Public School vs Private vs Montessori for Kindergarten - Clifton NJ and Around

This was also the case with my daughter school. We were told because they were not meeting the state requirments that we could choose another school in our town. Maybe you can look into this. I had to send her there only because the aftercare program was the only one available. I am happy I choose this because they are now above the scores due to a New principle. :) Good Luck! :)

I want to add to Diane commant. This is true. If you help your child and are involved everyday with what they are learning. Your child will do great! I am guilty of this myself. My daughter was honor for years, because I saw she was doing well. I backed off a little and it came out on her report card. Not next school year. I am going to be right on her again. Her first school years were in Newark and she did amazing work there. Now she is in belleville school and is just okay. So I all depends on how the parent is involved. Good Luck! :)

I am an educator with two children that went to public school. They are both college graduates so it has been a while for kindergarten for me. However, I do have a kindergarten in my preschool so I know first hand what is expected of children in early education. I think the reason why school systems are failing is most cases is because parents are failing. I know what I see everyday and parent involvement is decreasing and in my opinion is crucial to your child's eduction. Teachers can only do so much, it is up to the parents to make sure their children are doing their homework, studying, and to be involved in the education process. In the kindergarten class in my school there is only 12 children, and I can count on one hand the parents who are involved and the parents who are just TOO BUSY!! I send home early readers so parents can practice reading with their child and these are some of the responses I get from my students, Mommy and Daddy didn't have time, or I lost the book, or my mom was too tired, I had a t ball game and it was too late. I get it that parents are busy, but it only takes a few minutes to read and do homework with your child. ISorry for rambling but when I see schools failing it really bothers me. I know there are budgeting issues, poor administration in some cases, but for the most part I feel that parental involvement is what builds a superior school system as well as a well educated child. If you can't afford private, or Montessori then just make sure you keep a close eye on your child's progress in public school, join PTA, be class mom, and stay involved and I am confident your child will do well.

My recommendation is Good Shepherd Academy in Nutley. I went there when I was a kid, my oldest daughter went there for kindergarten before we moved away. If we had stayed in the area, she would still be there. When she started 1st grade she was ahead on most things, compared to others.

I live in Bloomfield and my son goes to Sacred Heart School in Lyndhurst. He has been there since Pre-k . He just finished Kindergarten and the work he came home with thru the year was just AWESOME!!!!.I am so very pleased with this school. He will be returning for 1st grade in Sept.The teachers are wonderful. Alot of his classmates are from the surrounding towns. Check it out!