It is pretty depressing. The school condition, the cafeteria, the teachers lounge... Everything screams "there is no money" and nothing was renovated since the school was build and feels kind of dirty. And the process of registration, with their outdated badly copied paper forms(how hard would it be to provide them online, so everyone can come with everything filled out?), waiting forever when staff goes some place else...
And this is one of the better schools, the "desirable" public school in the area.
I have not got to meet any of the teachers. I know this is the part that matters, but the whole public education system, now that we are going to be directly impacted by it, really raises a lot of concerns.
Our son tested into the New York City's "Gifted and Talented" program, but even for those who tested in, there is 1 spot for 3 applicants in the G&T program in our school, so he is unlikely to make it, even after after testing in.
Registered son for school
May 7th, 2015 at 05:11 pm
May 7th, 2015 at 05:22 pm 1431019352
May 7th, 2015 at 05:32 pm 1431019948
May 7th, 2015 at 05:35 pm 1431020125
I guess you can look at moving somewhere that the schools are better. Determine is there anywhere else than you can potentially move to? Or move somewhere cheaper and do private school?
What about parochial school? Usually smaller classes and substantially cheaper than private school if that is a concern. But the facilites are also better because it is a private school.
May 7th, 2015 at 06:21 pm 1431022887
The only place free I can move into, is MIL house, and that's 1.5 hours away, with a horrendous school system.
Moving somewhere with better schools is more expensive. Because SCHOOLS is what drives demand for housing and drives up housing prices.
"Why not make it so much higher than everyone making the cut gets a spot?"
The G&T is city-wide, but than all the "winners" - people who tested in, apply for a program in a school of their choice. And of course, most people end up applying for select few schools, all competing for the same few schools. And our school happens to be one of those few "prime choice" schools for Bronx. We can get a spot in a "G&T" program in a worse school, so in that sense, there is not less spots than applicants, but to get into the one where we live, and where we want to go, there are way too many applicants than spots.
I will get to know the teachers. Right now we are waiting for the decision letter, which should come at the end of the month.
May 7th, 2015 at 07:04 pm 1431025496
May 7th, 2015 at 10:35 pm 1431038122
May 8th, 2015 at 12:38 am 1431045490
With a teeny bit of thought, ordinary household routine easily supports fun and learning like how... many spoons go on the table, what color are your socks? How many socks does daddy wear? How many socks do you wear? How many feet do you have? How many feet does a kitty have? When you add 2 TBLS of baking soda into the kitchen sink drain, nothing happens, when you add 2 TBSP vinegar, and some cool water, change happens, it bubbles and steams and best of all the drain clears!
If mom and dad are the best source of information for a 5 y/o,, they will continue to be a trusted source of information until age 12 or so.
May 8th, 2015 at 03:18 pm 1431098306
Not sure what you're religious affiliation is, but I would assume that tuition at any parochial school within a diocese are all fairly competitive. $40K less than the private schools you mention.
There don't seem to be any more nuns in schools, religion is usually 45 minutes three times a week, and there weekly Mass. The Catholic school where my youngest ones attend now has a reading therapist, Spanish starting in K, school social worker (shared with another school - 2.5 days a week). They kids score consistently higher than the public schools in the community. Not all of the students go on to parochial high schools in the area (where tuition is $10,600 for one year), because we have excellent high schools.
If it's not something you've considered, you might want to. Our school building is old, but the technology has all been updated and there are smart boards in every room. There's an art program, extended care for before- and after-school for parent who work.
May 27th, 2015 at 12:04 am 1432685072