Would you send you child to a school

JOEBunny · January 2011

where they would be one of 10 out of 400 kids who did not live close to ($28K for a family of 4) or below the poverty line ($22K for a family of 4)? Assume the school is not exceptional and has all the normal problems associated with poverty and education. The high school this elementary feeds into has a graduation rate of 14.8%.

Littlejen22 · January 2011

I am confused why anyone would choose to send their kid to a school far from home that is in horrible poverty.

GinandTonic · January 2011

No. Not if I had the choice to send my child somewhere else. It's not so much the poverty issue, but the graduation rate of the high school.

goodheartedmommy · January 2011

Um, no. Make that a hell no.

Zenya · January 2011

how is this even a question?!

gibs · January 2011

Uhmmm, making said kid an INSTANT target for bullying, gang violence, extortion, etc? You'd have to be BSC.

veloelle · January 2011

No.

jennieliz · January 2011

I don't even get why this is a question. From what you've said before JOE I seriously doubt you are considering this so are you just trying to get a rise out of someone and get a PC answer?

My answer- no because I want my children to go to school with other kids who want to succeed, not drop out.

jettagurl · January 2011

That was my H in HS. He graduated mid year in the math/science magnet school (there were several specialization 'school' in the HS).

There are exceptions to the norm, but I would like to give my kids the best chance possible to excel, and it seems as in either of these situations (yours or my H's) the cards are stacked against them. So if there are any better options, definitely not.

mom2one · January 2011

No

JOEBunny · January 2011

I am just asking because I have had conversations with two different people today who say they are choosing this option. It seems insane to me.

I live 1/3 of a mile from this school. My DD took ballet there last year. It is a beautiful school, newer, with lots more to offer physically than the elementary we are zoned for, but ours is considered much better. A lot of our friends live in this neighborhood, since it is physically really close to a lot of desirable places. I understand not wanting to pay for private school (which these people can afford, but it would require some sacrifice), but this feeds into the worst high school in Atlanta, which as a district only has one high school I would send my kid to (graduates 94.9%).

gdemars · January 2011

goodheartedmommy:
Um, no. Make that a hell no.

This. Why give your kid a crappy start right from the time they first step foot into a school?

camrude · January 2011

Nope. I would move heaven and earth to make that NOT happen.

Mrs Manners · January 2011

No.

karen6784 · January 2011

No way.

praline · January 2011

If I could help it, no.

praline · January 2011

JOEBunny:

I am just asking because I have had conversations with two different people today who say they are choosing this option. It seems insane to me.

I live 1/3 of a mile from this school. My DD took ballet there last year. It is a beautiful school, newer, with lots more to offer physically than the elementary we are zoned for, but ours is considered much better. A lot of our friends live in this neighborhood, since it is physically really close to a lot of desirable places. I understand not wanting to pay for private school (which these people can afford, but it would require some sacrifice), but this feeds into the worst high school in Atlanta, which as a district only has one high school I would send my kid to (graduates 94.9%).

Hmmm, well maybe they know something you don't. Have you actually been to the school and talked with the teachers and the principal? Don't say you know all about it without having done that...have you actually done that? If you have and still don't approve...well maybe they have different priorities or ways of looking at things than you (not saying your way is bad at all...just that people can have varrying opinions about the same thing) I'm asking because I do have friends sending their kids to DC public schools, which many people assume are terrible because of statistics, but particularly in the case of elementary schools, appearances can be deceiving and the teachers are the most important element (especially in grades K-3). What high school an elementary school feeds into doesn't necessarily have much to do with the quality of a child's kindergarten experience.

shopgirl78 · January 2011

Are they hoping for insta-valedictorian? It sounds terrible. Almost too terrible to be true. A graduation rate of 14%? I think the government/state, would have stopped in? Perhaps you could pose a question (nicely), "Oh really, why are you choosing XYZ school?"

With that said, DD does attend a Title 1 school. There is a certain population (non-ethnic) that contributes to the lower income of the school district. This population along with the Title 1 school funding gives the school a lot of extra money. It's an awesome school! Great scores and so far, I have been really happy with the school.

kellnbri · January 2011

Well let me give you a little different perspective. I am a teacher who has taught in both a low income school and a middle class school. From my experience I found that the teachers who taught in the low income cared more for the students and did whatever they needed to in order to help those students achieve. In the middle class school it seemed that as soon as the kids left for the day so did the teachers. I am not saying this was all the teachers at either school, but just something I noticed about the majority. Also, they don't have to attend in this area all the way to high school. Elementary and high school are worlds apart!

AnnapolisLari · January 2011

kellnbri:
Well let me give you a little different perspective. I am a teacher who has taught in both a low income school and a middle class school. From my experience I found that the teachers who taught in the low income cared more for the students and did whatever they needed to in order to help those students achieve. In the middle class school it seemed that as soon as the kids left for the day so did the teachers. I am not saying this was all the teachers at either school, but just something I noticed about the majority. Also, they don't have to attend in this area all the way to high school. Elementary and high school are worlds apart!

Ditto this.

I taught remedial reading in a Challenge Grant school for 3 years. The teachers at that school were among the best and most dedicated that I have had the privilege of working with.

I think that no matter where you go, most elementary teachers are a much more nurturing lot than the upper grades. I wouldn't go out of my zoning to send a kid to the school you are talking about, but for the first year or so I wouldn't automatically veto it, either.

shouldbworkin · January 2011

JOEBunny:

I am just asking because I have had conversations with two different people today who say they are choosing this option. It seems insane to me.

I live 1/3 of a mile from this school. My DD took ballet there last year. It is a beautiful school, newer, with lots more to offer physically than the elementary we are zoned for, but ours is considered much better. A lot of our friends live in this neighborhood, since it is physically really close to a lot of desirable places. I understand not wanting to pay for private school (which these people can afford, but it would require some sacrifice), but this feeds into the worst high school in Atlanta, which as a district only has one high school I would send my kid to (graduates 94.9%).

I don't think they'll stay there long. They will quickly find that the teachers have no time to even see where their kids are performing, much less create a higher reading or math group for them, because they will be so busy trying to teach kids how to count to 10.

xnbride · January 2011

Is this a rhetorical question? No. I would look at my other opinions. Coincidentally I am in a similar situation (it is not AS bad as you describe it but pretty close). We will probably go through a public charter or online public charter. I still have a year to decide.

kyoto · January 2011

No, I wouldn't send my kids there.

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