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So, speaking of the home schooling thing...
If the scenario is:
the local public school has abysmal test scores (keeping in mind that that testing doesn't start until 3rd grade) and does not seem to be a place that your child would be intellectual engaged or stimulated. BUT is only 1/2 day, so you technically could sign up for things like music, swimming, foreign language, whatever--classes after school, and enrich an otherwise rote and worksheet based curriculum and a fairly high student to teacher ratio.
Would you:
A.) send you child to that school and hope for the best? Do you spend the year hoping that his love of learning isn't smooshed to pieces and that you can augment w/ other classes, etc, to the point where the 2.5 hours of kindergarten isn't that big of a deal, even if it sucks? It's just one year of school, after all?
B.) fork over another year of tuition to send your child to private kindergarten, knowing that if he loves that school, you'll probably end up sending him there as far as he can go. This school is full-day and offers art, music, gardening, phys.ed, etc. and has a much smaller teacher to student ratio. You technically *can* afford the tuition, but it would cost so much less to send your child to public school and spend $$ on the outside classes through the county or private lessons. Your family would be able to invest that $$ in college funds instead of kindergarten funds, or put it into a down payment for a home, or use it for travel that could also be considered educational.
or,
C.) consider home schooling for a year or two, as you plan to move to a different community w/ a better school system within the next couple of years. There are a lot of home schooling groups and resources in your area & your child is very socially active in a lot of ways already, so you don't really think that a year or two of homeschooling will fundamentally change his social skills. BUT, he's already been in a school environment for the past 2 years in preschool.
I'm fairly certain I know what we're going to do, but I'm curious if there are any considerations I haven't taken into account. Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: So, speaking of the home schooling thing...
do you rent? still saving for down payment on a home? not have an IRA or something established? contributing little into savings?
if you could pay tuition but it would sacrifice the above, I'd say public kindie. Not taking anything away from a great school... we all want our children exposed to a great program.... but I think if you read with your children, give them educational experiences, it can make up for an avg or slightly below avg school setting. now if there was a question of safety at the school... that would change my answer.
also with the test scores... I've been researching a lot lately... and when looking at Great Schools.com I've noticed that the 3rd grade scores tend to always be a big difference from the 5th grade scores... I'd also consider setting further down the road. the public h.s. have a good deal to offer? that's when you have to worry about outside influences more than your influence.
if you can do homeschooling, go for it! I know a number of people who do and have groups and team teach with other moms, each taking a subject they've mastered. Great outside experiences. I, personally, know I do not have the patience for it.
I don't put much in test scores. A friend is a principal in a very poor district. Her mantra is that parental involvement is so much of your kids education. Get involved, join the PTA, find out who the good teachers are.FFS, the school DD is going to scored crap on the "school rating" website, yet was a California Distinguished School.
I went private K-12 and plan to send our kids to public as long as we can. So I guess I'd try option A for Kinder . If you don't like it, I'd do option B for first grade +. I'd never homeschool unless there were dire circumstances. I don't have the patience, and I'm not a trained teaching professional.
Christmas 2011
We are pretty much in the situation.
I have been researching the elem DS will go to and it looks like poo on a stick on greatschools.com and is the zoned to include the poorest neighborhoods in our district. However talking to some teachers within the districts and parents of current students I have heard rave reviews which makes me feel better.
Our other option is private Catholic school. I am not opposed to the tuition but am not comfortable sending DS to a Catholic school since I myself do not agree with the teachings of the Catholic religion.
I would not homeschool - I am not a trained educator and I wouldn't hs even if I was.
We have been back and forth but I think we are going to send DS to the public school. I think, especially at this young age, a child with parents who are active in their education will be succesful regardless. I plan on being in the PTA and as involved as possible. I went to a poor farm school until 4th grade, always was the top of my class and transferred seamlessly into a top-rated school when my family moved.
If i were in your shoes, I'd go A right now. 2.5 hours/day isn't enough to kill him and if you involve him in a few activities he'll be fine. I'd save that tuition money and move to a town you love with a house you love and send public. And after a year, you can always go private again if you don't find a public you like. Or worse case scenario, you pull him after a few months and homeschool at that point.
The other thing, check what is being taken into those test scores. Our local elementary school has low scores but thats because ALL the special needs kids in the entire town go to our local school, but all the scores are taken into consideration. So as a result, the scores are lower. Its actually the best school, which is why the all go to it. But test scores alone don't show that.
Private school.
I would sell a kidney if it meant my kid got the best possible education.
You take my ovaries, I take your yarns.
Have you sat in on any of the classes or asked for other parents' opinions?
The school might have a high ESL or SPED population skewing the test scores for the rest. The middle school in which I taught had a high SPED percentage, and it made it hard for us to make AYP. I hated the stupid tests. We also had an extremely high number of kids on the free and reduced lunch program, which correlates with lower scores in most cases. (Low parental involvement at home, etc)
The teachers at that school were the best that I have ever had the privilege of working with. They were dedicated, professional, and wonderful people.
DS - December 2006
DD - December 2008
Same here. I am in the same situation - schools here rate 49th in the country! We send our daughter to a private school (she is in kindergarten now). We will keep sending her to private school as long as we are able to. If we no longer can, I would homeschool. There is an extensive homeschool network here where I live, so getting started would be easy.
www.metrobabyblog.com
I agree 100%. Education is a #1 priority in our lives. I am obsessed with it. We just recently bought a house and did not move into my dream neighborhood due to the school district. The disctrict we moved from and into is one of the best in the state, and the schools in particular are all the highest rating. If we had to I would go back to work full time to afford a good private school education for her.
Education is my #1 priority, too, and I have chosen homeschooling. Selling my kidney or moving are not options, and even if they were, I'm passionate about homeschooling. I've given up a lot and will continue to do so in the next few years so that I can homeschool my children. It's definitely not always the wrong decision so many think it is.
SBDC, I would actually keep those test scores in mind. They focus on testing so much that they neglect their real education in some areas, and yet they can't even get that right? Choosing between private school and education is a personal choice you'll have to make for yourself. I went to private school, and I'm eternally grateful to my parents for it. It's something we're working hard for now, so my children can attend private school when we are done homeschooling.
I peronsally would never home school - it is just not for me or my DH. I think you learn so much more by being with the other kids and expecially in kindergarten, the social part is so important, even if you get it otherp -places - the classroom setting is very different than a music or gym class. Assuming I had the money for private school for a year or two until I moved, I would do private school or see if open enrolling into a different district (one where you might consider moving) is what I would do.
We bought our house in an area that has OK schools, not the best and not the worst but since we bought our house, the school has gone a bit downhill due to some things not passing at elections in the last few years. We have decided to open enroll our girls in a different district that is doing a lot better and one of the better schools in our metro area. It means no bus service for our kids so we will be driving them to and from school until we can move - which has only not happened thanks to the market/economy.
Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
GHM I never said HS was wrong for everyone. I have been up front about my anti-homeschooling feelings. A huge part of them is the fact that no I have never seen a very well rounded HS kid, part of those feelings are the fact that I am a certified teacher and worked very hard for that degree I don't believe it is something that comes naturally to everyone, part of it is that I truly still believe in the public school system in our state. That being said, do I think you personally can do a good job HSing you kids? yes to a point. I can tell by your post on here that you are on the ball and do research everything that goes into your kids lives. I am sure HS can be done right, and well I have never seen it but I am sure just like everything else there is good and bad on both sides. I am anti-HSing for the majoirty of people, it does not mean i look down on you or think you are not doing the best for your kids.