36 replies to this topic

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

I need local input please...we are looking at purchasing a house in Folsom and we have an 11 year old daughter who will be starting 6th grade in the fall.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of the two middle schools? Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I called FMS this morning to get information on how to register her and the woman I spoke to was SO rude and unhelpful that it has really colored my views of the whole move!

My daughter is currently going to a VERY small private school in the Monterey area and I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY that a large public school is a totally different ball of wax. I don't expect the caring, personalized attention that we've been used to but is it too much to ask for the person representing the school to be nice?

[Dave Burrell]

My daughter attended Sutter Middle School, she did very good there and we liked the school a lot, I can only say good things about that place.

I don't know anything about Folsom Middle School, so hopefully someone will tell you about their experiences there

Good luck and pre-welcome to Folsom

[Revolutionist]

You may also consider sending your daughter to 6th grade at one of the elementary schools. It is wonderful that Folsom has that option.

We've opted to keep all of our daughters at NSE (Natoma Station Elementary) for their 6th grade year, and are quite happy with the decision. The only area that I can call lacking in this arrangement is the music program. Those who attend 6th grade at the middle schools have the opportunity to play every day, whereas those who stay at the elementary schools only have music 2 days per week. And the middleschools have a PHENOMENAL music program.

By far the most glaring difference between SMS and FMS is the condition of the school grounds. FMS is newer and shinier, and who doesn't like that? But I believe the quality of education is the same. I will have 2 girls at Sutter next year, and one at FHS who also attended Sutter, and its been very positive for them all.

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

You may also consider sending your daughter to 6th grade at one of the elementary schools. It is wonderful that Folsom has that option.

I had never even heard of that option! I'll call the school district. That might be a good transition.

Does anyone here think that the kids who go to 6th grade in the elementary school then have a hard time going to the middle school for 7th grade?

[supermom]

I put my daughter into 6th grade at sutter this year. Because they only have 2 core teachers for 4 subjects : meaning one teacher takes on English and history, another teacher takes on science and math: the kids transition easier. Every 50 minutes they still get up and move to a different class--but their core classes are just two teachers. They'll also have PE daily instead of once a week at the grammar school. And they have one elective and one advisory class ( 20? minutes with the same teacher who is their english/history teacher).

So--really--its like slow steps yet being able to feel the tempo of the middle school.

I liked it a lot for her--I think she's grown up a lot this year.

However--I have been completely unimpressed with the staff and teachers at Sutter middle school.

But--maybe that's jsut part of the transition for mom's when dealing with their kids going to middle school?

[stacycam]

From what I've been told (my kids are too young for real-life experience) it's an easier adjustment to do 6th grade at the middle school. Apparently they keep the kids pretty well separated by grade, so the 8th graders are not mingling with the 6th graders. Now, since you are moving from out of town, it might be fine to start your child in 6th grade elementary, since she won't have friends going off to the middle school, while she stays back.

Being the paranoid mom that I am, I kind of think 6th grade elementary might slow down the early exposure to more "mature" influences. Who knows.

As for the differences in the schools, again I have no first-hand knowledge, but from what my niece, nephew and various friends say, Sutter is more laid back and Folsom Middle is more serious. They also say all the rich, snobby kids are at FMS. Now, that's coming from teenagers, so who knows.

[BuffaloRon]

It depends upon the maturity level of your child. Honestly, I don't know why you would wait to prolong the inevitable, they are going to have to attend the Middle School anyway. It gives your child an opportunity to learn how to navigate throughout the campus. Sign them up and let them go to the Middle School. My daughter attended Folsom Middle and my son attended Sutter Middle, both schools are equal, one is no better than the other.

[Revolutionist]

I put my daughter into 6th grade at sutter this year. Because they only have 2 core teachers for 4 subjects : meaning one teacher takes on English and history, another teacher takes on science and math: the kids transition easier. Every 50 minutes they still get up and move to a different class--but their core classes are just two teachers. They'll also have PE daily instead of once a week at the grammar school. And they have one elective and one advisory class ( 20? minutes with the same teacher who is their english/history teacher).

So--really--its like slow steps yet being able to feel the tempo of the middle school.

I liked it a lot for her--I think she's grown up a lot this year.

However--I have been completely unimpressed with the staff and teachers at Sutter middle school.

But--maybe that's jsut part of the transition for mom's when dealing with their kids going to middle school?

I can't comment much on the 6th grade experience at Sutter. As I said, we've used the elementary option for all of our girls. But the fact that the middleschools take great pains to keep the 6th grade program as isolated as possible from the other students lends support to my own opinion that 6th grade is too soon to transition to the middle school experience.

Our girls had no real problems moving to middle school at 7th grade. Just like any other transition, having friends makes it easier. And the extra year of maturity helps quite a bit.

There's no doubt that middleschool is a completely different beast for us parents. And that may be some of what you experienced SM. Instead of 1 teacher, there's 5 that you need to build relationships with, as well as staff that has to juggle thousands of kids (and their parents) instead of just a few hundred, with much more complex scheduling. There are bound to be issues. I think everyone runs up against that wall. Next year should be better for you!!

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

It depends upon the maturity level of your child. Honestly, I don't know why you would wait to prolong the inevitable, they are going to have to attend the Middle School anyway. It gives your child an opportunity to learn how to navigate throughout the campus. Sign them up and let them go to the Middle School. My daughter attended Folsom Middle and my son attended Sutter Middle, both schools are equal, one is no better than the other.

Thank you to everyone for the input. I called the school district and there are no schools close that offer it and there are only a couple of spots open.

Wideglide, You're right, I'm better off not avoiding the inevitable.

On some levels, my daughter is incredibly mature - very smart and capable. On others, she's been pretty sheltered for the last few years. Her school now has 50 kids from 1st to 8th. Yes, I said 50, not 500. It's the proverbial one room school house.

I still have nightmares about my big middle school that I went to - it was so scary and overwhelming and the girls were downright evil. I've been really careful not to put my fears into her mind but still it's scary.

[Revolutionist]

Thank you to everyone for the input. I called the school district and there are no schools close that offer it and there are only a couple of spots open.

Wideglide, You're right, I'm better off not avoiding the inevitable.

On some levels, my daughter is incredibly mature - very smart and capable. On others, she's been pretty sheltered for the last few years. Her school now has 50 kids from 1st to 8th. Yes, I said 50, not 500. It's the proverbial one room school house.

I still have nightmares about my big middle school that I went to - it was so scary and overwhelming and the girls were downright evil. I've been really careful not to put my fears into her mind but still it's scary.

It is true, not all the elementary schools have the 6th grade, but those who do, the kids come in from all over town (school choice). I don't know what part of town you are now in, but Folsom isn't that big.

Unless you are trying to get from the Outlet Mall to the homes behind Empire Ranch Golf Course...

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

It is true, not all the elementary schools have the 6th grade, but those who do, the kids come in from all over town (school choice). I don't know what part of town you are now in, but Folsom isn't that big.

Unless you are trying to get from the Outlet Mall to the homes behind Empire Ranch Golf Course...

The reason I mentioned that the schools weren't close is that I think it is a good idea for her to go to school with other kids in the neighborhood.

I'm currently driving her 10 miles each way to school and back so I'm used to it. I would however like to avoid doing that in the future.

The house we're looking at is on Willow Creek, up near the water treatment plant.

[Revolutionist]

The reason I mentioned that the schools weren't close is that I think it is a good idea for her to go to school with other kids in the neighborhood.

I'm currently driving her 10 miles each way to school and back so I'm used to it. I would however like to avoid doing that in the future.

The house we're looking at is on Willow Creek, up near the water treatment plant.

At this age-group, it won't matter if she attends school at an elementary school or the middle school, she'll make friends from all over the city.

That reminds me of a personal anecdote.
When we moved into town, and picked our house - on a block of 4 and 5 bedroom homes, people-movers (SUVs) in the driveway, 1 block from the elementary school, we figured there'd be kids crawling all over, and that's just what we wanted.

Turned out there was only 1 other house on the block with kids, and none of them were the same age as ours!

Dissapointing for sure.

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

Just an update: I had emailed the principal of FMS regarding the rude woman and she wrote back right away and then called me. She apologized and was very helpful in answering questions that I had.

[Bill Z]

The house we're looking at is on Willow Creek, up near the water treatment plant.

That should be within walking and/or bike riding distance from the Folsom Middle School.
I estimate 0.7 miles if cutting through the park into the back of the school.

[awood]

Okay, so here is the straight poop as I hear it. When we moved here, 2 years ago, a lot of the info. we could get was based on test scores and the internet (probably similar to what your reading now). Since we have been here, here is what I see and the kids say;

Sutter = Ghetto
Folsom = Rich brats
Reality = The worst kid in Folsom is like a altar boy in some other cities. You have your share of kids at each school that think they are "tough" but all would cry like babies for mama if they found themselves in a "real" tough neighborhood. Demographically speaking, the mean income at Folsom may be higher, but the kids at Sutter want for very little. One of the biggest laughs we ever had when we moved here was when the lead news story was a fight across the street from Sutter MS. These young thugs apparently were gonna have it out. We (our family) thought the funniest thing was that a kid had to get a ride from his mom to the big fight!! HAHA How tough is a kid that needs a ride from his mommy to a fight? HAHA Not exactly living on the mean streets here.

Sutter = Old and trashy
Folsom = New and spiffy
Reality = Sutter is the original HS in town (when there was only 1) and is pretty old. But it is maintained as well as any other facility in Folsom and has all they need. Traffic may be a little worse (it was built long before Folsom became the bustling metropolis it is today!) But Folsom MS isn't exactly new. It also is well maintained, and they have their share of portables stacked along the back also. So neither is equal to anything like either of the HS's.

Sutter teachers = laid back and good
Folsom = up tight and good
Reality = It may have something more to do with the demographic than the actual teachers. It's easy for me to say they both have good in common and that's the important part to me. It's sometimes easier to misinterpit the "laid back" because if there are uptight A-hole big wig lawyer types, chances are their kids are at Folsom (they wouldn't allow their kids at the ghetto school! )

I think if you find anyone bashing the other school, you should look closely at their potential bias'. It is going to continue to get more pronounced as the HS's establish their seperate identities. Right now kids, parents, teachers are all still "warm fuzzy" regardless of whether you are Vista or Folsom. As time passes, they will all "get behind" THEIR school and become a little more protective. Wait until the Vista sports teams start beating Folsom at something! WOOHOO, then the gloves will be coming off! HAHA But it's all good. Friendly rivalries cause everyone to raise their game. But like I said before the biggest rivalry in Folsom ain't exactly gang bangin'.

Hope it helps a little? I tend to strip away the fluff and get to honest opinions as they seem to be more helpful to me.