I have a almost 9 year old son who is in the 3rd grade. In Kindergarten he went to a different school due to we moved. When we moved I looked into 2 schools, 1 in our boundary area, (its right across the street) and 1 down the road about half mile. The one down the street is bigger, just got grant year before and completely re gutted out school. Its a old brick 2 story school that was built in years ago and so it was completely updated. It look so nice. The school across the street is a little neighborhood school, and can tell is older as well with out the updates. I "compared" on line the 2 school, and with info I choose to put my son in the school not in our boundary area. He loved it there, the teachers and staff were wonderful. They had tons of activities, math night, reading day, chess night once a month, dances fun for elementary kids (50s themed dance), field trips (he had 3 his 1st grade yr at this school) great tutoring program if needed and he did in reading. They had ice cream social for parents and kids at Beginning of year, field day at end of year, school carnival, and other things as well. So I felt there was plenty of activities throughout year to come to school and see and meet teachers, staff and other parents and just to see whats going on in school.
Right before he was going into 2nd grade, my youngest son (at the time was 18 months) was going to have surgery. Since we were not in our boundary area, and in open enrollment, we had to go 3 blocks & across a busy intersection and down 3 blocks for him to get on bus. Since my youngest would just be out of hospital, and sick for next 2 weeks (he had tonsils, adenoids and tubes in ears) I did not want to be having to transport him every day. My neighbor lady spoke so well about school right across street, and then my son would be on bus right by our driveway. Well under stress, I switched him schools. I regret it. The lady who sits at desk in office I guess Secretary, is horrible. She is older and just flat out grumpy. He did get a awesome teacher, however when he fell behind in reading something he has always done, he was put in other reading group. I was fine with that. Then kids in that classroom would be able to get tutoring, I even said I wanted my son top be in it, well wouldn't you know, they moved him up day before he was eligible for it. I just think its weird. The school did do school carnival, and it was okay, but that was only activity they did last year. No field trips, nothing. I decided that that 3rd grade I wanted to get him back into other school. Well the 3rd class was full and since I had to do open enrollment, he could not go. This year the current school I was trying to get out of had cancelled the school carnival the only activity they had planned for the year. I also was talking to another parent who said she has been fighting this school on lots of issues. She said that lunch the kids are not allowed to talk at all, and if they do they have to owe 5 min of lunch recess with head on table. That just seems so weird. I had no idea, then asked my son and he said yup not allowed to talk and he has had to miss out on recces for talking. I understand screaming or talking loud, but talking? So here is my question. They have opening now if the 3rd grade. It is in classroom that I know a parent with son in that classroom who says she is awesome. The kid is in his boy scouts so they know each other. Also he was at this school in 1st grade so he will know lots of kids still. Would you switch him in middle of year? I want to, he wants to go back to that school, but want to make sure I make right choice. Everyone says move him, but want other opinion please. What would you do? I wanted to move him back in 4th grade no matter what. I hope this makes since and sorry so long.
Edit: Sorry so confusing. The school he is now (one I don't like) is across street from our neighrborhood. The reason he gets to ride bus to this school is due to very busy intersection the kids would have to cross, and since they are elemantary kids, school would rather bus the kids.
The school he attended in the 1st grade & school I am wanting to move him back into is about a half mile to 3/4 mile down the street. Since we not in there boundary list we have to do open enrollment , & open enrollment bus. So in order for him to ride bus we have to walk out of our neighborhood (about 3 blocks) then across busy intersection, and 3 blocks to bus stop for that actual school. We enjoyed the walk most days.
I did do a open enrollment form end of his 2nd grade to get him back into the school we liked, however the 3rd grade was full. I did go back in just recently to put in for 4th grade year, & that's when I was told they now have open spot in the 3rd grade, & he can now switch over in 2 weeks when the semister is over, so he can start new at the school. So he is in, I just have to call back next week and talk with teacher to say I 100% want to move him over.
I already know what class he will be in, and it will be with his friend from Boy Scouts he he sees every week, and same kid he went to school with in 1st grade when he was at that school.
The reason I moved him to the school I don't like in 2nd grade was my youngest was sick in hospital, had 2 weeks of recovery. My neighbor who had her daughter there said it was great. I believed due to she was SIL of one of my really good friends, so I trusted her judgment. Well after getting to really know her we are so different people. Have way different outlooks on everything. So never again will I just "trust". I know the school that I want him back in, it's just a different environment. My son liked it better, and so did I. My only question was moving him in middle of year, but I feel better now. I was going to try and have him switched next year anyways, so think I will just go ahead and move him over now.
Thanks for all responses and sorry again for being so long and confusing.
Did you say he gets a school bus to the school across the street? Anyway, I would always choose the school my kids could walk to. If I do not like the policies at my kids school I do what I can to change them.
I say switch, and don't feel guilty about it. The 1st school sounds awesome.
Without hesitation I would move him back to the old school. The new one sounds horrible. Its a no brainer really.
Well... do whatever you want, of course, but I have to say that if your only complaints about the school across the street is that the office lady is grumpy, and your child can't talk during lunchtime, those are pretty nitpicky reasons. If you're upset about the carnival, why not get involved with the PTO? It's not like these things happen magically; parents get involved and make them happen! If you want field trips, work with your child's teacher to set them up! Find a fun and educational place to go, ask the teacher if she would mind if you set something up, and do the legwork on it. That's how it usually happens at our school. Parents step up and partner with teachers to enrich the kids' education and experience. It seems to me like you're wanting everyone else to do it - you see the need, fill it!
You said that your child has a great teacher and that he has been moved into the higher reading group; that's great. Why not focus on your child's classroom experience and how much he is learning, rather than how recently the classrooms have been repainted or how Mary Poppins-like the office lady is? I just think that if you're going to switch schools mid-year, you should have a legitimate reason for disrupting your child's education (like relocating, or his teacher is horrible and the principal won't do anything to help... things like that). Otherwise, I don't really see the need to switch mid-year??
Switch him and then send an unemotional/fact based letter to the principal - the district supervisor - the school board and the superintendent and let them know the reasons you have decided to switch your son from one school to another. Explain to them that you understand alot has to do with parental involvement but when the administration and the front office staff are not receptive to parental involvement or concerns it will have an affect on students.
He wants to move. You want to move him. He had great experiences at the prospective school before. He already has friends there. You've been getting lots of feedback from your friends in favor of moving him. And you plan to move him to that other school next year anyway. Why the hesitation? Move him now.
I am so very very very confused by this post. You stated one school was just across the street. The other one is just down the block a bit, about half a block. Then you started on about going 3 blocks and across a busty street then 3 more blocks and catching a bus or he can catch the bus at the end of the driveway to the local school.
I'd say that is confusing.
So put him in the school that has the most activities and that he thrived in.
My friend's husband wanted the kids out of private christian school and had her put them in the local public school. Her son has never been the same. He was over a year ahead of the kids in his class in the local public school. He was instantly bored because he had done this stuff the year before, some of the the year before that.
This boy has hated school ever since he changed. Mom never wanted them put in public school and tried to get dad to change his mind. Now we know dad was spending all his money on his numerous girlfriends and had no money to pay for the private school anymore. So I say move him if he wants to go. BUT BUT BUT call them and actually go to the office before even talking to your boy. Fill out the paperwork and make sure there is an opening. If they don't have any openings they don't have to take him. Since it's open enrollment they don't even have to make room for him if he lived across the driveway. They could send him to some other school that has room.
This is the one thing I dislike about open enrollment. It's open, so they can go anywhere and they don't have to make any changes.
Switch him to the better school. We have our kids in the closest school, but it's actually not our boundary school. We have to drive them 5 min each morning and pickup, but it's worth it to know they are in the better school. In our case it's only slightly better, but worth the hassle.
I would switch him to the better school of course. I would however make up my mind and stick with it. It would be hard for a child to keep switching schools IMO.
Don't fret over this. Your kid is on board with it, which is the hardest part.
No school is perfect, but the no talking at lunch and then missing recess seems archaic at best.
Move on.
What does your son think? Assuming he's okay with it, I would absolutely switch mid year. We moved my son (at the time he was also middle of 3rd grade) to an out of boundary school over Christmas break. I have no regrets!
