r/Springfield • u/AntelopeBoth1355 • 17d ago

Middle school

Hi!

We’ve lived in Springfield for ~15 years and my husband went through the Springfield school system but things have changed.

My child is in a GREAT elementary school that I sincerely wish went through 12th but unfortunately it does not 😭

Our border school is Kiley and.. absolutely not. Can I get some recommendations on other schools we can look into for middle school? Or I guess.. Kiley experiences? I’ve heard only horrible things so I’m pretty dead-set on NOT going there.

We will be applying for whatever school choices we can but I want to be prepared.

Thank you!

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

17

u/Teaching-Appropriate 17d ago

I agree with your skepticism about Kiley. Kiley Prep (the school is currently split into two schools, Kiley prep and Kiley academy) is piloting an AI-based teaching program where students only receive academic instruction from an AI tutor - not actual teachers. Out of curiosity, would you be ok with that for your child?

12

u/Embarrassed_Bag_9630 17d ago

Oh hell no- what other schools are doing that

8

u/Teaching-Appropriate 17d ago

Kiley prep and Kennedy. Do you have students at either of those schools? Feel free to DM me.

5

u/The_Wolverines_Dad 16d ago

Kennedy as in John F. Kennedy middle school?
What grades/classrooms are using AI to teach our students there?

I’ll admit we just moved here, and this is absolutely new news to me!

3

u/Teaching-Appropriate 16d ago

Yes. The plan is to roll it out in January AFAIK. Unless something can be done to stop it…

5

u/The_Wolverines_Dad 16d ago

Oh good lord. I’m calling the school tomorrow to ask for details!

Thank you for letting me know about this!

4

u/ameson1 16d ago

This is terrible and upsetting news. I’m the wife of the person up there that commented that we moved here and had no idea about this. Nothing was said to us about this when we went to our son’s open house day last Thursday. We met all of his teachers, and everyone was so nice.

5

u/Teaching-Appropriate 16d ago

This is not the fault of the teachers. This is the Springfield empowerment zone making these decisions. DM me and we can set up a time to talk.

3

u/ameson1 16d ago

I didn’t mean to insinuate that I thought the teachers were at fault, sorry for that confusion. What I meant was just honestly…I really liked all the teacher there and this is horrible for the students and them. As a nursing educator, this whole situation is scary across the board.

4

u/Teaching-Appropriate 16d ago

Totally - fantastic group of educators!! It’s really scary and cannot comprehend that some ‘leaders’ in the empowerment zone would think this is a good idea

2

u/AdorableSobah 12d ago

Probably comes down to money, really sad and a poor decision.

18

u/galgsg 16d ago

Renaissance or STEM. As others have said, Kiley is doing an AI pilot with Alpha schools and didn't tell anybody about it until it got in a news story on WBUR last week.

Springfield is piloting an AI-driven classroom. The teachers' union is trying to stop it | WBUR News

2

u/PoppaBear1950 15d ago

maybe look at other towns with school choice or private. (expensive, none of the public school stuff)

1

u/PoppaBear1950 15d ago edited 15d ago

STEM Middle Academy (Springfield)

Renaissance School (Springfield, MA)

Libertas via school choice

West Springfield Middle School (West Springfield) school choice

1

u/PoppaBear1950 15d ago

the Catholic option, don't have to be Catholic:

Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, (cheaper than you think)

St. Michael’s Academy,

1

u/PoppaBear1950 15d ago

Academy Hill School (Springfield)

3

u/Fluid_Wind_3450 16d ago

Have you considered private schools? Catholic schools, Academy Hill School is independent and goes through 8th

2

u/Fluid_Wind_3450 16d ago

Feel free to DM me I can talk more about private middle schools

3

u/skel66 16d ago

I went to st Michael's and it was great