As a school teacher, I am very concerned about the education my child will get in my current city so we've decided to consider a move before he starts kindergarten. Our number one concern is a school environment that is challenging, innovative and caring. We would like to find a place with parents with similar values-- we are very anti keeping up with the jones, and are liberal, but not extremely so. We would also like to live some place where there is much to do outdoors. And of course, a reasonable cost of living (homes $300k-$400k) We are open to any part of the country really as my husband has a job that is hotly in demand, but would prefer to avoid any place with harsh winters. Thoughts?
I teach high school, and have taught in a low-performing Dallas ISD school and now in a private Plano School. For work and personally, I have toured a number of private schools, GT schools, our neighborhood schools, schools in the suburbs and would be fine with sending them to private or even one of the schools in DISD that was a magnet, but there is a ton of uncertainty if your child will get in and we'd like to find a place where kids can go to the neighborhood school. We like RIchardson and Grapevine as far as suburbs go, but haven't heard great things about the schools. Probably at the top of our list would be Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver and Raleigh-Durham. I would love to work/send my children to a school district that has it together and is innovative.
There are many great schools in Minnesota. But, depending on how you define harsh winter we might not be for you.
Honestly, it's all about you as parents more than it is the school. My kids are in a Title 1 school, not something I wanted, but it has worked out well. They went to the top rated school in our county for two months and were MISERABLE so we moved them back.
You really need to give yourself credit as a parent and be involved. That's the most important tool to your child's success in education.
There are good schools everywhere.
You need to think beyond individual schools and look more at the overall lifestyle of a place.
Climate, commute, city/small town/country, political environment, arts & culture, etc.
What kind of PLACE do you want to raise your family in?
I assume being close to family is not important since you are willing to move anywhere.
Once you figure out the kind of environment you're looking for you can narrow it down.
We live where we do not only because of the good schools, but because we are close to San Francisco, have access to numerous parks and trails and most of our family and friends live within two hours.
We would also never want to live anywhere with harsh winters!
Living here is probably outside of your budget, but I think Portland and Seattle are similar. If my husband made less money we'd probably live up there.
You need to narrow it down a bit. Northeast,
West, etc.
I truly think you are underestimating yourselves and the influence you have on your child. You are your child's first and best teacher, and you set the stage. Your child will folllow your lead, both in school and in life (ie, having values other than "keeping up with the Jones'").
I would focus mostly on finding a community you like. The school will naturally follow, as the school is shaped by the community. Find the right community, and you'll find the right school.
Those are pretty wide open parameters. You would have an easier time asking around and talking to live people. Even if one peron likes it, you might not. I assume since you are in Plano area where the schools are very good, you don't like it. Or at least the atmosphere.
Momoftwoboys has it right. There are other good school districts around you. Not quite so rich as others. So that limits extra, extra stuff. But there are ones with good diversity and good test scores. I'm sure there are good teachers and bad teachers, as well as good kids and bad kids, everywhere.
The testing these days is out of hand, ridiculous.
We went though Birdville school district, Green Valley is a good ele school, so is Porter. Lots of parks, and a water park. Fairly close to DFW airport. Aledo district has some up and coming schools with competive academics and sports. It's more in the country, in Parker Co. There are a few North of us that I would not recommend.
You might have to search for someone liberal, but I'm sure not too hard. As you know, it's hotter than heck here and you don't have to worry about winters.
IF I lived in Texas and loved my job in any way I'd move to Flower Mound. It's on the north side of Dallas. My aunt lives there and so do some other friends of mine. It's a "small town" right by a megalopolis but it maintains that small town feel. They have their own police department, mayor, town hall, etc...they are their own town and it's not a big town. They have a good average income and the standards of housing always seemed to be good middle class or a bit better.
If you want to move out of state does that mean you'll be quitting work or going back to school?
When my fil retired from the Navy he went to college and got his degree in education from a college in Oklahoma. Then he went to grad school in MO in special education.
He taught at some very good schools in DC. When he decided to retire to OK they refused to allow him to teach, he would have to go back to college and take a few more classes to qualify to teach in OK.
So if you move to another state will YOUR degree transfer? Will you be able to go right to work? What are your thoughts on the possibility that you won't be "qualified" to teach in that state? Would that have any weight in the state you choose? Then you might want to pick out a few states that "might" be a choice. Then call their state education department and find out if you would pass their qualification requirements to be able to work in that state.
Otherwise staying in Texas might be a smoother choice.
If you are in the Dallas area (looking at your listed city) there are so many school districts around here that are great. Look at Plano, Mansfield, HEB / North Richland Hills area. There are some others too but those come to mind. (Unless you really don't like the North Texas area.) That way you wouldn't have to move very far and your husband could keep his job. Just a thought.
You don't go into details about why you're so concerned and you don't mention what level of school you teach -- kindergarten? Elementary? Middle? If education is truly your sole reason for moving, ensure first that you spend a lot of time delving into how your school system works as a whole--not just what you see/experience/hear about the level you teach or about the school in which you work. (Maybe you've already done all that; if so, sorry.) It's possible that your system has a terrific gifted program that kicks in later on, or other things that are not on your individual radar depending on where you teach and live. You may find that the solution if you want a "challenging, innovative and caring" school system is a move to another district, not a move across the country....
So IF you like where you live other than educationally, I'd say to look first at other options for education such as a move to another district, or private school if you feel that works for you. If there is a larger issue along the lines of "We actually don't really like the area overall, it's not solely about education, and this is our opportunity and best time to make a big move," then say that out loud and embrace it, and remember that you will have to trade off something no matter where you end up -- great education but a long commute for your husband; or no jobs available to you if you need or want to work; or a job he doesn't like much but great schools and weather; or so-so weather but a job he truly enjoys; etc. Of course you're just listing the what-ifs right now so go for the best possible combination...but don't ignore the possibilities of staying in your current general area, if other things are good and it's just the schools you dislike.
I would just pray about it and see what happens.
This kind of thing used to drive me batty when my sons were little (19 and 16 now). I would micromanage to the nth degree and then realize that one of the best private schools in Florida was not a good fit for my son. Where we live currently (12 years later) is directly related to the school my sons got into when we first moved here. We like where we live but there was another area in southeastern Florida that I think we would have liked better.
I've been homeschooling for the last 7 years almost, so it's all a moot point. And by the way TX is a great homeschooling state just in case that is ever an option. I'm sure there are many great school districts too.
Not to be a debbie-downer - just wanted to tell you to try not to over-think it.
Good luck!
ETA: As far as climates go - my very favorite place in the US is southern California. But SoCal has some issues too.
Anywhere in the country! You have a ton of choices.
Vermont has had public schools in the top few (if not #1) of all states in the country for the last 35 years. Arizona has lousy schools in general, but we found a charter school that made top 25 in the nation last year. You just have to do less work to find a good one in VT, because the public, "neighborhood," schools are excellent.
Either coast. The west coast has milder winters unless you are looking at the southeast - and then you need to very carefully consider the particular city.
Any of several suburbs of Minneapolis, MN. The schools are terrific, reasonably liberal depending on the neighborhood, a house for $300 is easy to come by, and MUCH to do outdoors. Harsh winters are a thing of the past here, due to global climate change....not kidding.
