Upcoming School

We looked at many options ( Charter - Montesssorri and Public). While our public school scores were good *8-9 out of 10 on great schools; we still went that route. The community the public school (3 blocks from us) provides for our kids and us is very valuable to me. We have a great support system in our neighborhood - parents and kids - that I think is invaluable; and in my mind more important that perfect test scores. I guess you need to decide what is best OVERALL for your family and child. All options are good and have benefits. It's a tough decision. I'd just encourage you also consider the factors beyond academics. Good luck!

It jumped out at me that you wrote that you "heard" that every third grader failed the math test last year. If you don't know it for certain from the school system itself, find out -- don't go by what other parents tell you. They may indeed be right, or....not. If there was a high failure rate on one portion of a standardized test, it can indicate many things and does not necessarily mean the math instruction is lousy. Our state is revamping its (dreaded and useless but required) standardized state tests and we've already been warned that the changes mean there will be a lot lower scores and more failing ones this year as the tests "shake out the bugs" etc.

Also, don't let standardized testing scare you too much, no matter what. It is used to grade the schools and the teachers but not the kids (unless it's something like SATS much later on!).

You said you are looking at a charter school --are you not interested in the local public regular school? Is there a specific reason? Check out all the options before assuming charter is better -- if that's what you're doing. The "gifted and talented" track in the regular schools could be as good or better than a charter for her (that is the case around here). She would be too young for most GT programs in first grade but many start by third.

if your daughter is bright.. she will do well in any school. she will learn what the school teaches ... she will learn on her own and you will teach her at home. In general.. schools in affluent areas get good test scores.. and schools in poor areas get bad test scores.. there is almost a 1 to 1 correlation of test scores and free lunch.. the more kids on free lunch .. the less kids do well on tests.. My kids are in a great school.. but the curriculum moves slowly and they are not challenged.. I teach them at home..

I have to say don't base a school solely on its test scores. However, in Michigan the scores are all publicly listed and you can see percentages by school (no by individuals of course, but by grade level blocks in the school.) by going to the department of education website.

i'm always surprised when i hear homeschooled kids NOT considering homeschooling their own!
khairete
S.

I would not judge the schools to harshly until you go to it for a bit. People said our district was bad, but we love the school and the teachers and my boys have done well there. I also seriously doubt all the 3rd graders failed math, although I know a lot of kids have had issues this year in the higher grades with the change in the math curriculum that was nation wide. Our sons teacher, after watching the kids struggle, actually told us to go back to teaching the stuff the old way at home.