We are moving real soon (eek!) and are not positive where we want to move to. My dh has been calling principals and asking questions. We have an 8th grader, 3rd, 2nd & 1st grader as well as a 3 & 2 yr old. He has been asking about student/teacher ratio, gifted programs, speech (we have 2 with speech delays), extra curricular activities, before and after school childcare. What else should we consider? What do you think makes a good school district?

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

my daughter is in a wonderful school district - i love her school . they have great after school clubs and programs. i dont have any kids in middle school but all ive heard is good things . we are in the williamsburg james city county district . williamsburg va

__________________
Wife to Marc , Mommy to Kayla

We moved where we are now JUST for the school system. We lived in an urban area with horrible schools (although we lived in a beautiful old neighborhood) so when our children got near school age, we realized we would have to move. So we spent a long time investigating school systems. The one thing I studied closely was test scores. How do the elementary schools do on whatever mandated test you have in your state, and how do the high school students do on SAT, ACT etc. Once we figured out what school system we wanted (usually #1 in our state) then we started looking at houses in that suburb, and once we found one we liked, we toured the elementary, talked to parents and the principal, before we placed an offer on the house. It was a lot of work, but we've been exceedingly happy here in this school system and my kids LOVE their schools, so I think it was worth it. HTH

__________________

I think you should also look at test scores...I don't think you necessarily need to choose the district/schools with the highest scores, but I think it's important to choose one with good, solid results. I also think that the other things you listed are important.

My sister is a school secretary. For the real scoop on how a school is, get to know the secretary- she will have info on enrollment, discipline problems, and *especially* what the kids and parents are like. Test scores are important, but your kids will also learn from and pattern themselves on what the other kids are doing. The secretary can tell you things about language, values, dress, problems- things the principal and other parents are not going to be eager to tell you. Also, I think it is very telling that the parents are often wonderful to the principal but HORRIBLE to school staff.

For instance, my sister's school has an all day program for 4 year olds. She tells me that she's had several parents forge birth certificates to get their kids into this program early (it's a free program). Some of these little kids are really little and have trouble riding the bus. They can't get in and out of the seats without help, then they slip and slide in the seats and often fall out into the aisles (there are no seat belts on the bus). She's had to call several parents and tell them their kids are too little to ride the bus; it's a safety issue. She has had parents yell and scream at her over this, even threaten her. She can definitely tell you the pros and cons of her school.

Another person to talk to is the school nurse. She can tell you interesting things that are also important. My local elementary school is thought to be pretty good, but on an average day about 30% of the kids are out sick. I know this because my sister is the school nurse there. Part of this problem is that the building is old and has mold. Kids with asthma really struggle going to school there. I know moms who have had to transfer their kids to other schools just for this reason. Also, in our county, the nurse is not allowed to give certain types of medication to the kids at school. If you have a child that needs medication daily for whatever reason, and it has to be given at a certain time, check on that.

__________________
I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Another thing to consider would the the district discipline policy. Test results for district assessments should be available on the state board of education website for you to look at as well.