Kinawa School

Great school and curriculum! Extra help is ALWAYS provided. Fun after school activities. Just wonderful.

Test scores are good, but that's due as much to demographics and parental education as anything happening in the classroom. The administrators are lazy and "too busy" to meet with parents. Interpersonal issues between kids (e.g., bullying) are not addressed without significant parental follow-up. The teachers teach to the bottom of the class, presumably for test-score purposes, and blame "administrative requirements" for their unwillingness to step things up for more accelerated students. We've had children as students in the district for over a decade, and have noted a marked deterioration in the quality and leadership capabilities of the administrators in the last several years.
—Submitted by a parent

I being a parent HATE this school, teachers are horrible, principal does nothing all day and lots of homework
—Submitted by a parent

I have a well behaved, intelligent child. I find the curriculum to be appropriate and the teachers, for the most part, to be highly motivated and caring. I do not think the homework is excessive or problematic. My child is safe and comfortable in the Kinawa setting. There is always room for improvement, but I do not see any major flaws with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Bullying is not addressed by the principal or the staff.
—Submitted by a parent

The homework piled upon the children is extreme. The children leave the school looking exhausted. I would not recommend this school if you are concerned with your child's psychological well-being.
—Submitted by a parent

School has a Montessori Middle School. Challenges students. Friendly atmosphere
—Submitted by a parent

Kinawa is an amazing middle school. The teachers are kind, the course work challenging, high end science with daily labs work, computer centers, and a wonderful music program. The school is fun with social events, tons of school spirit, and a challenging but fun gym class daily. The gym teachers are motivational and kind. One of my children has been ill and all of her teachers were concerned with the gym teacher modifying their program for her, both of my girls went through a family tragedy but gym, the compassionate teachers, and their friends carried them through it. The middle school offers two periods during the day to take different elective classes from giving to those in our community to video production. I love their school but most importantly my two girls love it and want to be there even when things are tough. What more could a parent ask for?!
—Submitted by a parent

Kinawa is an amazing school. Even though it's not in the best of shape, it has a great atheletic program and an outstanding music program. This school also houses one of the most advanced video production labs in the state (for middle schools that is). Although this school has a reputation of having rich kids that are mean and snobby, most of the kids are nice, friendly, and easy to get along with, even if you're a new student (I was one). The teachers are fenomenal, they do a fantastic job of teaching and making things easy to understand for the students and stil manage to maintain a sense of humor. If you ever have had some interest of sending your child to this school you should definitly look into it.
—Submitted by a student

I used to go to this school. Okemos' reputation isn't very good, being 'a bunch of snobby rich kids'. This is not true. New students will be welcomed within minutes and everyone gets along no matter how much money they have. Kinawa has a great teaching faculty who are fun to have as teachers and they make learning fun. Kinawa is a great place.
—Submitted by a student

This school is very good, even though a couple of the teachers are not the best, or the nicest. But overall, Kinawa is the best school ever!
—Submitted by a student

We were lucky to have our son at Kinawa. The teachers are outstanding, principal was wonderful, counselors are incredible and compared to what we have now, Kinawa gets an A+++++. Wish we could go back!
—Submitted by a parent

A safe school with no major problems, excellent music program, but as a parent I am not satisfied with this school academically. Some teachers are great but some are truly awful. Administration is not very supportive. Parent group is a somewhat effective cheerleader but seems to have no motive or power to push for changes toward excellence. Big topic in district for past three years is where to make cuts.
—Submitted by a parent