Picking Schools

Even though it is too late to get into any school choice schools, I highly recommend looking into charter schools in your area. I didn't like the elementary school that we were districted for here in Sarasota, so I ended up researching charter schools and found the perfect school for her. We seriously couldn't be happier. Charter schools are free, public schools in case you aren't familiar with them. Like someone else said, greatschools.com is an excellent resource!

A.

I would encourage you to visit the county Web site and see what schools are in your area, then visit greatschools.org to see how they are rated. It is a thorough, wonderful site about schools throughout the country. You can get a feel for the school and then visit.
Here in Hillsborough County I think the Choice application period has closed. We have been successful with it twice with our daughter who will be going to first grade.
Last year my neighbor touted the school she is in now because her son went there for six years. Well, he is in middle school now and it is awful. I didn't do my homework, such as visiting greatschools.org.
We are switching to another Choice school in the fall, much better scores, teachers, administration.
So please do your homework and don't just go on word of mouth. The needs of each child are different.
There are so many factors to consider.
My husband and I talk all the time about the difficulty of the education process.
We had no idea but we educate ourselves about the various factors involved with formal schooling.
I encourage you to do the same.

Unfortunately it is too late to get her in for the Fall. Choice programs have already selected students for the 11/12 school year. It opens back up later in the year, probably September. I live in Palm Beach county and went through a county website to put in an application. Happy to report that I got my daughter in a great school for 1st grade so you should give it a shot.

I don't think Cheryl M. is talking about the same thing. I believe when you say "choice" you are referring to the magnet programs. It was really a simple process. You put in an application and then they either pick you or they don't. It's pure lottery. Apply in the Fall and you get an answer in Spring.

Calling it School of Choice is kind of deceiving. If it's the same as it is in Miami, here it works. You are zoned for 2 or more schools. You "choose" in order of preference which of these schools you would like to attend and then submit your choices. There is a behind the scenes process and then you are notified, which of your "choices" you received. You can appeal the decision if it is not what you wanted, but I'm not quite sure how that part works.
You mentioned your daughter was in the Gifted program in Texas. Was she officially tested? If so, then check to see if the state will accept your daughter's test results from TX. If not, you will need to have her tested here again if you want her in the gifted program again. I recommend you go the route of private testing and not do it through the schools. If she tests gifted, then you may have some options regarding schools. I don't know all the details (call your counties Gifted or Exceptional Education office for more), but I believe you have a right to choose what type of gifted program your daughter is in (full-time, part-time or pull-out). If the school you are currently in, does not offer the type of gifted program you want, then you have a right to put her in a school that does. I believe this is on a space available basis, but it could open up your options.
Good luck. It is definitely a challenging system to work through.

I am with you about being lost with the whole school choice thing. We just moved to Fort Myers in March and my kids were placed in Heights Elementary and Fort Myers Middle Academy. They both seem like good schools but I am switching them because they end up on the bus way to long each day. So for me it is going to be a choice of what is closer to us which also happen to be good schools. I would say check out the lee county schools website and see what the grades each school has and then go from there. I know this probably doesn't help much I just wanted to let you know your not alone.
Have a good day.