What makes a bad school system?

I seriously don't know. I went to Catholic school in SI, and public in Florida. Everyone says such bad things about Florida's system, but I received a scholarship, and my sister went to Temple on a full scholarship. I was taught an instrument for free and played sports. We would have been in Catholic school, but there were not any in our area. I want to send my kids to Catholic school for the spiritual influence.
But DH thinks it is a waste of money. I don't know what would make a bad school system? What should I be on the look out for?

Message edited 5/11/2005 4:11:18 PM.

Things to look for are the percentage of students graduating, and those continuing to 2 and 4 year schools...Percentage that pass standardized tests...Percentage that take AP classes and number of AP courses offered...Number of clubs and sports offered..Number of students in the average class...I think FL gets a bad rap because many of the seniors fight to not spend as much money on school budgets to keep taxes down, which results in more students per teacher, fewer extras, and lower standardized test scores. My cousins went in FL and they actually said if you get over 1300 SAT you can go to any state school in FL for free, so both went to the Univ. of South Florida for free.

Schools arent bad or good sometimes based on their system sometimes its the teachers and administrators that are to blame. My sons school there is such a cold feeling in it but if you go into several other schools within the same system you get a warm feeling and can tell thatthey care about the kids. The teachers in my sons school do not want to give of themselves cause they feel Im sure they dont get anything back form the administrators. mo

thanks..I was able to go to any FL state school for free.
My sister was offered a few of them out of state.
In SI, New Dorp HS has a horrible reputation, but my other sister graduated from there and is on a full ride at BU. She is very anti catholic school and thinks that too many credit hours are wasted on religion instead of sciences.
My kids will probably end up in public schools.

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Posted by Janice

thanks..I was able to go to any FL state school for free.
My sister was offered a few of them out of state.
In SI, New Dorp HS has a horrible reputation, but my other sister graduated from there and is on a full ride at BU. She is very anti catholic school and thinks that too many credit hours are wasted on religion instead of sciences.
My kids will probably end up in public schools.

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Posted by Aliasmom

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Posted by Janice

thanks..I was able to go to any FL state school for free.
My sister was offered a few of them out of state.
In SI, New Dorp HS has a horrible reputation, but my other sister graduated from there and is on a full ride at BU. She is very anti catholic school and thinks that too many credit hours are wasted on religion instead of sciences.
My kids will probably end up in public schools.

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wow, so you can go to any college for free?
what are the requirements?

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Message edited 5/11/2005 4:32:10 PM.

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Posted by Janice

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Posted by Aliasmom

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Posted by Janice

thanks..I was able to go to any FL state school for free.
My sister was offered a few of them out of state.
In SI, New Dorp HS has a horrible reputation, but my other sister graduated from there and is on a full ride at BU. She is very anti catholic school and thinks that too many credit hours are wasted on religion instead of sciences.
My kids will probably end up in public schools.

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wow, so you can go to any college for free?
what are the requirements?

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In HS they offer programs that if you follow the exact course load then you get the scholarship. I had to take 2 summer school classes to fit them in. Then in my own county, if you are in the top 10% you can attend that CC for free. I did not want to leave DH, so much to my parents dismay, I went with cc. all I ever wanted to be his wife

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yeah, now my poor younger sisters are in all girls catholic schools and not allowed to have boyfriends. My sister is a senior and going to Buffalo in the fall. This cute boy she works with who goes to the brother school was at my house on monday night leaving flowers for her. She told him that she is going away, and he says he will wait for her. now my parents are flipping all over again.

Great Post by the way!! Now I know what to look for when we move to VA. My duaghter right now is in the Hempstead School district...she's in Kindergarten and thanks to her great teacher and TA she is doing extremely well! DH and I are very involved in everything she does and so far she is reading at a 2nd grade level & is just such a brain! Im glad. I think it takes teachers & parents to help & motivate our children.

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Posted by Janice

yeah, now my poor younger sisters are in all girls catholic schools and not allowed to have boyfriends. My sister is a senior and going to Buffalo in the fall. This cute boy she works with who goes to the brother school was at my house on monday night leaving flowers for her. She told him that she is going away, and he says he will wait for her. now my parents are flipping all over again.

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thanks!! I am also asking because DH and I are going to buy a home in Charlotte and we will have no idea about any of the school's reputations.
I am also asking as a spinoff too..Many people are always posting about school systems being good or bad. I guess I was just curious to make sure that the "bad" schools are not the "ethnic" schools. My kids will be biracial so that does not play a role in my choice at all. I would think that schools were state regulated but I guess not.

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Posted by Janice

thanks!! I am also asking because DH and I are going to buy a home in Charlotte and we will have no idea about any of the school's reputations.
I am also asking as a spinoff too..Many people are always posting about school systems being good or bad. I guess I was just curious to make sure that the "bad" schools are not the "ethnic" schools. My kids will be biracial so that does not play a role in my choice at all. I would think that schools were state regulated but I guess not.

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Posted by nov04libride

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Posted by Janice

thanks!! I am also asking because DH and I are going to buy a home in Charlotte and we will have no idea about any of the school's reputations.
I am also asking as a spinoff too..Many people are always posting about school systems being good or bad. I guess I was just curious to make sure that the "bad" schools are not the "ethnic" schools. My kids will be biracial so that does not play a role in my choice at all. I would think that schools were state regulated but I guess not.

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State regulated as to ethnic makeup? I don't think so. In Long Island much of what is referred to as the "bad" schools get that reputation because they are more dangerous than the not so good schools, but from working in colleges the best schools in a college's eyes are those that have the highest number of students taking APs, AP scholars, National Merit Finalists, and Intel Science Competition winners.

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