West U parents started a blog called "West U Middle School" to try to find a way to get more students to attend Pershing Middle School.
A blog has recently been created by some West U parents to start a conversation about how to get more students to attend Pershing Middle School.
The blog points out that few 5th graders go on to attend Pershing Middle School, the school West U Elementary is zoned for. Other students go through a lottery system to get into a middle school or parents opt to enroll their children in private school.
Here are some comments from the West U Middle School blog:
“West U Elementary is an exemplary elementary school, with HUGE momentum. The parent involvement is incredible at WUE. The faculty is among the best in the city. Why, then, are such a committed group of parents letting this momentum fizzle to the point where most of the children graduating from 5th grade face a lottery system to get into one of the neighboring middle schools?”
“We called this blog West U Middle School because we think West U Elementary School needs a middle school, and after spending some time doing some research, we’ve come to the conclusion that the answer lies in us. If we commit to making this change, we can get it done.”
West U residents Adrienne Vanderbloemen and Christi Young sent a letter to parents inviting those interested in finding a solution to join the discussion.
A meeting will be held at the Vanderbloemen residence, 4230 Judson Ave., on Oct. 14 at 8 a.m.
“The meeting is to discuss the reasons West U kids are going to different schools and how we can change this by getting parents and kids interested in attending Pershing. We’d like to carry the momentum of West University Elementary to Pershing,” Vanderbloemen and Young said in an email to parents.
West U HISD trustee Mike Lunceford will be in attendance at the meeting.
For more information or questions email Vanderbloemen and Young at [email protected].
To visit the blog, click here.
September 22nd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I have one child in Pershing i can not do anything about it but if i can i will not send my other child there I prefer another school private or Public or send him out state with my sister to a better school system.
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:31 pm
We started this blog, with no objective other than to look into why the momentum from West U Elementary isn’t carried over in our zoned middle school. The response has been HUGE! We’ve had over 750 hits in the two days it has been up! It is really clear to us that we have a great option at Pershing, and it is one that our kids are zoned for…meaning no applications, no lottery, and more important…no high tuition fees! Please take the time to read the comments we’ve received on the blog and Facebook fan page! We have had parents from Twain and Roberts also comment and say they are starting similar conversations at our school. It is very clear that we have a great option…THAT WE JUST AREN’T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF!!! So…how do you turn that around? This is what we are blogging about!
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:30 am
What a great idea.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
I took my third child out of private school and sent her to Twain & Pershing. She now attends St. Agnes with about 6 other girls from Pershing. They are all on high honor roll – no easy feat at SAA. They were very prepared because they had had high school spanish, algebra 1, IPC and high school level english while at Pershing. They learned to move between classes prepared for each class. They also had great computer classes and some terrific electives, including being a teacher aide.I think the advanced classes made freshman year a little more comfortable while they transitioned into high school. They are Juniors now and remain in the top of their classes.