If you had a choice - School Question

[Mouse House Mama]

It depends on alot of things. Mostly I am partial to public schools for many reasons. While I think that private school can sometimes be superior, it depends on the school. Private IMO does not always mean better. Our kids got public school and we chose to live here because of the schools. If however we felt that our kids were not successful and the school was no help then we would consider private school but not for religious reasons nor would we even consider that as a factor in their education. Each school needs to be evaluated on what they can provide IMO. If overall your quality of life will improve then I would move. JMHO.

 

[connorlevismom]

You must live in Alexandria- that is where I live as well... What is your school district?

No - we live in Ramsey and our school district is 11 - Anoka Hennepin.

ETA: We are looking to move into the Wayzata school district.

Kristine

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

DH and I just moved the kids to a new home , last week actually specfically for a better school district and a neighborhood with lots of kids.

We used to live in the country on 3 acres,no kids around and a not so great school district. DS is now in 3rd grade, so he did go to a Catholic school for K-2. (DD just started pre-school) The first 2 years I loved his Catholic school, but in 2nd grade there were many issues. There was a child who threatened the kids, not my DS specifically, thank goodness, but many other children. Even told his teacher he was going to blow up the school. Did anything happen to him, no. Not even a suspension. Some of the parents even went to the diocese, still nothing. The principal ended up getting fired at the end of the school year, but that didn't solve the problem of "the kid." And believe me these parents fought, short of pulling their kids from the school, they did everything. They took away the hot lunch program and did away with lots of field trips also. So just because you pay an absorbant amount of money doesn't mean the education is better. DS's learning books were old, teachers were set in their ancient way of teaching, I could go on and on.

DS started 3rd grade at the public school in the new district. He LOVES it. State of the art everything. New books, computers, after-school classes, involved parents. Its great. I was worried about the discipline thing too, but DS told me the class was acting up once, so the teacher told the class no recess, the teacher made them sit on the curb outside and watch the other classes play. DS's teacher called me the 2nd week of school "to touch base". WOW! I kept asking him if something was wrong. He probably thought I was a lune. But I'm not used to that.

Our neighbors are great. Kids everywhere. Even though our mortgage is higher, I don't regret it. To see the kids happy and thriving,make it worth it.

Any ?'s feel free to PM me. Good Luck.

 

[DawnM]

I think each family has to decide what works best for THEM. I don't think it is one is better than the other. Some private schools really aren't that great and many public schools are fantastic. Homeschooling works great for many.

It just seems like this is such a huge debate and really, only you can figure out what YOUR kids need, KWIM?

We homeschooled until this year. Now the kids go to PS. I don't know what we will do next year yet. We may go back to homeschooling.

Dawn

 

[barkley]

personaly, if the issue was educational choices/opportunites for my child-i would choose to have a lower mortgage payment so that if a particular school did'nt suit my child's needs i had the ability to move them. if a higher mortgage precludes doing this, than what choices will a person have if there's an issue with the public schools in that area.

we moved in april, one of the big considerations in choosing a new home was the schools in the area. although we are in what's considered a very good district our kids still attend private school. reason why is because that's what they are used to-and it would be a major adjustment for them to go from being in a school of no more than 30 kids grades k-8th, that lets them work above grade level in subjects they are competant in-to the standard public school set up. but we are unique-ds also attends the public school for special services. we have it arranged with both schools so they are supportive of each other's scheduals-we have to do the transportation, but it's well worth it.

i have mixed feelings about private schools. i've taught in them, and my kids have been in them. some are very good, some are, despite p.r. to the contrary-far inferior to even lacking public schools. 2 of my greatest frustrations have been with (1) private schools that strictly 'teach to the test'. this was a huge problem with the most popular private school in the area we moved from. they relied on those test scores to show how much higher their students tested out as compared to the public schools-but what people did'nt realize was they were focusing all the instructional time on those tests to the point of neglecting critical thinking concepts. the other issue (2) problem students. we had public schools that when a kid just became impossible or did one of the immediate expulsion things would only offer a kind of home school with tutor situation for students (unless they were in juvie)-and parents who did'nt want to/could'nt arrange to have someone in the home during the day often opted to enroll their kids in the private schools. these were kids with HORRENDOUS behavioural issues-scary stuff. they caused the same problems in the private classrooms, but in so many cases parental complaints would be countered with the standard 'we need to help this child, we need to pray for him/her'. i understand the theory, but when it's your kid being terrorized, your kid's classroom that's in an uproar constantly-the only thing you're praying for is that the administration will admit that prayer does'nt solve everything, and that 'yes' private schools can't solve every kid's issues-and that the kid will be shown the exit.

look at any school, there's good and bad. and that good and bad can change fairly quickly in some cases-so i would'nt lock myself into a higher mortgage payment just by virtue that a school is good today.

 

[maxtomsmom]

personaly, if the issue was educational choices/opportunites for my child-i would choose to have a lower mortgage payment so that if a particular school did'nt suit my child's needs i had the ability to move them. if a higher mortgage precludes doing this, than what choices will a person have if there's an issue with the public schools in that area.

we moved in april, one of the big considerations in choosing a new home was the schools in the area. although we are in what's considered a very good district our kids still attend private school. reason why is because that's what they are used to-and it would be a major adjustment for them to go from being in a school of no more than 30 kids grades k-8th, that lets them work above grade level in subjects they are competant in-to the standard public school set up. but we are unique-ds also attends the public school for special services. we have it arranged with both schools so they are supportive of each other's scheduals-we have to do the transportation, but it's well worth it.

i have mixed feelings about private schools. i've taught in them, and my kids have been in them. some are very good, some are, despite p.r. to the contrary-far inferior to even lacking public schools. 2 of my greatest frustrations have been with (1) private schools that strictly 'teach to the test'. this was a huge problem with the most popular private school in the area we moved from. they relied on those test scores to show how much higher their students tested out as compared to the public schools-but what people did'nt realize was they were focusing all the instructional time on those tests to the point of neglecting critical thinking concepts. the other issue (2) problem students. we had public schools that when a kid just became impossible or did one of the immediate expulsion things would only offer a kind of home school with tutor situation for students (unless they were in juvie)-and parents who did'nt want to/could'nt arrange to have someone in the home during the day often opted to enroll their kids in the private schools. these were kids with HORRENDOUS behavioural issues-scary stuff. they caused the same problems in the private classrooms, but in so many cases parental complaints would be countered with the standard 'we need to help this child, we need to pray for him/her'. i understand the theory, but when it's your kid being terrorized, your kid's classroom that's in an uproar constantly-the only thing you're praying for is that the administration will admit that prayer does'nt solve everything, and that 'yes' private schools can't solve every kid's issues-and that the kid will be shown the exit.

look at any school, there's good and bad. and that good and bad can change fairly quickly in some cases-so i would'nt lock myself into a higher mortgage payment just by virtue that a school is good today.

Great post! I also think people have to realize that there is so much more to life than school!!!!! Although I feel I have received a very good education growing up as a child, I really believe better thinking and understanding came later on with real world experience. No matter what a parent chooses, true learning comes from learning what one wants to learn. Schools are vehicles that provide information, but helping a child take information, synthesize it with previous information and come up with their own conclusion is a task that cannot be done merely during school hours.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I think 2 of the biggest factors are 2 things...the school atmosphere, and your child's teacher.

I am a teacher at a new K-8 school in Florida. We have kids from all over...super rural (live on farms) to super urban. This is the first year our school is open...and we are having some interesting situations! We have many students who seem to have had the "run of the school" wherever they were last year, and are trying to continue that with us. I think that the school atmosphere for the younger grades is one of order and high learning, but for the upper grades, it is not that at all. I would love to have my kindergartener enrolled at my school, but I would move my middle schooler elsewhere.

About the teachers...I am seeing one of 2 things happen at the school, particularly in the 4/5 grade classes. 1. The teacher has control of the class, and the otherwise crazy students are learning to be respectful and work hard, and the class is doing incredibly well. 2. The teacher cannot control the few behavior problems in her class, and the classroom is pretty much out of control. The quieter/ well behaved students in the class are suffering because of it.

I think that these situations can happen in both public and private school...I think that you should check out teacher retention rates and arrange for tours of all of the schools you are interested in. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck with you decisions!

 

[JoyG]

I have been wanting to move out of the city for about 8 years, ever since I had kids. But unfortunately, I have to live in the city for my job. I'm a public school teacher.

For many years, I wished I could move to get my kids into school in the suburbs. Finally, I couldn't wait anymore, I pulled them out of public school and put them in private.

I am so happy! I love the school they go to and I think I like it better than I would have liked the suburban public schools.

We're lucky, b/c in my city, a prominent business magazine ranks all the schools in the area every year. My sons' private school ranked higher all but 4 elementary schools public or private (out of hundreds!). It ranks higher than school in the suburb I wanted to move to.

Also, the school I chose has a really nice racial mix. I was worried by taking my kids out of the city, I'd be taking them out of a multicultural environment. Happily, that has not been the case.

Finally, staying in the city with a lower mortgage payment has helped me to afford the tuition rates. I wouldn't be able to live in the suburbs and pay tuition at the same time.