Tail of two Districts

[southsidesignmaker]

Thanks for the info Doc, our family made a decision 15 years ago to go the public school route. Resources have been limited since that point and luckily we were fortunate enough to take advantage of 204 district classes that applied for college credit. With those savings and personal savings over 50% of college expenses were paid for.

I can imagine that for many paying for a private education must be quite a financial sacrifice.

[doctorwho]

Apr 13, 2010 18:14:53 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Thanks for the info Doc, our family made a decision 15 years ago to go the public school route. Resources have been limited since that point and luckily we were fortunate enough to take advantage of 204 district classes that applied for college credit. With those savings and personal savings over 50% of college expenses were paid for.

I can imagine that for many paying for a private education must be quite a financial sacrifice.

Trust me it is, I am not a wealthy man..( and you know my pension situation) so if I felt I wasn't completely getting my monies worth I wouldn't - I do feel that strongly about how worth it is on many levels , especially over the alternative I was given.

Even my daughter is sacrificing - she will not even take drivers ed until a year later than she coukd due to those additional costs- she is more than willing to make that sacrifice also. This is as much her decision as mine ...

every family has to make their own decisions and whatever conclusion they come to I respect - one size does not fit all..

[asmodeus]

Even my daughter is sacrificing - she will not even take drivers ed until a year later than she coukd due to those additional costs-

Think of the money you're saving on insurance...

[southsidesignmaker]

Doc, point well taken.

Asmo, way to go, always thinking about the positive A+

[lacy]

Apr 13, 2010 18:14:53 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Thanks for the info Doc, our family made a decision 15 years ago to go the public school route. Resources have been limited since that point and luckily we were fortunate enough to take advantage of 204 district classes that applied for college credit. With those savings and personal savings over 50% of college expenses were paid for.

I can imagine that for many paying for a private education must be quite a financial sacrifice.

Private schools also offer AP classes for college credit and many students receive scholarships as a result of good grades/high standardized test scores.

[southsidesignmaker]

Lacy,

I could not agree with you more. As Doc, yourself and others have pointed out many of the private schools have a first rate education. I would venture to say at the high school level most are immersed in educating the students to excel at the college level.

It is also important and can not be emphasized enough (especially on OLD BLUE) that these same type of opportunities do exist in our 204 public school system.

[lacy]

Apr 13, 2010 20:20:25 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Lacy,

I could not agree with you more. As Doc, yourself and others have pointed out many of the private schools have a first rate education. I would venture to say at the high school level most are immersed in educating the students to excel at the college level.

It is also important and can not be emphasized enough (especially on OLD BLUE) that these same type of opportunities do exist in our 204 public school system.

Agree - And I'm rooting for the district...but they have really got to get their act together, or their actions will affect the kids.

Up to this point, flush with cash, they've been able to screw up to some degree and still make do. But it is high time to quit manipulating the public, pitting one group against another, blowing through our money, etc.

Because at the end of the day, it really should be all about the kids.

[doctorwho]

Apr 13, 2010 20:20:25 GMT -6 southsidesignmaker said:

Lacy,

I could not agree with you more. As Doc, yourself and others have pointed out many of the private schools have a first rate education. I would venture to say at the high school level most are immersed in educating the students to excel at the college level.

It is also important and can not be emphasized enough (especially on OLD BLUE) that these same type of opportunities do exist in our 204 public school system.

which is where their focus should be- not manipluating attendance numbers to buld shiny new brick and mortar and installing professional level field turf -- as the world blows by us educationally.

I agree the private schools here are truly 'college prep' schools at this point. Are some of the same things available @ 204 also- yes..but one has to look out for themselves when they are actually discouraged from taking PSAT tests because ' they won't need them' and a low % of AP students are getting college credits for the classes. Proper identification, not trying to get every student into one even if not capacble of doing the work would make more sense. Also fix known holes' in the curriculum like grammar - they might be surprised it would help the almighty test scores as well.