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We intend make a move to Cary early next year. My son is not naturally academically gifted. He does fine as long as we watch him and nudge him to study when needed and so on.
We are looking at moving to a hood that is within either the Davis Drive Middle School cor West Cary Middle School boundaries.
Both seem like huge improvements over his current middle school education, from what I see on paper at least.
Davis Drive appears to have kids with higher test scores across the board so not sure if that means there is going to be more pressure between kids there or not to overachieve.
I am wondering if he will have an easier time at one over the other considering he is just an above average student and probably would not do well in an environment if there is intense academic competition.
I don't know much about West Cary Middle, but I know Davis Drive is considered a "pressure cooker" by many. To some this is a good thing, to others it's not.
My daughter is a normal above average student and she does well at DDMS. Her friends are all pretty high achievers, though, and I have no problem with her trying to keep up. My boys were not like that, but now that they are in 10th grade, I am seeing the "good" peer pressure to care about classes and grades. I am happy to see this happening, to be honest - YMMV.
I kind of think you are overthinking it though - there are different types of kids across the board at all of these Cary schools....as well as parents who apply pressure. Prestonwood Country Club goes to West Cary, I can assure you there are kids there who are feeling the heat from their high achieving parents.
Your child will find his niche. Find a house you like and go from there.
I don't know much about West Cary Middle, but I know Davis Drive is considered a "pressure cooker" by many. To some this is a good thing, to others it's not.
My daughter is a normal above average student and she does well at DDMS. Her friends are all pretty high achievers, though, and I have no problem with her trying to keep up. My boys were not like that, but now that they are in 10th grade, I am seeing the "good" peer pressure to care about classes and grades. I am happy to see this happening, to be honest - YMMV.
I kind of think you are overthinking it though - there are different types of kids across the board at all of these Cary schools....as well as parents who apply pressure. Prestonwood Country Club goes to West Cary, I can assure you there are kids there who are feeling the heat from their high achieving parents.
Your child will find his niche. Find a house you like and go from there.
Thanks twingles. I am so fed up with the our experience with schools that I want to get it right for once. We are specifically moving to Cary because of the schools. Do these schools have AP specific classes for the bright kiddos and then everyone else? That is what it was like for me in middle school. Personally I hated being in AP since everyone was smarter than me! I would prefer him being in classes with a mix of different abilities. I definitely don't want him to be dropped into a pressure cooker when moving across country is going to be hard enough on the kid. Thanks again for the insight, I appreciate it.
Just a follow-up to my statement, I'm going off mainly off of things that I've read on this forum, and I don't have kids that are yet of school age, so I don't have personal experience.
I do know that DDMS is one of the most desired schools in Wake County - people move to certain neighborhoods in an attempt to get into the school, and these neighborhoods often bring a higher price tag because of it. Going by the numbers alone, it's a very good school.
Personally, I think children mainly feel pressure two different ways. If the parents pressure the child and if the child has an innate competitive nature. I have three boys (all A/B students) and they have never felt any academic pressure - I actually wish they did so they would preform at their highest potential. The only pressure they seem to feel is their cell phones being taken away for a low grade.
At the high school level they will have on level kiddos and honors kiddos in the same class. I believe the AP classes are just AP students, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time!
Personally, I think children mainly feel pressure two different ways. If the parents pressure the child and if the child has an innate competitive nature. I have three boys (all A/B students) and they have never felt any academic pressure - I actually wish they did so they would preform at their highest potential. The only pressure they seem to feel is their cell phones being taken away for a low grade.
Haha. I think my son would get along well with your sons. My son is very social so at least I think he won't have an issue making friends.
At the high school level they will have on level kiddos and honors kiddos in the same class. I believe the AP classes are just AP students, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time!
That was my experience with high school, there were specific AP classes during the day and then there were other classes where all kids in the grade would attend together. Middle school was just AP kids all day every day. In my son's current school there are no APP classes so it's not an issue. Thanks for the responses!
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I think my son would get along well with your sons. My son is very social so at least I think he won't have an issue making friends.
