Need Input on Sm Schools

Hi Dawn,

I am in the SM district, Mill Creek to be exact, and as Lisa said, it is one of the best (the best I would say!), but I don't think you can choose a school, you have to belong to the area and that changes sometimes. This year they added one area to our school and sometimes exclude other, you never know but the Mill Creek area is all great! And yes, West of Quivira or Pflumm I would say.
I have also heard good comments for Christa Mc Auliffe and Rising Star.
The area is great! Happy Moving!
Mariana Abadie
www.MaiaCreations.ecrater.com
www.MyKidsFirst.com

**I had to edit my post... I misread your post and thought your daughter was already in school. So, if you read my previous post, sorry for the confusion!**

SM school district is a GREAT school district, one of the best in the area and one of the best in the midwest... so no matter what your child will get an excellent education!

I recommend driving around the different areas and just getting a feel for it. I grew up in Overland Park, but I'm very familiar with most of Johnson County. We live in Prairie Village right now and absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! It's so quiet, very family oriented. Lots and lots of parks for the kids, great schools, virtually crime free, and just a great city!

Your daughter is only 8 months now, so chances are you might move again before she goes to elementary school. So, I wouldn't worry too much about that right now.

Check out schooldigger.com You can input a district or a specific school and find out test scores, ratings, and demographics. I do know that SM East is one of the best high schools around.

Hope this helps.
M.

wow you are really looking ahead for an 8 month old. I went to Shawnee Mission schools when I was growing up for a few years and they were good. I lived in Missouri most of my life so had both states to compare and think Shawnee Mission schools are a little harder and more challenging but all the schools I went to were good as well. My kids have also had to go to several different schools as my husband was in the military for 20 yrs and retired. We haven't moved to the KS side with our kids but would consider it if the opportunity came that we could find an affordable house to buy in that area. We like living in the Belton area and hubby drives 30 miles to work in Argentine area. We really liked the schools in Harrisonville but didn't find a house we liked there so we will probably remain in Belton as our oldest will graduate in just 2 years, and the 2nd one wants to stay here and graduates in 5 yrs, 3rd one is just 2nd grader and doesn't care yet but sure he will probably not want to move as he gets older either. I do know that my cousins moved to Shawnee Mission schools and Olathe schools from Grandview and they were in the gifted classes in Grandview and when they moved to KS the schools were a lot harder and they had to do a lot more homework. They still made good grades but had to work harder for them and one of them got almost a full ride scholarship at KU--she only had to pay for 1 semester of college. They felt they were good schools.

Hi Dawn,
I live in Lenexa & used to work in Fairway - it was about a 20 minute commute with traffic, 15 without. We are actually selling our house because my husband took a job out of town. We are in the Mill Creek Elementary district (79th & Pflumm). It is one of the best elementary's in the SMSD - Blue Ribbon award winner. You would love this part of town - lots of trees & great schools, walking trails & soccer fields and SM Park are close-by as well. You should check out the area - I think you would like it.

-L.

I don't know much about the Kansas side other than I hear the SM area is grrrreat! I have several sister consultants that live out there (& in Lenexa) & they just love it! The womenare GRRRREAT! I don't know what type of mom's group your in search of but we have one that's called Mary Kay. It's owning your own business of course BUT we have girlfriend time, share in one anothers lives (the ups & downs) & support one another. We have some very healthy skin & we play with/in our make-up:-)! If you want to just come out to see what we do & get a FREE pampering session let me know & I can arrange that just for you, your sure to enjoy yourself. Good luck on your search, move & God Bless!

I live in the district and have subbed here also. The further West you go the better off you are. The best schools are west of Quivera.

I second that. Shawnee Mission schools are great. My husband went to Shawnee Mission East and got a great education. He loved it and would not consider sending our children anywhere eles. We live in Prairie Village and I think it is extremely safe. I also love the location within the city.

I would encourage you to pick a neighborhood you like and and can afford and not worry too much about the school.....

The district is fairly uniform --in that the schools all follow the same curriculum etc. So the 'coursework' they are given will generally be the same. What influences the schools and their performance has a lot to do with the economics of the families in the area.

Since your dd is so young I suspect there will be some major changes in the system by the time she enrolls in school. For example, currently the SMSD offers full day and half day kindergarten as an option...Parents pay an additional monthly fee to enroll their kids in the full day option. I knowt there are people working to get the full day program funded by the state rather than parent pay.

Also, each school has individual qualities b/c of the principal and staff-- and those will change before your child gets there.

THis past year the district did a lot of shuffling around of principals. I anticipate that this next year there will be a number of teachers transferring around who perhaps will be looking for a different relationship with their supervisor.

If you are concerned about test scores, performance, Title 1 schools etc...you can find a lot of that information on the district website.

You can also call the district and ask for a packet.They have a packet of all sorts of information they send out about the district.

I have found that in JoCo (and probably everywhere really) most people think the school/district THEY or THEIR Kids attend is 'the best' (And on the flip side there are certain 'rivals' who are always labeled the 'worst'---and I have heard all the high schools mentioned as being good/bad for something---it sort of depends on what you are looking for or to avoid)