Ok, I need any input you've got. (Very long.)

[Melanie]

I'm sorry. I know my bringing this up constantly has got to get annoying. It sure annoys me. We have to find a new school arrangement for the kids for next year and that may entail a lot of things that must be done NOW. Please, help me brainstorm these options so I can try and make this decision.

Issues: First, we live in a "great" public school system which actually sucks rocks. DSS went to school there for 5 years and Kyle went to kinder there. We were very unhappy with pretty much everything. Second, Kyle has some issues that make him not a great candidate for success in the public school setting. He's ADD with some anxiety issues mixed in and is also quite above average, intellectually. Anna is somewhat above average in school work, but she'll thrive anywhere you put her, I think. Lastly, our current private Montessori school has really gone down the drain since our teachers left last year, and Kyle ages out this year anyway. We can't afford to put both kids in any of the other private schools in the area, Montessori or otherwise.

Options:
1. Public school - We can stay in our current house, put the kids back in the same school Kyle went to for kinder, and just deal with it. Tons of special needs kids go to public, and we can try to get him an IEP. This is the cheapest option.

2. Charter school - There is a charter about 30 minutes from here that would be similar to private in some regards, but would also be free. The main problem that I can see with only the small amount of research I've done into this school is that it's based on the "classical" trivium model of education, which is very language based and intensive. It seems to be very common in conservative, Christian homeschooling circles, as that's where I'm getting most of my info about it. Anyway, it seems like a less than perfect fit for Kyle, academically and socially. Otherwise, it looks like a good school.

3. Public Montessori - There is a Montessori campus in Houston ISD (we're in Cy-Fair now) that has a superb reputation. The parents even got it extended through middle school, they loved it so much. The kids do still have to take the TAKS, though, but the biggest hindrance here is location. We would have to move or spend 3 hours in the car every day, assuming they'd let us magnet in from out-of-district. The neighborhood where the school is located is one of my favorites in Houston...and very, very pricey. I don't know if we'd ever be able to afford to buy a house there. We'd likely only be able to rent and would most likely have to downsize. With five of us now, that doesn't sound too great, or sensible.

4. Go West - We could find a much smaller town to move to and hope that the schools don't suck as much as they do in the Houston 'burbs. I can always find a job anywhere, but who knows what Brian would end up with. We'd look near my sister or parents.

5. Homeschool - I would still have to work, so I'd hire a nanny for all three kids and teach on my days "off". I can pick any curriculum (or no curriculum) that would work best for each child. The major downsides I see are that I will have no time off during the week. I don't really now, but it's just Jack and me on Tues and Thurs so I can rest a little (I have fatigue-related health issues that make this somewhat important). Kyle is already overly dependent on me and I think he needs time with other adults. There isn't a lot of money in the budget for joining a bunch of clubs and classes so that they can see other kids, and I'm realistic about my going out and actually planning these activities anyway. I've never set foot in our local library. In my fantasy land, I'd love to make this work. Realistically, I have a lot of reservations about its potential success.

Please, just throw out any thoughts, ideas, suggestions you have from all that info. We just can't seem to make any headway in making this decision. Thanks.

[RLB]

Assuming it would be very difficult to move....and probably not very good for you physically to homeschool AND work, I'm thinking you should go visit number 2 and see exactly what it is they do and if they could possibly accomodate Kyle. Public school.....I'm not that familiar with CyFair as a whole except what I know from someone who used to teach in that district. Are there any better campuses for special needs students? I know at least here...some campuses are just WAY better than others..often depending on the principal's school of thought, so to speak. If there were a better campus...would they let you request a transfer if you jumped up and down and became a general annoyance (not that I plan to do that here for next year......coughcoughcough)?

[Amonika]

Melanie, first :hug:

In the past 6-8 months, DH and I have had to make the same decision regarding our kids and schooling and it hasn't been easy. We put everything on the table and then walked away from it for a few months to see where we were. I think we have finally made a decision that we can both live with but the process to get there was not easy and I'm surprised we are still talking to each other.

Here are my thoughts based on what you are saying:

1. I would not homeschool. Based on what you are saying, you are gonna be one stressed out, worn out, bedridden mama. If I were in your situation, this would be my very last option if nothing else could work. While its great in theory, I think you have the potential with having to work, take care of a baby, teach your older children, and the stress on yourself (the health issues) is just going to be too much.

2.) Your description of the charter school doesn't sound ideal either. While you say its a great school and is free, you also mention that it wouldn't be a great fit for your DS in both academics and social skills. Since both of these are the primary reasons we go to school, I would drop this option to one of my last (again, if the other three don't work out).

The other three options you have listed (actually all of them if I haven't convinced you on the first two :lol:) I would create a pro/con list for each. I would come up with everything (even the stuff that seems really dumb) and write it down. Get your thoughts on paper so you can go over everything and make the best decision. Once you write everything down, walk away for a few days. Give yourself some time to reflect over the different options and reasons you are choosing for/against something. Also, follow your instinct. It will help guide you.

Again, I can totally sympathize as we have just gone through this. Our decision is to move in a few years and private school Ava for Kindergarten if the market doesn't rebound by then. It was tough to come to this decision so I can only imagine what you are going through. :hug:

[Viketory]

I would look at the charter before making any decisions based on what you've read. In my experience what you read about it online isn't what it is in practice. Maybe after looking at it you will either decide you love it or you can eliminate it as an option.

Beyond that I don't know, we're in a similar position although here we have open enrollment and I have a lot more options. It really sucks.

[ElizabethN]

This is a really tough choice. The one thing I would point out (which may already be obvious to you, but I can't tell for sure from your list) is that if you do have a nanny on your work days, you can probably get her to do some schlepping of kids around to classes, etc. She herself will also be at least one adult that Kyle is regularly exposed to. You might also be able to get the nanny for part or all of your days "off," or at least a mother's helper, so that you can have some down time - I don't know how the finances work on that for you.

Still, I'm not sure that homeschooling is really a good fit for you. I do agree with the chorus that you need to visit the charter before you decide what you think of it.

[Melanie]

Assuming it would be very difficult to move....and probably not very good for you physically to homeschool AND work, I'm thinking you should go visit number 2 and see exactly what it is they do and if they could possibly accomodate Kyle. Public school.....I'm not that familiar with CyFair as a whole except what I know from someone who used to teach in that district. Are there any better campuses for special needs students? I know at least here...some campuses are just WAY better than others..often depending on the principal's school of thought, so to speak. If there were a better campus...would they let you request a transfer if you jumped up and down and became a general annoyance (not that I plan to do that here for next year......coughcoughcough)?
There are no special campuses or alternative learning environments except for the criminals. No, I'm not kidding.

[MelissaB]

I guess I would apply to 2 and 3 to get the process started, and visit 2 and see what the classes were like. Would it be easier to homeschool Kyle only? Maybe find a few less expensive group options? If you decide against 2 and 3, you could place him in public school and see what you get. We are also in a good district, but there are certainly teachers I am less than fond of. :hug: Moving for 3 or 4 would be out for me - I would honestly rather drive for 3, but please take into consideration we recently moved in this horrific housing market and it was not fun. I guess what I would really do is either 1 with the option of 5, or 2.

[bugsmom]

I am not sure what I would do. Take a look at the Charter school and see how that looks.

[Tami C]

1. Public school - We can stay in our current house, put the kids back in the same school Kyle went to for kinder, and just deal with it. Tons of special needs kids go to public, and we can try to get him an IEP. This is the cheapest option. Based on the options listed, this seems like the best one to me. From my experience, the best tool in a special ed situation is your CSE advocate. Maybe you could set up a meeting with their CSE and the advocate and see what you think. A good CSEA can really move things along with the IEP and enforcing it if a school is reluctant to make the accomodations.
2. Charter school - There is a charter about 30 minutes from here that would be similar to private in some regards, but would also be free. The main problem that I can see with only the small amount of research I've done into this school is that it's based on the "classical" trivium model of education, which is very language based and intensive. It seems to be very common in conservative, Christian homeschooling circles, as that's where I'm getting most of my info about it. Anyway, it seems like a less than perfect fit for Kyle, academically and socially. Otherwise, it looks like a good school.If you already don't like the kind of curriculum they provide, this doesn't seem like a very good option. Maybe hold this one as a fallback option.
3. Public Montessori - There is a Montessori campus in Houston ISD (we're in Cy-Fair now) that has a superb reputation. The parents even got it extended through middle school, they loved it so much. The kids do still have to take the TAKS, though, but the biggest hindrance here is location. We would have to move or spend 3 hours in the car every day, assuming they'd let us magnet in from out-of-district. The neighborhood where the school is located is one of my favorites in Houston...and very, very pricey. I don't know if we'd ever be able to afford to buy a house there. We'd likely only be able to rent and would most likely have to downsize. With five of us now, that doesn't sound too great, or sensible.That seems like an awful long time in the car every day. My kids are usually really good about car rides, but day after day, I think this would get hard on everyone. By the time they get home from school and tackle homework, there would barely be enough time for dinner and tubs, let alone playtime or any activities they might want, like Brownies or little league.
4. Go West - We could find a much smaller town to move to and hope that the schools don't suck as much as they do in the Houston 'burbs. I can always find a job anywhere, but who knows what Brian would end up with. We'd look near my sister or parents.If you could look around first, and if Brian could scout jobs before you move, this might be good. Otherwise scary! Moving in the HOPES of a better school district and the HOPES of steady work for both of you. That seems awfully risky to me.
5. Homeschool - I would still have to work, so I'd hire a nanny for all three kids and teach on my days "off". I can pick any curriculum (or no curriculum) that would work best for each child. The major downsides I see are that I will have no time off during the week. I don't really now, but it's just Jack and me on Tues and Thurs so I can rest a little (I have fatigue-related health issues that make this somewhat important). Kyle is already overly dependent on me and I think he needs time with other adults. There isn't a lot of money in the budget for joining a bunch of clubs and classes so that they can see other kids, and I'm realistic about my going out and actually planning these activities anyway. I've never set foot in our local library. In my fantasy land, I'd love to make this work. Realistically, I have a lot of reservations about its potential success.This has fail written all over it. I couldn't homeschool if it was the last option on earth. I hate the thought of having to fight my kids every day over homework. Plus, you'll be exhausted and the bloom will be off this rose fast. I think this is a very bad idea.

[SusanH]

I've never set foot in our local library.

:faint:

:lol:

If I were you and those were my options, I'd probably give the public school a chance and see if you can make it work. It sounds like Anna will probably be fine there and maybe Kyle can manage it too, although it will probably take more involvement and input on your end.

At worst, I'd say you give it a semester and if it's a complete disaster, you re-evaluate. Plus you could spend that time scouting out housing options to see if the awesome school is even a possibility for you guys if you were to move.

Keep homeschooling as a last resort. I really don't think you want to and I would never recommend it to someone who isn't driven to do it.

[Tigo]

Melanie - My first thought is to give public school a try again, it may have improved and you can be an advocate for change there and try to improve it - not sure if that's possible but it's my general feeling on public school.

There is no way I'd pay for school if I wasn't totally on board with the material or methods of instruction. Maryn spent a year in that situation and I woudlnt' do it again. Three hours in the car is not really an option.

In my opinion the 2nd best option is to make the big move, not to the pricey neighbourhood but to the location next to your family. Have Brian start looking, you've mentioned before he doesn't like his job much as as you said you are employable anywhere. You could even spend some time looking at this while the kids are in public school. If you moved to a less expensive area, had the kids in a great public school you may then even have the option to either not work (if you choose), or Brian could take a lower paying job without being hit to hard financially - it just may give him more options in a job search.

I'd stay away from homeschooling, like you I sort of would love to do it, but honestly I can't imagine doing it while working part time and it doesn't sound like it's something you'd all thrive with, I'd be the same way so don't take that as me being critical. But on another note, you should check out the library though it's an awesome place to spend time relaxing while the kids entertain themselves.

[1Dawn]

Do you know people that have children in #1 or 2? I have had my children in a number of different schools and even the bad ones if you knew someone who could tell you which teachers are good and then request it could turn out good. Talk to parents and visit the school including sitting in a few classes if possible.

:hug: It is hard when you are trying to do the best you can for your children.
Dawn

[Patti]

Public school with an IEP. You can supplement with homeschool or supplementary materials as you see fit. My dd has an IEP at a public school. I am generally satisfied, but I communicate with them at least weekly. I know I'm a pita but that is the only way I can make the school accountable on a timely basis as needs arise. We supplement with materials for Algebra I so Kiki can get into Algebra II in high school. I use an online course for Kiki since she is very self-motivated. If she weren't self-motivated, I'd either sit down with her to get her started or work with her directly.

It sounds like you have two days in a week that you could work more intensely with the kids, even if it is after school. There are some things I really hate about our school system but other aspects that I like. I'm not sure there is a perfect fit for my expectations, kwim? I guess what I am saying is that you can use the standard public school system as the bones of the education and supplement in areas you feel are lacking. Hope that helps.

[mawsmama]

I'd start with public school. Revisit it, get an IEP, maybe it will be different. However, I would still check into the charter school. If public isn't working, you could have the charter as a backup. I'd have the montessori and homeschooling options as my last. I would consider moving only if your DH can get a job and you can find an excellent district. However, I wouldn't move until I have exhausted the public school and charter options.

It sucks to have to deal with education issues. :hug: I hope you can work it out.

[Bridget]

OMG, Mel. What a mess!! :hug: It's complicated isn't it!?

I think you do need to evaluate each child's needs independently and make the best decision you can for them. I think if that means sending K to a private school if that's feasible, then I would do that. No one says everyone has to do the same thing. Public schools isn't a one-size-fits all deal, as you know. Personally, I would have no problem sending one of my children to private if that was the best option for them.

We've been very lucky that we've been happy with the public schools and the girls are thriving in that environment. Jack is doing a private preschool and I will likely keep him there for Kindy as well. It's undetermined if I'll move him over to public after that (and who knows where we'll be living then anyway, right? :lol: ) With his health issues and not knowing when a flare might happen and for how long, this school is small enough that I'm confident they would work with us. Much more flexible than a big giant public district.

I think one of the first steps before you even consider moving is scheduling a meeting with the principal at one of the elementary schools in the really awesome district. It may be awesome for Anna, but still not be what Kyle really needs. Make a list of the questions that you need answers to and the kind of situation Kyle needs to succeed and go see what the fit might be. And if you decide that moving there is the right thing, the amount you'd be spending in housing to be in that district, you will get right back when you go to sell because really good school districts always seem to hold their value. You'll be spending money either way, in housing to be in The District, or in private school tuition. kwim?

[KH]

I would give the public school another shot. Now you know better what Kyle needs to succed, so you can go into it mapping out what you need/want for him in an IEP.

I am not a fan of Montessori, and the charter school doesn't sound ideal. As for homeschooling, that would be a very last resort in my world.

[Jules]

First, please don't apologize. I think there are many of us that can relate to your situation. It's incredibly stressful trying to figure stuff like this out :hug:

Secondly, I totally agree with what Bridget said here: I think you do need to evaluate each child's needs independently and make the best decision you can for them. I think if that means sending K to a private school if that's feasible, then I would do that. No one says everyone has to do the same thing. Public schools isn't a one-size-fits all deal, as you know. Personally, I would have no problem sending one of my children to private if that was the best option for them As you know, we're considering different options for Daisy next year, but would still keep Gunnar & Hayden in public because they are fine there.


Options:

1. Public school - We can stay in our current house, put the kids back in the same school Kyle went to for kinder, and just deal with it. Tons of special needs kids go to public, and we can try to get him an IEP. This is the cheapest option. I think you would be able to get a Kyle an IEP and this may make a huge difference for him. It just depends on how well they implement it and if you think what needs to be on there, is.

2. Charter school - There is a charter about 30 minutes from here that would be similar to private in some regards, but would also be free. The main problem that I can see with only the small amount of research I've done into this school is that it's based on the "classical" trivium model of education, which is very language based and intensive. It seems to be very common in conservative, Christian homeschooling circles, as that's where I'm getting most of my info about it. Anyway, it seems like a less than perfect fit for Kyle, academically and socially. Otherwise, it looks like a good school.

I wouldn't go this route unless you think it's a good fit for Kyle. I would look into it further, though, because it sounds like you have only done a little research. I would go to a tour and speak to the Principal directly.

3. Public Montessori - There is a Montessori campus in Houston ISD (we're in Cy-Fair now) that has a superb reputation. The parents even got it extended through middle school, they loved it so much. The kids do still have to take the TAKS, though, but the biggest hindrance here is location. We would have to move or spend 3 hours in the car every day, assuming they'd let us magnet in from out-of-district. The neighborhood where the school is located is one of my favorites in Houston...and very, very pricey. I don't know if we'd ever be able to afford to buy a house there. We'd likely only be able to rent and would most likely have to downsize. With five of us now, that doesn't sound too great, or sensible.
I wouldn't be able to do this. The commute is crazy and if you can't afford the district, it wouldn't be worth it.


4. Go West - We could find a much smaller town to move to and hope that the schools don't suck as much as they do in the Houston 'burbs. I can always find a job anywhere, but who knows what Brian would end up with. We'd look near my sister or parents. I wouldn't do this unless I knew for a fact the schools are good AND that Brian could get a job. We are trying to relocate and it's not easy - there aren't a lot of jobs out there for what my Dh does. This would be a good idea if all the variables lined up. I would keep it as an option but obviously things would have to fall into place for it to become a reality.

5. Homeschool - I would still have to work, so I'd hire a nanny for all three kids and teach on my days "off". I can pick any curriculum (or no curriculum) that would work best for each child. The major downsides I see are that I will have no time off during the week. I don't really now, but it's just Jack and me on Tues and Thurs so I can rest a little (I have fatigue-related health issues that make this somewhat important). Kyle is already overly dependent on me and I think he needs time with other adults. There isn't a lot of money in the budget for joining a bunch of clubs and classes so that they can see other kids, and I'm realistic about my going out and actually planning these activities anyway. I've never set foot in our local library. In my fantasy land, I'd love to make this work. Realistically, I have a lot of reservations about its potential success. I'm not sure you should do this. In theory it sounds like a good idea, but I think it might be too much for you. This is an option I'd only consider for Kyle - I think trying to homeschool all 3 is way too much. But, having him stay home while the other 2 go to school may cause problems.

I think I would first take a tour of the charter school, ask questions, meet the Principal and talk to some other parents. It may turn out to be a good fit for Kyle, and that would be a great solution. However, if it turns out after taking a tour, etc., that the school in't as good a fit as you originally thought, I'd try public with an IEP in place and see if that makes a difference. If you don't see it working, I would then start looking into a move West. You could even do both at the same time - enroll Kyle, and have Brian looking for work and you could do the research into the schools in that area. If he could find a job and the schools were good, you could pull them out at that time.

Good luck, Mel, I feel for you. Please let us know what you guys decide to do :hug:

[Patti]

I agree that you might need to evaluate each child's needs independantly, but just because their needs are different, does not necessarily mean that different schools are the best option. An IEP is very helpful if you are involved with the planning and implementation of it.

You will be spreading yourself too thin with all the driving and chasing around to different schools. All that driving time could be spent helping with homework as needed. That's necessary even with a child with no special needs. You could send your children to public, obtain an IEP, intervene/supplement as needed and still meet your children's educational needs.

A private school won't necessarily have any more funding or be better to educate a special needs child. It might be the best option for you but I would definitely check out the public school. Things change over the years. I would imagine that their programs have improved. There will likely be some different teachers and administrators which could make all the difference.

I commend you for caring about your children's needs and working so hard to find a solution. I just worry that this is putting a great deal of stress on you and that different schools, and so far away will really hurt the education process in the long run. Good luck to you because I know this isn't easy. :hug:

[Jules]

I agree that you might need to evaluate each child's needs independantly, but just because their needs are different, does not necessarily mean that different schools are the best option. An IEP is very helpful if you are involved with the planning and implementation of it. My DD had a 504 plan and while it was great, it wasn't a "cure-all" for everything. My friend's son has an IEP in place for ADHD and is having a hard time regardless of the IEP. It just depends on how well the child does in that specific school setting and also how well the school implements the IEP and is willing to accommodate that child. Some public schools are just not a good fit for certain children, IEP or not. I do hope an IEP would be all that's needed for Kyle, but sometimes that's just not the case.


You will be spreading yourself too thin with all the driving and chasing around to different schools. All that driving time could be spent helping with homework as needed. That's necessary even with a child with no special needs. You could send your children to public, obtain an IEP, intervene/supplement as needed and still meet your children's educational needs. And sometimes it's not solely about their educational needs, but their social ones as well. It's the overall well-being of your child in school that is important, not just one aspect of it. Also, I have 3 kids in 3 different schools - it's doable.

[Debra]

I think you have gotten a lot of wise advice...

1) I would visit the charter school -- since it is also public they probably will also adminster IEPs there. Charter schools usually have smaller classes. It never hurts to look and ask before you decide.

2) Do you have other reasons for wanting to move? If moving is seriously an option you are interested in AND you have more then just the kids schooling as a reason for moving... I would look into where do you want to move, what do these place offer. What jobs are available, what houses are available, cost of living etc. I would probably enroll the kids in public school while you do this -- take a semester or a year to decide and apply for jobs etc and move next summer. However, I do think you have other options besides moving that you can explore if you don't want to move for other reasons.

3) I would agree. Don't homeschool yourself.... The only way I see homeschool as an option is if you get a nanny that is homeschooling for you -- sort of a teacher/nanny and maybe have him/her join a homeschooling group to support the kids.

[bunnylady]

I was going to ask if you've looked at Rainard but sheesh, that's pricey. :eek: I think the idea of a Nanny helping you homeschool might work great. What you might look into is an education student who's going to UH and can tailor his/her schedule to work with you. It'd be a great resume-builder for the student and you'd be getting someone to work with Kyle to get just what he needs. Maybe a little inexperienced, but that's OK. If you were to homeschool yourself, you'd be in the same boat kinda. That's how I looked at it when I considered that.

That said, you know, SO MANY people really like the district in Katy, I'm sort of the odd bird out. (Go figure, lol). You could move further west and check it out? What about The Village School (http://www.thevillageschool.com/?gclid=CNr9i_XFk58CFQuenAodSX27KA)? Looks like they're hooked into that IB program...Riley's school uses that and I think it's total whackadoo but what do I know? :lol: I know someone who taught at The Village School and loves it.

Gotta run, pregame is about to start, but come back and update if you've found something or made any decisions. :D GO HORNS!!!

[Melanie]

Steph, The Village School is still out of our price range for two (and eventually three) kids.

I pulled them out and we'll start public school on Tuesday. I'm not happy about it, but I won't write another check to that man who owns the private school. I'm just done with him. We haven't ruled out the charter for next year (they didn't have any openings now) or the school downtown (I sent in the application already). We'll see what happens. I'm holding off on the IEP until I see if it's going to be necessary. I spoke with the AP for a while the other day and feel decent about getting started there.

We'll see. Thanks for the advice. :hug:

[1Dawn]

:hug: Good luck with the transition period. Never easy moving schools.

Dawn

[Jules]

Steph, The Village School is still out of our price range for two (and eventually three) kids.

I pulled them out and we'll start public school on Tuesday. I'm not happy about it, but I won't write another check to that man who owns the private school. I'm just done with him. We haven't ruled out the charter for next year (they didn't have any openings now) or the school downtown (I sent in the application already). We'll see what happens. I'm holding off on the IEP until I see if it's going to be necessary. I spoke with the AP for a while the other day and feel decent about getting started there.

We'll see. Thanks for the advice. :hug:

Good luck, Mel. I hope it goes better than you anticipate. Please give us an update on how they're doing. How do they feel about changing schools?

[SusanH]

What Jules said - good wishes and I hope you'll update us as they settle in.

[miche]

I swear I replied to this and I'm not seeing my reply. :(

I hope they are doing well in their new school.

I'll second what I've heard about Katy schools. I have a friend who recently moved from Kerrville to Katy. She has a special needs son (premie, GI issues as a baby, motor and mild verbal dyspraxia, ADHD, possible PDD) and so far she is loving his school!

[Melanie]

Miche, we're not in Katy. We're in Cy-Fair, and while it is reported to be a "great" school district, we've not felt that way about it. It's not a long term solution. After Pierce's experiences with middle and high school in this district, we'll move before we put the other kids in those schools.

[miche]

Miche, we're not in Katy. We're in Cy-Fair, and while it is reported to be a "great" school district, we've not felt that way about it. It's not a long term solution. After Pierce's experiences with middle and high school in this district, we'll move before we put the other kids in those schools.

I know. I mentioned Katy because of this:

That said, you know, SO MANY people really like the district in Katy, I'm sort of the odd bird out. (Go figure, lol). You could move further west and check it out?

:D

[Melanie]

Oh, sorry. :doh: If we move out to Katy, it will be because we get them into that charter school I mentioned. If we do move, I'm coming to Steph's little cul-de-sac. :D

[missmary]

I hope everything goes well today, Melanie.

[bunnylady]

If we do move, I'm coming to Steph's little cul-de-sac.

Bring it, sister!! We'd LOVE to have you all here!!! :D :D

How did his first few days go? Update when you can!!

[Melanie]

So far, everything's decent. That's about all I can say. Anna's had a sub for her first few days, so I haven't even met her teacher, and the ladies who monitor the hallways are already giving me a hard time about walking the kids to class in the morning. Hello? We've been there for two days! Ugh. I had it out with them about that when Kyle was there in kinder. Nothing's changed. I don't see this being a long term solution for us.

[missmary]

I'm glad things are so far so good. I don't get it about parents in the halls either. Our neighborhood school is like that as well. It's a security issue I think- with a big school I suppose that is an issue. Our charter school isn't like that though and it really helps build a sense of community. You recognize names and faces, get to know other moms, etc. I hope things continue to go well!

[shortcake]

Sounds like a really tough situation! And as I have no school experience (other than as a teacher in public school... but not w/ my own kids in school) I wanted to address homeschooling a bit.

I know that homeschooling isn't for everyone... but I have to say that I love it! :) From what I'm reading of others' comments re: homeschooling, most are thinking of it as a "mom teaching kids" type situation. A lot of homeschoolers do homeschool that way. I don't look at it that way at all though and that's how we find ourselves "unschooling". Children are so naturally curious and interested in learning. I follow their lead and offer them opportunities to learn things that they are interested in w/out "teaching". I think for some people this is hard to understand b/c of their experience w/ schools, educators, schooled kids. It really is amazing the way it works though (for us and lots of families I know here.)

Basically, all I wanted to say was that I'd not write off homeschooling completely (if in fact you are interested in considering it at all of course) until you've checked out the different types of homeschooling out there. I have a friend whose son is Ewan's age and another who is younger. She used to tease me a bit about my zeal for homeschooling. She had her boys in a church based "preschool" for a while and then moved to another state. She was really unhappy w/ the private options and then found out that the public schools had a terrible reputation. She said "Well, I think we're homeschooling for a while..." to me, teasing a bit, and meaning that she'd just keep them out of that preschool while looking at other options... not that she was thinking she'd want to homeschool. One day I got this phone call and she said "I AM GOING TO HOMESCHOOL!" and she was so excited. She said that while keeping them home and just letting them BE (unschooling without knowing that's what she was doing) she was so amazed at the things that they just learned and wanted to do. She started reading about unschooling and decided that's what she wanted to do for a while.

You may want to research homeschooling groups in your area. Here there is a group called LEAD here and there are the coolest classes kids can take: fencing, language classes, art, mythology, cooking, chess, etc. as well as lots of basics (science, Algebra, etc.) for those who want to go that way. I've met homeschooling families in the area and we "trade" hanging w/ each other's kids for when we need time to do our own thing. There are other homeschooling families I know who work and they do hire "help" to hang w/ their kids (go to the zoo, paint, go to the park, read, etc.) while they do what they need to do. It is cheaper than the private schools around here, that's for sure!

Homeschooling may not be the best option for you or maybe it would be. I just wanted to chime in with a positive note about homeschooling and wish you the BEST and hope that you find a great situation for your whole family!

[Viketory]

I'm glad things are so far so good. I don't get it about parents in the halls either. Our neighborhood school is like that as well. It's a security issue I think- with a big school I suppose that is an issue. Our charter school isn't like that though and it really helps build a sense of community. You recognize names and faces, get to know other moms, etc. I hope things continue to go well!

Same here. The neighborhood school doesn't like parents at the school much, the charter school doesn't care. I can walk him to class anytime, I need to sign in to be there during school hours. His math teacher knows me, the gym teacher, it's nice.

It's one thing that weighs as I go back and forth between schools. Melanie I hope the rest of the year passes OK even if this isn't the best fit and hopefully one of the other options will be clear soon.

[Anna Banana]

Mel, are there any other districts in the Houston area that are supposed to be fabulous? Because even though Katy and your district are not very good, it may be different elsewhere. When we moved to CA that is the one thing we took into consideration the MOST. Where the best schools are. Then we moved to that district. It has been absolutely wonderful. So I'm thinking maybe a move to a better area may suit you guys better. Just an idea I wanted to throw out.

When we lived up in OR we were in an awful public school district and sent the kids to private. But they still weren't getting the best education and there were some problems I thought they were ill-equipped to deal with. Moving to this district was like a breath of fresh air.

[Melanie]

Anna, there are many, many districts in the Houston area. Honestly, I think the best are in Houston ISD. Even though they're an enormous urban district, there are so many choices. You can magnet into any type of school - performing arts, math/science, Montessori, criminal justice (h.s.), etc. There are other districts with a good rep, but you don't really know until you're in that district how it actually compares. Cy-Fair was advertised as being an "excellent" district and was a factor in our moving where we did. The high school we were zoned to at the time in Houston was a truly scary place, and we felt like we had to move before Pierce ended up there. As it was, his school out here wasn't much better. It's a crap shoot.

So, if we move, it will probably be into town so that we can get back into HISD. Whew! That was way more than you probably wanted to know!

[Anna Banana]

Just throwing an idea out there. I remember you mentioning over a year ago the desire to possibly move, and it occurred to me that the two districts you mentioned may not be the only ones that are highly desired. I hope you find a solution you're happy with soon. :)