I'd consider the STEM/Creative Art/Montessori for your kid specifically because I think they carter to different sorts of kids. Language immersion would be an interesting option as well.
I would not consider the Charter or Catholic school because you have other options.
FWIW we're in a vanilla public school and thus far I've been really happy. I drop off and then the Y picks her up and does after school until 6:30. It is a bit tight in terms of the work day (I get to work around 8:30 and have to leave no later than 5:30 in order to get both kids) but overall it is fine. There are lots of parents who work with school age kids so schools or local community facilities (Y's, daycares, etc) offer services to help with that.
Well I feel strongly about neighborhood schools. So unless there was a reason not to is rather my kids go to school with their neighbors which helps create a community feeling
We are aiming for language immersion next year, but we have many of the same options that you do. Public Montessori is probably my 2nd choice, followed by a creative arts magnet.
Well I feel strongly about neighborhood schools. So unless there was a reason not to is rather my kids go to school with their neighbors which helps create a community feeling
The problem here in Charlotte, is there are so many charters and magnets that neighborhood schools don't mean you are going to school with neighbors. In my immediate neighborhood of about 30 homes, kids go to approximately 5 different elementary schools, 3 different middle schools and 3 high schools. These are just the public not including private.
Post by quickstepstar on Sept 18, 2014 11:40:54 GMT -5
My first choice would be between STEM and immersion fro French. The reason I pick STEM is because I find that math/science is generally week in this country. Immersion for French, because I find that Spanish is so prevalent in this country and it is super easy to find classes later on. Also having studied both French and Spanish, I think that it is much easier to learn French first, and then Spanish, because it would come easily. My 3rd choice would be Montessori.
Post by elocrates on Sept 18, 2014 14:27:47 GMT -5
Without reading other replies first, my list would look like this:
1. Public language immersion (but only if I was quite certain we would remain in the area for the entirety of elementary school, since English skills don't tend to catch up to peers in non-immersion schools until middle school). 2. Neighborhood community school (providing student : teacher ratios were good and the school is well-regarded in general). 3. Public STEM 4. Catholic school 5. Public Montessori 6. Public creative arts 7. Charter community school