There is plenty to cover.
First and foremost—the academics.
Students at this school generally transition into high school without a hitch because they arrive from their local Elementary School with an incredibly solid foundation. The faculty is a mixed bag, of course—ranging from good to excellent—but I can honestly say none of my children ever had a "bad" teacher.
The school really pushes excellence and puts a lot of energy into working with Gifted Student Day participants. I have to give credit to the teachers there; I know some of them take on that extra work without any additional pay.
Sixth Street has always had students placing in national competitions, particularly in the STEM fields. The administration takes immense pride in every single win.
It’s truly priceless when your daughter, while still in 7th grade at her Elementary School, already knows what she wants to major in—all because a teacher recognized her spark and nurtured it.
The fact that they focus so much on gifted kids is even more impressive considering how much the campus accommodates students with special needs—like those using wheelchairs—so the diversity of the student body is quite significant.
Second, let's talk communication. The principal comes from a tech background, and the school website is actually quite robust.
http://sixthstreet-middle.us-school.edu/Beyond that, if you ever need a face-to-face meeting, we’ve never had an issue getting hold of a teacher or the principal.
Third, the extracurricular scene at Sixth Street is massive. Home Economics, Junior Techies, Junior Coders, Junior Physicists, the Astronomy Club, Debate, Book Club, Creative Arts, Hiking, Orienteering, Choir, and the school band...
They basically try to facilitate just about every interest imaginable.
On top of all that, the kids experience so much throughout the year.
"Wellness Week" has been a staple for years—a full week of cooking and life-skills competitions (it reminds me of the time my kid spent an entire Sunday afternoon hammering nails into a board just to prep for a competition).
"My 6 Minutes"—a radio segment prepared and broadcast by different classes during recess.
Gifted Student Day—where the kids essentially swap roles with the teachers for a day.
And then there’s "Tea with the Principal," where students can bring suggestions or complaints directly to the head of the school. The principal actually listens and follows through.
They also organize sports days for families, bike rides, and even pet days.
You can see some of this here:
http://sixthstreet-middle.us-school.edu/news (listed on the left side)
Finally, there are those small gestures that brighten your day—like when the custodian fixes a flat tire on your bike so you can get home, or when a member of the custodial staff makes you tea when you're feeling sick, cleans you up without a word of complaint, and keeps an eye on you until your parents arrive.
Why do I think it’s good for the teachers, too? Because based on what my kids tell me, the classroom atmosphere is great. They joke around and laugh a lot, but they also get the work done.
Of course, nothing is perfect. It never is. But looking at the big picture, my personal take is that Sixth Street is a truly excellent school.
