Private/Charter/Magnet Some help please??

[jenrein]

So we are going to be moving from NY to FL- Marion county school district, particularly Belleview. Well looking into the schools there I am starting to question which school. I though I was going with the Belleview schools....my kids have always went to the public school where we live now. But the school we are in now is rated an 8 out of 10 on great schools and the Belleviews are not so high- but I also hear Marion schools are the better ones. So I started looking into the Magnet schools and the charter. I am not even sure there is a big difference- but it looks like it would be impossible for them to get into one for this next school year in August. Private school is not something I ever thought I would need before, but I have 3 kids that have all 90-99% SAT scores and are really into learning and are very smart. I dont want to send them to a school rated 5 out of 10 and they will be sitting there with a bunch of drooling kids coloring pictures all day. My kids are 6, 8 and 11- going into 2, 4 and 6th grades. Any advice? I dont even know what private would cost??

 

[laceemouse]

A couple of things to consider. Florida has huge, usually county wide, school systems. There can be major differences between the different schools in the SAME district. Don't just look at the whole district scores, look at the individual schools and then look for a house in the school boundary that you want (I can guarantee you, it will be the more expensive neighborhoods.) As far as private and magnet and charter schools, you are right, they are often gonna be full with waiting lists. This is true everywhere. We moved several times before pulling our kids out to homeschool a couple of years ago. It is just really hard to be new and trying to get into the best school and get the best teachers. Even great schools sometimes have not so great teachers. AND, the new kids always get the worst teachers because the PTA moms know who they want and they somehow magically always get them! Also, when you are looking at school scores you need to see if they have a gifted program. That was another major issue for us. Our older girls were always in gifted, but every time we moved they had to be re-tested, which sometimes took MONTHS. Then, when they got in it could be a great program or a waste-of-time nothing much to it program. We just decided with homeschooling we could move and still keep things going the way we want them to go. Of course, now we are involved in some great homeschooling groups and a co-op where they take the harder classes with someone else so I still tell dh I don't want to move again. It is so hard with kids!!!
Usually, low (or high for that matter) test scores have not so much to do with the quality of the teachers or the $$$ the district spends or what curriculum they use. They usually have to do with the families and how educated and concerned and involved the parents are. We always lived in highly rated school districts, even in Florida, but we still managed to get some lemons for teachers every couple of years, mainly due to moving. I like moving, but it is tough! I can tell you that most private schools are registering and filling up for next fall as we speak all over the country........

 

[laceemouse]

Also, the good private schools are several hundred bucks a month per kid. Add that to the crazy cost of housing in Florida these days (unless you are coming from somewhere worse) and I can't imagine being able to afford it and still be able to have any fun in life! We left north Florida in 1999 when it was still reasonable, prices have more than doubled since then. We have a huge house here in Texas which was cheap! Another reason I don't want to move again anytime soon!!!

 

[jenrein]

Thanks for the thoughts. I would consider homeschooling if I could handle the kids around me 24/7! I'm a terrible parent who enjoys working 8 hours a day! But thanks- I will check into the other schools in the area. I had been told the Belleview ones were great- but they are rated a 5??

 

[mommylicious]

Do you know who holds the charter for the charter school? My sons go to an Imagine Schools Charter School and we've been really really pleased with the education they are getting.

 

[jenrein]

Do you know who holds the charter for the charter school? My sons go to an Imagine Schools Charter School and we've been really really pleased with the education they are getting.

How would I know this....is it included in the school name?

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

My SIL's kids went to a private school in Seminole county until they hit middle school. Now they are in the public schools and doing very, very well. I don't know the specifics of the school system down there, but am really impressed by the options that they have upon entering high school. Lots of choices. Just having the ability to choose a career path in high school and studying that specifically is very unique.

I wish they had that here in PA.