School District Opinions (Charleston, Summerville: live in, costs, gangs)

[imperieux]

Oops... I just realized I meant Country Inn and Suites not Comfort Inn and Suites.


You may have understood what I meant anyway but if not, that's the hotel I believe we were both referring to.

Sorry for the typo!

[Barbara]

I'll check it out, I have also spoken a few times with a Prudential realtor. I will ask him about the discounts. Thanks.

[ASC]

RJ17015-
You're sore attitude wasn't in your concern for your kid's education, it was in your response to me. Which when approached with a sore attitude, I don't have a problem throwing it right back. I'm done with that part of the conversation and will discuss it no more. You have every right to be concerned for your child's education, but you have to respect others and show them courtesy in the process or people will shut you out. I never attacked you or even involved you in my post, but you felt the need to put out a post in response to mine with an attitude. If you approach people the same way you first approached me, you're going to be tuned out quickly. You need to acclimate yourself to your new cultural surroundings, and be respectful and courteous, it will get you farther than an attitude. If you can't then don't be surprised when people throw it back in your face.

Next, about our lack of education. In South Carolina, unless you live in a big city, like Charleston, Greenville, or Columbia, an education will not get you farther than your work ethic. Not long ago, people came out of high school and went to work, and made more money than people with a college degree. My parents had no degree of any kind and started out with nothing, and worked their way up, now they make over $100,000 a year, with no degree. Historically, in the South, education wasn't as important as work, because a higher education wasn't worth it,the jobs that required degrees did not pay that well, when you could make more going straight into work. Those times are still here, but are waning. So, I say that, as an example, that education down here may not be what it is elsewhere because of lack of demand for it. So if it's not up to par with your standards, don't sit around and talk about it, do something about it. This is a different world than Michigan, this is South Carolina, you're comparing apples to oranges. Yes, even locals agree education should be better, because with this recent growth of the area, things are starting to get more competitive. But, still you have people in rural areas, who live in a different world than you're used to. Are they less important, are they uncapable of being happy? No, they're just like everyone else, despite what the folks from elsewhere think.

Was your son in the Honors classes here, some schools have International Baccalaureate Programs. If he was not enrolled in those programs, then no, he was not being challenged to his full potential. In English all through High School I took honors English classes, and AP History classes, to challenge me. While I enrolled in regular math classes because those were not my strong subjects. If your son wasn't in AP, Honors, or IB classes, then it's not the school's fault your child wasn't being challenged to his full potential.

[Luvsdabeach]

ASC my parents didn't have a college degree either and my father went on to own a very successful business for 32 yrs before he retired and my mother was a SAHM.

Right now my daughter is in the process of looking for another college because the college she attends now she is bored. The only class that challenges her is English but it's because the teacher challenges them. What she is being taught in her classes she learned in high school. Let me add a Berkeley Co. high school.

[OleTomCat]

Originally Posted by imperieux

Oops... I just realized I meant Country Inn and Suites not Comfort Inn and Suites.


You may have understood what I meant anyway but if not, that's the hotel I believe we were both referring to.

Sorry for the typo!

Country Inn and Suites is the new one I couldn't remeber the name of, I drove past there last nite.

[Barbara]

I looked up their website and I think thats the one we are going to go with. The rates are not bad and they (the others do too) also include breakfest. I like the idea of it being kind of new too.

Thanks!

[I*love*D*Peninsula]

Originally Posted by Luvsdabeach

Sorry but I'm not going to engage in an argument with someone that hides behind their computer screen. I hope you are not teaching the kids in your classroom your mean way's. Have a nice life.

Where on this thread did I say I was a Teacher? You have nothing better to do with your time than to read all of my past post to find a cue for your ignorant arguement. GET A LIFE!

[angel777]

Originally Posted by beth1104

A couple of quick thoughts, in response to some of the above comments:

1) I hesitate to put too much into SAT scores in an area with so many transplants. (someone mentioned being surprised that Wando was higher than Summerville). Any chance Wando has more transplants from Michigan and other states with better school system reputations where the students taking the SAT were educated elsewhere?

2) As for a comment fearing your child won't get into a good college because they're not getting a good education at his H.S. here... sad, but the colleges don't always look at the overall picture. Your child will likely have an above perfect G.P.A. here, right? My son went to a very challenging private H.S. in Indiana, where you had to have 96% to get an 'A' (instead of 90% at a less challenging school here). His GPA was only 3.29 and therefore missed getting into College of Charleston.

Just a thought!

You're kidding me. We are in Fairfax County where 94% and above is an A. We were told this would not affect my daughter's GPA. Luckily she has excelled everywhere we have moved: California (LA county), Utah, Hawaii, Virginia; as an honors and G.A.T.E student (and I was pretty poor as a single mom). Home environment is the key. If a student applies themselves, a healthy and supportive environment, and a positive example at home; they will excel despite the school.

We are about to move to Summerville and have recieved conflicting advice. Some have said to put her in the prep school (can't afford it) others have said Summerville has the best schools in the area (much is military). My concern is with how up to date the schools are when addressing individual needs, diversity, and teaching proper communication and respect for the ideals and values of all, as well as the oversight and resources to help these kids succeed. My daughter has learned to get along with a variety of individuals and wouldn't take kindly to "snooty" attitudes or any form of prejudice or segregation based on economic status. I don't believe she would be happy in a school (no matter what the test scores) if many of the kids walk around thinking they are better than others because they have been afforded more advantages financially. While shooting for college, it is emphasized that communication is a key to success. We have seen this with our new president.

[OleTomCat]

I have a senior at SHS, the teachers respond very quickly to emails, and I respond to theirs as well. The school is very large but with the newly built school the population should drop a little over the next few years as they shift more students to the new school. You will always have cliches in schools get over it, it is that way in the snootiest private school all the way down to the worse gehto school.

[angel777]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

I could say the same to you -- who said I was talking directly to you?

Also who said I have a sore attitude -- by worrying about my kids education, and saying SC could improve their education? I think that's evident.

Who said people don't want to be around me? After living here a month I was offered a job, based solely off my personality -- they new NOTHING about me or my background.

This thread is about education, not living within our means, or work ethic -- it's about GOOD SCHOOLS -- EDUCATION!

I still say Summerville Dorchester II needs GREAT improvement, and I'm glad my kids are on the homes stretch, and almost out of school. So much so, the one class my son takes at Trident -- his instructor is shocked that he is a HS senior and only 17 - he runs circles around the college students, and has suggested he take a higher course next semester.

So MI schools must have done something right. He attends HS, one (two) college course, and works, and has been offered other jobs from his current position, he was promoted shortly after hiring in this summer, from his previous experience in MI.

Sure that great education might not guarantee my children a great job, and financial security. But I plan on giving them every advantage I can in order to help them to succeed. The other things you refer to come from home, those are things parents have to teach their children -- not the schools.

This thread is about school districts and specific schools in particular -- I believe you were the one to talk about something you know nothing about.

What I have gathered from your posts is that Summerville High school counselors are willing to work with the parents and students, such as recommending college courses and allowing off campus time ( leaving at noon) in order to meet individual needs that can't be met on the high school campus. Is this their attempt at making sure advanced student are able to succeed? Is my assessment correct? We are moving soon and woudl liek to know how willing the faculty is to "go out of their way" for the student.