School District Opinions (Summerville: fit in, how much, taxes)

[RJ17015]

Obviously you can't handle criticism to Summerville HS -- I don't have a chip on my shoulder -- just would like other "transplants" to know that Summerville HS is way behind other states/areas.

To be told by the counselor that the school "has nothing to offer my son academically" that he's exceeded what the High School offers -- is this a chip on my shoulder? We are paying tuition at Trident College, so he has some meat in his schedule this year? Quite frankly I'm afraid we've hurt his chances at getting into a good college by moving here, instead of staying at our previous HS.

In short -- the school is so bad, my husband is entertaining the kids and I living apart from him so that the kids can get a "good" education -- with proper administration, and proper class ratio.

From what we've observed -- the High School is proud of their athletics -- sad because few people can earn a paycheck by being a pro-athlete.

From registration, to "Meet the Teachers" things are very unorganized, communication is terrible, the website should be much more informative and up to date. The kids do not seem to be informed either, which causes frustration on their part.

I guess if this is all you know -- you wouldn't have a clue as how things could be/should be. Odd thing is I've talked to people who have lived here a long time and have had similar issues/problems with at least bullying.

Again, if Summerville is the only place you've lived -- than in my opinion you should not be voicing an opinion -- as how can YOU be objective, you don't know anything different? We've now had experiences from 5 different school districts (2 in MI; 1 in CA; 1 in OH, and now SC).

According to rankings -- Charleston area only has 1 High School that ranked among the countries top -- Academic Magnet. Now in the Greenville area/Spartanburg -- different story, they also have some highly ranked High Schools. Our previous school was among the top ranked in the nation -- so for us this High School is a disappointment, in more ways than academically.

[OrangeCountyGirl]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

Again, if Summerville is the only place you've lived -- than in my opinion you should not be voicing an opinion -- as how can YOU be objective, you don't know anything different? We've now had experiences from 5 different school districts (2 in MI; 1 in CA; 1 in OH, and now SC).

Very excellent and realistic point.

[imperieux]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

Obviously you can't handle criticism to Summerville HS -- I don't have a chip on my shoulder -- just would like other "transplants" to know that Summerville HS is way behind other states/areas.

To be told by the counselor that the school "has nothing to offer my son academically" that he's exceeded what the High School offers -- is this a chip on my shoulder? We are paying tuition at Trident College, so he has some meat in his schedule this year? Quite frankly I'm afraid we've hurt his chances at getting into a good college by moving here, instead of staying at our previous HS.

In short -- the school is so bad, my husband is entertaining the kids and I living apart from him so that the kids can get a "good" education -- with proper administration, and proper class ratio.

From what we've observed -- the High School is proud of their athletics -- sad because few people can earn a paycheck by being a pro-athlete.

From registration, to "Meet the Teachers" things are very unorganized, communication is terrible, the website should be much more informative and up to date. The kids do not seem to be informed either, which causes frustration on their part.

I guess if this is all you know -- you wouldn't have a clue as how things could be/should be. Odd thing is I've talked to people who have lived here a long time and have had similar issues/problems with at least bullying.

Again, if Summerville is the only place you've lived -- than in my opinion you should not be voicing an opinion -- as how can YOU be objective, you don't know anything different? We've now had experiences from 5 different school districts (2 in MI; 1 in CA; 1 in OH, and now SC).

According to rankings -- Charleston area only has 1 High School that ranked among the countries top -- Academic Magnet. Now in the Greenville area/Spartanburg -- different story, they also have some highly ranked High Schools. Our previous school was among the top ranked in the nation -- so for us this High School is a disappointment, in more ways than academically.

Perhaps you should actually read my posts. I AM a recent transplant as I moved here 3 years ago from the state of New Jersey and previously lived in NYC so I wanted to give the OP my opinion as a transplant. Especially as she is from Long Island.

And my daughter was previously educated in both public and private schools in NJ, Manhattan and Philadelphia. Have you heard how good the schools are in NJ and NYC? Would you like to compare our schools now? Do you really want to talk about rankings? Especially since you are so hell bent on proving that I can't be objective and shouldn't voice my opinion?

And I can handle criticism about Summerville HS but was choosing to politely bow out of this bickering because I moved here to get away from the rat race and learn to enjoy life, not argue about who's better than who and whose statistics are higher than the other's. I've learned to slow down and stop worrying about statistics and top rankings and whether my family has as much as the Jones' next door. I love my new life here and I love this town and my daughter is absolutely thriving here at Summerville High. She's never had a problem with bullying, she has many great new friends and has acclimated to the South very nicely. She's HAPPY. As am I. And that is all that really matters to me now, not how highly ranked her school is.

But unfortunately I was born and raised in New Jersey, NYC and Philadelphia so that northern attitude of mine that has become dormant still exists so I have defended Summerville HS when I feel it has been judged unfairly by someone who thinks they know it all, but in reality hasn't a clue.

So here's a word of advice. Instead of arguing with me perhaps you should be asking yourself why it is that you and your family are having problems when the rest of us seem to be just fine? Could it possibly be that your attitude is contributing to the problems you are finding here in Summerville? Do you really think anyone will want to help you or your children if you come in with a demanding attitude like you've shown and rant on and on about how much better the schools were where you came from and how all of this is unacceptable? That is the LAST thing anyone here wants to hear out of a transplants mouth and your concerns will fall on deaf ears if that's how you are trying to handle any problems. And no one cares how great it was where you came from except yourself; everyone here is quite happy with the way things are, thank you very much. The only thing anyone will want to say to you after hearing you complain about how things are here is to go back to MI where you came from.

But they won't because they have been brought up with good manners.

So I'm saying it for them.

[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!

[RJ17015]

FYI -- I've kept my thoughts about the school private -- except for on this post. I haven't told anyone except my husband, who by way agrees with me, about disappointment with the schools, and the culture shock. So don't make judgments if you don't know the situation, again you're making excuses for the school.

I did discuss the bullying issue with a few parents, when they asked me how my daughter's first day of school was -- that was when I found out that other families had similar issues on the school buses. Yes we did talk to administration about it and were SHOCKED at the "what do you want me to do about it attitude." How do you defend that response out of an administrator -- when a young girl is being bullied by a large young man on a bus.

Even if he Asst. Principal couldn't do anything about it -- if he'd had any kind of training -- he could have approached us as "I'm really sorry that happened to you on your first day of school, what a bad way to start the year off" "but there is little we can do..." So a little empathy to what my daughter had to experience her first day at a new school, which varies so much from where she came. But to then chastise her for carrying a cell phone, as we're telling him the story, that she tried to call us to pick her up -- that's like putting salt in the wound.

I'm sorry if I came off as "superior" but it's again your thoughts of "we like it this way" is sad -- because the High School could be so much better. The OP was asking for opinions -- and I thought I'd share our experience with her. I think it's great that you've relocated here from NJ and love it.
We were hoping for the same outcome.

[Barbara]

I hope things have gotten better for you since that incident. I too would be very vocal about such a thing. I am glad you gave your opinion. Even now in my daughters present school in 2nd grade, I reguarly ask her about school and how things are going. We would like to come back to Summerville this fall/early winter and check out the schools (with appointments and such) and I will find out about their bullying policies. Perhaps you and some of the other parents could approach the administration as a group to talk about how to improve things in that area. In feel bad for your daughter, but maybe you could take the negitive and turn it around to be more positive by using the expierence to stop the bullying and make it better for those to come who might face the same issues. Private school is always an option also. I hope you can make your move work out, it is a beautiful area.

[OleTomCat]

"We are paying tuition at Trident College, so he has some meat in his schedule this year?"

You shouldn't have to pay tuition to go to Trident, my son is taking his English 101 classes there on a program through the HS and we don't have to pay any tuition at all, all we have to pay for are his books. My son is a senior also and only goes half a day, leaves after fifth or sixth period, around 1pm, every day. Before you pay for tuition next semester check into the program through the guidance office it will save you some money. The is another option to SHS, Pinewood Prep is an excellent School that goes all the way to 12th grade, it is on Old Orangburg Road.

[RJ17015]

My son is also in the English class at SHS -- we don't pay tuition for that. But the other class -- he attends at the college in the evening, and we pay full tuition.

We thought about Pinewood Prep, after school began. We're having problems paying that much in tuition for both kids to attend, when we "could" move back into our vacant home in MI, and get the schools that our tax $ is going toward.

At the time of registration -- we had 2 homes in MI (trying to sell) -- which meant 2 mortgages -- very high taxes on both, HOA, plus cost of utilities and maintenance on both (lawn care, housekeeper...). Then we also have rent here, along with all our utilities here. We took out $20K loan to "stage" our house in MI --just so we could list it way below what we paid for it 6 years ago. Let's just say things are tight financially, and it was difficult for us to justify paying private school tuition, when we could move back to MI and take advantage of the school district there.

For now we're sticking it out. My husband is putting his resume back out in MI, trying to get the family back there -- so we don't have to live apart. We'd move back into our home, and the kids could finish out their HS in our previous district. This would be for more than just the schools, at this point we can't afford to sell our house. Our Realtor wants to drop the price again, which would force us to take $ to closing, something we don't want to do. We've already lost all of our equity we've built up in 20 years, and really don't want to go into debt in order to sell our current home.

[Barbara]

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

[Luvsdabeach]

Originally Posted by RJ17015

My son is also in the English class at SHS -- we don't pay tuition for that. But the other class -- he attends at the college in the evening, and we pay full tuition.

We thought about Pinewood Prep, after school began. We're having problems paying that much in tuition for both kids to attend, when we "could" move back into our vacant home in MI, and get the schools that our tax $ is going toward.

At the time of registration -- we had 2 homes in MI (trying to sell) -- which meant 2 mortgages -- very high taxes on both, HOA, plus cost of utilities and maintenance on both (lawn care, housekeeper...). Then we also have rent here, along with all our utilities here. We took out $20K loan to "stage" our house in MI --just so we could list it way below what we paid for it 6 years ago. Let's just say things are tight financially, and it was difficult for us to justify paying private school tuition, when we could move back to MI and take advantage of the school district there.

For now we're sticking it out. My husband is putting his resume back out in MI, trying to get the family back there -- so we don't have to live apart. We'd move back into our home, and the kids could finish out their HS in our previous district. This would be for more than just the schools, at this point we can't afford to sell our house. Our Realtor wants to drop the price again, which would force us to take $ to closing, something we don't want to do. We've already lost all of our equity we've built up in 20 years, and really don't want to go into debt in order to sell our current home.

It sounds like you have a lot of stress in your life right now. My opinion, not that you asked for it, is since you are having a hard time selling your home in MI and you are not happy with the schools here and your children are almost finished with their high school year's is to move back to MI so at least that stress will not be there and they can finish at the high school they started at. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!