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We're relocating to the Apex area and for next year our address is slotted for Lufkin Road Middle School which is about 7 miles away while Apex Friendship MS is within 2 miles distance. Lufkin is an Year Round school while Apex Friendship is Traditional. It seems that we have the option to request a transfer to Apex Friendship - not sure what the chances of being approved are. Any local families can give me some pros and cons? It seems that a 7 miles drive to school is a long way to deal with twice a day regardless if driving or busing but I like the idea of Year Round school. Apex Friendship Middle School just opened this year. I like the proximity to school but I wonder with them being just in their second year in 2019, are they doing a good job? And who are the students assigned to this school if my neighborhood two miles away is not?
There was a LOT of controversy when they assigned certain neighborhoods to Lufkin rather than AFMS. AFMS just opened this year. I'm sure it will be a good school. The principal gets to pick and choose her staff so she's not taking teachers who aren't "all in". But I guess it all depends on what you think makes a good school - is it the admin, the teachers, the parents, or some combo thereof? If you like the idea of YR your options are somewhat limited for middle school and WCPSS is not playing the transfer game anymore. I know a teacher who tried to get his daughter transferred to his school for this year, and his older two kids got the transfer no problem. This year? Nope.
If your kid(s) play indoor sports, be aware that Lufkin has a pole in the middle of their gym so their "home" games are played at the Apex community center or sometimes Salem Middle School (which by the way is a YR MS).
If your kid(s) play indoor sports, be aware that Lufkin has a pole in the middle of their gym so their "home" games are played at the Apex community center or sometimes Salem Middle School (which by the way is a YR MS).
lol what? They really have a pole in the middle of the gym? How'd this happen? Who failed to understand the concept of what a gym is for here?
Lufkin was originally a factory which they converted into a school - thus the pole! It is kinda crazy.
My son is a 6th grader at Apex Friendship Middle (8.5 miles from our house even though there are two Holly Springs middle schools each less than 3 miles from our house). It's a good school though - no complaints.
lol what? They really have a pole in the middle of the gym? How'd this happen? Who failed to understand the concept of what a gym is for here?
The existing building was retrofitted when they converted it into a school. The building did not originally have a gym. I had 3 kids attend and play sports at LRMS. The facilities did not really have any impact on sports for us.
lol what? They really have a pole in the middle of the gym? How'd this happen? Who failed to understand the concept of what a gym is for here?
I know when my kid told me last year her VB game was not going to be at LRMS due to a pole in the middle of the gym I thought "I have to see this". The background provided here on this thread is very interesting and explains the completely bizarre location of the school as well.
Thank you all for your informative replies. Our school transfer won't happen until next year and I checked the link and for 2019-2020 it looks like there is a transfer request option to AFMS for my address... if I read this correctly. I guess things can still change in the meantime. From what I understand we can't go wrong with any of the schools and I'm excited to see class sizes under 20 as we're at 35 in our current school. It would be nice to be close to home for the 3 years of MS but if not, it is what it is. I have to get used to this convoluted assignment process for sure.
As far as what I consider a good school is a combination of all "twingles" mentioned... great admin, teachers that love to inspire and challenge students and neighbors that go to the same school for easier transition and to do life with.
My son is a 6th grader at Apex Friendship Middle (8.5 miles from our house even though there are two Holly Springs middle schools each less than 3 miles from our house). It's a good school though - no complaints.
That's quite a commute especially when you pass by two schools on the way there. Are you driving or taking the bus? Is it common for neighbors to organize carpools there?
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