also really important with two other kids in the family. Our son went to Wonderland and then John Burroughs Magnet and then John Marshall (because King didn’t have a magnet then.) Our youngest goes to Plasencia Magnet in Echo Park. Lucy is going to Sarah Lawrence this fall, so I will be forever grateful to the LAUSD Magnet Program. Our son is a junior at UC Santa Barbara. My husband is also a teacher at Plasencia, so we’ve been LAUSD for 21 years one way or another…Thanks Sandra for being the Magnet Yenta!
Doreet – And I tried to make the point that I had done some work on this, and that my neighborhood sample of all middle school-aged boys has fled. Yes, it is my sample and therefore incomplete, but not a single one of my neighbors has stayed for middle school. For the record, does anyone know if Tomn LaBonge’s son will be going to King? So I need information from people that do know what is happening locally and beyond, and it would be helpful to have someone who has experienced, is experiencing King as Magnet or home school to chime in. Or to chime in on Ren Arts, Millikan (anyone in the science program?) or Madison or the Nuys or Eagle Rock etc.etc. They could best shed light. And my intention was never to diss…just to to get information, to work the system as best possible to get my kids the best education I can (because we can’t afford to imagine private school tuition and wonder even about those almost evaporated college funds – sigh – too bad we don’t have a left-handed pitcher or a hoops prodigy.)All our kids deserve the best – Peggy
Peggy,
My kids are on both sides of middle school. My son survived his 2001-2004 term at Lawrence. I loved the magnet, wasn’t wild about the home school. My daughter is in 2nd grade, and I’m already looking. I’m not sure if I’d send her to Lawrence (I *love* that most of my son’s great teachers are still there), or if I’ll look at other schools in different areas for her.
I worry about 2500 kids or more in a middle school. Frankly I don’t want my kids to attend a high school that big.
I’ll talk to my friend with a son at Millikan. I’m not sure what program he’s in. I know she’s very happy with it.
For my daughter, I’m leaning toward schools closer to the central or east valley–Holmes has my interest, as do Millikan and Reed (15-20 minute drive). Of course, she’s only turning 8, so I need to keep gathering information until I know where her interests lie.
My only suggestion is to avoid stressing with the buzz of other parents. When my son went to Lawrence, most of his friends from Balboa went to Porter or Sepulveda. For high school he went to Verdugo–I liked the schedule and the size of the school above all.
You just need to find the school that’s right for your boys. It will happen.
Thank you, Sandra. You are a good blog prefect. In an English girls’ private school you’d have a little badge that says “Head Girl”.
We experienced more than a few middle-class tremors upon visiting King, even with all the changes and some pretty impressive classroom drop-ins. It’s a typical, physically unlovely urban middle-school, not the adorable little educational nirvana that is Ivanhoe Elementary. However, I felt that it would be hypocritical of me to commit to a neighborhood as specific as Silver Lake, in all its multicultural glory, without giving this radically improved school a chance. We saw many local parents on the tour and, as I have said, nobody we know is fleeing the neighborhood in despair at local middle-school options. Yes, it’s true that Magnet children are “streamed” away from the general population (I’m using prison terminology with tongue planted firmly in cheek) but there is no way that my childrens’ social world will not be influenced by the experience of a place like King, so I do not believe that the Magnet streaming represents a breach of faith with the way we have chosen to live.
Now, as for Renaissance Arts: We were blown away. There’s a caveat. Our son is musical (but no prodigy) and welcomes the opportunity to learn the violin, which is just as well as every student must play a stringed instrument and practice for an hour per night. My wife’s family is musical so having a ten year-old sawing away at a fiddle will be a less nerve rattling experience for Jenny than it might otherwise be and she will be able to supervise effectively. Latin is compulsory but I did eleven years of it, so that doesn’t intimidate us either and we welcome its rigor. Latin is unbelievably valuable. RenArts is not the most nurturing environment, however, and our sometimes feckless 10 year-old will get little sympathy if he shirks the academics. We welcome this. We have always thrown him into the deep end and he has always come through so far. PE consists solely of modern dance, so several heavyset dads could be seen walking away from the open house looking horrified. Not a problem for us or for our son. Our daughter may be a different matter and I can anticipate sending both children to separate schools, as she is a jock.
So, in each case, we face a daunting challenge. At King, the challenge is social; our son will have to deal with a large, urban melting pot for the first time in his life. At RenArts, it’s academic; he will have to work his little butt off just to keep up. But it will see him through high school if he does well.
It’s all quite scary, no doubt about it, but there is a tendency, which I’m trying to resist, amongst middle-class parents, to worry themselves into a frenzy, a component of which is a certain sense of entitlement. I’m far from immune; if I had the money I might go private and think nothing about turning my boy into Little Lord Fauntleroy. His (maternal) grandmother would love that. However, I do feel that we need to support neighborhood efforts, especially when the local middle-school appears to be walking the walk and not just talking the talk.
As for Labonge Minor, he’s in my son’s class at Ivanhoe; I think he’s headed for a parochial middle-school. In the neighborhood.
Hi Barry,
Thanks for the heads up on Ren Arts. Before this discussion, I’d never heard of it before. It’s an interesting idea.
It’s a very successful school, Angel, but a very, very specific vision of the middle- and high- school experience. Jenny and I were educated in the UK so we have no direct experience of conventional American middle or high schools but parents who are nostalgic about their own traditional high-school years might not embrace this for their own children. We await the results of the lottery. If we are successful it’ll be Latin, violin and modern dance for our son, along with rigorous tuition in math and science. Yay.
It’s likely too far from our place to be a viable option, but I’d definitely want people to see it, as an option that balances those Math/Science concerns with the music and art that people want their kids to get.
Does the school pay for the instruments as well?
Yes, the school pays for the instruments. Students are discouraged from selling them on eBay.
Barry,
I visited Ren Arts last week for their final informational meeting this year. I was very impressed by the teaching approach and subjects taught. I especially appreciated the emphasis on practicing your instrument every night and allowing such by giving little if any homework. Ahh…the dreaded worksheets and plethora of projects that keep my daughter busy every night and weekend!
Because we visited the school in the evening, I got no sense of how the school truly feels when in session. I would love some description since the environment is truly unique with all the students in one room. Thank you.
Great website.
My daughter auditioned for Millikan almost 2 weeks ago. We are on pins and needles about the results. There is no doubt about her vocal abilities but our problem is we are waiting to move to the valley from the south bay. She’s been in LAUSD Lawndale and she’s experienced 1) reverse discrimination, 2) getting jumped … you get the picture, it’s been traumatizing to say the least. She doesn’t even tell the kids at school she’s a singer because some kids are really jealous and cruel. So now we’re wondering if she doesn’t get in to Millikan what other performing arts middle schools are there in the valley. We are working with a real estate agent and our number one choice of a place to live is quality of schools. We’re looking at middle schools and high schools. Thanks.
Hi Peggy,
I’m sorry to say I didn’t even realize that Millikan required try-outs for their magnet, so I’m of little use there. Did you contact them directly and ask how much longer you can expect to wait?
As for performing arts, you can check the echoices website located here: http://echoices.lausd.net/Mag/MagSchoolList.aspx?Specialty=D
The problem will be that you will apply in December for 2010-11.
Has your realtor helped you focus on specific neighborhoods yet? Given how big the Valley is and how spread out things are, recommending the Performing Arts magnet in Pacoima might be a real haul if you’re in Sherman Oaks, and I’m not even sure where to start with some of the small learning communities.
I’ll respond back if you can give us a little guidance.
Thank you so much for answering. Well we got the letter today and she didn’t get accepted. She’s put on a waiting list. So now we’re free to look in other neighborhoods to move and actually have an appt with a realtor this evening in Granada Hills. I know they have good schools but I still think we should try for a performing arts school. So you think Pacoima has a good program? I will check that out and if you think of any others near Granada Hills or have suggestions, I welcome them.
Thanks,
Peggy
Hi Peggy.
There are great schools in the Granada Hills area for middle school–including Frost, Porter, Nobel, and even Patrick Henry. You’d have to check out Pacoima to see what it offers, and whether it’s going to offer enough for your daughter.
For high school, you might want to start looking at CHAMPS charter high school in Van Nuys, because they are a Performing Arts school: http://www.champscharter.com/ But even Granada Hills High is known for it’s marching band, drama, and other programs (with 4000 kids, it’s got something for everybody).
I just found this website tonight, and wanted to say thanks for the information. We were accepted off the wait list at Valley Alternative due to class size increases, and turned it down, losing our 12 magnet points. Now we have 0. I figure we may not get the middle school magnet we want, so are looking into SAS schools. In the north valley, I saw mention of Frost, Nobel, and Lawerence, but very little mention of Holmes SAS program. Does anyone have information to share about Holmes SAS?
Thanks,
Judy
Holmes is a rising star in the Valley middle school buzz. I’ve got my eye on Holmes as a possibility for my daughter, and I know that I have friends who will be looking at it as soon as next year. I’m not sure how long it’s been around, but the buzz is steadily getting better. I’ll be attending any open houses this fall with another family (my daughter has a few years, but I go for moral support and a little recon), so I’ll report back as soon as I hear anything.
As an aside, since no one planned the class size increases when they applied to Valley Alternative, when did they call you? I’ve definitely had parents asking me about that.
I’d love to hear any info you get on Holmes SAS.
I got my call from Valley Alternative on May 22. Another family we know with more points got the call a week or two before that, so I was happy when I’d go a day without a phone call, but eventually it came. I had a long conversation with the magnet coordinator, she told me many families had turned them down. I was wondering how far down the list they had to go before receiving acceptances. How many points did the families have who did not get a call?
I’ll post back on Holmes, but it unfortunately won’t be ’til late fall, but I’ll definitely keep asking around.
Regarding Valley Alternative, we were really curious, because magnet apps went in before the class size increases, and I wasn’t sure if the immediate acceptances reflected the new class-size numbers or not. Since Valley Alternative is the assumed turn down from first or second grade on, there were most likely quite a few shocked families. We had debated on applying to Balboa for third or Valley, and went with Valley, because there is a third grade class addition at Balboa, and we were concerned our daughter would get in there. In hindsight that concern pales in comparison.
Our daughter had 8 points this year, going into third grade (applying during second grade). We are probably not going to apply to SOCES, but we’d like that as an option, if need be.
Keep in mind as you’re looking at the SAS and some magnets, that the numbers have come down a bit, given the class size increases, and the no-longer automatic “overcrowded” points.
Even with the high schools, I’ve seen parents apply to three or four and then have the problem of getting into all of them and having to go back and decide. It’s a numbers game, and if you’re in the North SFV, you have a lot of choices. You’ll see Lawrence referred to a lot, since that was where my son went, and to me, it’s still a golden opportunity. Oddly enough, most of my son’s friends went to Porter or Sepulveda, and I hear almost nothing about Sepulveda anymore.
Hang in there. You don’t sound frenzied, and the longer you can maintain that composure, the easier the year will be. You do have options, and you’ll likely be able to get into at least one of them.
I was wondering:
1) Did your son go to Lawrence magnet or SAS?
2)Why wouldn’t you want your daughter to go to SOCES?
Judy/Angel:
I have two close friends with their children at Holmes and another friend’s daughter going there this fall. They are very happy with the exception that they feel homework can be heavy in the SAS program. All were in SAS but some of them are moving over to the Magnet side this coming year, where they’ve heard homework is more reasonable. Obviously everyone has different experiences… But in terms of general safety, environment, etc., they seem quite pleased. The third friend entering this year didn’t want to just follow them and did all the tours at Porter, Frost, Nobel, etc. She and her daughter both ended up loving Holmes and are thrilled she got in. It is definitely something worth checking out!
My son was at the Lawrence magnet from 2001-2004. Most of his same teachers are still there. He still goes back to visit many of them.
We live in San Fernando, and SOCES would be a pretty long commute. I’m also concerned about the 4-12 concept, in regard to the limits it places on some extracurricular activities with the smaller upper grades–namely water polo. We have a friend who teaches there, and there is some drop off in HS because the kids have been there so long. And I’ve seen the summer required reading list, and I do a lot of enrichment with her in the summer, and I don’t want to have to compete with stuff from the school. It’s completely my opinion, and I realize I’m going against conventional wisdom, but I’m used to it.
Thank you Rebekkah for your reply. You have definitely put my mind more at ease. You and magnetangel have been of great comfort. As you can see by my posting times, I am up some nights just trying to research schools. I think SAS is my only option as we lost all our magnet this year being accepted off the wait list at VAS, and turning them down. Do you know how many point your friends had had to be able to move over to the magnet?
Judy
Ok, looking at my time on the post it says 10:23 am, but it’s 3:28 a.m.
Good night and thanks
I think the time is actually Greenwich Mean Time. I’ll look into it, but it’s always about 7-8 later than we post. As for homework in any of the middle schools in the early posts.
Also, to address the homework load at any of the gifted magnets or SAS, it’s a very common complaint. The schools/teachers balance the needs of the gifted, along with the parents who want them to give tons along and the ones who’d prefer none. Unfortunately, it always seems the parents who are trying to get their kids in Harvard by 8th grade complain louder.
“Unfortunately, it always seems the parents who are trying to get their kids in Harvard by 8th grade complain louder.”
Actually, we experienced just the opposite in our SAS middle school program. My son appeared to have relatively reasonable homework burdens and only a few assignments during winter break in his SAS/IHP program. A few parents still complained that it was too much. When we asked them how long their kids were spending on homework, it was double and triple what my son was doing and he was getting straight A’s. When I asked my son, he said that the teachers were very explicit about how long to spend on one of the winter break assignments (“no more than 3 hours”) and yet the kids of the complaining parents had spent 20+ hours. Sometimes, I think the parents complaining about too much homework need to take a serious look about how efficient their kids are in doing their homework. You can spend an awful lot of time at a desk with a computer/phone/ipod etc and get very little done. Even if your child is working the whole time, parents need to help kids prioritize and not spend hours on parts of the assignment that should take minutes.
There were definitely kids that could turn the simplest projects into huge productions, and kids who goof off on the computer all night, but I happen to be one of the families that believes the break should be just that–a break.
If a teacher wants to assign homework over the break, I hope they’ll be around to help answer questions. In my experience, that’s not what happens.
I think middle school, too, at the SAS/Gifted Magnet level is where families realize their kids can be gifted in some subjects and not all areas. My son could plow through math and science at a blistering pace, but a writing assignment could be like pulling teeth. He knew what he wanted to say, but just couldn’t make it take pages.
I’ve got a few years before I worry about it again with my daughter, but I will be looking at that issue most closely when it comes to choosing a middle school.
Hi Everyone,
I just found this site and am thrilled to have all this great information. We are moving to Sherman Oaks and my son will be attending Millikan Performing Arts Academy SAS 6th grade permitted. Not the magnet.
His home school is Van Nuys MS. Last semester when my son was in 5th grade I applied for the magnet and was turned down. Shouldn’t I have 4 points for the 2009-2010 calendar year? I was just told that my son will get 8 points because VN MS is PHBAO and overcrowded? All of this is new to me so any in sight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Terry
Hi Terry, sorry I missed this until now. You will receive 4 points on the letter you’ll receive next winter. They don’t assume you’ve been turned down until you actually get to the next year.
The coordinator and principal from King middle school (Silver Lake- Los Feliz- Franklin Hills community) Gifted/ High Ability magnet gave a presentation at my daughters grade school (Micheltorena Street School) today. WOW this program sound GREAT!!! They are offering tour’s to interested parents/ community members in November and December. Their contact info is (323) 644-6754.
Want to be sure you all know about our middle school night in Local District 3. Wednesday December 2, 2009 from 6PM to 8:15PM. Webster Middle School Auditorium. Featuring presentations from LD 3 middle schools and information on the following: transitioning to middle school, grading, counseling, testing, enrichment, parent involvement and more. We’re working to better connect our school families on the westside and I’ll be sharing some information about that – hope to see you there.
Bill Ring/LD 3 Parent Community Advisory Council
TransParent®
http://www.transparentschools.org
Trying again (prior post didn’t take)…
Attention: Westside Elementary School Parents
Westside (Local District 3) Middle School Night
Wed., Dec. 2, 2009
6:00PM to 8:15PM
Webster Middle School Auditorium
11330 Graham Place, L.A. 90064
Presentations from LD 3 Middle Schools. Talk with school teams and parents. I’ll also be sharing some information about how
we are working to improve and connect our school communities.
Hope to see you there.
Bill Ring/LD3 Parent Community Advisory Council
TransParent®
http://www.transparentschools.org
**Also posted under Magnets**
(Info from Boardmembers Galatzan/Martinez)
East Valley Middle School Night
Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30pm
Madison Middle School
13000 Hart St, North Hollywood
This event is a great opportunity for parents and their children to become better acquainted with Middle Schools in the community. Parents and students will have a chance to interact with Middle School Principals during the information fair.
In addition to a presentation on the magnet school application, the following middle schools will be featured:
Byrd – Fulton – Madison – Millikan – Reed – Romer- Sepulveda – Sun Valley – Van Nuys – Vista
Bill Ring
wow! such a great blog. my kids go to Mt. Washington Elementary and most of us do the magnet school dance. (unlike our silver lake neighbor, the percentage of families who can afford private schools are much lower.)
We have some good choices in our neck of the woods (Eagle Rock, Ren Arts or King), but diversity is an issue. (I am very excited about King Middle School Magnet as a possibility.) I will be researching the racial composition of the above mentioned Middle School Magnets and will post soon.
Hi Angelica,
Sorry to be a stickler, but I must point out that the vast majority of us Silver Lake families can’t afford private schools. All but one of the 9 LAUSD schools that serve the Silver Lake neighborhoods are title one and the majority of Silver Lake residents live in multiply family housing (i.e. apartments)
yes, i know that’s the case. i was reacting to Peggy’s list of private schools her neighbors will be attending. pretty impressive, but i know, not representative.
Hi Angelica,
sorry if i came off strong; I am so use to educating people about the “two Silver Lakes”.
So have you gone on the tour of King yet? I was so impressed with all the stuff in the gifited program and that kids can get into the SAS program if they don’t get into the gifited magnet
‘
That the kids can get into King through SAS is excellent news. I need to look at SAS programs because I have very few points. (I had points, then lost them. Then, I thought I would rely on Ren Arts or charters when the time came. But my son is not interested in doing dance for PE and none of the other charters are doing it for me. He might still end up at Ren Arts.
Anyway, truth be told, I put off dealing with the transition from our little neighborhood nest to the big bad world of middle schools and didn’t apply to magnets last year. Now I am scrambling and finding many options, which I think is the key. Also, if we don’t get into the magnet of our choice this year, we will accumulate points and my son will stay for 6th at Mt. Wash or go to Ren Arts til we do get into a magnet.
Anyway, I missed the King orientation, but was told by a couple of moms here on the hill who did attend that King looked wonderful and I trust their judgment. I left a message with Carlos Hernandez and hope to at least have a conversation with him before Friday. Hopefully, I can have a short visit this week, too.
I looked at Mt. Gleason MS Magnet in Sunland this morning. Seems like a great place – safe, nurturing and of course great academics, but its too far for my taste.
At this point, I have narrowed my choices down to King Gifted Magnet or Eagle Rock Elem Gifted Magnet. Of course will apply at Ren Arts as well. I might throw down an application at Aveson in Altadena. I am considering Reed, but its too far. I want my kids to develop social relationships with kids who live nearby. CALS charter is ethnically homogeneous, so it is not an option. Ohhh, then there’s So Pas schools. I think their enrollment is down and they might be taking kids from other districts….
Are there other amazing places to pursue?
Here’s a link which will give you demographics information for LAUSD magnet and regular schools.
http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe?w3exec=school0
i have 2 doughters that have straight a’s for 6 years…..now we applied for magnet and they didnt get in can you recommend any school in north hollywood so it will be good education for them…i am cunsurned because we moved to north hollywood from glendale and my area is not that good
Nancy:
I’m sorry your girls didn’t get into a magnet. But it isn’t the end of the world… there are options if you aer sure the local school doesn’t fill the bill.
Are your girls officially labeled “Gifted” by LAUSD? If so, go here and see if there are any SAS schools in your area:
http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/offices/GATE/prog-opt-3.html
Otherwise, go to http://www.greatschools.net and research schools in your area. Talk to other parents for recommendations (don’t be shy!). Show up on the playground after school or to a PTA meeting and ask! Ask about honors programs, which are classes for high performing students like yours.
Your timing is good as Open Enrollment is just about to start. At the end of April the LAUSD posts open enrollment seats on the website — check daily. If a school has seats available for next year and is on the list, you can apply for your child to attend there. (Search this Yenta site for more info on that process.) Applying is NOT a guarantee — they hold a lottery for the spots and pull names from a hat. But your children could get into another school with a better program.
Look at charter schools in your area… search “Charter Schools” on the http://www.lausd.net site. There is a directory of them. See what their application process is.
In short — research, research, research! Go on tours! Talk to parents! It takes time but can payoff in the end. Good luck.
i would like to know can i re apply to a magnet school after being released from the magnet program,if so how long do you have to wait?
Not sure I understand, Carisma (great name!). Was your child waitlisted (not getting into a magnet for which you applied)?
If so, you have to wait until next November to apply again through the CHOICES application process. It only happens once a year and is how you get into any magnet program. The good news is that if your child was waitlisted this year, they will have 4 points for next year’s process.
Once waitlisted you also can be called by the school at any time (even after school starts) and given a spot if one becomes available. So if your child was waitlisted, I would call the school and see what their “Waitlist Number” is. The lower the number (1, 2, 3) the greater chance your child will get in over the summer. If your number is quite high, you should think about other options or just wait to apply again next year.
Good luck!
Just a heads up for more Middle School madness. 3000 applicants for Walter Reed IHP – 60 spots available. Even if you have a highly gifted designation, it’s not good enough. One success story had perfect scores on California Standardized tests. So if you don’t have them, it doesn’t look like a sure thing.
And lots of spots in Walter Reed SAS programs going to kids in their enrollment area, not many outside permits this year.
Please check your numbers. Last year there were 500 applications for ALL of Reed’s smaller learning communities. Last year’s IHP class had 74 spaces and all got off the waitlist. Keep in mind Reed’s IHP is an honors program with a few highly gifted designated students. The only true hg program is at Portola.
If there really is that demand for Reed’s IHP program and you didn’t get in, you might want to consider Ralph Waldo Emerson’s IHP program in Westwood. The school has generally made huge strides recently and is in demand from neighborhood kids, but they still have room for IHP kids in the SAS Program.
If anyone has experience with Emerson’s IHP, can you please let us know your thoughts? There is a tour Dec. 15th 2011 and i may drag my east side moms with me. The drive can’t be much worse than to Reed.
Anyone have a child enrolled? Thanks!
And one more thing – anyone know what is happening with Middle Schools given a mandate for keeping 6th at Elementary Schools by 2011? Will they stop taking 6th graders???
Wonderland is going to have a 6th grade, but only for home school, in 2011. So where do the magnet kids go?
Does anyone know things they can share about the special education programs at Millikan and Reed? Especially for incoming 6th grader gifted with Asperger Syndrome?
Thanks in advance!
School Dress Code- anyway to get around it?
My daughter starts middle school in fall 2011. Everything about the school is great except they have a very restrictive dress code (blue bottom, white top, white socks/stockings, blue or white jacket. No denim, no prints/patterns). The only freedom a student has is in shoe laces (but no red). Shoes (no red) and earrings (but not too big). The kids don’t have to wear a “uniform” but just follow the colour schema
Now my daughter is not a blue and white kind of kid. (And I think I will go mad if I have to see her wear the same colours every day).
Two questions:
Has anyone been able to get a school to drop a dress code or is it a LAUSD wide rule?
Any advice from other parents who have gotten around a dress code (like if a kid is wearing the colours, can then dress in their own “style? My daughter has started designing outfits – think Betsy Johnson- using only blue /white).
I know, compared to other issues the world is facing- war, recession, and childhood obesity- this is a small problem.
Thanks
doreet in Silver Lake
My kid is an 8th grader in a LAUSD middle school with a dress code that is virtually the same as the one you describe. There is no LAUSD-wide policy on this, but some schools have them. From our perspective, the uniform policy is either a positive or at least not a negative. Now, I have a boy, so perhaps it is different, but the parents of the girls seem to agree that while the kids resisted the dress code originally, they come to really appreciate it. Middle school is tough enough without kids trying to outdo themselves in clothing. It basically eliminates teasing based on clothes. It is kind of the great equalizer and some people feel it helps in the classroom too (I guess by focusing attention on the front of the classroom). Plus, it makes things easier in the morning and the kids do get occasional dress free Fridays as rewards. I don’t know what a blue and white kid is, nor do I know why you would go mad if your kid wore a uniform every day, but the kids learn to express their individualism in all sorts of ways beyond their appearance. This is particularly true in my son’s school, which is well known for its performing arts program and has lots of creative souls attending.
thanks Anon-
I would go mad because I LOVE colour as does my daughter.
Hi doreet,
I’m actively watching this issue (and any responses you get), since my daughter is in fourth grade, and I’ve been anti-uniform since my son started kindergarten in 1995. The middle school that many of my daughter’s friends go to has what your school has. I attended a meeting of the SAS folks last year, and asked the question regarding LAUSD and requiring uniforms. I got a very terse response bordering on rude.
It was at that point I knew my daughter wouldn’t be going to that school regardless. However, I find very few middle schools where they don’t enforce some kind of color-based, collared shirt, no denim, dress code. It’s gone to the Supreme Court and it’s not considered freedom of speech, so it’s not likely that they’re going to have to defend themselves on this issue much.
Ironically, my 9-year-old pulled me aside later and said, “Mom if a school is great otherwise, I don’t want to rule it out because of uniforms.” My son, who’s now 20 still has an animated opinion on it.
I don’t find it’s an equalizer–it feels like a band-aid. Clothing from Walmart *is* compared against clothing from nicer stores. Kids still wear shoes of varying costs. And plenty of kids know the difference between Payless and Nike. Additionally, as my daughter has pointed out, if there is a fight, and all the kids are dressed alike, it makes it difficult to get the offender. And I’m not sure I want the world to know which school my child attends if we run to the grocery store after school. The added expense of more clothing isn’t an enticement either, because once these become “school clothes” kids aren’t going to wear them out on the weekends or non-school days. Since my daughter picks clothes out the night before, we’ve never had problems either.
I’m prepared to keep at least an open mind, but I am pretty sure that our choices for middle school will be extremely limited. I know the school my son attended for MS still is what I support, but it’s one of very few: http://www.lawrencemiddleschool.com/students/dress_code.jsp
thanks Magnetangel- I am so happy I am not the only mom concerned with this (the other moms at my daughters current school think I am nuts to care, I will get no support for changing the dress code from them).
We are set on this middle school and will deal with/ work around the dress code (my daughter can sew and makes some very outrages- but modest- out fits now. She plans on going nuts with the blue/white limitations’).
I will keep you posted on any changes I am able to make.
King Magnet school will be having tours for prospective students and parents. Call the school, (323) 644-6700 for info. the dates are 10-28, 11-4, 11-18, 12-2 and 12-9.
My son is 15. He is in the 8th grade. I feel like our principal singles him out alot. My son is always in trouble for stupid stuff. I am at the school at least every other week and called even more than that. I know kids do stupid things and my son is no exception to that. How do I know if I am just being a mom or if my feelings on this matter are right. An example…you can walk through the middle school at any given time and hear a cuss word out of a kids mouth, my son coughed and said “horsecrap”and got in school suspension. We were told that could be persued as harrassment…how. Am iI being overdramatic and a mom or is this a problem?
This isn’t really a forum for school behavioral issues/concerns but… I agree with what Angelica said below. MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL. IN PERSON. Show him/her you are a concerned parent and that will go a long way toward buying good will. Ask about his/her perceptions and get them from his teachers as well. If you can approach it in a way that doesn’t immediately put the school administrators on the defensive but in a partnering way (Let’s work together to help my son or solve this problem or figure this out) it will go better. GOOD LUCK!
P.S. We are all Mama Bears when we feel our cubs are threatened. I say the above not to say feeling that way is wrong AT ALL! (I am a vicious mama bear!). But… I think taking the partnering/non-threatening approach yields more results… as hard as it is to do!
Hi carolyn,
I published your comment, although I agree with Rebekka, this is not really the forum for it. We’re here to help people find a great school for your child. Just what you’ve said–your son is getting treated like a lightning rod. However, and it’s a BIG however, if he wasn’t in the wrong, he wouldn’t be getting treated that way. Other kids cursing is not an open invitation for your son to see what he can get away with. Kids often hear mixed messages when we go into “Mama Bear” mode and they think they’re blameless.
I agree with others–have a sit down with the principal, and then make sure your son knows the rules, and that you expect him to follow them 100%. Not 95%, not 99%, and not even 99.9%. Because if after you meet with the principal, if you feel that your son needs to move and start somewhere anew, you need to make absolutely sure he’s not going to create the same situation at a new place.
Good luck
you left out a lot of information, so its hard to answer your question as you posed it. from what you did say, sounds like you’re in a position of reacting and have yet to figure out exactly what is going on with your son.
sounds like the principal may have taken drastic measures because your son’s behavior was left unchecked or maybe as you suspect, he is being treated unfairly.
in either case, you need to asses the situation in as a detached and objective way possible, then take proactive action.
first find out from your son what is truly going on. the facts as much as he can offer them. then decide for yourself if you think his behavior is acceptable or not. be honest with yourself. sometimes there’s a little blame to go around… modeling the ability to take responsibility is a good one for our kids.
then, if you feel he has some blame, YOU call the principal to make an appointment and let her know that you are worried about your son’s acting out and would like to work with her to help him get it in check. let her know what you plan to do and how she can support you.
OR if you feel the principal is over reacting, then YOU call the principal and set up an appointment to talk about why you think he is unfairly being singled out.
Does anyone know anything about Walter Reed’s Culinary Program for Middle School? We’re considering Walter Reed’s IHP, however, even though my son is highly gifted, he is not motivated or high achieving so I’m not sure if the IHP would be good for him. He LOVES cooking and I think he might be happy in the Culinary program if it is a good program. Does anyone know if the Culinary program is any good?
Liz,
a rushed answer as I rush out the door. the culinary program is new this year at REED. i heard it was created by the principal in response to how popular the “Food” elective is at the school. Ms. Moore is the food teacher. there is both a mainstream and an honors culinary school.
my son is in the honors culinary school and he has had an EXCELLENT experience. they have three core teachers, including Ms. Moore who the kids love. another teacher, Mr. T., is wonderful, particularly for boys. my son is so motivated. he does his homework in the car on the way home from school and takes lots of pride in what he gets done. he is self motivated and beaming re: academics.
given that i am a single mother with an ex who is not very active in my son’s life, having a male teacher in my son’s life who gives him plenty of positive reinforcement has been a blessing i am immensely grateful for.
as for IHP v. honors culinary. i was told by Debbie Vodhanel, the magnet coordinator, that some of the kids in culinary were originally accepted to the IHP, but chose the culinary school instead. so, for instance, one of my son’s 6th grade classmates, is taking 7th grade algebra, but is in all the other culinary classes…. so if your child is particularly gifted in one area, it might be that they are placed in an advanced class in that area and the rest honors.
good luck.
How is King Middle School Magnet working out for anyone who is sending their child there?
My son is very, very happy at Reed and my daughter wants to go there next year, too. However, the notion of driving from Mt. Washington to Noho for the next four years….
HELP!
Shout out to anyone out there who has a child at the following middle schools (or friends whose kids are there): Sepulveda Gifted Magnet, Lawrence GM, Porter GM, and Palms GM.
We are looking ahead as I have 9 1/2 y.o. twins (in 4th). Both are in separate magnet schools (don’t ask!), one is gifted, the other has an IEP. Looking for a good school that can accomodate both.
Also interested in middle schools with excellent SAS programs. We are in the Valley (sherman oaks). Again, the issue is finding a school where both kids can thrive. A middle school that has 40 kids in a class would be awful for my child w/ADD. She needs a smaller, very structured environment.
Advice please!
Palms Gifted Magnet has a decent program, but the gifted magnet and the SAS for non-magnet kids take up a pretty large percentage of the school. Not clear they devote much attention to kids outside of either program. It’s also a pretty long drive from Sherman Oaks, unless you are taking the 10 to work anyway.
I am Tomas O Grady and I am the president of Friends of king
visit our website http://friendsofking.org/default.aspx
We are King and we are doing great.
READ THIS RELEASE TO SEE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON AT KING, the second most improved ms in all of los angeles last year
News Release 10/14/2010
Thomas Starr King Middle School will open a new environmental studies Magnet in the fall of 2011.
King Principal, Dr. Kristen Murphy said the entire community rallied round to make the Magnet possible.
“The community really came out in force to support us on this,” Dr. Murphy said. “We’re extremely proud and thankful for their support.”
Heading the campaign for the new Magnet was parent and educational activist Tomas O’Grady.
“This is the future of public education,” said O’Grady. “The Principal, the teachers, the parents and the community all working together to get the job done. Ordinary people, doing extraordinary things. No photo ops, no grand announcements, no politicians …we did it ourselves.”
O’Grady’s grassroots campaign for the environmental Magnet began with a website: http://www.mindyourfootprint.org , which quickly garnered more than 350 letters to the board members of the Los Angeles Unified District asking for this second Magnet on campus.
O’Grady is also the founder of Farm Feliz, a local green organization and President of Friends of King, the first 501-c3 non-profit Parent/teacher group organization in California with an environmental sustainability clause written into its bylaws.
This is not the first time Thomas Starr King Middle School has been in the news recently. The ENTIRE school’s 2010 test scores (API) increased 59 points from 678 to 737, the highest increase of any middle school in the City of LA and four times the state average.
O’Grady points to these test scores, after school enrichment programs and an organic garden as all proof that community involvement is the key to Middle School success. And he believes it can be duplicated throughout all of LA’s Middle Schools.
“I have this vision of Middle Schools, that is not unlike a university campus,” he said. “ A place where students of all aptitudes, economic backgrounds and races can choose between different disciplines, Magnets, special needs, English learners and advanced studies, but mingle and interact all on campus.”
“King is leading the way with an inspirational principal, dedicated teachers and hands-on parents. You just wait to see what we accomplish next.”
Great info! Thank you for sharing and congrats on your efforts! It is always good to share updates with LAUSD families who are searching for a school. King sounds like an exciting place.
Our child is in the 5th grade at an LAUSD gifted magnet. In late November I called the Student Integration Services office to double check on how many points she has and was told that she has 16 points, 12 for matriculating her current school and 4 because our home middle school, Walter Reed, is a PHBAO school. On receiving the news that she has 16 points we then applied to a middle school that makes it known that they really only consider applicants with 16 points and above.
On Monday we received our child’s magnet application confirmation letter and read, to our horror, that our daughter only has 12 points. On calling the SIS offices I was told that when I telephoned in late November they were working to an old list of PHBAO schools and that they received their new list just this week, although maybe someone should tell Walter Reed because I went in to their office after receiving the confirmation letter and they were adamant that they are PHBAO.
I had another conversation with an employee from the SIS office two days after receiving the letter and was told that there’s nothing that can be done for our daughter, and that we simply have to wait until June when the gifted magnet middle schools will release a list of any spaces they might have. She also told me that the employee I spoke to at the SIS office in late November should not have confirmed that our child had 16 points, and that I should not have taken this as definitive anyway because points can change. I asked the employee how parents are supposed to make a considered Choices application if we have no real idea of how many points our children have, and are warned off from contacting the SIS office because our children’s points (or more accurately PHBAO schools) fluctuate after the application deadline. Her response was that it’s a lottery. Well in my book a lottery has transparent, understandable and fair rules that don’t change at the whim of those running it after people have purchased their tickets.
After touring many middle schools, listening, taking notes, researching and fact-checking we now have 12 useless points and virtually no chance of attending a gifted magnet of our choice. I’m furious and upset and wonder how many other families are in the same position?
Short answer: Probably lots.
Example 1: A friend of ours applied with all her son’s precious points and her one application last year to a high school magnet; after CHOICES apps were due, the LAUSD closed down the magnet! Their one shot and all their points went up in smoke! Thankfully the school took pity on parents in her situation and let the kids into the school without the magnet but… stuff happens.
Example 2: Despite the CHOICES brochure clearly stating rules of entry (“XYZ students get priority over ABC students”), one magnet school was caught allowing ABC students in over XYZ. When asked why, the principal placed ethnicity over the clearly-stated brochure rules. So despite the “rules” being in the brochure, LAUSD staff do call some shots along the way… much to our parental frustration and aggravation (and they wonder why we parents are crazy?!).
I am very sorry for your experience and am not making light of it AT ALL. You, like the rest of us, are at the mercy of the behemoth that is LAUSD, a massive centralized organization that is, ultimately, comprised of those dreaded and error-prone “human beings.”
A few thoughts. First, I wouldn’t give up all hope on your school-of-choice yet. Even though the school told you they only admit kids with 16+ points, that isn’t a rule, it is what has been past experience. They have to go in order of points and ethnicity (ethnicity trumping points usually). So first off, I would strongly urge you to talk to the coordinator at the magnet you applied to and explain what happened, express how very much you want your daughter to attend there, and nicely beg for charity. They won’t admit it to you or say yes but they might keep you in the back of their mind (humans being error-prone but also sometimes sympathetic). Keep your daughter’s name in front of them. Don’t give up all hope and keep expressing interest to them throughout the whole summer. You may get a denial letter in May but spots can open up over the summer and maybe you’ll be a lucky one who gets a “you got in” phone call a week before school starts! That happened to a friend of mine, so good things happen sometimes too.
Second thought – now what? Well, if your home middle school is truly untenable (and I’ve heard very positive things about Reed and it seems pretty darn nice as middle schools go — have you considered the small learning communities there?), apply to as many middle school SAS programs as you can this spring (start researching and finding out application dates now). Also check the LAUSD site in late April for open enrollment information and you can apply for slots that way as well. More info on both options is on this site if you search. They are not gifted magnets but again, you can keep trying to get into one of those while meanwhile attending a perfectly fine alternative. Go back to all that research you did earlier and lay out plan B and plan C.
Trust me, I FEEL YOUR PAIN. It helps me to take deep breaths and remember that my child will probably really be fine no matter where s/he goes (gun violence aside).
HANG IN THERE!
Sarah – I suppose there are several ways to console yourself. First, if Walter Reed was reclassified, this may affect the points of more than just your child and that may affect whether the gifted magnet you applied to will indeed be able to fill all of their spots this year with students who have 16 points. Second, the statement that you have to have 16 points to get in may not be as accurate as it sounds, despite coming from an authoritative source. All the school administrators technically are supposed to know is what it takes to get in off the waitlist because that is the part they control. The rest is done centrally to achieve the proper racial balance and a list of students (without points attached) is sent to the schools. There are plenty of schools where a student could get in with 12 or even 8 points in the first pass because they are the right race to meet the numbers, while the wait list is composed of all students in the “wrong” or “oversupplied” race and therefore they need 16 points to get in. Finally, if your home school is Walter Reed, I would seriously consider their IHP program as a backup. Many kids who would be qualified for a gifted magnet choose to go to Reed and then move on to North Hollywood’s gifted magnet for high school. I know you have done research and undoubtedly visited, but I expect you will find that Walter Reed has a rigorous program and all of the students in the IHP classes have to meet the same or similar standards for being gifted.
Bottom line, I wouldn’t give up hope yet for getting into your first choice and I wouldn’t despair about your backup options either.
As Rebekka once again rocks it, I’ll just point out a few other silver linings:
If Walter Reed is no longer PHBAO, that means ALL the children zoned for there are no longer receiving those points. Assuming that those kids are the same kids who would be applying at the magnet you chose, they’re in the same boat.
Secondly, the IHP program at Walter Reed is truly where quite a few gifted kids choose to go. If it’s your home school, you’re in. End of story.
It’s been my experience that the points are going DOWN lately. Schools that once required 20 to even have a shot from the wait list are now 12 or 16. And some schools can almost promise to get through their entire wait list by the end of the summer. And if you start to hear that class size is going to go up by a student or two (thanks to budget cuts), you just upped your chance of getting in.
And for the record, we were in the same position, as my daughter’s once “overcrowded” school lost points between applying and getting the points letter. All I can say is this is there are other options, but don’t rule out that late August phone call. And having gotten into Balboa now two times when we didn’t want it, stranger things can happen. Good luck, and if you end up at Walter Reed, we might just see you there!
Gals!
The kids at the IHP Small Learning Community (SLC) at Walter Reed are not gifted, they are HIGHLY GIFTED. The other SLCs at Reed are for gifted kids or kids who score in the advanced range on their CSTs – slightly different criteria, but same result – a rigorous program for gifted and high achieving kids.
The best part of it is that the SLCs have nothing to do with magnet POINTS. My son did not get into the magnet school of our choice last year and Reed was our back up. Thankfully, I had lined it up as another option. Yay!
Keep your options open! Apply to Reed as a back up. Go check it out. It just might become your first choice. The application is super easy and it is due on February 25th. You can download everything online.
Thanks, Angelica. I’ll be looking for 2012-13
Thanks for everyone’s constructive responses to my magnet moan!
When we were touring middle schools we also visited the small learning communities at Walter Reed and the various academies and SAS programme at Millikan, both of which seem like excellent choices if the whole points problem doesn’t resolve itself.
Our eldest son attended Reed over nine years ago, when it was a very different school, and I can really see the changes across the campus and classrooms, plus going to Reed would mean that our daughter would have neighbourhood friends and wouldn’t have a long bus journey, both of which would certainly be an added bonus.
As for the ethnicity trumping points, unless being British is suddenly thrown in to the mix I think that gentle reminders of our child’s existence might be our only hope in the quest for a gifted magnet!
Several friends have also suggested that we look at King as an option. I read Tomas O’Grady’s news update from January, but would love to hear from parents of girls who are currently in the magnet programme at King.
Actually, the “ethnicity trumps points” issue is not a one-way street. If the school is designated a 60-40 school (with 40% white), it is sometimes a lot harder to get the 40% white than the 60% black/hispanic etc. In other words, don’t assume that it is affirmative action in the traditional sense. It is integration and whether they need more white students or more non-white students depends upon the school, it’s location, and who applies in a given year.
Thanks, Anon.
That’s actually the more common scenario. Even a school like Nobel in Northridge it was 12 points white & 16 points minority which surprised me. I always had been told that my son had an advantage as Hispanic. Always ask for BOTH numbers if there’s a chance you can apply for either.
Hey there Sarah,
Here are more ramblings of a middle school mom who thinks about all this waaaay too much:
We love Reed. My son is excelling and very happy. And by the way, the diversity there is fabulous and there is no cap for any particular ethnicity (about half are non-PHBAO).
BUT, we live in Mt. Washington – very far – no magnet bus. I leave the house at 7:00 a.m and walk back into my house at about 8:15 when I drive in the morning. The commute makes life more complicated in many ways – the piles of paper in my house are getting taller and taller. My son, who should be learning how to be more independent, is completely dependent on rides, rides, rides. This kind of commute works perhaps if one is a stay at home mom (which I am not) or has to drive in the same direction as the school anyway (which I don’t).
My recommendation, you would be doing yourself and your family a HUGE favor if you sent your kids to a neighborhood school.
A family in my neighborhood is sending their daughter to Millikan. The girl loves it and the drive works for them (on the way to work). The kid goes home and interacts with her valley friends via Skype! virtual contact! I do not knock it as the kid is quite happy.
In any case, circling around to King in Silver Lake. From Noho, I would say you have a one hour round trip. Anyway, King is our Magnet option this year (with Reed being the other option.) KING is much closer to us and they seem to have a dynamic magnet program which appears to be blossoming. (Also, last year the diversity was not great, but this year – much better.)
FYI: today at King the kids in one block (there are three “blocks” or groups of kids) are going to mummify a chicken as part of their study of Egypt. pretty cool!
Great point. And no matter how far *you’re* willing to drive, your child will inevitably be paired up with partners in all group projects that are an equal distance on the other side (figure it’ll be my daughter and we’re in San Fernando). I can say this with absolute certainty since my son went to Lawrence in Chatsworth and most of his lab partners, group project groups, etc., seemed to be from West Hills–a 45-minute drive even with NO traffic.
Hmmm, more points to consider! I do work and often have to be in situ by 7.30am or so, which has been helped by the fact that if necessary I can leave our daughter with friends at her current magnet bus stop at 7am. Our daughter has enjoyed (she swears she likes it!) taking the bus for the last three years and was active in choosing her magnet middle, even though she understood it would mean an earlier bus and a longer journey. However if the magnet we’ve selected doesn’t work out, Reed is just a 20 minute round trip and Millikan about 30 minutes, although if we are driving her to school each day, these two schools are our limits distance wise due to our work commitments, plus we do have other children to juggle!
I am going to take a look at King because it sounds like the type of curriculum my daughter would enjoy and the parent body appears strong, but if we went there it would be as a magnet (if they have the space in open enrollment) and so we wouldn’t have to do the journey.
Even though I’m still aggrieved at the way in which LAUSD can reduce points once the Choices application has been submitted, and I continue to hope that our daughter will somehow receive a letter stating that she’s been accepted in to the magnet middle of our choice, I do feel there’s a tremendous benefit to attending one’s neighbourhood school if it’s a good match for the child, and so we are fortunate that we haven’t been left without options.
Sarah,
We will be sending our daughter to King next year and are very confident it will be great. They have a gifted magnet that has been around for years now and next year will have a brand new environmental magnet. In addition they have a great SAS program, music programs and a cool school garden.
To be 100% transparent I feel the need to let you know that many middle class or higher parents in the community will not send their children to King. I have heard their arguments’ and to me it all boils down to too many non-white kids at King. This is not an issues we care about (my husband is Mexican, I am the offpspring of a Celt & a hillbilly and we call our daughter a Spik-Mic) our daughter’s current school has only 5 white kids and she has never had an issue.
I wish you luck; I can tell by your writing you are ready to pull your hair out!
Dorit
Thanks Dorit,
I’d heard on the grapevine that King magnet is ‘boy heavy’ and so I was obviously keen to hear from families with girls who are attending or considering King; I’m looking forward to our tour next week!
One last query for all of you knowledgeable magnet folk: Has anyone heard of a child being accepted in to LACES for 6th grade over the last few years with only 12 points?
LACES was the reason I initially phoned the SIS office in November, as I wanted to ensure my daughter had 16 points before submitting her Choices application. She understood that it was a long shot applying there even with 16 points, but we both felt that it was worth the risk. Am I correct in assuming that 12 points now totally rules her out of getting in to LACES?
Are there any other schools I’ve overlooked?! She has applications in at Reed and Millikan, we are going to see King and I will check out the list of schools with space in their magnet programmes as soon as it’s made available. The SIS office told me that as my daughter is identified as gifted, gifted magnets with spaces would be our best option; do you agree?
Thanks for everyone’s advice and humour over the last week. I’ve gone from ranting and wanted to move back to Blighty, to feeling like everything will of course be fine come September!
Sarah x
I can never say never. There is a strong possibility that class size could increase. Even a bump of 1-2 per class changes the odds drastically, especially at middle and high school. A couple of years back when K-3 went from 20 to 24, there were tons of 5th graders getting in who weren’t expecting it. In addition, once you’re on the wait list, you can call, and cheerfully ask where you are on the wait list, tell them about the mix up (no blame, just explain) and say you really are interested in the spot. And keep calling back every couple of weeks until the office closes for summer and when they reopen. Offer to be there on day 1. The principal has more leeway the closer it gets to school.
I’ve never heard of gifted magnets that weren’t full. It might happen, but I never saw it in my area. You have a few options and she will get in somewhere, and then its a matter of making the best of several really viable choices.
Good luck.
Good news! The SIS office left me a message this afternoon stating that the district has reinstated the Walter Reed PHBAO points for the 2011/2012 school year and that families in the Reed district will be receiving letters confirming this shortly.
My faith in humanity has (somewhat) been restored (world peace would fully restore it) and the news has really made my day, as I’m currently sitting in ICU watching my eldest recover from surgery.
Good luck in your childrens’ education and thanks to the Magnet Yentas for their advice.
Excellent! Glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing the info…
My son (5th grader in 2011/12) has been accepted to the new LACES ES so he’ll continue on to LACES for 6th grade if we want to send him there. If anyone out there has a kid who goes to LACES, could you comment on the nightly homework load, what type of homework (worksheets, thinking homework, etc). He’s been identified gifted, strong suit is language arts, but I’d like him exposed to more math and science. He’s not overly motivated to do a lot of homework. I also would like to know about the assessments that LACES administers to all incoming 6th graders, is it just for math or for language arts also? He enjoys free time to read and ride his bike around the house in the afternoons. My husband recently checked out Portola HG in the valley and while he was impressed with many things there, my son would have to be on the bus for a long time since we live just east of Culver City. I would shoot myself if I have to drive him to the valley everyday and I have 3 other kids that I have to worry about. Any other suggestions for middle schools? I’ve read a great deal about King MS here and that’s far too but the ride bus won’t be as bad as going to the valley and I heard the principal at a middle school forum last year and I was pretty impressed with what the kids are doing. Anyone know of a middle school in my area that have non-cored curriculum, so a teacher for every subject?
Thanks.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
There is a great survey post by “Anon” about middle schools on the westside and specifically gifted programs at each of Palms, Paul Revere, and Emerson under Gifted Student Programs. If you are near Culver City, each of these schools would be closer than anything in the Valley. The Emerson IHP program is open to all students who place into it without going through the Choices selection and is one of only two IHP programs in LAUSD. There are separate teachers for all academic subjects and the IHP English and Math teachers also teach SAS English and Math class sections. There are no separate IHP classes for History and Science, so those teachers teach only SAS classes. I understand that Palms Gifted Magnet and SAS have cored curriculum in 6th grade, so that students have one teacher for both Science and Math, and a second teacher for English and History.
ps What is LACES ES? And does it feed into LACES?
Historically, LACES has had no feeder elementary schools. At this year’s orientation meeting, though, they said admission will be much tougher because they are planning on using a few of the local neighborhood schools as feeders and giving them priority admission status. It will be interesting to see if that comes to pass and how it will affect overall test scores.
I have heard of this and didn’t think it was true. Are there other middle schools that have feeder schools?
This is the first I’ve heard of it as well.
Well all non-magnet middle schools have feeder elementary schools, these are the home schools for those kids. What’s unusual here is that LACES is a full school magnet and its not clear whether the elementary schools that are being referred to are magnet schools themselves (hence anyone can apply and possibly have a new entry point to LACES middle/high school), or are neighborhood elementary schools that are for the first time going to have priority for LACES admission over the savvy parents who have patiently accumulated wait list points in the hopes of having enough to get admitted to LACES for 6th grade. The op referred to her son getting into LACES ES; its not clear to me if there is a single school that has been renamed LACES ES or how anyone would have been admitted to it for next year.
These are all great questions–and certainly a departure from the magnet application process. There aren’t a lot of magnet-only schools, but Balboa and SOCES come to mind. I’m curious what prompted this or if anyone out there knows what the ramifications are. If it’s a few spots promised, it will annoy the families who don’t get slotted, and if it’s quite a few, it will enrage the families who have been patiently waiting for a shot at a sixth-grade opening the old-fashioned way.
also, the elementary schools that are in LACES neighborhood currently feed in Emerson. If these are the schools that are being referred to, I will be very curious to see how this might affect Emerson.
Does anyone have a working relationship with the LD office or the school board member there? My contacts are pretty much limited to the Valley, but it would be very interesting to get to the bottom of this.
I realize that non-magnet middle schools have feeders, but that has no implication for the magnet middle school that resides on its campus. Neighborhood kids do not get priority into their “home school” magnet. Why would this be the case with LACES?
Late to the party on this one but FWIW – and setting aside test scores (grrr) for the moment – the District is embracing the “family of schools” concept all over again (e.g., stronger feeder patterns) but for those who are unfamiliar with developments, the District is also deep into the so-called “Public School Choice” plan which plays havoc with any feeder patterns, especially in parts of the District (unlike the Westside, for example) that have traditionally had well-respected feeder patterns. With all of the PI 5+ schools in LAUSD ( see Program Improvement), if current practice persists, I’ll soon be asking “what feeder patterns?”
Hi. I am a LACES parent. There is no “LACES ES” The school is: Mid-City Center for Enriched Sciences—which will replace the current kindergarten through 8th grade Mid-City Magnet at the corner of West Adams and Arlington. The school is one of four “Global Awareness Magnets” established by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and funded through a $3.6 million federal grant. Part of the fine print in the grant included making Mid-City a feeder school to LACES. When this was first presented to LACES parents 2 years ago, it was not well received, because it meant that 60 spots normally filled through the magnet lottery at LACES were now to be guaranteed to these feeder students. My opinion is that in the short term this will negatively effect the Latino and African-American LACES applicants, since the make up of Mid City Center is made up mostly of these groups. But due to the desire for many other groups to have children attend LACES, perhaps the demographic will change, parents will send their kids to Mid-City in the knowledge they are guaranteed a spot at LACES. Therefore, eventually all ethnicities will have a lesser chance to attend LACES then there already is!
I feel that this concept takes away from the original intent of the 100% magnet schools, which always draw students from all over via a lottery and not preference to one school.
Hello, I am looking for a magnet middle school(2012/2013) with computer technology/math/ science Theme for my oldest son in the valley. I am looking for anyone with experience at any of the schools. I am trying to figure out between Byrd, Pacomia or Van Nuys if one is better than the other. Thank you for your help and advise.
Have a great day! Kelley
Have you toured them? I honestly haven’t been to any of those campuses. What area do you live in? I know Frost in GH is only minutes from San Fernando and Sylmar and has a M/S/T theme.
Hello Thank you for your response. I replied the other day but it does not look it like saved. I live in Shadow Hills. I have not toured, only have been speaking to parents who have their older children in Magnets. I will look at the Sylmar school. The Choices site lists 3 Computer Science schools. I am trying to find parents who have sent their child to a Computer Science Middle School magnet to see if one of them is better than the other. Peace, Kelley
Also look at Frost in Granada Hills. My son went to Verdugo Hills and my daughter went to elementary in GH, and we live in San Fernando, and the trip from Tujunga to GH is pretty easy–I don’t think Shadow Hills would be much worse. Frost is over 800–comparable with Holmes and Nobel and is a Math/Science/Tech magnet.
Wonderful. Did you son like Verdugo? I heard they have a great Magnet. True? peace, Kelley
My son graduated in 2008. We loved the schedule–getting out at 1:12 every day facilitated his community college courses, and even playing sports, he was home before dark. Kids take three courses a day for a semester then switch to the other courses. It does make taking AP courses a little challenging, but we preferred actual college courses. The magnet coordinator is great, and the college counselor was amazing. I realize you have a few years, but definitely go take a tour in the next year or two and get an idea of what it’s like for you and your son.
I was at the LACES tour this year and Mary London did mention that as of next year there would be fewer spaces for the general population because an elementary school would be feeding in to 6th grade. I cannot for the life of me remember which school it is, but the implication was that it was only one elementary and not several.
I’ve just remembered which school was going to ‘feed’ in to LACES! It is Mid City elementary and I think it’s a magnet school. Hope that helps!
That makes sense. Mid City is currently K-8, but according to its website they are phasing out 6-8 and it will only be K-5 as of 2013. So, they are basically moving the middle school program to LACES. Because Mid-City is 95-99% Hispanic and African-American, this will primarily affect admission to LACES in those categories only.
I think the impact is somewhat more dramatic than this since Mid-City is itself a magnet and at least according to this media report, all 5th graders “will matriculate” to LACES.
http://theneighborhoodnewsonline.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=681:school-reports&catid=37:community-news&Itemid=57
For this year’s CHOICES brochure, it is simply listed as a new magnet elementary school for grades 1-5 without any mention of LACES yet the op referred to it as “the new LACES ES” so clearly it is already being thought of that way. Once the word gets out that these magnet students are guaranteed admission to LACES, it certainly seems like this becomes a new LACES entry point for anyone willing to make the switch while still in elementary. Especially next year when other 5th graders are applying I have to imagine that a reduction in the number of available spaces by 50 or 60 will affect the acceptance rates in both the minority and non-minority categories. On the other hand, if Mid-City Magnet is on the Open Enrollment list on Monday because it is so new that it didn’t fill up (and the LACES connection wasn’t something that anyone who hadn’t been on a LACES tour would have been aware of), it could be very interesting to see what happens to its character as a neighborhood school.
Mid-City was not on the open enrollment list released this week, so either people figured out that this is a way to get into LACES without having maximum points or this will simply be where they get 50-60 students for the minority category.
Looking for comments on Mt Gleason Middle Magnet program in Sunland . I have a 4th grader and will need to start looking at Middle schools in the Fall. Looking for info to help me make a decision. Thank you, Kelley
When is a child old enough to pick their own classes/ electives? We received the enrollment packet for the middle school our soon to be 6th grader will be going to next year. Along with the request for proof of address and immunization records, we were asked to pick an elective. Our daughter picked the one she thought would be the easiest (she is a high achiever but never works at it) we want her to take something that will change her. So when is a child old enough to make her own choices?
You’re at that threshold now, doreet. Be thankful she can choose. At most schools they dump them in this god awful “wheel” where they get programmed for whatever is available that period and make it available for additional intervention if needed. At those schools, the only kids who get to choose their sixth grade elective are the kids who pick orchestra.
I let my son pick his middle and high school, so electives are way down the list. I’d always reserve judgement to discuss or veto any choices (office experience, for example), but starting in middle school, it’s a great opportunity to start having conversations about what you expect versus true free will.
My son did the elective wheel in sixth grade and it was great. He was assigned to computers, drama, and some kind of art class over the year. It forced/allowed him to take things he might not otherwise chosen, which in part led him to choose drama in later grades when the elective was not restricted. It also pushed him outside of his little cocoon in SAS classes with the same students and paired him with students throughout the school. He learned that many of those kids were a heck of a lot nicer and more genuine than the SAS kids. It also exposed him to more teachers. All in all, anything but a “god awful” experience.
Thanks for the feedback Anon and magnetangel.
The choices at our school will be the Art/ Tech Wheel or Orchestra. Being that Liberty (my daughter) has been playing cello for 2 years, she could do either. Liberty wants the “Wheel” because she believes it has a robotics class and she thinks it would be easer (no caring cello each day). (Note- she likes playing cello and will keep playing at the local music school no matter what elective she is in).
You both have thoughts on the Wheels; could I ask if either of you know much about Thomas Starr Kings Magnet school Wheel elective?
We, the husband and I, have decided we will pick the elective. We are torn; the Wheel looks cool but we like her being part of something bigger then her, were she needs to depend on others and others need to depend on her and we (well I) believe we will find that in Orchestra (we have tried sports team and that did not work out).
Any more feedback would be welcome!
I don’t know anything about Kings Magnet School or its wheel electives. My son had played trumpet for several years in elementary school, but the orchestra was weak in his school and it didn’t attract that many kids. So, he wasn’t that eager to do it. We had no problem with him choosing. My view is that part of middle school is teaching your child about independence and making decisions and it’s OK to let them make this fairly minor choice. I would simply make sure your daughter makes the decision with all of the facts. For example, it may be that the school provides a cello and allows students to leave it in their music locker each day. It seems crazy to make a decision not to do orchestra based on her desire not to have to carry her cello back and forth if that’s not an issue. I might also try to find a family who has an older kid in orchestra and connect your kid with their kid to get their views. Other than that, I would take a step back and realize that at 6th grade they can begin to make some decisions for themselves and that this is perfectly fine even if your daughter ends up regretting them. That’s the only way she’ll learn. It’s not like her 6th grade elective choice is going to matter much to her
later life, especially if she keeps playing cello outside of school and could join orchestra in 7th grade if she wants to do so.
Has anyone heard anything about the new magnet starting up at Thomas Starr King- the environmental magnet? I believe it is not a GATE magnet.
the new magnet is not GATE but open to everyone. they are taking 6th and 7th graders, everyone I know who wanted in got in. many of my daughters friends who are enrolled (my daughter will be in the gifited magnet) are excited and so are their parents. the teachers i met are excited about the program and have many years teaching experience.
My son, who is a Gate student will be attending the Environmental Science (ES) Magnet school at King as a 7th grader. I enrolled him after being reassured numerous times by Carlos Hernandez, who runs the Art and Tech gate magnet at King that there will be an honors classroom and a non honors classroom for both the 6th and 7th grade at the new ES magnet. I was told that many of the students on the Art and Tech wait list will be attending the new ES school. (this is my son’s situation). Those wait list students are all gate and they and any other kids with qualifying scores will be in the honors classroom at the ES school. There will be enough of them to create the honors group/classroom, according to Carlos.
I have been told that Honors level classes are what gate children receive. Whether or not the new magnet is labeled gate, if the children are gate they will be grouped and receive the same level of rigorous academics tailored to their gate status – honors classes – same as gate. (sorry to be redundant)
This is the way it works at the Reed small learning communities (slc). Reed is not a gate magnet, but the gate kids are grouped into an honors classroom. My son completed 6th grade at King in an honors slc. His classmates were all gate. Some were highly gifted.
For what it’s worth, my daughter’s best friend is designated as highly gifted and will be attending the 6th grade at the new ES school at king.
Not sure if P.E. will be all gate at king. I believe that period might be grouped by grade.
Thank you so much for all of the information. My son is not GATE but his scores will qualify him for the honors classes-which Carlos Hernandez has explained to me. I feel so excited to have this option for my son as we are trying to support local schools.
correction: my son, Andy, completed 6th grade at a Reed Honors SLC…
My daughter will be attending the 6th grade Art and Tech magnet at King in September and we are really happy she’s been accepted as it seems like a great program, even though it’ll mean her taking a pretty early bus each day! She was identified as GATE and attended a gifted magnet elementary, but from what I saw in the class rooms at King, the program is challenging and interesting enough to keep most students on their toes!
I look forward to meeting you other King parents in September!
it is so nice there are going to be active and interested parents at King next year in both magnets! I look forward to meeting all of you.
I was wondering, which grade schools is everyoen comming from? We are coming from Micheltorena (in the Sunset Junction part of Silver Lake)
Mt. Washington Elementary, originally. I will actual have my 2 attending King. The 7th grade boy in the ES and the 6th grade girl in the Art & Tech.
Our daughter is going to King from the magnet at Wonderland.
My son is coming from Los Feliz Charter for the Arts. I’m excited to meet you all as well.
My son just started middle school in September. My husband and I had struggled with our decision to apply to Sepulveda Gifted Magnet, although scores were higher at Porter Gifted Magnet. In the end, because we had no points and only were given one “choice,” we thought we’d have a better chance getting our son into Sepulveda. The other two determining factors were that we were very impressed by the the principal and we practically fell in love with the magnet coordinator at Sepulveda. Well, both the principal and the magnet coordinator quit over the summer before school started.
My son had his arm broken the second week of school. (The broken arm MAY have been an accident in gym class.) But besides that, he’s being bullied by some kid in the regular school, has had his bookbag stolen in the lunch area, and he hates the over-crowded, rowdy atmosphere of Sepulveda’s general school. This school, without the former principal and coordinator, is not what we were expecting.
To top it off, the first week of school their website boasted that they still had openings. Of course they did. If we had known that spaces would be available at Sepulveda if he didn’t get into Porter, we’d have applied to Porter in the first place. But we didn’t realize that there’d be any back-up availability with all the talk of “waiting lists” during the open houses.
So here’s my questions:
1. Are other parents happy with Sepulveda GM? Maybe we just got off to a bad start.
2. Is it possible to transfer to Porter now that school has started?
You can contact Porter, but after “norm” day in October, it’s highly unlikely that there are any spaces. Given your situation, I’d call because it’s worth the five minutes.
The things you are talking about are exactly my concerns with Sepulveda. The magnet was *the* magnet to go to prior to my son’s middle school years in the early 2000s. Our neighbors sent all their kids, the oldest in his mid 30s and the youngest being 23. By the time the youngest neighbor attended and we were looking, we didn’t consider it at all. A quick read of the reviews on the school review sites gives similar stories to yours regarding issues in PE, the neighborhood school, and the area around the school.
If you continue to question his safety, please look at SAS options this spring, and apply to Porter for 7th grade.
I wish you the best.
Hi,
I’m not sure where to ask my question so I’ve chosen this thread since it’s regarding middle school.
My daughter is in 5th grade. She has 12 magnet points. Her school, Hesby, goes through 8th grade. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep her there through middle school so I was accumulating points. I have decided to keep her at Hesby but will need the points for high school. What would be the best magnet middle school to apply to so she DOESN’T get in? So that she will have the points for high school. I am concerned that I have messed myself up and she will get in, loose her points and not be able to get into a magnet high school.
Thank you.
You haven’t messed it up, per se, but there’s no where you can apply that will guarantee that she won’t get in with 12 points. You could conceivably apply to Nobel, since half the kids got in with 12 points, and half end up on the wait list–but you could still get in and you’d be stuck with none.
Another option would be to NOT apply anywhere this year–you’ll lose your 4 oldest wait list points, but you could still have time to rebuild them. Keep in mind, you’d still be at risk to get in for 7th or 8th grade as well with your high point totals.
This year is a real guessing game since there are many families who haven’t done the online application. If I were you, I’d sit out this year and then apply with 8 points next year to either Nobel or SOCES–knowing you still COULD get in, but it’s less likely.
Hi.
Thank you so much for your response, and so quickly too. I messed up, she has 8 points because she lost all of her points a few years back when she got into Valley Alternative. Do you still think I shouldn’t apply this coming year? Also, what about Valley Alternative as a school to use to accumulate points?
Thanks again. You and your site are amazing!
8 points is less likely to get into Nobel, if you want to try to use that. But remember, this year could be different thanks to the online application. And Valley Alternative is an option, but if something happens later in the year and class size goes up you could get in. And kids do leave Valley Alternative after 5th and 8th grade so you would be vulnerable to getting in.
Hi, my son was given a psych test/gifted test in second grade at Danube, and ignorant of what exactly that meant school-wise, we decided to keep him there. He did qualify as gifted. This year, he’s in fifth grade, and after some thought and tours, we applied to have him go to the Magnet program at Patrick Henry. After reading all the posts about points, and going to the eChoices website to read up on it, I’m still baffled by this system. What are his chances of getting into PH, and if he doesn’t, what happens then? Apply to the SAS program there? Or at another school? Any response would be appreciated. I hope I haven’t messed up his chances with Middle School, if I didn’t take advantage f getting him into an ES magnet schoo..
You will likely have no problem getting into Patrick Henry, even with few points–but remember that’s not the gifted program. There will be an honors track and gifted kids in the program. He could have gone there even before he was identified.
And yes, if you still want him at Patrick Henry, then apply through the SAS program there. Or to other SAS schools in the spring when the applications come out. Good luck!
Hello, I am new to this points thing and pretty new to Los Angeles. My now 6th grade son has attended Los Feliz Charter Arts (his 2nd year there).
There was a chance that Los Feliz was going to add a 7th grade, but now that is not going to happen. Now I have to figure out where to send him for 7th grade 2012-13.
Where I live, I am zoned for Eagle Rock MS/HS 7-12. I am thinking about also applying for RenArts 6-12 in Eagle Rock. Anything else I should be considering at this time? He has always attended small, project based schools and he is a bit intimidated by the large campuses of Eagle Rock and King, but I say change maybe good.
I am willing to move, but I work downtown and still have other children in Los Feliz so I want to stay close to Highland/Glassell Park/Eagle Rock.
Help!
My knowledge of that area is a little limited, but I do know people who commute from the heart of the SFV to go to RenArts and love it, so you’re not off track there. Definitely look at the schools, tour, talk to parents at pick up, and get a good feeling for it before you send him anywhere.
Eagle Rock isn’t a bad place to end up. I know several families who are happy there. But to answer your question, keep your options open by applying to as many schools as you can that are interesting to you. You might have missed some of the deadlines, but apply late anyway. You might think of your options in categories:
CHARTERS – Renaissance Arts Academy, CALS Charter, Santa Rosa (Ren Arts is very popular, so you can’t count on getting in. Apply to others as well.)
MAGNETS – first question is: has your son been tested for “gifted”? This will determine which schools you apply to on the magnet brochure. If not gifted – I recommend the Environmental Studies Magnet at King or the Arroyo Seco Museum Magnet. If gifted – I recommend Art and Tech Magnet at King. (Re: testing, I think I’ve heard Los Feliz hadn’t been conducting the test, but will have to change that soon, as some of your son’s classmates all had trouble when proving their “gifted” status when applying to gifted magnets. You should get him tested, though high scores/teacher recommendation appear to be good enough when applying to gifted magnets.) You can probably get a magnet application at Eagle Rock Middle School.
SAS (schools for advanced studies) – how are your son’s test scores? above average, advanced? If so, this gives you another angle to get into a middle school… Reed’s small learning communities are excellent, but a bit of a trek.
Again, Eagle Rock is not a bad place to end up. It is an International Baccalaureate school and your son would have 8 classes, with a language and an elective (band, art) guaranteed. Very appealing.
For myself after much angst, I chose King over Eagle Rock for my 6th and 7th graders. At King, the teachers are truly wonderful, energetic, kind and dedicated. The principal sets the tone for constant improvement and we have some outstanding parent leaders who are helping out. (You probably already know there are quite a few Los Feliz Charter grads at King.) Sometimes I lament the fact that my kids are not getting language, like they would at Eagle Rock, but our principal is bringing an after school Spanish class for next year.
FYI: King has about 1,500 students, grades 6 to 8, half of which are in one of the two magnets located at King, while Eagle Rock MS/HS has over 2,500 students, grades 7 to 12. It is a very different atmosphere at each school, but both graduate many students who go on to college.
best of luck
angelica
Thank you so much for your help/suggestions/advice Angelica and Magnetangel.
He has been tested, back in 3rd grade and it was not high enough to be considered gifted (we were in another state). His test scores, not impressive, but not a deadbeat either, just avg. to slightly above avg.
When most of his friends went to King this year, I thought about moving him over there as well, but I admit it is easier to just trek to one school daily instead of two, I worry about getting to both King & Los Feliz in time after work. Since I live near Eagle Rock HS it is not too bad to get there after leaving Los Feliz, but I don’t even know if they have after school programs or what?
Next year I know I have no choice, and I have to do it somehow. King had openings this year since it was a new program, but not sure if that is still the case. I will apply for next year just in case.
Have you heard about how the IB programme at Eagle Rock is coming along in its first year? I cannot find any information about tours or even how to enroll kids for next year. Is there a time to enroll students for the next year? I know the application process for RenArts opens next month, so I am ready for that one. I will look into CalArts & SantaRosa, never heard of those.
Thank you again!
Just got a wait list for Nobel Middle School with 12 points (non-minority). Really bummed. Does anyone know if they end up accepting more kids off the wait list or if this is pretty final? Any advice on what to do would be appreciated.
Wait a week or so and call the school. Ask what number you are on the wait list. They do go down the wait list, but the reality is it’s not always that many. Good luck
Does it matter what ethnicity you write for Lawrence Magnet Middle School? How many points do you need to get into this magnet?
When I toured the school this fall, they said that they get enough applications from both sides there isn’t a benefit to apply one way or the other. And for this year–the 2012-13 school year, 8 points got in for minority–I know because my daughter was accepted with 8.
Thank you for the info. Would you by chance know of any other Middle Schools to look at in the West Valley area? Charter,Magnet or any other school?
If you’re in the West Valley, there are plenty of options–Hale, Woodland Hills Academy, Nobel, Holmes, to name a few. Most have magnets and also have SAS. It really depends on whether you’re in the southwest corner, like Woodland Hills, or if you’re more centrally located. Families also love Millikan and Reed, if you’re closer to the 101. Others like Frost and Porter if you’re closer to the 118. It *really* depends on your location and your willingness to drive.