K-8: A Preferred Model for Boston Public Schools

Posted by: Helen Coen
Posted on: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:39 am
Categories: West Roxbury

The kindergarten through 8th grade (K-8) model is a preferred model for most parents that have kids in the Boston Public Schools (BPS). The biggest reason for the preference is that the K-8 model avoids the dreaded move in 6th grade to a middle school where there are new students, teachers and. administrators for students to have get used to all over again. Parents also like the continuity of the K-8 model, which allows relationships that were made between students, teachers and administrators to continue through the middle school grades.

With a tremendous amount of parental support the Joyce Kilmer School in West Roxbury will become a K-8.  In September, the school will use the BPS building on Russett Road, which was the former Lyndon School (the only other K-8 in West Roxbury) which is now at the Shaw building on Mount Vernon Street. The Kilmer School will use the Russett Road building for the upper school (6th,7th,8th ), keeping the Baker St. location for the lower school (K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th). In the 2006/07 school year, the Kilmer added a 6th grade and will add a 7th and 8th grade in the next two years. 

The K-8 model benefits the students, their families as well as the teachers.  Parents and students feel more a part of school community and everybody is already familiar with each other. For the parents and student, there is a sense of security in knowing the teachers, the rules, and what the expectations are.

Considering that many BPS students attend 3 different school in 3 years, how can you not agree that this is an improvement. Many students attend 5th grade at their elementary school, attend 6th grade at a city middle school and most hope to begin 7th grade at one of the cities exam schools.

Most important, it offers Boston parents more choice for their children’s education without having to move from the city.

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10 Responses to “K-8: A Preferred Model for Boston Public Schools”

  1. Maureen O'Keefe on May 29th, 2007 11:49 am

    Thanks,Helen. That was one of the main reasons for not applying to Lyndon or Kilmer when my kids (now ages 10 and 12) were starting kindergarten. Both schools at the time only went to 5th grade. My younger sisters now have children at the Lyndon and absolutely love it.

  2. Liz Regan on May 29th, 2007 2:58 pm

    K-8: You would think it’s the perfect model? Guess what…75% of the kids that are in a K-8 school leave in the 6th grade.

  3. Mr. Mojo on May 29th, 2007 4:56 pm

    I’m sold! Where do I sign up?

  4. helen coen on May 29th, 2007 6:06 pm

    Liz,
    Thankfully, someone is finally looking out for the other 25%. Not always the brightest kids or the most assertive. I ‘m glad BPS is thinking about ALL students, not just those chosen to attend the city’s exam school.

  5. Maureen Rossi on May 29th, 2007 6:13 pm

    I didn’t know the Joyce Kilmer was going to use the school at the intersection of Russett and Weld. There was someone asking me today what the building was being used for….I should have read this earlier!

  6. Veronique Mendelson on May 30th, 2007 6:58 am

    Well, I found this article very informative because I do not have children going to school but I do have clients with kids who do!
    Now come on ladies, a little more arguments are welcome! That’s what we enjoy with blogging!

  7. wide*angle on May 30th, 2007 12:20 pm

    Do these schools require uniforms? Any other common sense ideas (k-8,continuity) coming out of the local schools? Good post.

  8. Rona on May 30th, 2007 7:17 pm

    The K-8 Model sounds like a very good option for this day and age. Times change and the Boston Public Schools changed over the years with busing. I remember seeing the National Guard in the 70’s in Roslindale Square to keep peace as students were bused to schools.
    I think that any child that would have to attend 3 different schools in 3 years has a very difficult adjustment and is not beneficial.
    I attended 3 different schools, however, it was more consistent - Charles Sumner K-6, Washington Irving 7-9, and Roslindale High 10-12. Most of the students, about 85%, who started school with me at the Sumner, graduated with me from Rossie High and I still have some of those friendships even after being out for over 50 years. I will be going back to the Sumner in the fall to read stories to the classes.
    Parents try to be involved in school programs but the majority of them work with 9-5 jobs. Maybe that is why the K-8 Model will work and parents will feel more secure.

  9. adamg on May 31st, 2007 8:28 pm

    The Kilmer has a dress code, but not uniforms - the parent council voted against uniforms a couple months ago.

  10. Tim on June 1st, 2007 8:54 am

    This article seems to have generated a lot of interest. You may be on to something here. Notice the last comment before this one. Adam G. happens to be one of the founders of UniversalHub.com which is one of Boston’s foremost blogsites. That’s a good thing…

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