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We just bought a home in a development that is assigned to go to Ellen Woodside, and Woodmont middle, and Woodmont High. Ellen Woodside looks brand new but the scores online weren't the greatest. I have also heard the Woodmont Middle is less than desirable.
My question is, there are a few new developments going in around our development, on in particular is Griffin Park (which seems huge). What do you think are the chances of them rezoning since it doesn't seem like the Ellen Woodside or Fork Shoals Elementary will be able to handle all the growth?
Any thoughts? We did call the school zoning board and they said until the developments are finished they won't know.
For the most part scores reflect student mix more than quality of instruction. A few years ago most of the closer-to-Greenville Simpsonville schools looked a lot like the Southern Greenville County (Woodmont, etc) look now. The scores have gone up since then mostly because of new developments bringing in people from higher socio-economic classes who tend to have kids that are better students. The state tests try to correct for that by comparing schools to other schools with the same mix of students, but I don't know how well that really works. Incidentally, that's what the Newsweek scores do as well, which is why the schools that show up in the top 1000 on Newsweek tend to not be the ones with the highest test scores, but instead those that in the methodology used by Newsweek seem to do a better-than-average job of educating kids without as many advantages.
Southern Greenville County is more rural, with a lower average family income than many of the higher-performing Greenville schools. But that will change over the next few years if subdivisions like Griffin Park are zoned to those schools.
Your best bet with Woodmont and its feeder schools is to visit the schools and ask them about the scores. Also, try to find some parents who have kids in these schools, and get their take on it.
I think they will have to rezone eventually, and possibly build another elementary school in the area. There is another middle school under construction on Fork Shoals Road that should be finished in a year. My understanding is that school assignments for this new middle school have already been made, but that may not be the case. I have heard that Woodmont is lacking at this time, but changes are being made that will make it a top-notch middle school in the next 5 years. They are an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. Chandler (the new middle school) is also supposed to be an IB school.
I don't know much about Ellen Woodside. I have a friend who has subbed there. She said it is a fine school. Her biggest observation about the elementary schools she has worked in is that they are all different. The staff really sets the tone for their own school. So to get a feel for Ellen Woodside, you would really need to visit.
Thank you for your responses! My thoughts exactly were the children attending were more rural, but seeing all that is developing thats not going to be the case for long.
I didn't know about the new middle school, so that is good to know.
We will be visiting the school in about 1 1/2 weeks so I will be asking lots of questions, and hopefully visiting will put my mind at ease about sending my daughter!
just to let you know there is a new Charter in simpsonville called Braisher Middle College Charter High School. really nice b/c you can take college classes and they're free. located on the greenville tech braiser campus.
I think they will have to rezone eventually, and possibly build another elementary school in the area. There is another middle school under construction on Fork Shoals Road that should be finished in a year. My understanding is that school assignments for this new middle school have already been made, but that may not be the case. I have heard that Woodmont is lacking at this time, but changes are being made that will make it a top-notch middle school in the next 5 years. They are an International Baccalaureate (IB) school. Chandler (the new middle school) is also supposed to be an IB school.
I don't know much about Ellen Woodside. I have a friend who has subbed there. She said it is a fine school. Her biggest observation about the elementary schools she has worked in is that they are all different. The staff really sets the tone for their own school. So to get a feel for Ellen Woodside, you would really need to visit.
Just wanted to see if I am reading this correctly: This new middle school going in on Fork Shoals Rd. is going to be an IB school?
There are actually 4 'regions' with IB schools. The 'southern' region of Greenville County is currently Fork Shoals Elementary - Woodmont Middle -Woodmont High. Chandler will also fall into this catagory. I think Sara Collins - Beck - Southside High are the 'central' region. There is a page on the Greenville County school website that list the others as well (I think they are located in Greer and Travelers Rest).
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