[gs1]

How is the Mckinley Elementary school in Fairfield? We like a house, before making an offer wants to know the rating of the school. How are the math and reading scores?

Thank you

[JayCT]

Hey gs1 - you are looking at homes in my old neighborhood. I went to McKinley School from kindergarten to 7th grade (it use be a Junior High school as well as elementary school years ago). Of course, that was the old building. They knocked it down to put up the new one. The old timers do not like the new building (can't say I disagree with them about the outside, too modern). The school itself is stunnning with large well laid out rooms and great features (resouce center, computers labs, gym, etc.). People that I know that go there really love it.

Mckinley School is one of the schools though that is out of "balance" racially compared with other schools in the town. This means that the school has a somewhat higher percentage of minority students than the other schools in town. It has historically been this way even when I went there. This does not in any way mean the school is any worse than the others, in fact I believe it means that its students get to see a lot of different cultures and experiences and that helps build a better person overall. My kids currently attend a similar school in another town and I think there is a definte advantage.

The town has developed a plan to "correct" the inbalance by offering to redistribute some students to other schools but I understand they are having a hard time because no one wants to leave the school. To me that says a lot.

To find the answer to your specific question you can go the Connecticut Department of Educations website and do a search on school profiles. I will say Fairfield schools have an excellent reputation and you can not go wrong with any of the schools in the district. Unlike other states where there are large school districts with schools of varying performance, curriculum is pretty uniform across most of the district, so no kids come through less prepared than others. Good luck and welcome to Fairfield (and hopefully Tunxis Hill). Let me know if you have any other questions, Jay

[pminct]

My son currently attends the new McKinley School - he was in the first new kindergarten class.

I was never in the old school, but I will tell you, the new school is beautiful. I attended Mill Hill many many years ago, and I can't compare McKinley to how Mill Hill was when I went there.

But looks are just superficial. I have to say that the staff at McKinley is outstanding. Most of the teachers that I know are really, really great. The office people, the librarian, the social worker, etc.---they are all great. The Principal, I feel is superior---she really, really supports her "kids" and her "school"----Dr. B is always there---she attends every PTA event, and I often see her car at school at 8 or 9 pm at night or on the weekends.

Yes, McKinley students are lower scoring on tests, but this past year, McKinley students had the biggest percentage of increase in scores---so that definitely says something about the teachers and programs at McKinley. McKinley has an extremely diverse population, with over 36 countries represented in its student body. Many of these students start McKinley not speaking any or little English, but several of these students from past years have graduated high school well-versed in English and taking many of the top honors at high school.

McKinley does alot for it's students---they have started after school homework clubs and after school reading clubs. A relationship has been forged with Wakeman Boys & Girls Club---students can ride a bus to the club every afternoon. A Student Mentoring program has been in place for 2-3 years, where high school students spend one afternoon a week for the school year with one child who needs some extra support---the teenage student and the McKinley student spend an hour or two one day a week working on homework and other fun activities.

McKinley also has an outstanding PTA that sponsors and funds so many wonderful programs. Look here to learn more about all the great things the PTA does - McKinley School PTA

If you have any further questions about McKinley, please let me know.

Patty

[gcdtrek]

Somehow a school named McKinley here in Denver came up and thought I would google the McKinley school I went to in Fairfield I went there from 1960 until 7th grade. I have not been back to CT in well over 20 yrs. I would never have recognized it. I imagine the woods and the path in the back of the school are long gone,having walked that path for so many years. I have to say I do like the original school much better but how does one stand in the way of "progress"

[JayCT]

gcdtrek - I went to Mckinley at the same time. Are we former classmates? I am going to DM you to find out. Jay

[pminct]

The woods and the path are still there. The sidewalk nearest the school was re-paved when they opened the new school. The sidewalk towards the street was re-paved this spring!!!