School district search is making me crazy!!!!!

[connorlevismom]

My sister keeps telling me that I am worrying to much about finding the right school district for our son. We are moving so we really have the luxury of finding a home in a good district. The problem? I hear MN schools are pretty much all good but there are a couple of districts to stay away from. What makes a district one to stay away from? Is it test scores, money, what? I feel like my head is going to explode with this thing! I am a person who likes to move so finding somewhere that I will be happy with for the next 13 years is very stressful!

Kristine

 

[MNdisneymom]

Where in MN? Minneapolis/ St.Paul? (I grew up in a western suburb, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.)

 

[connorlevismom]

Yes MN/St Paul area. We are open to pretty much anywhere but I am ready to just pass out from the stress!

We want our child to have a good education. However, most of the best districts come from big money areas and I am afraid of that. We can afford to live there, I am just afraid we won't fit in. I am very much a jeans and sweatshirt kind of person and I don't want to have to worry about my looks all the time. Also, I am so NOT a "keeping up with the Jonses" type person and really cannot stand those people. I don't want my son going to a school where clothes and cars and money are all that matter to people. Another thing is that right now I work and one day, I might not want to work. Well, the houses in the better districts are WAY more expensive than the other districts. I don't want to box myself in.

So I feel kind of stuck. I want good schools but also want to live where I will be comfortable. I love the Westen Sub's but have to kind of watch where I live when it comes to there. I love the Wayzata schools and think we will probably end up there. The thing that makes me mad is that right across the street from houses we like, are houses we LOVE and they are in the Osseo district which is going through some issues right now. But that is where I am confused. What really defines a bad district?

My struggle is, do I live for 13 years in a house that is less than I want and possibly have to keep working to be in a great district? Or do I get a house that I love and could quit my job but then would be in a good district?

Kristine

 

[ninety-seven]

You might want to check if MN has a school report card. I know down here in Georgia, every school is tested, stats are compiled, and they are ranked. We chose the house we live in because the public elementary school is in the top 10 in the state and has been a National School of Excellence a few times in the last 10 years.

We actually found this information through ReMax realty. They had links on their site to the GA DoE.

And it isn't even one of the new schools in the area.

97

 

[taitai]

Your realtor will be able to give you a "report card" comparing all the different school districts. Look for test scores, class size, special programs and community satisfaction.

As far as the Western Suburbs go, Wayzata is good but not as good as Edina or Minnetonka...the two best. Eden Prairie is good but big and kids can get lost there. Mound/Westonka has had financial difficulties. Hopkins too but getting better. St.Louis Park, Edina, Hopkins and Minnetonka all offer immersion programs (spanish, chinese and french) if that is of interest. There is a cool charter Montessori school in the chan/chaska area. Chaska has all new schools and I hear good things. So many people in Orono send their kids to private school that they constantly vote down referendums on school funding. Class sizes are small, though.

Good luck.

 

[brymolmom]

Things to consider:

1) Programs offered by school(s) - and I'm not just talking school DISTRICT here - but check the actual school (my district has 3 elem. schools - so I needed to check my specific elem. school) - Not sure how old your kid(s) are - but if they show any advanced knowledge in an area - like Math or Science or whatever - check into 'enrichment' programs offered by the school and at what grade level they start.
2) How involved the PTO is....This can greatly affect 'extra curricular' activities - like fairs, carnivals, dinners. Obviously education is higher on the list - but this sometimes makes the whole experience more friendly IMO.
3) If you are working parents - find out about before/after school programs that are offered. I have found a WIDE range of offerings here - some of them offer tutoring, music lessons, field trips, etc.
4) If you are a food conscious person - find out about their policies on school lunches.
5) Teacher/Student ratio is sometimes a good thing to know - I know I would rather my Kindergartener didn't have 21 kids in his class.

Personally - I was a kid who didn't have a lot of $$ who went to a high school with kids who did - and it actually taught me a lot. I learned to work hard and APPRECIATE what I have just because so many around me did not. Anyway - I wouldn't shy away just for that reason.

 

[connorlevismom]

Things to consider:

1) Programs offered by school(s) - and I'm not just talking school DISTRICT here - but check the actual school (my district has 3 elem. schools - so I needed to check my specific elem. school) - Not sure how old your kid(s) are - but if they show any advanced knowledge in an area - like Math or Science or whatever - check into 'enrichment' programs offered by the school and at what grade level they start.
2) How involved the PTO is....This can greatly affect 'extra curricular' activities - like fairs, carnivals, dinners. Obviously education is higher on the list - but this sometimes makes the whole experience more friendly IMO.
3) If you are working parents - find out about before/after school programs that are offered. I have found a WIDE range of offerings here - some of them offer tutoring, music lessons, field trips, etc.
4) If you are a food conscious person - find out about their policies on school lunches.
5) Teacher/Student ratio is sometimes a good thing to know - I know I would rather my Kindergartener didn't have 21 kids in his class.

Personally - I was a kid who didn't have a lot of $$ who went to a high school with kids who did - and it actually taught me a lot. I learned to work hard and APPRECIATE what I have just because so many around me did not. Anyway - I wouldn't shy away just for that reason.

Wow - thank you so much for telling me that. It really made me stop and think about my worries and maybe that is just something I don't need to be worrying about. I do have to remember that we as parents would teach him that money is not everything and that it matter more about who you are than what you have.

Kristine

 

[StephMK]

I feel your pain!! When we moved, my SIL was our realtor & lived in the district we were moving to. She kept telling me -it doesn't matter, all the schools are good because the district is so good. Well, I don't buy that & spent several hours/days researching all the options.

Another site I liked is greatschools.net, I paid the fee to get the full scoop. Plus I found a state website that gave a really detailed breakdown on each school. It's worth checking, I wanted to know test scores, student ratios, all that stuff.

If you really want to drive yourself nuts, think about where the elementary feed into and if they split. There were some houses that I liked the elementary but not the middle school. In our house now, our elementary splits in middle school. I don't like that because depending on where our kids' friends live, they may go to different middles but may meet back up in HS.

There are some schools here that are newer but also already overcrowded because of new developments that went up. We picked an older, smaller school & have been extremely pleased so far. Active PTO, not too many clubs but they're young enough they can do activities outside of school.

I will say I grew up in a school w/many "haves" -BMWs for 16th bday types, but many were not and we all did fine. My kids will be in the same boat but there are such good opportunities for academics, sports & activities that they will learn to deal. Good luck!!

 

[Tribe0701]

My daughter has gone to 3 different schools in 6 years, the districts and schools varied from great to not so good. I can tell you that she had some GREAT teachers and some horrible teachers, and it is the teachers that make all of the difference. They can offer all sorts of enrichment, and after school activities, but if your kid has a horrilbe teacher, she will not want to go to school, and all of those things don't matter.

If you want to stay home in a few years then live where that is a possibility, find the best school in that area and live with it. Schools will change from year to year. By the time your kid goes to high school, you might want to move, school districts and nieghborhoods change greatly in 10 years. So make the choice that best fits you now.

 

[Relish]

Honestly, nothing matters so much as their actual classroom teacher. Extra programs will be important in junior or senior high, but in elementary school its that primary teacher who is key. And, frankly, most places you don't have any control over who that person would be. None at all.

Also, if you like moving, then why not just focus on the best elementary programs. Go ahead and plan on moving for junior high if you feel like it.

You can stress yourself to the hilt but can never control their education down to the level of classroom assignment, so why not use other criteria to pick a home? Neighborhood-- do people park in their driveways and never step outside or are there informal block parties in the summer? Is the home walking distance to a good library? Does the town have a good summer recreation program? Living across the street from a park can be nice, but it a lot better in a neighborhood where all the kids come out to play vs. being enrolled totally in organized activities after school.

Yes, there are big decisions to be made here but being overly focused on one thing (school district) may lead to you make a decision that has you unhappy for other reasons.

 

[creativeamanda]

Honestly, the school report cards don't tell you much. These are based on NCLB and unfortunately, NCLB is backed by flawed research. A public school is what you make it. I went to probably the worst district in my home state and did fine because my parents stayed involved in my education.

 

[CRdisMom]

Sounds like the private school search fizzeled?

I think any school district will mess up at one time or another. Anoka Hennepin was good at one time but now I will not send my DD there. Keep in mind our legistalture is constenly tweaking the funding formula.

I am in a house I am not super happy with but I love the school we are going to. It is a private school and we will make sacrifices to make that work.

Good luck

 

[CTmommyx3]

My take is with some of the other a teacher in any school can make or break it, My DD is in first grade and reading at beyond second grade level, her math and writing is also at second grade level. Her teacher is in her first year teaching and I was a bit worried. But she is amazing.
I have friends in the private school in town and they are the same age and grade and way behind my dd and her class in school.
I was very stressed over where dd should go to school. But my theory is the school has great reports and I have talked with lots of people. I am more a wait and see person. So I see she is doing great fine, if I start seeing issues or problems as she getsolder then we will decide where she goes.
Also if your kids will not be in school for years remember things change.
My BFF moved to a town and raved about the schools. Well 6 years later when her kids are starting school the ratings have dropped alot!
I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[powellrj]

Things can change very quickly too. I know our grade school isn't the same school that my oldest DS went to as it was for our youngest DD. Between consolidations and NCLB, the school has changed and not for the good. Because I love the middle and high school they attend, it was worth keeping them there.

I agree its the teacher that can make or break the school year. We have had wonderful teachers and we have had some that I question why in the world they are teaching. Also don't always take the advice of other teachers as to which teachers are the best. The very worst teacher we ever had was well liked by other teachers, but hated being in the classroom. The other teacher in that grade wasn't as popular with the teachers but was a much better teacher and will go down as one of the best teachers we have ever had.

We have also learned over the years that a school with all very experienced teachers isn't always a good thing. You sometimes need younger teachers with new ideas to kind of kick things up a notch.

Good luck, and just remember that while school is very important, what happens at home is just as important and you can make a bad school year better by working at home too.

 

[stacy6552]

With all the stnadardized testing, its pretty easy to find out about schools. When we were relocating a few years ago, I looked up the HS's in the area we were looking at. Only 40% were passing the math tests,but the county averaged 60%. In the end I found only 1 HS, at the southern end of the county, that was passing at 95%+. When I looked at the county just over the line form that school, all the schools were performing much better. So we concerntrated our search to there. Additionally, when we were in town house hunting, we talked to people in restturaunts and stuff. We had fallen in love with a house, but I was concerned about what I knew of the HS. When we asked the hostess at the place we had dinner, she hissed and said "its kinda rough." Do your homeowrk and follow your instincts.