No nice public schools near LSU in BR? (Baton Rouge, Zachary: middle school, university)

[NiceBRguy]

Hi folks,

I am going to move to BR in the upcoming winter to study at LSU. I have two children, one 6th grade daughter and one first grade boy. I have been warned that the public school systems in La are not so good. No good public schools near LSU? Do I have to let my kids enter the private schools? Two kids would cost me more than 10,000 bucks, not little. Any advise about my case will be really appreciated.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by NiceBRguy

Hi folks,

I am going to move to BR in the upcoming winter to study at LSU. I have two children, one 6th grade daughter and one first grade boy. I have been warned that the public school systems in La are not so good. No good public schools near LSU? Do I have to let my kids enter the private schools? Two kids would cost me more than 10,000 bucks, not little. Any advise about my case will be really appreciated.

Do your due diligence and thoroughly investigate the school situation before you make your move. There are good reasons so many have fled BR to the neighboring parishes of Livingston and Ascension. You may want to consider commuting in to LSU instead of living near it if you don't want to spend money for private school.

[etland]

I have friends who have been happy with Buchanan Elementary. Also look into Glasgow Middle School. Both are near LSU. I love the residential areas around campus, by the way. I don't think you will regret living so close to campus if you can find the right schools. I can also recommend Trinity Episcopal on Morning Glory (also super close to campus) if you must go with a private elementary school. Not sure how many spaces they would have at this point, though. I wish you the best with this!

[NiceBRguy]

lovesMountains, etland, thank you so much for your advices. Since I am now living in NY I don't have much information about the BR area. I have not been to BR yet, so it was not easy to do a due diligence. Anyway thanks a lot. I'll do a more research.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by NiceBRguy

lovesMountains, etland, thank you so much for your advices. Since I am now living in NY I don't have much information about the BR area. I have not been to BR yet, so it was not easy to do a due diligence. Anyway thanks a lot. I'll do a more research.

Search the site greatschools.net to learn about the schools your kids would most likely attend in the LSU area. You can learn a lot that way

[lovesMountains]

Another thought...go online to read the local Baton Rouge newspaper - The Morning Advocate. Search its archives for stories relating to schools and school issues.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by etland

I have friends who have been happy with Buchanan Elementary. Also look into Glasgow Middle School. Both are near LSU. I love the residential areas around campus, by the way. I don't think you will regret living so close to campus if you can find the right schools. I can also recommend Trinity Episcopal on Morning Glory (also super close to campus) if you must go with a private elementary school. Not sure how many spaces they would have at this point, though. I wish you the best with this!

Trinity Episcopal has always enjoyed a good reputation.

Here's one last thought - don't know what the current requirements are (you may have to actually be a faculty member) but look into getting your kids in the University lab school - U High (k-12). They have a fantastic rep and are right on campus.

[StuckInLouisiana]

I'm actually here in Baton Rouge. Hate to tell you this, but DO NOT put your kids in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.

If you want to stay in this parish (county), then you'd need to live either in Central or Zachary. Both are EXCELLENT school systems, but about a 30 minute drive to LSU. (my son is in 11th grade at Central High School, but went to private school from K-8).

If you could commute a little further, then Ascension Parish and Livingston Parish are two great options. The traffic is horrible and there is a lot of overcrowding now though. Again, Central & Zachary are 2 great options, plus areas which are more family oriented, less crime, etc. than being in the city.

Another option is the Brusly area which is due west across the Mississippi River from LSU. This is "West Baton Rouge Parish", just south of the town of Port Allen. Brusly is a good area as far as school systems & relocating a family. And not a bad commute to LSU.

If you want to be near LSU and you want your kids to have a good education as well, then there is no other option than private school. U-High (the lab school at LSU) is good, but hard to get into unless you know someone, or have your child on a waiting list before they were born.

If you want more information on moving here (and you want some honest answers), you can contact me privately.

[Leadfingers]

May I suggest Parkview Baptist. They teach K-12 and both children would be at the same location. I wouldn't say it's terribly far away from LSU but when you consider traffic it does become longer. I would have to agree with Stuckinlouisiana that the Louisiana puplic school system is not where you want your children. You could live in Prarieville or Gonzales (Ascension Parish) and get to and from Parkview with relative ease.

[CindyM]

Another nod to Glasgow Middle School for your daughter.

2theadvocate.com | News | Federal agency honors Glasgow Middle — Baton Rouge, LA