School districts with poorer reputations

Where do you live?

Do you think it's really as bad as people think?

If you are looking for a house, would you consider an area with not as great of a school district as others to save on taxes?

If you do live in a less reputable district, do you plan to move or send your kids to private school?

For those of you who have lived in school districts with worse reputations, did you have a hard time selling? Or are you having a harder time selling now?

Message edited 9/7/2010 12:56:59 PM.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

lets keep this one clean guys.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

The district I will send my kids to does not have a sparkling reputation, but I am looking past that.
Of the people I have spoken to that have graduated there and/or worked in the district, I have heard great things. It's the people that don't go to that school and/or don't live in the district that have negative things to say. Who do you think I am going to believe??
Financially, this is what we can afford around here. Then again, if I could afford a private school, I don't think I would choose that anyway

As far as the SD is concerned, it is what it is. I am going to do my BEST to raise my kids with a loving family and hope they do well with their own self-confidence

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Posted by CouponKT

The district I will send my kids to does not have a sparkling reputation, but I am looking past that.
Of the people I have spoken to that have graduated there and/or worked in the district, I have heard great things. It's the people that don't go to that school and/or don't live in the district that have negative things to say. Who do you think I am going to believe??
Financially, this is what we can afford around here. Then again, if I could afford a private school, I don't think I would choose that anyway

As far as the SD is concerned, it is what it is. I am going to do my BEST to raise my kids with a loving family and hope they do well with their own self-confidence

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Message edited 9/7/2010 2:11:11 PM.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

You know, it's interesting too, because the first thing I think of when I hear of any area such as Smithtown, is that it must be a great district because it's a higher-price area on the North Shore.

People say the same thing though about the Massapequa SD down here on the South Shore......some of my family members even say "it has a huge herion problem" but it's because parents aren't involved because they are never around because of work.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

I live in Lindenhurst grew up here and love it. We just bought a house and this is where DS will go to school.

I love it. I wonder who has bad things to say about Lindenhurst, I would love to hear them. I remember when I met DH he went to plainedge and he was like 'Swindlehurts' im like HUH? He 'thought' it was a 'bad' area, until he moved here and LOVES it.

I think everyone has there own opinion about different SD. Isn't that what makes the world go round.

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Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

EVERY school district has a drug problem -
The kids in the wealthier areas are just using more expenisve drugs !!

I wouldn't send my kids to private school just for the sake of doing it - he's only going private if it's a prestigous school and he wants to go - so DH and I bought in a school district we were comfortable with.

DH is still holding out for our son to follow in Daddy's footsteps and go to Chaminade. Hopefully I have a daughter next so she can take advantage of the school I pay $$$ taxes for !!

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

We bought a house in the same town I grew up in. The school district is very good and it was one of the many things that made us like our "ugliest house on the block" house.

I attended private school pre-k-12. I never set foot in any of the public schools in our town until I was 18 and that was to vote (down the budget ).

When we eventually have children I would like to send them to the same private school I attended. Even though we don't intend on ever using the public school system in our town it had a lot to do with us picking our town. It is also nice to know it is there if we should need it and will be a great selling point if we want to move.

I would rather buy a smaller house in a good school district for the same price that I could get a bigger house in a not so good district.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

from the point of view of a teacher:

in areas where they will be in class with the kids of parents who (1) don't give a sh** about them or (2) have to work so much that their kids are completely unchecked and wreaking havoc, good kids suffer. i have a professional obligation to pay more attention to struggling or at-risk kids, and that's attention i'm not giving a good kid who is bright and maybe needs that extra push to really work the edge of his/her potential. there's just no time and not enough hands on deck to give easy kids what they deserve because i'm so busy trying to get weak kids up to snuff by slowing down the curriculum or trying to work in more individual attention for them. it's called "closing the achievement gap" in industry jargon.

my kid's not going to be that kid--working hard and doing the right thing just to be ignored.

SD was #1 priority when we bought. we spent our money on a small house in an excellent district where i know my kids will see my taxes because they'll be in school with other kids who come from homes where education is important and academics are nurtured from day 1.

Message edited 9/7/2010 4:58:26 PM.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

I grew up in Bay Shore and am a product of their school district. Despite the 'reputation' - I thought it was fabulous. The community was very invested in the success of their students. The school was large and diverse and was a great representation of what the world is like.

Bay Shore had one of the first and best mainstreaming programs. It was great at working with special needs kids - but also had a fantastic program for gifted children as well. I was able to take AP classes for college credit starting in 10th grade - selections including Bio, Physics, Calc, English, American History - we had selections in our school that some of my friends from 'better' schools didn't have. All this without losing sight of the 'middle of the road' kids who were neither academically gifted nor in need of specialized services. And they supported us with great labs, gave us scientific calculators, funded educational trips and had clubs and activities for just about every type of interest you could imagine - drama, jazz band, literature, yearbook, Mock Trial, Youth UN, Golf, Color Guard, lacrosse, wrestling, gymnastics, etc..

Many of my friends kids still go to Bay Shore and they are still fans. They have one of the most amazing Spanish immersion classes I've ever seen - beginning in kindergarten.

Now - I do believe district matters to some extent.. it's easier if there is funding and community involvement. But as long as the school provides a physically safe environment - I think kids can thrive. I think if parents are involved, they can help their kids have a great experience in just about any district. And - conversely - if the parents are the types to say "Well we got them into 3 Village, now we don't have to do anything else.." the kids will not have the best education available.

ETA: I now live in Sayville and my kids go to that district. While it doesn't have the stellar reputation of some districts, it's exactly what I was looking for. And I know that as long as I am able to be there and be an advocate for my kids, they'll be just fine!!

Message edited 9/7/2010 5:06:38 PM.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Message edited 9/7/2010 5:10:57 PM.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Posted by ave1024

Posted by bella

Posted by ave1024

Posted by mzsocialworker1

If you are looking for a house, would you consider an area with not as great of a school district as others to save on taxes?

I personally would avoid the following districts:

Riverhead
William Floyd
Amityville
Copiague
Hempstead
Roosevelt
Freeport
Brentwood
Elmont (is that a SD?)

There might be a few others. But those are the biggies i'd avoid and probably wouldn't buy in regardless of price.

I actually just moved into Riverhead school district. I somewhat understand why people give it a bad wrap and yes there are some issues BUT they have some GREAT programs, awesome athletic teams, elementary schools are top rated, the Arts programs in the high school is great--in fact some of our friends children that live in Westhampton SD often tell us how they WISH they went to Riverhead because the programs are superior! Which kind of makes me laugh when you read what some people say about Riverhead... honestly if you look at ALL the new building and families with young children that have moved into this district over the past few years, I expect the district will look a bit different by the time my 2.5 year old gets to the high school. Even if it didn't I would not mind, I am very happy with the district we bought in and confident my child will get an excellent education.

I actually have personal experience with Riverhead. I have immediate family members that graduated Riverhead SD, family members that are currently IN the district (attending school), and other family members that work in the district and in the school.

While the athletic programs are good... there are a lot of problems, especially in the high school. Lots of gang activity. And I am talking from experience, not from what I may have "heard".

So just be careful.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Expect for a few exceptions where things are just plain dangerous (riots, stabbings kinda thing) I think your children are going to find trouble wherever they are ,no matter where you live, if that is what they are going to do.

And children who come from the worst places still go to Harvard.

I worked part time in a highly reputable sd on LI and I could not believe how bad the drug problem was.

I grew up in a community that sometimes had a bad rep and their problems were no worse then anyone other place (if anything they don't try to sweep it under the rug).

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

I was 8 months pregnant when we moved into our house, so we knew schools would be very important to us.

We bought a smaller house in one of the best-rated SDs. It would not have been worth it to me to have a larger house in a not so great district. I teach college classes, and most of the people who teach with me also choose this district, and I know we all place a great emphasis on education for our families.

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Posted by bella

Posted by ave1024

Posted by bella

Posted by ave1024

Posted by mzsocialworker1

If you are looking for a house, would you consider an area with not as great of a school district as others to save on taxes?

I personally would avoid the following districts:

Riverhead
William Floyd
Amityville
Copiague
Hempstead
Roosevelt
Freeport
Brentwood
Elmont (is that a SD?)

There might be a few others. But those are the biggies i'd avoid and probably wouldn't buy in regardless of price.

I actually just moved into Riverhead school district. I somewhat understand why people give it a bad wrap and yes there are some issues BUT they have some GREAT programs, awesome athletic teams, elementary schools are top rated, the Arts programs in the high school is great--in fact some of our friends children that live in Westhampton SD often tell us how they WISH they went to Riverhead because the programs are superior! Which kind of makes me laugh when you read what some people say about Riverhead... honestly if you look at ALL the new building and families with young children that have moved into this district over the past few years, I expect the district will look a bit different by the time my 2.5 year old gets to the high school. Even if it didn't I would not mind, I am very happy with the district we bought in and confident my child will get an excellent education.

I actually have personal experience with Riverhead. I have immediate family members that graduated Riverhead SD, family members that are currently IN the district (attending school), and other family members that work in the district and in the school.

While the athletic programs are good... there are a lot of problems, especially in the high school. Lots of gang activity. And I am talking from experience, not from what I may have "heard".

So just be careful.

Yes, we have friends children that attend the schools now as well, including the high school, sorry if that wasn't clear and yes, there are issues these kids take advantage of what there is to offer and I can CONFIDENTLY say--none are in gangs and none have had issues with any gangs! As for the elementary schools we've NEVER heard of any issues there, ever... I have lived in the neighboring distrcit for 10 years with a LOT of friends who send there kids to the elementary schools now. IT's one of the reasons we chose this area!

I COMPLETELY understand what others have said though and for some it would not be right...I try to avoid this topic because I feel very much like the above poster- a school distrcit is a LARGE part of what you as a parent do for your child...and it's funny when you talk to the poeple out here about the reputation of the district, its MUCh different than the perception. I feel like I am defending the district, LOL! so sorry if it comes across that way just hope people keep an open mind as we live in an AWESOME community and Riverhead does have a lot to offer! And there's always MErcy, a top-notch private school for 7-12

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Re: School districts with poorer reputations

Posted by MeNBobs

I attended private school pre-k-12. I never set foot in any of the public schools in our town until I was 18 and that was to vote (down the budget ).

When we eventually have children I would like to send them to the same private school I attended. Even though we don't intend on ever using the public school system in our town it had a lot to do with us picking our town. It is also nice to know it is there if we should need it and will be a great selling point if we want to move.

I would rather buy a smaller house in a good school district for the same price that I could get a bigger house in a not so good district.