Info/ Opinions on Garland ISD (Austin, Plano: neighborhood, magnet schools, college)

[mel.mcguire]

I'm interested in learning more about Garland ISD - any insights or opinions. Two things I'm particularly interested in is the open enrollement School Choice - how does that work or affect the district? Also, they seem to have several options like magnet schools and technology-focused schools even at the elementary level. I'd like to know more about that as well. I appreciate the insight!

[kcanty426]

I am a former GISD student and graduate of Naaman Forest High School. "Choice of School" worked great for me through the years. My neighborhood (Oakridge) was a nice neighborhood with not-so-great neighborhood schools. I was able to receive a great education by going to schools that were only available because of "Choice of School".

I'm not sure that "Choice of School" will *always* be an option for GISD students. My mother-in-law (a 2nd grade teacher for GISD) said that "Choice of School" was due to expire in 2007. It was almost a year ago that we had this conversation, and I never did find out what GISD decided.

I will say that GISD high schools, in general, are wonderful as far as honors and AP classes. I learned a lot in all of those classes. The "regulars" classes I took were basically throw away courses. Small classrooms with 30+ students, most of whom didn't give a rip about being there. I remember being in a classroom that didn't have enough desks. I had to sit on the floor for the first few weeks.

As for the magnet schools, they are all schools in Garland that were all low-performing, low-socioeconomic schools and have been "revamped" to attract children who meet the academic criteria.

**These are just my opinions...I don't intend to offend anyone.

[momof2dfw]

I'm in the GISD and have two children that attend GISD schools. One is in middle school and has been in the Gifted & Talented magnet program since kindergarten. The other goes to our neighborhood school. GISD still has "Choice of School" and probably will till the end of time. Every time that the "court review" has come up the district has NOT been eager to pursue getting rid of it even though they could now that the racial balance of the entire district is more diverse. I would guess because it lets the parents feel like they have a say in where their kids attend school. If they don't like the "neighborhood" school for them they don't have to jump thru hoops in order for their child to attend another school. You simply just fill out the "Choice of School" form every year w/ your 1st, 2nd & 3rd choices and turn it in. Very RARELY does a child NOT get their 1st choice. I'll get more into that below in describing how the system works and the magnet programs.

Choice of School

Every January/February parents are to fill out their "Choice of School" form and submit it w/ your 1st, 2nd & 3rd choices. There IS a deadline for these. I have already turned in my middle school form and I have the elementary one right here to turn in this week. You have like a month to do so. You can pick one up at any school campus or the main office. This is the first year they have staggered the deadlines for elementary, middle school and high school. Once you turn your form in it is basically "no news is good news". If you do NOT get your first choice most people DO get their second choice. I don't know of ANYONE that has not gotten their top two. HOWEVER, you CAN be put on the waiting list if you still want to try and get into your 1st choice. I've known several that have gotten on the waiting list and usually by the 1st day of school they get a call saying they can attend their 1st choice. Why would a student NOT get their 1st choice? Pretty simple, the school campus is NOT their "neighborhood school". Even w/ "Choice of School" we still have "neighborhood zone" schools. The students that live w/in that zone get top priority IF they picked that school. I think that is only fair and the system does seem to work. I've known plenty of kids that did not attend their "neighborhood" school but were still able to continue throughout elem at their 1st choice. Sometimes they may have gotten put on the waiting list but they still got the call that they DID get in. It just takes time sometimes as people move and don't tell the school so when they do the final counts on the 1st day of school they know who is coming and who is not.

IF you do not want to attend your "neighborhood" school the GISD does NOT provide bus transportation. Within some neighborhood school zones there are a few areas that qualify for bus transportation ONLY if those kids attend their neighborhood school. If you want to put your child in a school that is NOT their neighborhood school you are responsible for their transportation.

Magnet Schools

There are different types of magnet schools w/in the GISD. The Gifted & Talented magnets start in kindergarten and there are 3 campuses (Walnut Glen, Kimberlin and Hillside). These are ALSO in "zones". It depends on where you live w/in the district which academy is your main school. You CAN get on the wait list to attend one of the others but kids in that academies zone get 1st pick. You DO have to test to get into the magnets. The process starts in the fall BEFORE the year they would attend. In other words the kids wanting to get into the elem magnet have ALREADY taken their 1st initial round of testing and last week they did their second round or call backs. If your wanting to get your child into a magnet you still MUST turn in a "Choice of School" form w/ your 1st, 2nd & 3rd choices that are NOT a magnet school. The ONLY people that CAN choose the magnets on those forms are those that are ALREADY attending them in good standing. As a matter of fact I no longer even have to fill out the form for my daughter in the middle school academy as they automatically put her in it. Once you get past a certain grade there is no longer any testing done for the magnets as they will send you an invitation.

There are also other elementary school magnets for the fine arts, science and math, technical, etc. These programs start in the 2nd grade. You can see all of the different programs offered and the testing and application schedules on the GISD website. Garland Independent School District

Middle School Magnets
There are middle school magnets also for G&T, arts, math & science and technical. No testing is done but if you are already in the district you will recieve an invitation if the students grades are applicable.

FYI: This Thursday, March 6th the Austin Academy Jazz I, Jazz II and Honors Band will be performing at Garland High School in the Auditiorium at 7:30. They are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! If you want to hear how good these kids are then come on out and see. Bring your kids with you if they are interested. You would be more than welcome to come hear them and I'm sure any of the parents would LOVE to answer questions you have about the programs/magnets. The group of parents that have kids in these programs is TOTALLY different than the other schools and are VERY involved.

High Schools

There are 7 GISD high schools and each offers something different. They all offer AP classes but from there they offer different courses of interest. Garland HS has the IB program. Sachse HS has a Robotics Team (FINALLY one of the high schools got this as our Austin Robotics team competes against high schools and PLACES in the top 3 every year). North Garland HS has a math & science program. Lakeview offers a medical and judicial program.. It really is great that they still offer courses of a specialized interest for the kids.

So far I've loved the GISD and really have not had any complaints at all. If you have any questions please feel free to ask away or send me a direct message.

[BstYet2Be]

I second momof2dfw's assessment of the excellent GISD programs, especially the G&T, and in fact, I often wished they'd been in place sooner, as it wasn't put into place until my last child began middle school, where she also went to Austin Academy. You absolutely could not ask for a better run program, group of children or involved parents! Also, GISD did furnish transportation to the magnets, picking my daughter up right at our door.

If the "products" of these programs are to be used as the measuring stick for success, then I can tell you that the success rate was set very high to begin with, as my daughter, as well as several of her friends that we've kept up with, went on from this academy to obtaining full scholarships to college and are now giving back to several different communities in Texas as very successful teachers in their own right!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by new2sa

I second momof2dfw's assessment of the excellent GISD programs, especially the G&T, and in fact, I often wished they'd been in place sooner, as it wasn't put into place until my last child began middle school, where she also went to Austin Academy. You absolutely could not ask for a better run program, group of children or involved parents! Also, GISD did furnish transportation to the magnets, picking my daughter up right at our door.

If the "products" of these programs are to be used as the measuring stick for success, then I can tell you that the success rate was set very high to begin with, as my daughter, as well as several of her friends that we've kept up with, went on from this academy to obtaining full scholarships to college and are now giving back to several different communities in Texas as very successful teachers in their own right!

Oops, did I forget to put transportation to your zoned magent IS provided sorry.....

YES, I've been VERY PLEASED with the magnets. What they offer and do is UNREAL!!!! You could not ask for a better education. I'd put it up against ANY other public and private school program out there. When the middle school Robotics team competes against HIGH SCHOOLS and BEATS THEM!!! They have gone onto state and national levels to compete against teams that have BIG CORPORATION sponsers and still BEAT THEM!

The kids start getting scholarships offered to them in MIDDLE SCHOOL because of their academics or extra curriculiar activities thru the school. Since they are required to participate in something the kids are very well rounded.

[MurphyPl1]

My DD is also a Naaman Forest grad and we were very happy with the choices available and the success she had. We kicked around the idea of moving, but opted to stay where we were until she finished school. Plano ISD was getting a lot of good press, but at the same time we were getting a different picture from people in the district. PISD plays different games with it's enrollment to make the numbers look good.

Choice of Schools came about due to desegregation but it has been a useful tool for the district to be able to make sure that the schools that are underperforming get the attention they need, and that parents can pull their kids out of a school that isn't working for their child.

Mom is right, the G&T program is great. But I have a friend who was living in the Rowlett and her child was able to be in the G&T program but loved her regular school. She talked to the principal at Kimberlin who told her that her daughter would excel at her school because they could work with her at that level and make sure she was challenged enough and that the staff was top-notch.

I'm not sure when KCanty graduated but my daughter graduated from NF in 2001 and middle school in 1997. She attended a different elementary school than her neighborhood school and many of the kids went on to Bussey MS. There's no way that I would have let her go there even if it was her neighborhood school. However after she graduated I began subbing and subbed at Bussey quite a bit. It was a completely different school. They'd brought in a principal who straightened things out, got parents more involved, etc. And at the time the MS she went to was not as strong as when she'd attended. So I'd probably have tried to get her into Bussey.

[MaryS80]

I attended GISD for the majority of my schooling, and graduated from GHS in 2000. GISD has excellent teachers, they really care about their students and work hard. I think once I had a teacher who wasn't very good, and the following year she didn't return.

They have numerous academic programs, so there is something to suit everyone.

What plagues certain GISD campuses is a lack of parental involvement, and student apathy.

[Grainraiser]

"What plagues certain GISD campuses is a lack of parental involvement, and student apathy."




This statement applies to any school in the DFW area. Show me a school with strong parent involvement and I will show you a good school. Show me a school with very little parent involvement and I will show you a struggling school. Schools are as good as the parents demand.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

"What plagues certain GISD campuses is a lack of parental involvement, and student apathy."




This statement applies to any school in the DFW area. Show me a school with strong parent involvement and I will show you a good school. Show me a school with very little parent involvement and I will show you a struggling school. Schools are as good as the parents demand.

Yep. I've got friends and relatives that teach or their kids attend schools in other districts around here and they all say the same thing. It is not immune to any one district, city or state.