Disappointment! About This Page:

[lauren-roxy]

My kids go to public school just like I did, although my husband went to Catholic school.

[karmic]

My kids went to public school and we have been very happy with our school system

[MinnieMary]

DH and I both attended public school. DD has attended a small private Montessori school since just before kindergarten, which is starting kind of late. Most children begin at 3 years and some schools have programs that start as young as 18 months. It has been the best decision for us. She can work at her own pace and level and doesn't move on to the next lesson plan until she has mastered the current one. Also, lots of manipulatives are used to reinforce the lessons. For example, if I was taught math in that way, I would have understood it a lot more. In language, she and another girl are working 2 grade levels beyond what grade the school goes to. The teachers have been wonderful in keeping them challenged.

I also like that the classes are structured so that 3 age levels are together in each room. They work indepently and in groups. I think it will help her become a well rounded person.

My suggestion would be to tour many different types of schools until you find one you like. You have lots of time. I went to five different ones before I found one that I liked.

[WDWfan]

My kids went to our loacl public schools which were fantastic! Their elementary school was a leading proponent of multiage classes. Both of my kids were in combined 1/2/3 classes and combined 4/5. These were not done to manage class size, but were a philosophy of teaching. In their combined 12 years of elementary school they only had 4 different teachers. They had the same teacher for kindergarten, different teachers for their years in the 1/2/3 classes and the same 4/5 teacher. All of their teachers were amazing. We developed very close relationships with each of them. Unfortunately in the last couple of years there has been an administration change and they've done away with the multiage classrooms.

Their high school was also amazing. It has one of the best fine arts programs in the country! They recently received a Grammy Foundation award (with funding) to recognize their programs. The school also implemented an interdisciplinary focus that has significantly raised their standardized test scores which were already high. They have been written up nationally for this approach and have other administrators/teachers from all over the United States visiting and asking the school to advise them on how it works.

I guess my point is that there are good, innovative schools in all of the options you have to choose from. You need to evaluate what is available in your area and choose based on your childs needs, interests and your beliefs.

[simbarel]

Was that Fr. immersion school in Freeport? If so, I know which one you're talking about . . . we knew someone who sent their kid there and HOLY COW THE TUITION for Elem. age kids!!!!!!!

Yup, that was the one. Just for kicks I looked at the tuition at Waynflete, and it was $16k for kindergarten. Something tells me that Henway's parents might not "fit in" there. I wanted this school b/c it was very close to our house and it's actually not technically "closing" it's being consolidated with another school in town, just not as ideally located as it used to be. Both Wally and I have allergic reactions to public schools. I've attended both private and public schools in this town, and though that was a few years ago, for me the private school experience infinitely better and more stabilizing than that at public school. Since our plans for the original school have been dashed, I took it as an opportunity to look at other options ($$$$$$$$) but if all goes well with him healthwise we'll probably start out at the consolidated school (which happens to be my alma mater.) You guys's advice has prompted me to investigate the curriculum and facilities a little more, and they've been beefed up since I went there.

[Chrissi]

I went to a great public highschool in Easton, PA. Lots of language options and a broad spectrum of majors and disciplines were offered. DH went to a much larger public school in Pocono Mountain with far fewer options and programs. The system was overwhelmed with so many students after the population/real estate explosion in the Poconos in the 70's.

That said, we currently live in the school district where I attended public elementary school. This district does not meet mine or DH's standards and we'll likely be moving to another (as yet unknown) district in the next year.

Because of DH's nightshift schedule, we live on a very different schedule than most families. DS could never adjust to the public school timeframe. He'd never see DH. So this spring, we're enrolling him in a French/Spanish Immersion PA public cyber school program. PA Leadership Charter School. If you can find one in your state and you keep an unusual schedule or odd hours, it's ideal. Even if you keep a traditional schedule, it can be utilized very effectively.

Cyber school students have as many if not more options than tradtional public schoolers and the school handles all the paperwork that homeschoolers would have to deal with with their local school district. If you want to know more about public cyber schools, you can check out ours at PA Leadership Charter School. BTW - because it's a public school, it's free. The school also supplies the students with their own computer for accessing their lessons and teaching staff online. Live chats with the entire class or one on one with the teacher are not uncommon.

I'm really looking forward to helping DS learn to read. I'd hate to give up that privilege to a stranger - no matter how great a teacher they are!

[simbarel]

Originally Posted by Chrissi

Because of DH's nightshift schedule, we live on a very different schedule than most families. DS could never adjust to the public school timeframe. He'd never see DH. So this spring, we're enrolling him in a French/Spanish Immersion PA public cyber school program. PA Leadership Charter School. If you can find one in your state and you keep an unusual schedule or odd hours, it's ideal. Even if you keep a traditional schedule, it can be utilized very effectively.

Cyber school students have as many if not more options than tradtional public schoolers and the school handles all the paperwork that homeschoolers would have to deal with with their local school district. If you want to know more about public cyber schools, you can check out ours at PA Leadership Charter School. BTW - because it's a public school, it's free. The school also supplies the students with their own computer for accessing their lessons and teaching staff online. Live chats with the entire class or one on one with the teacher are not uncommon.

I'm really looking forward to helping DS learn to read. I'd hate to give up that privilege to a stranger - no matter how great a teacher they are!

Thanks for that info Chrissi. DH shocked me last night when he mentioned homeschooling. I've never considered it a viable option, but Wally's the type to walk to the beat of a different drummer, and he was particularly scarred by his schooling, ever since second grade. We'll be a "weird schedule" family too----and it's true, my dad worked 3rd shift some of the time we were growing up, and we NEVER saw him, we had to tiptoe around him because our schedules weren't meshing and it was very tense. Definitely something to think about.

[Chrissi]

Originally Posted by simbarel

We'll be a "weird schedule" family too----and it's true, my dad worked 3rd shift some of the time we were growing up, and we NEVER saw him, we had to tiptoe around him because our schedules weren't meshing and it was very tense. Definitely something to think about.

Exactly! BTW - Cyber schooling still follows the same school calendar. However, students are only required to log in at some point each school day - Monday through Friday. They don't have to log in at 8 or 9 am, but they are required to log in each school day. Any missed day is counted as an absence. Students can even log in while on vacation from any WiFi hotspot if they have access to a laptop.

However, cyberschooling also allows students to work ahead of their peers. Our friend recommended PALCS to us because he's a professional musician (national award winning jazz pianist, Jesse Green) and his daughter will work 3 or more weeks ahead when he plans to take the whole family on the road to competitions and such. They make it look pretty easy!

[katspjs]

There are two school boards in Ottawa. Public and Catholic - they are both funded by tax payers, the Catholic school system is not private. The Public school system is larger than the Catholic and they are always having budget problems. Tyler and Caroline are both in the Catholic system. They also learn French since Ottawa is the capital of Canada and bilingual. They do have a French immersion program that starts in the 3rd grade. Tyler does not participate in this because of his Non Verbal Learning Disorder (off shoot of Aspberger's). He does take French and does very well, social studies is taught in French.

I went to public school in Mass. and got a good education. DH's dad was ina the navy and they travelled about. He went to Catholic school here in Ottawa, public school in Victoria, British Columbia (I don't think they have a Catholic school system) and a public high school in Virginia Beach. DFIL still complains about the school system out in BC and apparently it hasn't improved any.

[eff051102]

DH and I both went to public schools and had good experiences with both. However we have been looking at a church run preschool thru K program several miles away for either 2 or 4 days a week. We have to get on the waiting list at around 2 1/2 yrs old.

As for after that...I would love to find a school that teaches more on the science/music/arts side but it will depend on where we move to. Right now...the newest Elem. school close to us (opened 3 yrs ago) is already over crowded. We want to move before they start that school.

My DH thinks that I would be good at homeschooling our child....I just don't have the patience for that I don't think.

[wheatenwalker]

I went to private schools.
My kids went to a private pre school and then public elementary, middle high and schools. The public schools in this suburb are excellent and I think they got a great education. If we lived in the city, I am not sure what we would have done- private I think. My brother offered more than once to 'help' with the tuition if I wanted the kids to go to the school he and my other brother went to.

[Cam22]

Luke, Stefanie, and I all attended public schools. And I have been teaching in the public school system for 26 years now.

[loobyoxlip]

All public schools around here. I really like my kids school they are at right now. Most of the teachers are newer and have lots of fun new ideas.

[Cheriemek]

DH and I both went to Catholic elementary schools and public HS's and colleges. All 4 kids went to public schools. When kids were little, for several years I worked for our parish (I ran the religious education program), and had a lot of interaction with the Catholic school. It was a wonderful school with great people, but I chose the public school system.

[lukesmom]

Lucas went to a Montessori school and hated it! The Catholic school around here doesn't offer computer classes therefore Lucas goes to the public school (for now).