Switching Schools

Have you tried talking to the school board, the principal, or even the individual teachers?

Find out what the PURPOSE of the school is. Is it to just churn out the local kids or inspire them to accel? Get involved with the school meetings and PTO/ PTA.

I went to a school where the HIGHEST enrollment was 50 kids K-12... We send our kids to a school that has an enrollment of about 200... Putting your kids into a larger school would mean that they COULD get lost in the shuffle... Yes, they may get more of the "extra" classes... But less personal attention.

All schools test their kids to make sure that certain academic standards are being met. Maybe YOU are the one person that will inspire others to push to make YOUR school a Gold star school and raise the standards from just "what we gotta do" to higher than anyone else around.

BUT do not expect sweeping changes... That costs $. One step at a time. Things like new math curriculum... OR a new computer lab.

Once you talk to the principal and board you will be able to make a better informed decision on IF they will change the short falls or if its better to move the kids to a new school...

I can completely understand where you are coming from. My children went to a large school that was more challenging. Loved the Education but had some major issues with what was happening in the high school and junior high (drugs, cross dressing, ect...) So we decided to move the kids to a smaller school. It was a very difficult decision. They are not pushed as much in the smaller school and I do have issues with that. So we try to educate them more with visits to museums, new books, and other programs outside of school. Our situations, we had to look at the overall education. Not just academics but the social aspect. Makes a huge difference in their lives. I would just follow your heart you know what you need to do.

I would say if you are that concerned - as many are... then your choices are either move them to a smaller school. However, you hurt them in doing so for what you want for them. This seems to be about what you want for them - do they share your feelings? (some kids want more, some are happy and some struggle) I do not fault you wanting the best for them, but changing their schools changes their best friends and that is an emotional stress that lasts. Especially if they have been there since Kindergarten.

Another Choice: Homeschool selectively - you can pull them out if you do not like what you see. This involves tons of responsibility and you know your kids best - will they be able to do it?

Yet another Choice - Give them extra incentive study... As you are able to teach, then you decide what they are lacking, and make up for it if you are able to do so.

You will have consequences to your actions no matter what your decision will be here, however. Will your kids resent you for interfering on a routine they are in? Especially if they are not "all A's" or honors? If you remove them to another school that takes them from their friends, are you prepared for that backlash as friendship is very important at this stage for children? Especially a move in the middle of a year - it is very hard to start someplace new and have nothing to build on, and feel alone.

I have been there on that side as the child. I was moved around frequently so I understand the repercussions of new schools. I do not take them lightly... If you do not agree with the curriculum, then make up for it at home if your children can fit it in with homework (make it fun, of course) or let it go for now. (Please do not let this be just all about you... make sure they want it.)
I am sure that if you encourage your children enough, they will endure, be strong and come through life in ways that will surprise you.

UPDATE to your response...
Sometimes we have to know that we cannot always follow all of our friends, as you mentioned your oldest child has had a lot of friends go to a different middle school. What happens when you do this for him now? What message does this teach when he still does have some of his other friends there? I feel that it would teach him to follow all his friends in life - high school, college and work - and in the workplace, that is not really the best idea. (Been there, done that.). At least it sounds like he has some friends there still. You also did not say that he is not happy otherwise. Kids want to follow their closest friends, naturally... but if they moved across the state, would you?

You have not mentioned how their grades are, but even a small change (whether or not friends are there), can still trigger stress. What if they do not click with the teachers there for some reason? You are right...There are many things to consider.

As for the school, I feel this problem may not just be limited to Michigan. The economy is affected EVERYWHERE. What happens when / if you do move your children and the same thing occurs - the academics are not up to Your standards? Will you be uprooting again? I feel the school system may just have it's hands tied. I feel you are looking at it through your eyes only and not both sides.

I see you use the word "Compete".
I feel there is more to life for our children while they learn, other than competing. Too much competition with others is not the best thing as this is all about someone's ego; Not about the person or what is inside them.
My family also never had an issue with your district (based on where your area is.). We thrived and are doing very well, and I am sure as the years went on, the system did improve.

I have experienced the small school and the larger schools (1100 students in high school). While, the small school may not offer as many AP or advance classes to prepare them for college, remember there is more to an education than the books. In a small school you can also take on more leadership positions, excell in their music and sports programs and speech and other extra activities. In a large school it's one or the other. In a small school you typically have a more conservative environment. I don't like that my kids have classmates that say their gay at age 12, and tnhat dress "goth" in middle school. That would weigh heavy on my decision to switch the to a different environment. Also in the larger...and getting even larger classes of a Class A school, the student can and often gets lost.

Middle School is tough beyond the education. Also as they approach high school and want to take the more advance AP or college level courses in small schools they can do that through a community college or on line. If the school doesn't offer and your student qualifies, I believe they need to cover the cost for you. God Bless you in your decision.

You said your oldest wants to move schools....how about your youngest? I applaud you for making this decision...get them the best education you can. The schools are churning out dumber and dumber kids who can't function in real life or take responsibility for their actions. I believe that is not only the school's shortfall, but the parents' as well. We cannot rely on schools to teach our kids everything they need to know. We as parents need to supplement at home at every opportunity.
Where I'm at, we have School of Choice....I didn't like the Kindergarten classroom in our assigned school - it was dull and crowded and didn't look conducive to learning. I chose a school nearby that is a NASA-charter school (emphasis on science) and haven't looked back. My son is frequently not challenged by what he's doing in school or I challenge him in the car, at the store, at home, anywhere so he gets to see how what he's learning relates to the real world.

Hi Raina,

I want to first applaud you for researching your options. My husband and I recently decided to change our son's school. He attended a small christian school for daycare through preschool and a public school for kindergarten and first grade. I was a little nervous about sending him to a public school but we tried it out for a couple of years and it was not the best decision for our son. He is now at charter school that we just absolutley love. He is playing catch up right now which I try not to beat myself up about (if I would have trusted my first thought as to send him some where else). It is under the umbrella of National Heritage Schools and they have many different schools throughout Michigan (you can google national heritage schools to get more info). That being said as parents we have to trust out judgement about these things. If you feel your child/ children are not being challenged you need to take the proper steps to ensure that are being taught the material that they will need to be successful. We have to make sure that they are not being left behind and that they are being challenged. There are many different options out there as far schooling: home schooling, private, public, and charter. Many of these schools also have a focus such as math, science, moral focus etc....I pray that you are successful with making the best decision for your children.

God Bless

i went from a real small school in a small town class c i think to a larger school a+ with my kids is was a little hard a first but they have so much more now

We also live in Michigan and we are also seeing the decline in our school's ability to teach our children. I love the school and want to send my children there also. We have 3 children 5(kindergarten), 9 (3rd) and 11 (6th). The elementary school is a mess and I go to just about every school board meeting I can but the school just seems to talk about changing instead of actually doing it. What it really boils down to is not about are my kids going to be okay as it is about are my kids really learning anything valuable in able to keep up with other schools. I also supplement education at home, I think all parents should. The problem is too many parents expect the teacher to do everything. I am choosing to exercise my school of choice on Nov. 30th. I want my kids to be happy in school and not scared of going to a new one, I went from private school to public school in 9th grade and it was a little frightening but I adjusted well and that's harder to do in high school. We worry about our kids being scared of a new school but they are young and able to adjust just fine, we don't want our kids to hate us but when we do what's best for them, they know it and I think they love us more for it. Good Luck and God Bless,
M.

raina; yes it is very difficult for kids to switch schools, as you know, try to teach your kids to make more freinds in the school they have now? or stay in touch with the ones that left, schools all provide differences , but really i think you are doing well in supplimenting information, in reality it is the parents job to teach the children, schools used to be non existant, then they taught in one room school houses, but the reason we expect schools to teach our children is thats how this system works, my kids have been in little schools such as yours, and in middle sized schools and in larger schools it is very different in each one, and each school offered what the others did not and had things that others did not and so did the one we had previously , the old one too had things the bigger one did not, etc, our kids are sponges, and absorb what is around them, and unfortunately all that is around them is this alful world, however, moving is very expensive, and if you are to move i would do some strong research in it, i would not think it feasable to move just cause your children lack challenges, this means you have bright kids, and they will learn the basics and they can always suppliment schooling like you are doing, since its sooo hard to move and move kids to differnt schools if you dont have to move i would not, if you are planning on moving, then so be it, what if you move to get your kids into a different school? and they dont like it and start to fail? will you say we moved so you can do this? that would not be fair, to you or the kids, what about school of choice? can you drive them somewhere? or hire a tutor? it may be less expensive than moving, what ever you chooose just be happy and teach your kids to be happy, and you are doing a great job in giving them what they need at home too, have a great day D. s

Is there a charter school available near you? My granddaughter just switched to one this year and it is perfect for her. I don't know if your son would accept home-schooling at this point - another idea. Sometimes private schools will let a parent work there to help pay tuition. Don't know if that's an option where you are. I definitely would pursue other avenues. Good for you, Mom!

This is why homeschooling is so great. You can challenge your kids at their level. Your kids can also take their electives at the local school.