What Are Your Thoughts on the Olathe(KS) Dist.-6th Grade in Junior High?

many school districts have it set up this way and some do well and others don't. My son went to 6th grade with 7-8th graders and did fine. We moved to another school district that tried the 6th-8th grade for a few years and actually there were so many 6th graders that the jr high building was overcrowded so now our school district really has a lot of different schools.
K-4, 5-6, 7-8, Freshman center, 10-12

I think it's worse to have just a freshman center because those kids are left out especially if they are involved in high school programs. My son was in Stucco in 9th grade, missed a lot of meetings because he wasn't informed by the 9th grade teacher that is supposed to pass high school info along to the students so he got a call from the main leader after he missed 2 months of events. After that he got a schedule from her directly but this was supposed to be given to him a lot sooner. Band was also another issue. They are required to be at the games but sit on the side lines and don't play for the field shows because they aren't all together to practice. The play one song all together which is the fight song then the 10-12th graders do the rest. I was disappointed when I saw this because I remember how fun and exciting band was when I was in 9th grade and then the school had 7-9th grade in one building but we were still included with the high school band and did all the field shows and competitions as a full high school band and didn't feel like only the upper classman got the benefits like my son felt. He wasn't selected to be on the drumline as a drummer because the teacher told him only upperclassman get the drumline positions so he quit band the beginning of his 10th grade year because he still didn't get to play on the drumline in 10th grade. Bells and malletts get old when you play them every year and don't get the opportunity to play the drums when you want to be a drummer.

I am in Gardner and a few years ago our district went to K-4 elementary, 5-8 middle school and 9-12 high school. It is working out fine as they have 5-6 in one wing and 7-8 in another wing. Either way you look at it there is a big difference between 5 and 8th graders, almost as much as 9 and 12th graders. But the kids adjust and learn from each other, especially in High School. If I had it my way, I would prefer the Olathe way with 5th still part of elementary though, so that part you should be happy about. It will all work out ok.

I am more concerned with 9th grade moving to High School!! I went to Middle School (6th-8th) and High School (9th-12th) so that is what was "normal" to me, but I look at it so differently having a daughter that will be heading into 9th grade in a couple years. I don't like the idea of having 9th grade girls in the same school with 12th grade boys!!! I remember freshmen dating seniors!! As a parent, I'm scared! Ugh!

They treat the 6th graders like they are in middle school somewhat at the elementary schools already, letting them change classrooms, etc. So again, I don't think moving the 6th graders to Middle School is as big a deal. I feel like grouping 6th-8th makes more sense than 7th-9th... I think the 7th try to be "older" like the 8th & 9th graders, so I hope having 6th-8th will keep them a little "younger" if that makes any sense.....

C., I have a fifth grader this year who will be moving to Prairie Trail next year. I was happy with the information that the principle gave us about things like eliminating the school dances and such. My son's current teacher is doing a great job in teaching responsiblity to help with the transition, I wasn't very happy about the switch at first, but I do feel that he is ready.

M.

I live in Olathe now and went to school in Blue Valley. My school had K-5 in elementary, 6-8 in middle, and 9-12 in high school. It worked fine. There's no intrinsic "right" way to divide it up. Sorry to disagree, but I don't see any problems with it.