EGR/FH elementary schools?

[suydam]

Originally Posted by SarahW12

Thanks for the reply mich2fla--sounds like both are great. Can you comment on how the schools handle children who are not a part of the top 20%? I know the schools are excellent, but are the students who are not as "gifted" feel their needs are met/supported? Are parents/grandparents,etc. welcome to volunteer in the schools? Looking for answers to both EGR and FH. Thanks!

All the kids are in the top 20%.
Isn't that Garrison Keiller's old statement "...where all the kids are above average..." or something like that?

Anyway, you should visit the schools and ask that question. The advice you get on how schools treat kids is going to be biased.

In general, don't forget... 80% of the kids aren't in the top 20%... so you can assume that your child (should he or she be in that 80% majority) would be just fine.

Both districts are fantastic. I would look at what kind of lifestyle you want.... that is where EGR and FH have stark differences (both wonderful places to live... just very different).

[SarahW12]

Originally Posted by suydam

All the kids are in the top 20%.
Isn't that Garrison Keiller's old statement "...where all the kids are above average..." or something like that?

Anyway, you should visit the schools and ask that question. The advice you get on how schools treat kids is going to be biased.

In general, don't forget... 80% of the kids aren't in the top 20%... so you can assume that your child (should he or she be in that 80% majority) would be just fine.

Both districts are fantastic. I would look at what kind of lifestyle you want.... that is where EGR and FH have stark differences (both wonderful places to live... just very different).

Thanks for the reply--I think one can tell a lot about a school system based on how they treat their children who have special needs or who are not as gifted as others. I will ask the question when I visit.
Thanks again for the reply, it is very helpful to get the opinions/suggestions of local people. BTW, did you get any snow yet?

[suydam]

Originally Posted by SarahW12

Thanks for the reply--I think one can tell a lot about a school system based on how they treat their children who have special needs or who are not as gifted as others. I will ask the question when I visit.
Thanks again for the reply, it is very helpful to get the opinions/suggestions of local people. BTW, did you get any snow yet?

EGR has had some flurries, but there's nothing on the ground.
It's plenty cold enough, mind you... the lake-effect bands have just blown south so far.

Less than an hour south of here they got a foot of snow in the past 2 days.

[GMonkey]

My nephew is in 3rd grade at Lakeside Elementary in EGR. He is a sweet boy, but definitely not in the upper percentiles. He doesn't have copious amounts of homework and he has plenty of opportunity to join in soccer, etc. His little brother is a very rambunctious lad and is enjoying preschool in EGR. My brother and sister in law are very involved in class and volunteer often. I think that the school has a more folksy-neighborhood appeal. FH schools are definitely innovative, but they seem to push kids out of their childhood sooner. I think that it is just too much pressure. If your kid is Carl Sagan jr, then I suppose FH schools might be better than EGR, but if you want your kid to be a kid as long as possible, have a great education, and experience fun and free play--I'd go with EGR.

[SarahW12]

Originally Posted by GMonkey

My nephew is in 3rd grade at Lakeside Elementary in EGR. He is a sweet boy, but definitely not in the upper percentiles. He doesn't have copious amounts of homework and he has plenty of opportunity to join in soccer, etc. His little brother is a very rambunctious lad and is enjoying preschool in EGR. My brother and sister in law are very involved in class and volunteer often. I think that the school has a more folksy-neighborhood appeal. FH schools are definitely innovative, but they seem to push kids out of their childhood sooner. I think that it is just too much pressure. If your kid is Carl Sagan jr, then I suppose FH schools might be better than EGR, but if you want your kid to be a kid as long as possible, have a great education, and experience fun and free play--I'd go with EGR.

Thanks so much for your thoughts. We are looking forward to visiting the area--it sure seems like a great place for families.

[mich2fla]

Originally Posted by GMonkey

My nephew is in 3rd grade at Lakeside Elementary in EGR. He is a sweet boy, but definitely not in the upper percentiles. He doesn't have copious amounts of homework and he has plenty of opportunity to join in soccer, etc. His little brother is a very rambunctious lad and is enjoying preschool in EGR. My brother and sister in law are very involved in class and volunteer often. I think that the school has a more folksy-neighborhood appeal. FH schools are definitely innovative, but they seem to push kids out of their childhood sooner. I think that it is just too much pressure. If your kid is Carl Sagan jr, then I suppose FH schools might be better than EGR, but if you want your kid to be a kid as long as possible, have a great education, and experience fun and free play--I'd go with EGR.

FH kids average 10 minutes of homework per grade level. 10 minutes in 1st grade, 70 minutes in 7th grade, etc. My kids usually get their homework done around that time then need to do some reading, flute practice, etc. Thank goodness this week is the week off for FH, no homework for our 4 girls.

We have friends in EGR and Rockford schools, their kids put in about the same time for homework.

We met with the superintendents of EGR and FH before deciding on FH. We knew we couldn't go wrong with either schools. We chose FH schools because my wife prefers rural living compared to city living.

Good luck!

[suydam]

Originally Posted by mich2fla

FH kids average 10 minutes of homework per grade level. 10 minutes in 1st grade, 70 minutes in 7th grade, etc.

I think that rule is fairly common now through at least 8th grade across many school districts.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by mich2fla

FH kids average 10 minutes of homework per grade level. 10 minutes in 1st grade, 70 minutes in 7th grade, etc. My kids usually get their homework done around that time then need to do some reading, flute practice, etc. Thank goodness this week is the week off for FH, no homework for our 4 girls.

We have friends in EGR and Rockford schools, their kids put in about the same time for homework.

We met with the superintendents of EGR and FH before deciding on FH. We knew we couldn't go wrong with either schools. We chose FH schools because my wife prefers rural living compared to city living.

Good luck!

Unless you're at parent-teacher conferences and your teachers say "I think your daughter can take on more work, challenge herself." Oops.