I have heard many conflicting reports on what area of SA has the best schools. What school district is rated highest in the nation, and how do you find the actual information. Then, how much do these tests really tell? Are some rated lower, but have better programs? I would love to find a public school with a strong Spanish program for my daughter. I think it is very important to learn this while she is skill young.
Also, I am still considering homeschooling, are there any co-ops around? I am located in north central SA next door to Canyon Ridge Elementary, but my daughter's education comes first and we would be willing to move to find the best schools. I am concerned about possible overcrowding at Canyon Ridge. Any thoughts?
Thank you all very much! I'm glad that I asked because I havdn't even heard about Alamo Heights! I will have to look into this further. Thank you all for your help. I didn't want to just put her somewhere because everyone said to. I really need to find one that will work for her. I'm a firm believer that parents are what makes the difference in the education experiance, but I need to find a team that lines up with her learning style. I had been interested in the charter schools too, so thank you all. I have some hoework of my own to do over the next year or so, but that is a great place to start.
Northeast ISD is the very best. You want to stay on the far northside of NEISD. Canyon Ridge is a great school, all the schools out that way are crowded but they have the best teachers and principals, plus the class of students is good.
Alamo Heights is also great. All kids go to Howard for kindergarten. After that I would send my child to Cambridge only.
You can check out schools at www.greatschools.com
This sight breaks down how the schools do statewide as well as nationally. I think there are good and bad schools in every school district. It just depends on where you choose to live.
Hi W.,
I researched this very question when moving here from Arkansas. I'd suggest you make a list of a few questions you find important and then research the answers for several schools, ranking the answers if possible.
If academic performances are important, look at the TAKS scores which are available online at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/
This site has a great deal of helpful reports.
If ethnic diversity or average household income is important, look at that, too. If, for example, you value your child growing up in an ethnically diverse environment in school or don't want your child overly influenced by a high percentage of wealthy fellow students, researching this now can help you choose a good fit for you and your child.
Feel free to contact me with any questions,
J. B
Parent Coach
I went to school in Northeast ISD. I taught 7 years in SAISD. My husband works in Edgewood ISD. My kids, for now, go to Northside ISD and I have subbed in Northside as well. My preference for schools would be the far Northeast ISD 1st or in the far Northside.
THere are a lot of decent school districts, but if you want top-notch, then Alamo Heights is the way to go.
I went to Alamo Heights and even though I do not currently live there, when my daughter (who is 2) is ready for school we will be sending her there. My advice though is that if you are going to send your daughter to a school like that, you start her in kinder. As crazy as it sounds, it was such a small school that when I got there in third grade, most of the friendships had been established and those friendships stayed the same all through highschool. I'm sure you'll find that most anyone you ask in San Antonio will say "well, there's Heights of course..." because it's well known as being a fabulous school district. And the Spanish immersion program is supposed to be awesome! Good luck!
My stepson attends Woodridge Elementary in the Alamo Heights Independent School District. They are a bilingual school (English and Spanish)and are a little more diverse than I expected from the area, which is really important to us.
My husband found a lot of great information on the internet including ratings of schools and how they compare. Be sure that the site is not just an opinion forum but an impartial party. It's good to see what the parents think of different schools but also how the schools are rated by the government. I'll send you the link that my husband used later.
Have a super day!
The hard thing is that what is great for one child, may not be great for another child. I moved from one of the best schools in Ohio, and rated higher than the schools here, except Heights of course, it was an awful school for my son. Here at NISD, he is much happier and doing much better. They have an afterschool Spanish program here that you can pay for, but it isn't part of their regular curriculum.
Actually, my husband recently moved his son from Alamo Heights(where he lived with his mother) to our school district, Northside...and is much happier with teachers and schools here, than at AH. Also, the Taft magnet HS placed higher in national scores than Alamo Heights did. I would honestly say, it's most likely different for each child, and what ever works best for you, as a parent and your child's learning personality.
