Kealing Middle School in Austin, Texas

“Kealing is coolest school around. They really help kids acheive their goals.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Kealing has been a very good experience for my children. Notice that I didn't say an easy or problem less experience. Yes, the expectation is set very high. Coming home one day my daughter told me that she finally felt that she deserved the A's she had made that semester. Know your kid and be realistic in terms of expectations. My son sometimes had difficulties there but reflects back on how much he gained from the experience. The academics are top notch and the orchestra is amazing.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My child is in the Magnet program. He has gone from being a bright, happy child to a child that is burdened and depressed by an oppressive amount of homework, and most of his friends feel the same way ~ many of us are looking at other schools. The teachers move very fast in class and refer students to tutoring and count on that and homework ~ this is how the kids are able to learn so much, so quickly. But there is a price. My child has gone from loving school, to thinking that his school is cool, but is saddened by how unhappy he is there. If you know of another good school, near you, consider it. This may not be as good of a deal as you think it will be.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My Child Is in the 8th grade at kealing in the MAGNET program. He says he loves it.Once i visited there one day and saw the diversity and large amount of programs and clubs kealing has to offer. My son was in the CAP program in the 6th grade and told me it was too much of a breeze. I quickly had a meeting with the magnet director and in doing such found that there was a spot open. My child says that the assignments are not easy but are not impossibleto do. If your child was in the Kealing Magnet Program, Pre-Ap, or CAP he/she would love it not only because of the ground breaking academics but also because of the loving and friendly teachers and students that are there!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The teachers are great. They even stay after hours to help the children achieve.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“While some of the magnet kids can be snotty, the rest of us are perfectly fine. And those that are snotty tend to be rude to everyone, not just CAP students. The teachers are incredible, though the draconian discipline is somewhat extreme.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Kealing is a great school with a diverse student body and excellent teachers. It's an awesome place to teach and learn.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Though academically, the school is easily exemplary,(I speak only for the magnet program, for the CAP system is one I have not experienced) I feel that in the classes as well as the hallways, magnet students have a tendecy to look down on Cap students. Parents, please sit down and have a talk with your child not to judge Cap students. Despite the numerous negative encounters that have occured whose validity I do not dispute, all children who live in the neighborhood are not neccarily to be viewed with hatred, and reading Malcon X and other stories about prejudice is useless if the magnet students consider a plausible interpritation of a CAP student to be speaking with an African American accent. The teachers are fantastic and encouraging, and the assignments are original and interesting.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This school is just like any other middle school. Unless you are in the Magnet Program, there's really nothing special about it. I was a little late to enroll last year, because I had moved to Austin less than a month before school started. I had the grades and perseverance to be eligible for the Magnet Program, but they would not allow me access. This ended up with me not having the best experience. The Magnet kids seem to be a bit snotty towards the other kids anyway, and there is a HUGE segregation. The Magnet kids are like the elite, because they are supposedly smarter and 'better'...the acceptance into th program has gone to some of their heads and caused many of them to be very pretentious. I wanted to be in the Magnet program so I could be challenged. but it seems that it would be a bad choice.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Regarding the Kealing Magnet Program -- this program is a wonderfully advanced program for bright kids, but be warned that your child must approach it with discipline. While these teachers are wonderful and the curriculum is very superior to what is offered in the regular public program, these teachers WILL NOT coddle your child. It is up to the child to stay on top of assignments, due dates, etc. and if he/she falls behind because of lack of discipline, it is a rare teacher who will help. All teachers will offer tutoring, but if your child doesn't develop the discipline and fix his/her issue, then they will be out, with out even a polite good by. I am not trying to discourage anyone from applying or attending Kealing Magnet. I just want to warn that if you have bright children that tend to 'get by on brains', ain t gonna happen here.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My child just completed 6th grade in the Kealing Magnet Program. I cannot say how glad I am that we made the decision to come here! My son is gifted and has ADHD (inattentive type) and I thought the organizational requirements and the homework load would be too much...especially after reading some of these reviews!!! Yes, he struggled with organization, but the teachers were understanding and helpful throughout the process. The homework load was no more than the elementary school that he came from - they were just longer term projects that required planning. That's a foriegn concept to most preteens! However, he's learned a great deal, matured tremendously - loves school, and cannot wait to start 7th grade. The bad ...the lunch periods are run like a concentration camp because so many students are cramped in one space and theft is a big problem. Bad language and behavior are rampant.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a current 8th grade student at Kealing. I think that by far this is the best Middle School in Austin. I have shadowed at other schools, but no others include the vast amount of creative and unique electives that Kealing has to offer. Kealing also has amazing core classes that don't use standard methods of teaching. I have never gotton a work sheet in any core class. Instead we focus on making posters and creating fun skits that help us learn. I have really enjoyed my Kealing experience.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Kealing Magnet MS has been an amazing experience of fun & learning. The homework load is tough, which is essential when preparing a student for high school, and better, college. Come here if you are hard-working, focused, and have a love for learning. If you procrastinate and do so only do so much just to get by, don't even send in your application. This school is for the best of the best, and I am exceptionally impressed with the amount that I have learned in my last year of Kealing Magnet MS. The teachers are ALWAYS enthusiastic and ready to jump to their feet to teacher. I have never been more inspired by school teachers as I have at this school. Kealing holds multiple showcases, so come to one of them to learn more about the brilliant life of a Kealing Magnet student. Remember, the best of the best is here.”
This review was posted by a student.

“i go to this school i am in the 6th grade and i love it there at kealing it is a great school more kids should come here.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I can't speak for the Comprehensive Academic Program (CAP), but you can be assured that the Magnet Program is top notch. It's like Stuyvesant for middle-schoolers. Beware though; this is an exceptional school, suited soley for exceptional students! I'm currently a seventh grader. My electives last year and this year are as follows: robotics, genetics, psychology, Citizen Kealing (public speaking/debate), Latin, Science Olympiad (hands-on advanced physics), heroes and monsters, and art. Plus I'll have three more new ones next semester, the second half of seventh grade... Federally, Algebra in 9th grade, but at Kealing more than 1/2 of 7th graders are in Algebra, and two 8th graders in Pre-Cal (norm. Senior in HS). This descrimination stuff is rediculous, CAPs can take Mag electives, they usually just choose not to. They can't take Core classes with Mags because extensive testing showed they couldn't keep up. No point in holding back the students who care...”
This review was posted by a student.

“this school is pretty boring and i know it is harder than the other schools but i think its just used as an excuse for some kids to say they're better than other kids that aren't in magnet. we get way to much hmwk and teachers expect us to finish it in 30 mins or less. also, there is complete segregation between the magnet kids and the pre-ap kids and the administrators favor the magnet kids. i'm in 7th grade magnet and i think that the only good thing about the magnet school is that you get to meet people from all over austin.”
This review was posted by a student.

“i am an 8th grader now and i went to kealing in 7th grade. i moved this summer and the schools here are really easy and im a-cing everything. kealing prepares you for everything”
This review was posted by a student.

“i am currently an eighth grader at kealing and love it. Yes, there is a lot of work, but it is without a doubt considered to have the smartest middle school kids at kealing. I have friends at others middle schools around austin and have seen the work they do, and the 6th graders at kealing would be able to easily do all the work of an eighth grader at just about any other middle school in austin.”
This review was posted by a student.

“i love this school. i wish i could go back. i was learning so much i even got commended on all of my taks tests.”
This review was posted by a student.

“this school is very challenging u get 2-4 hours of homework daily and on weekends or vacations even extra all tests and projects from classes are assigned together to get u even more tensed if u have patience and dont do a lot of other activities u should come here”
This review was posted by a student.

“kealing MS is the best school i have been to. The teachers are excited about teaching. The students want to be there, the magnet program is exceptional. I would definitley give it a ten out of ten”
This review was posted by a student.

“Kealing. This school is great. I am in the magnet program and I couldn't be happier. Kealing is not for the weak hearted. There is alot of homework and classwork but it all pays off. If you're a slacker just dont even apply, Kealing is not right for you. Everything about just makes me never want to leave. The classes the teachers, the students, the overall vibe at Kealing cannot be beat.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Kealing is a very good school, better than my elementary school by lightyears. I have an IQ of 147, ( making me an almost genious) but this school still challenges me. I also have SLI (specific language imperiment) and disgrahia yet my teachers help me over come these problems. I used to have to use 504 acommidations (things that insured that I wasn't being left behind, basically giving me extra time) but now I rarely have to use them at all. I also completely forgot that I had SLI. teachers at this school will help you with basically any problem. The principals here don't help magnet kids that much and whenever we have a problem that we might might need someone like a principal we go to the Magnet Director. We have a great band program. For those who are capable, we have a Jazz Band, something that Lamar does'nt have.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I would say that the school is pretty good, but moves quite quickly. You have to be prepared to study a lot more than in Elementary and you cannot procrastinate. Powerpoint skills are a must, and having it at home is a good idea. As someone said earlier, I hsve not had as great a time as some has because of personal issues, but the academics are a foot above any other AISD middle school. I highly recomend it!”
This review was posted by a student.

“a very bad school. Good teachers though.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Kealing Middle School is a great school overall.It is a magnet program school. They have unique electives not available at other schools is the school district. The teachers are great. They really seem to love what they are doing and enjoy being there. They really care about their students and make a special effort to help them. This school is a magnet program school and is supposed to be really advanced. They do a good job getting the kids involved in group projects, but the kids have so much work. My son was on system overload. It got to be just too much for him as it does for a lot of students. When he attended the administration did not do a good job keeping parents informed of problems, but they were between principles.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“There is not enough supervision at this school, especially during lunch.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Kealing has a great academics program but is not big with sports. Its great.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The Magnet program at Kealing provides a great array of choices for all academic interests. These include foreign languages and advanced math and science courses. Although the Magnet program classes are seperate from the regular program classes, a student who applies themself in the regular program can gain access to the magnet program. The extra-curricular activities are above average in the arts.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I agree, the magnet program has a tough curriculum,and it can be difficult to get with teachers. Requires organizational and study skills the gifted creative child may lack. Rigorous, drilling program. Not much help from administration if your child struggles. Keep up with the homework, there is a 30 point penalty if it is 1 day late.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Kealing is a great school. The teachers are well informed in their course of teaching, and the school is very multicultural. The Magnet program is top notch, though be prepared for a lot of homework!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Kealing is great! Very rigorous program and informed intelligent teachers.”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“A very, very tough magnet program; large classes, grading on a curve for science (only 10% will get A's), hours of homework every day; if your kid gets sick or is absent for any reason, she'll find it hard to catch up with work. Students excel academically, but level of stress is high. Lots of wonderful electives, but impossible to get into them. Some excellent teachers and some brutal, ego-tripping ones. A better place for hardworking, disciplined kids than for gifted or creative kids.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I'm a student at Kealing. I think most of these reveiws pretty much hit the nail on the head. Personally, my experience at Kealing could have been better. I think the Kealing experience was a dissapointment for me, because of personal reason, rather than the school. I lacked the determination, and work ethic needed to 'thrive' at Kealing. It's not that the material is overly difficult, the amount, in a double strand especially, can be over welming. The teachers, cannot be beat, my mother has had no difficulty reaching the majority of my teachers, and I absolutly LOVE them.”
This review was posted by a student.

“The magnet program is outstanding--filled with rigor, challenging projects and labs, highly-qualified teachers, and motivated students. My only concern is the overcrowded condition of the school this year, which has led to more fights, larger class sizes, limited magnet elective choices, and the addition of portables. The district should create a stand-alone magnet school to better meet the needs of ALL the students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son graduates from Kealing's magnet program this year. His experience was good, but not exceptional. The program is not as rigorous as one might think -- though, like anything, it is what you make it. The best thing about the magnet courses is that most students are there to work. Given the number of group projects they do, this is essential for student success. I can echo previous comments that parent-teacher communication could stand improvement. Most of my son's teachers did not respond to E-mail messages, and information on student progress was limited to passing/failing. The best things? The principal, Leroy Davis, is super. And the band program cannot be beat. Be warned: if your child is in band, his/her access to the wealth of magnet electives will be limited. Even with a PE waiver, my son couldn't take a single magnet elective in seventh grade.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Well one bad thing about Kealing is the way students are tracked into different curriculums. Most of the neighborhood students are in the regular school program while students from more affluent neighborhoods are bused in to attend the magnet program which receives better resources. It's defacto segregation.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I'm acually a student at kealing and this school is the best I've gone to. Kealing is very safe and the kids there are a lot more mature then other people there age. It doesn't matter who you are, you are allowed to show your individuality, with respect from your peers. The magnet program is really not as stressful as some make it sound like but then again that's just my opinion. The taechers are terrific with their students but I will be the first to admit they can seem a little standoff-ish to parents. Going to Kealing was the best decision I've made, acedemicly and I hope if your child ever has the chance to attend this great school you take it not only for the acedemics but for the diversity, cultural, demigraphic and spirtual aspects.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Magnet curriculum is generally challenging and well worth the pressure it puts on the kids. More emphasis on creativity than rigor. Many teachers are excellent but not as communicative as I'd like. Many don't respond to e-mails or phone calls asking about student progress. Some teachers seem out of their depth and others seem to view teaching magnet classes as status position. School seems generally safe. Especially safer haven for children who march to a different drummer.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Kealing is an excellent school with curriculum as well as entertainment. This is a really good reccomended school.”
This review was posted by a student.