100% of IST Graduates were Accepted by their First-Choice Middle School

Yes, this is a little facetious as we saw our first graduate in May 2011. (Our first planned promotion will occur in May 2013.) However, he did gain entry to his first-choice Middle School.

Tucson has few good Middle School programmes from which to choose; many Tucson parents do not realise this, nor that places in the better schools are limited. The over-riding concern in choosing a Middle School should of course be which programme is best for your child, and for your family, according to the resources you have available.

• Sectarian, non-sectarian, secular?
• Languages? Which? Integrated or extra?
• Sciences (including mathematics)? Which? Integrated or extra?
• Sports? Which? Integrated or extra? Competitive only or recreational opportunities as well?
• Arts? Which? Integrated or extra? Performance only or recreational opportunities as well?
• Which High School(s) come next?
• How well do this Middle School's students do at High School? and beyond? and do they track their graduates?
• Public (district or charter)? Non-public (private or independent?)
• and so on ...

(Actually, we recommend starting the process considering a Middle School in mid-third grade as the enrolment process can begin during the second semester of fourth grade.)

IST is a PK - G5 school and Middle School preparation is embedded in our Junior School programme. Our goal is that IST graduates will be in a position to choose where they go next rather than being chosen. In 2011, 100% of our graduates enrolled in their first choice middle schools.

Recommendations (listed alphabetically)

• Green Fields Country Day School (K - G12) independent secular
• St Gregory College Preparatory School (G6 - 12) independent secular
• St Michael's Parish Day School (K - G8) independent parochial
• Tucson Hebrew Academy (K - G8) independent sectarian

Worth Considering

• Paulo Freire Freedom School (G6 - G8) public
• Sonoran Science Academy (K - G12) public