For an above average student, how much does a “good” elementary school matter?

[Anonymous]

Depends on how much supplementation you want to do at home. A school that actually educates is less work for you.

[Anonymous]

Going to a “better” school does make a difference, but the question is whether that difference matters to you and your family.

Generally speaking, the peer group at better schools is academically stronger. Do you think your kid will hang out with the “smart kids”, motivating her to work harder, read more, progress faster? My kids are in their first year at a new school that is academically stronger, and this is what is happening to my DD (DS is only in kindy). The school is better funded thanks to a strong PTA and the families are well off. As a result, DD is doing a lot more enrichment, in and outside of school, both academic and non.

In the end, how much is all of the extra enrichment and faster academic progression going to do for DD? She is definitely on a stronger academic track for MS and HS than she was last year, and maybe as a result she’ll end up having a better time with college admissions. Or maybe not. But even if it makes zero difference with college admissions, I’m happy to see her and DS at a school that has very few discipline/behavior problems, lots of opportunities for them to enjoy, and an academically stronger peer group. Likewise, the change of school was worth it to us. Having said that, I can easily see how other families would not value these things to the level I do, and the school change would not be worth it to them.

[Anonymous]

It matters a lot, OP, especially from a child development perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is slightly above average academically, but not by leaps and bounds. We have resources to supplement/engage in enrichment activities. She’s in a dcps school that we really like, even though the test scores are pretty bad overall. There aren’t huge behavior problems or anything like that. She has a peer group of other relatively high performing kids.

Many have asked us why we don’t move to the suburbs for “better” schools, and I’m just unclear about what’s better besides the test scores. Is the teaching/education actually significantly better?

As long as neighborhood is safe, most elementary schools are fine. Just encourage love of learning and organization skills, other than that, let him socialize and have fun. He got only one short period of childhood.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Omg what is a kid learning at age 8 you are freaking about?

By 5/6th grades you can consider robust program but prior to then, it's more attitude.

You realize there are parts of the world that don't even worry about reading till maybe age 8 yes?

[Anonymous]

It matters a lot. We moved from a high farms area to an UES neighborhood and the peer group couldn’t be any more different.

We are still friends with a few families. The kids were equal, if not brighter than our kids when kids were younger. They seem to be unproductive and far from reaching their potential. My son who wasn’t as athletic and wasn’t as naturally smart has friends who are all shooting for ivy schools and would settle for UVA. At the old neighborhood, UVA is the tip top and very few make it there. Many kids don’t go to college or and up at community college.

[Anonymous]

Good question. I'm not sure about elementary. I went to a crappy elementary and then got stuck into a middling private for middle, and a top public high school. Even at a mediocre private, I felt years and years behind. It also really jaded me and killed my motivation and self worth, because I had no idea kids like me existed in such large numbers. So I'm glad I switched because it opened new worlds.... but I guess I wish I had switched sooner.

We are grappling with the same question for my son who is in elementary. We plan to switch him to a parochial school. Higher standards for both academics and behavior, and hopefully families with similar values and drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is slightly above average academically, but not by leaps and bounds. We have resources to supplement/engage in enrichment activities. She’s in a dcps school that we really like, even though the test scores are pretty bad overall. There aren’t huge behavior problems or anything like that. She has a peer group of other relatively high performing kids.

Many have asked us why we don’t move to the suburbs for “better” schools, and I’m just unclear about what’s better besides the test scores. Is the teaching/education actually significantly better?

As long as neighborhood is safe, most elementary schools are fine. Just encourage love of learning and organization skills, other than that, let him socialize and have fun. He got only one short period of childhood.

But "fine" in this country's public school system is pretty abysmal.