tkd lisa said:
One thing I thought of based on Mickey's gal's post is that Florida is a "choice" state. I'm not clear on the particulars because I didn't do it, but you can elect to put your child in a different school.
You can only do this
if the school you want to send your child to isn't considered overcrowded. We all know the answer to that, so it's almost impossible to get approved. There are some special circumstances under which they will approve a reassignment, but it's a very
lengthy and tiring process that doesn't guarantee that your child's reassignment will be approved. Even under those special circumstances, you have to prove your case with valid facts.
The process works likes this:
1. You apply for reassignment to the school of your choice by a certain
deadline.
2. Application gets rejected, you're notified in the summer.
3. You request an appeal before a hardship committee of about 8 people, not
a friendly bunch. They determine if your request gets approved or
rejected and you are notified within 2 days after your meeting.
4. If you are rejected again, then you can make your last appeal before the
School Board.
It was easier to get your child reassigned years ago, not now though. There are schools that are under-enrolled, ours is this year, yet they won't accept reassignments. In my county, Broward, the only schools accepting reassignments are low performing schools and some in not so great areas. Some of the magnet schools do have really good programs, but are located in, again, not so great areas. Keep in mind, that there are children that live within the boundaries for that specific school that will get to attend that school, regardless of their grades. Yet, your child has to prove himself/herself by having a good GPA and good FCAT scores. Each magnet school has different requirements though.
There are good and bad schools in FL, just like every other state in the nation. We've have had experience with what I considered a lousy school. I knew that it wasn't the best school for my kids, every time I pulled into the school's parking lot, I wanted to throw up. So, I decided to find a better school for them and I fought really hard to get them reassigned. It was the best decision I ever made and it proved that there are better schools out there, you just have to seek them out.
Continue to do your research. Your best bet is to visit the schools, in person, in the areas that you are interested in purchasing a home. I know that some people like to put down FL schools, many with no firsthand knowledge, but based on "things" that they've heard from "friends". However, believe it or not,
many of our students do actually get accepted and are sought after by Ivy League Schools.
Good luck with your search!
It always takes some time to get adjusted.
) works as a first grade teacher at Clarcona-Ocoee elementary. They also have special education classes with excellent, caring teachers but they do combine all grade levels in one class. The population of the school is mixed, with mostly lower to middle income families, however they were rated an "A" school for at least the past two years and that area (Ocoee) is expanding as more housing communities are being built. It's considered SW Orlando almost on the Seminole county border near Apopka. They just built a new high school as well.
We're ten minutes from you!
