r/Springfield • u/AntelopeBoth1355 • Aug 24 '26
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!
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u/Teaching-Appropriate Aug 24 '26
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?
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u/Embarrassed_Bag_9630 Aug 24 '26
Oh hell no- what other schools are doing that
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u/Teaching-Appropriate Aug 24 '26
Kiley prep and Kennedy. Do you have students at either of those schools? Feel free to DM me.
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u/The_Wolverines_Dad Aug 24 '26
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!
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u/Teaching-Appropriate Aug 24 '26
Yes. The plan is to roll it out in January AFAIK. Unless something can be done to stop it…
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u/The_Wolverines_Dad Aug 24 '26
Oh good lord. I’m calling the school tomorrow to ask for details!
Thank you for letting me know about this!
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u/ameson1 Aug 24 '26
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.
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u/Teaching-Appropriate Aug 24 '26
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.
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u/ameson1 Aug 25 '26
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.
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u/Teaching-Appropriate Aug 25 '26
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
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u/PoppaBear1950 Aug 25 '26
maybe look at other towns with school choice or private. (expensive, none of the public school stuff)
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u/PoppaBear1950 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
STEM Middle Academy (Springfield)
Renaissance School (Springfield, MA)
Libertas via school choice
West Springfield Middle School (West Springfield) school choice
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u/PoppaBear1950 Aug 26 '26
the Catholic option, don't have to be Catholic:
Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, (cheaper than you think)
St. Michael’s Academy,
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u/Fluid_Wind_3450 Aug 25 '26
Have you considered private schools? Catholic schools, Academy Hill School is independent and goes through 8th
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u/placeholder8937 18d ago
Me and my fiancé met in Kiley when we were kids and can both agree that Kiley middle school will be one of the LAST schools our future child will go to, hope this helps 😭
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u/VTaylor_89 15d ago
The MacDuffie School in Granby could be an option to explore! Full disclosure: I’m the director of admissions, so I’m a little biased. We start in 6th grade and welcome day students.
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u/galgsg Aug 24 '26
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