Isd (Dallas, Coppell, Lake Dallas: low income, daycare, YMCA)

[StEt0417]

We are moving to Hickory creek from Fort lauderdale. The public schools here do FCAT testing starting in 3rd grade. You have to pass teh test in order to move on to the next grade. Does the school district have a similar test? How are the schools in LSD? We are assigned to Lake Dallas elementary. They said its 3yrs old. Also here everyone in the state gets to do Pre-K, the school says they do not do that there. Anyone know what the guidelines are for it?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Pre-K is for children from specific types of families - non English speaking, low income, etc. I am not sure if every school even offers it to those students.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

Pre-K is for children from specific types of families - non English speaking, low income, etc. I am not sure if every school even offers it to those students.

Many private schools have Pre-K.

[BigDGeek]

We don't even have universal kindergarten in Texas, let alone pre-K.

[Philip T]

Hickory Creek seems like a pleasant little place.

Used to go to a little yearly Folk Festival they sponsored.

But your question is about schools . . . . Texas is not quite Mississippi, or Louisiana . . . but it is right on the line.

You Follow?

Education is a random and uncertain experience here.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by StEt0417

We are moving to Hickory creek from Fort lauderdale. The public schools here do FCAT testing starting in 3rd grade. You have to pass teh test in order to move on to the next grade. Does the school district have a similar test? How are the schools in LSD? We are assigned to Lake Dallas elementary. They said its 3yrs old. Also here everyone in the state gets to do Pre-K, the school says they do not do that there. Anyone know what the guidelines are for it?

I can't help you with the particulars of that elementary school, but here are some important things you need to know about Texas public schools:

1. Yes, there are statewide tests. In Texas, it was called TAKS until this year. The new test is called STAAR and it has been modified to become more challenging. Grades 3-8 didn't really change with the move from TAKS to STAAR --> reading & math exams every year and science/writing/social studies every few years. In high school, there are now 12 end of course exams that ALL must be passed to graduate AND counts towards 15% of the student's grade in that class.

2. The state of Texas funds half-day Pre-K in districts where more than 15 four-year-olds meet the following requirments:
*are unable to speak or understand English
*are economically disadvantaged/ qualify for free or reduced lunch
*are homeless
*have a parent who is active military, active reserve, or who was killed or wounded in action
*are currently or have been in foster care.

That's it. If you don't meet the requirement and the district doesn't have a critical mass of children also meeting the requriement, then no public pre-K.

Most people in Texas send their kids to either daycare or a private pre-school (run by churches & synagogues, the YMCA, montessori schools, or independent private schools).

[StEt0417]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

I can't help you with the particulars of that elementary school, but here are some important things you need to know about Texas public schools:

1. Yes, there are statewide tests. In Texas, it was called TAKS until this year. The new test is called STAAR and it has been modified to become more challenging. Grades 3-8 didn't really change with the move from TAKS to STAAR --> reading & math exams every year and science/writing/social studies every few years. In high school, there are now 12 end of course exams that ALL must be passed to graduate AND counts towards 15% of the student's grade in that class.

2. The state of Texas funds half-day Pre-K in districts where more than 15 four-year-olds meet the following requirments:
*are unable to speak or understand English
*are economically disadvantaged/ qualify for free or reduced lunch
*are homeless
*have a parent who is active military, active reserve, or who was killed or wounded in action
*are currently or have been in foster care.

That's it. If you don't meet the requirement and the district doesn't have a critical mass of children also meeting the requriement, then no public pre-K.

Most people in Texas send their kids to either daycare or a private pre-school (run by churches & synagogues, the YMCA, montessori schools, or independent private schools).

With 3rd grade do they have to pass the test to be promoted to the next grade?

Thank you for the info, I will def be looking into a private school that offers a pre-K program for my youngest

[VegasMan_72]

Originally Posted by Philip T

Hickory Creek seems like a pleasant little place.

Used to go to a little yearly Folk Festival they sponsored.

But your question is about schools . . . . Texas is not quite Mississippi, or Louisiana . . . but it is right on the line.

You Follow?

Education is a random and uncertain experience here.

You really have a chip on your shoulder. If you dislike TX so much why are you still here? I am a transplant myself and so far it has been nothing but a pleasant experience. TX is far from my political ideology, I'm a hard core Democrat but I find the people here very friendly and welcoming.

Back to education, my 2 kids are attending the Coppell ISD and so far so good. The top high school in the nation is in Dallas and 3 of the top 10 high schools in the country are in Dallas. Dallas and TX have top notch universities.

Have you ever looked yourself in the mirror? The problem may just be with you and you love to blame everyone else. I can't even imagine what you would be like in your personal life........

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by StEt0417

With 3rd grade do they have to pass the test to be promoted to the next grade?

Yes, they must pass to be promoted. If they fail, there are summer sessions and then they take the test again over the summer.