Martin Middle or Leesville Road Middle? (Raleigh: transfer, neighborhood, middle school)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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We've lived in NW Raleigh for 7+ years but feel that Leesville Middle (LRMS-our base school) has slipped academically over the years. Our son (rising 7th grader) also seems to be performing below his potential at LRMS this year (he, we and several of his teachers agree).
Greatschools.net rates both schools at "7", but Martin seems to have many more elective offerings, especially in Orchestra and Art which our son does well, along with (Advanced) Math, Science, Health & Phys Ed. but NOT Language Arts or Social Studies :-(. Of course, Martin is also our GT (Gifted & Talented) middle school so MAY be more competitive (but not sure).
OTOH LRMS is < 1 mile away; may be more diverse than Martin (though not sure about that even), has some very good teachers, and he has some stable friends there... all positives. He also seems moderately excited about going to Martin and pressed us fairly hard to apply... but c/b just a case of 'grass is always greener on other side' or some fickle 12-year old motivation :-).
Any thoughts on our dilemma would be most appreciated!
It's too late to apply for next year, so you'd have to apply for 8th grade. I don't think many middle schoolers want to transfer for the last year of middle school. It's hard to get into even for 6th grade and much less likely in later grades. Is your question whether you should move to Martin's base area?
Sorry, I wasn't very clear... he was already accepted at Martin for next year, but we must reply by 4/27/11 or he'll lose his spot. We don't plan to move as we still think Leesville High would be a great place for him.
Seriously--the nice thing about Martin is that, *I think,* you get preference for magnet high schools. Plus it's a great school. I think I'd go there over a "regular" public with the same score. We applied and did not get in and didn't understand that if we put a 2nd choice (our YR option) we'd be kicked out of the Martin pool. What a bummer. I'd send my daughter there in a heartbeat, and her middle school has a Greatschools rating of 9.
Personally, I would take that seat at Martin. I am a huge proponent of electives in middle school and there just aren't very many options at the regular base school. Students only get one elective a semester and that's it. I can't really speak to the academics at either school. I just know that based on the opportunities that your son will have at Martin opposed to any non-magnet middle school makes it a no-brainer for me. If he was going to have to travel a really long distance, it would be different. But since you're not that far from Martin (maybe I'm wrong?) and I'm fairly certain that Martin has neighborhood busing, I say go for it.
Seriously--the nice thing about Martin is that, *I think,* you get preference for magnet high schools. Plus it's a great school. I think I'd go there over a "regular" public with the same score. We applied and did not get in and didn't understand that if we put a 2nd choice (our YR option) we'd be kicked out of the Martin pool. What a bummer. I'd send my daughter there in a heartbeat, and her middle school has a Greatschools rating of 9.
Yikes, that IS a bummer... I wouldn't have thought of that either! Funny, last year he didn't get accepted (to Martin), but to our second choice (which btw was a Hobson's choice which I won't state so as not to offend anyone, but was also a traditional calendar school:-).
Also interesting is that the WCPSS "party line" is that admission to GT (Gifted & Talented) vs. AG (Academically Gifted) magnets is NOT based on EOGs or other standardized tests, nor do they consider class standing... yet the 2 kids that were accepted at Martin from Leesville last year for 6th grade just happened to be among the top few students :-).
You're correct it's not all that far (8.1 miles per Google Maps) and there is a neighborhood bus. You are also correct that the number of electives at Marin (per there Website) is impressive ... phenomenal even!
My oldest is an 8th grader at Martin and loves it. But it is our base school and she walks, so I am no help with bus stuff. Esp since my elem schoolers walk too!
Thanks very much usedbebe VANc about Martin. My child is not AG - so i am particularly interested in non AG classses there. Can you tell me - are thety challenged and are people of that group happy ?
Thanks in Advance
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