The School Systems on the East side vs The West Side (Cleveland: upper-class, home)

[lisa12230]

Ok my kids are starting school in the North Royalton..We lived in Warrensville where they absolutely HATED it there..I had to home school them because the entire Warrensville school district is in Academic Watch.... When we took them to their new schools here in North Royalton, they were excited...why are the schools on the West side of cleveland sooooo much more better than the East side???

[Marty711]

Last time I checked, Hudson, Solon, Orange, Beachwood, Aurora, Kirtland, Mayfield, Twinsburg, Chagrin Falls, and Shaker are all on the east side. They are also among the best in the state, and that's not including all the private schools and academies, of which there are more on the east side. Trying to paint the entire east side as being like Warrensville is pretty silly.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by Marty711

Last time I checked, Hudson, Solon, Orange, Beachwood, Aurora, Kirtland, Mayfield, Twinsburg, Chagrin Falls, and Shaker are all on the east side. They are also among the best in the state, and that's not including all the private schools and academies, of which there are more on the east side. Trying to paint the entire east side as being like Warrensville is pretty silly.

Sorry for trying to start a conversation...I should have just clarified...I didn't mean the ENTIRE east side of cleveland...again I apoligize

[Marty711]

Originally Posted by lisa12230

Sorry for trying to start a conversation...I should have just clarified...I didn't mean the ENTIRE east side of cleveland...again I apoligize

The west side doesn't have as much disparity between their districts. Most of their districts are pretty alike. From income to race, etc. That's not the case for the east side. It goes back to population. The east side is more diverse. That shows up on school reports.

Lower class and lower income districts are always going to suffer and the east side has more of those. Trying to compare North Royalton to lower class Warrensville isn't very fair. If you wanna compare NR, compare it with a comparable district, income and population wise. If you had moved to any of those districts I mentioned, you would've said the same things, when comparing them to Warrensville.

[averysgore]

I'm always surprised that Cleveland Heights - University Heights performs so poorly. These cities seem for the most part solid middle class, with a couple poorer areas near the East Cleveland border. Do those parts of town drag down the district that much?

Of course there are a few upper-class areas near Fairmount, but I'd imagine the majority of children there attend private school.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by averysgore

I'm always surprised that Cleveland Heights - University Heights performs so poorly. These cities seem for the most part solid middle class, with a couple poorer areas near the East Cleveland border. Do those parts of town drag down the district that much?

Of course there are a few upper-class areas near Fairmount, but I'd imagine the majority of children there attend private school.

Thank you for noticing..Thats what Im talking about....these schools, (university heights, even Shaker) isn't doing all that great...


Sorry about the last post...I have a hard time expressing things sometimes

[AGuyFromCleveland18]

Originally Posted by lisa12230

Thank you for noticing..Thats what Im talking about....these schools, (university heights, even Shaker) isn't doing all that great...


Sorry about the last post...I have a hard time expressing things sometimes

I have friends that went to Cleveland Heights that took all AP classes and ended up at Ivy League schools. Shaker has similar and probably even better opportunities than heights. These schools are some of the best in the area if education is what you're looking for. If you want to get pulled into a bad crowd, however, you can easily do that too. Both Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights border some rougher areas. Also, a lot of the wealthier kids in these areas go to private schools. That's why the state report cards are lower than you might expect. However, you can still get an incredible education at these schools.

[jmv]

I am so tired of sweeping generalizations and misinformation about the Shaker Schools. They are outstanding, an opinion backed up by fact and personal experience (both as a graduate who went on to an Ivy League college and as a parent of three students currently enrolled).

I would like to post some facts about the Shaker Heights schools so people can make an informed decision/opinion about the quality of the schools.

Here are the facts:

Newsweek ranks Shaker Heights High School among the top 2% of all high schools in the nation.

In the Fall of 2011, 159 AP Scholars were announce which represents 36% of the students taking AP exams (compared to 19% worldwide).

The number of National Merit and Achievement Semifinalists at Shaker is typically 11% of the senior class, compared to 2% nationally.

The Shaker Heights City Schools offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program in grades K-12. This is a rigorous, highly regarded program of study with courses equivalent to what you would find in college.

Shaker is one of only two school districts in NE Ohio and 25 in the entire country to offer IB.

Shaker Heights High School offers 22 AP courses in 18 subject areas - more than any other high school in NE Ohio. Courses range from Micro and Macro Economics, Latin and Greek to AB and BC Calculus, Engineering, Astronomy (in the HS planetarium), Theory of Knowledge, Shakespearean acting, Statistics, to name just a few.

We have students from 25 countries, sister schools in China, Japan, England, France, Costa Rica and Germany. We offer full music, arts and athletic programming (no pay to play) and our band, orchestra and choir travel regularly to Europe and Asia to perform.

Each year students matriculate to the nations most prestigious colleges and universities from all of the Ivies, to outstanding public universities and small liberal arts colleges.

So, I ask you, what more could one want from a school system? It is excellent in every way, including the fact that it educates a highly diverse population.

I can't imagine sending my children anywhere else for a global education.

[TBideon]

Are there problems with disordely students at Shaker that you wouldn't see in a school like Beachwood or Strongsville? At least in the non-AP levels.

[jmv]

I don't know what students are like in Beachwood or Strongsville. I do know that my childrens' education and achievement has not been disrupted by disorderly conduct. If behavior was interfering with their learning, I would not have them in school in Shaker. Based on the facts above, I would say that the school is working well.

In the end, everyone has to make the decision that is right for their children by evaluating educational oppportunities, visiting the schools, talking to parents and teachers and defining what you, personally consider a true, well rounded education.