Need Advice Obout Public Schools

Hi Birute,

I just went through this while preparing to spend a year in Ireland, and I should add that when moving to Texas I already felt extremely confused, even though I'm an American!

My answers may not be correct in every detail, but perhaps some of it will help. Children do start attending elementary school in the US at 5 -- there are various sorts of prekindergarten schools available, but most cost money. Public schooling is free, and there are, I THINK, three ways to attend a particular public school within the Houston School system -- every household in Houston is zoned to a particular school -- your child is definitely eligible to attend that school. So a good thing to do right away is to figure out what school you are zoned to and see whether that school would be acceptable to you -- if you love it, that could be a very easy answer for you and your family.

However, if you do not like the school you are zoned to, or have a pressing need to put your child in school elsewhere, there are two other routes you can take and still stay within HISD -- these are magnet schools, and vanguard schools. Magnet schools have particular strengths in an area such science, music, performing arts, languages, etc. I am not sure exactly how applying to these schools works, but I think you can apply to a few different magnet schools and students who are not zoned to the area are offered positions according to a lottery. If you know that you are interested in your child learning a particular language, playing an instrument (or several), or getting particular strong support as a reader and lover of books and literature, look for a magnet school with a focus you like in an area that works for you. You can contact the school to find out exactly how to apply. Finally, vanguard schools are for students who take a test and are designated as being gifted and talented. There are obviously pros and cons to having your five year old designated as gifted and talented and sent to a special program, but it's another way to get your child into a school to which your household is not zoned. It can also be a way in which bright youngsters zoned to weak schools into much nicer schools.

As you can see, Houstonians have some choices about where to send their children to school, and they also face a lot of uncertainty. One reason families feel a lot of pressure to get their kids into a school that they are happy with when the child starts kindergarten is that it is at 5 that a kid's odds are best for getting into a school of their parents' choice -- kindergarten classes are wide open, so a student who applies to a kindergarten class at an elementary school has, say, 150 slots that she or he is competing for, whereas in first grade, there may only be 3 or 4 openings for the first grade class. Of course, there will be many fewer applications for those openings too, but most people seem to think the odds are best when applying to kindergarten.

A few thoughts on selecting schools -- I hear that principals are very important, so if a school has just changed principals, it may be much harder to predict how it will perform in the future than a school that has had the same principal for the past few years. Also, it seems to me that Houston elementary schools in general are pretty good -- I believe that choices become a lot more difficult once kids get to middle schools and high schools, where I think there is much greater diversity of quality. Note that every elementary school is a feeder school for a particular middle school which in turn sends its students to a particular high school -- while there's no predicting what will happen in middle schools and high schools in 8-10 years, I think it's a good idea to look at what middel school and high school an elementary school sends its students to, because again, that is going to be the easiest path for your child to take -- he or she will then stay with one cohort of kids that s/he knows, and it will mean you will have a network of parents and teachers to help you stay connected to what's going on. I also would suggest visiting all schools you are considering -- I think nothing is as important (to me, at least) as the gut feeling I get from a place.

Starting in the early spring in Houston, the schools are all geared for the next wave of anxious new parents, hunting for the perfect elementary school where they can place their five year old, so if you have another year to plan, start contacting schools in January or February, but if your child will be starting school this coming fall, start contacting schools now. I found looking at schools online to be a great way to start -- different schools' websites can give more or less information, but they are a good place to get a first look at things. After that, call the school and arrange a visit -- if they know you're coming, I have found schools to be very supportive and receptive.

I hope some of this helps -- I found this process nerve-wracking, and if I can make it easier for another mom, I'd be glad.

best wishes,
M.

Public schools here are largely geographical. You (or your landlord) pay property taxes to the school district you live within. You then have rights to send your child to public school free of charge in that school district that your taxes are paid in. People with school-age children many times live in the suburbs and make the long commute to their work each day because they have chosen to make their home in a specific area based on the quality of the schools in that area. If you are not satisfied with the public schools in your geographic region, then you can opt for a private school or home schooling. Home schooling has some stringent requirements for curriculum and puts responsibility for education of the children on the parents. In your situation, home schooling would not help to meet your goal of "fitting in to the American system" for you or your child. Going to another school district is not an option. If you or your landlord pay taxes in Houston Independent School District because the property is geographically located within the school district boundaries, your free public school is in HISD. In order to have attend Katy schools, you need to live in within the boundaries of that school district. That is why every property you look at in a real estate listing (MLS) is going to list the school district and elementary, jr. high, and high school that this school will pay taxes to and attend. Where children living in a particular home will attend school is a big factor in the value of a home. Find out what school boundaries you live within. Call the school administration and ask to schedule a conference and a visit to the school. See what the condition of the property, the students, and the faculty are. Decide if it meets your needs for your child. If not, look into your options for a private school which would be at your own expense. Or talk to a realtor in the Katy area or another area where you would like your child to attend school. Kindergarten begins at age 5. I think some schools still have half day kindergarten programs while others are full day. Even though the school year usually starts in August, if your child will be 5 before September 1, he can start Kindergarten. In years past kindergarten was optional, but first grade at 6 years old was when mandatory attendance began. That could have changed in recent years. However, the preparation children receive from a good kindergarten is important foundation.

You have to enroll your child within the School District that you live in. For ex: If you lived in Katy, he would be in any KISD School (Katy Independent School District)If you lived in Houston, he would be in any HISD School(Houston Independent School District)you can NOT live in the Downtown area & enroll your child in a Katy school. You see what I mean? And public schools are FREE. There is no charge to enroll your child are for him to attend. At any school you'll find a wide variety/culture of kids and some kids can be cruel. Its a big transition for a child. Just be prepared and ask your child questions everyday.

I also live downtown. Actually kids start as early as 4 years old (pre-K) at some public schools. You can enroll your child at any public school that you want as long as they have space available and you can provide the transportation.Public school does not cost. Private Schools do cost. My daughter attended public school (Pre-K-5th grade). Houston also has good elementary schools!

Hi.

I know that changing countries is difficult. I am American but am right now in France. Many differences.

In America, your child can begin public school at age 5 if his birthday is before September 1. He must be age 5 before September 1 to begin Kindergatrten.
You must enroll him in the same district where you live and must show proof that you do live there. Very strict about this.
Public school os free. You will need to purchase necessary supplies and maybe a uniform of his school requires one.

Hope this helps.
God bless you!!

S.Lewis

Where ever you live you are "zoned" to go to a certain school. Elementary schools are usually close to where you live. You can look into Katy schools, but you will have to pay out of district fees, and they can be pretty expensive. I would suggest that you call or go by the closest elementary school. When you tell them your address, they will tell you whether you are zoned for that school. If not, they can tell you where the right school is. Most school districts have a web site that can tell you what you will need for registration, or you can get that information from the elementary school. You will need proof of residence,(utility bill, or lease) immunization records, birth certificate, and social security card, maybe other things. Public school is free, but there are from time to time things that you may have to pay for. There will also be a stack of forms to fill out for registration, so be prepared to spend some time. good luck, and welcome to Houston.

You can ask your realtor or neighbors which elementary school your kids will attend. Contact that elementary school, but registration is probably going on now and will last through summer for kindergarten. I believe if your child is 5 as of August 25, then they can enroll in kindergarten. You will also need to bring certain documents. Ask the school in advance. By the way, you are zoned to only one elementary, middle and high school as far as public school goes (its free...every property owner pays it through property taxes whether you have school aged kids or not.) This depends on your home address. If you would like your child to attend a public school in Katy then you must know someone in Katy that is willing to let your children use their address as where they live (in name only). This address is where all school mail will go as well. So it may be inconvenient but I had family that did this.
You may also decide to put your children in private schools that cost money and is not cheap. Get referrals for this. Your neighbors, etc. Often if you or your spouse's company transfers employees often, then it will be a great source for a referral. I hope this helps you.

Hi,
Yes, you have to send your child to the school in your district. If you live in downtown, I would strongly encourage you to look at the schools. Downtown does not have a good reputation for schools unless you live in River Oaks area. Elementary schools are usually okay (downtown is different though), but once you get to middle and high school, you have to really look at where other students are coming from--middle and high schools tend to be very large and often times kids come from wide range of schools (both good and bad). Most schools are listed as Exemplary (highest), Recognized, Acceptable, and unacceptable. I would really only look at schools that are exemplary or recognized. These ratings are based on TAKS test, which you will become very familiar with. It's a yearly test that teachers freak out about and "train" their students to take. It's basically a yearly exam to make sure students are being taught the basic requirements. However, schools get money based on results, so you may find that some schools/teachers teach the entire year on how to take this test. It's ridiculous, but as someone new to this, just be aware of it. It may also be something you ask the schools about as well. Most people I know who live in downtown send their kids to private school. There are many in the area, they are just expensive. All you need to do is go to the school (public) and register your child. As far as preschool--usually it's connected to day care centers and there could be wait lists. I hope this helps!! Good luck!

Birute - First off, welcome to America. I'm very glad that you're here!

I'm responding to the preschool portion of your profile - our daughter goes to a wonderful part time preschool although it might be somewhat of a drive for you - send me a message if you're interested in the information.

Have a wonderful day!
S.

visit http://www.houstonisd.org/

there you will find all of the answers to your questions, including locating the campus to which your children are zoned.

additionally, seek data on the gifted & talented / magnet programs. testing is requried for acceptance ... though the educations afforded in those programs far exceed the "normal campus."

Kindergarten is not required in the state of Texas. Children must begin attending school (publie or private) in the 1st grade (which is generally 6). Most teacher recommend children attend Kindergarten so they can learn how school works.

You probably will have a difficult time keeping your child in Katy school district if you don't live in the district. You usually must attend the school to which you are zoned (in your neighborhood.) --- If you live in Houston then your child can attend Houston Public Schools. If you don't like the school to which you are zoned you can have your child tested for Magnet or Vanguard schools in the district *testing takes place in January) and apply to other schools you prefer over your neighborhood school. --- Feel free to visit the schools in your neighborhood and the ones to which you would like to apply. They are generally welcoming and will invite you into the school and classroom (be sure to call ahead of your visit.)

In Texas, Kindergarten is optional, and for your child's well-being, some school readiness is recommended. Call Collaborative for Children, a non-profit company, and get a free consultation, search, and pre-k referrals for your 4 yr old ###-###-####). There are part time pre-kinders in your area, and you will pay a weekly or monthly fee for them. And no, you may not enroll in a public school that you are not zoned for, unless is is a Houston school you are willing to transport to/from daily (a Magnet School).