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Our family is relocating to the Greenville area this summer. There are many nice areas that we've been considering, but it isn't easy to find a property that meets all of our needs AND is zoned for great schools. We have finally found a home that we really like; my only hesitation is the rating of the middle school there. The HS we would zoned to is Wade Hampton, of which I've heard/read very good things. The middle school is Sevier.
I would love to hear any input/opinions/insight about the school. The listing said something about the school being renovated? I can't find any recent reviews about it online, just testing results/report card type stats. Academics and safety are most important to us, but so is availability of extra-curricular activities and the overall environment.
Also, I have heard something about being able to choose the schools, rather than just going to the one you are zoned in. Is this accurate? If so, how easy is it to make that happen? Our current district has nothing like that, so we are totally unfamiliar.
Thanks in advance!! I appreciate any feedback, both from locals and transplants (like us!).
Please be aware that ALL Greenville County public schools were renovated (or demolished, built new) in the early to mid-2000's.
Great Schools/School Digger both have excellent stats - take individual reviews with a "grain of salt". Also, don't concern yourself with the "grade" each website gives - my kids go to a "6" school and their education/instruction has been excellent.
I know nothing about Sevier Middle - in fact, I don't think it's ever been brought up for discussion. You need to visit the school in person and talk to parents in the immediate area.
Thanks for the info. Good to know that the schools have all been recently updated. We are moving from Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston.
We have done our share of moving and are very familiar with the great schools website. It's a nice starting point. I echo your sentiments: stats/test scores don't tell the whole story and the reviews should be taken in stride. I have found it very difficult to find any post on Sevier, particularly anything recent. The 6 rating would concern me far less if I was familiar with the area or even if it was for an elementary school. I should add that none of our children will be attending middle school until 2015-2016.
Unfortunately, the timing of our relocation does not afford us the option of visiting the school or talking to locals until we have already made our home selection.
FWIW here are some report card comparisons among Wade Hampton's feeder middle schools
Sevier - average to good overall rating the last 5 years with a mix of average to good improvement rating
League - mostly excellent and good ratings for both overall and improvement
Greenville - excellent to good rating annually both ratings
Northwood - pretty solid Good rating over the years
SC schools are rated excellent, good, average, below average and "good only knows" haha
WHHS gets the vast majority of it's kids from Sevier and League. They get a few from GMS and maybe a handful from Northwood.
i've been inside Sevier's building a handful of times and the facility and grounds are very nice. looked like a very well kept and put together school.
The Greenville school district does have magnet schools and also allows attendance at other out-of-zone schools based on 'special permission' ... but that process has already taken place for the 2014-15 school year.
I don't know much about Sevier (my kids went/go to Northwood) but honestly no middle school is ideal because every single one of them is filled with, you know, middle schoolers.
One of my boys is a rising sophomore at Wade Hampton and thus far I'd say all the good things you hear about the school appear to be true. WHHS follows a block schedule so a full load is four classes, which can be a bug or a feature, depending. There are plenty of sports and clubs ie something for anyone who wants extracurriculars. My son splits his day between WHHS and FAC so there's a bit of shuffle to his schedule but the guidance counselors are great.
It's great to hear from a fellow Katy-ite! Sorry to hear TN isn't working out for you. About this time last year, we actually spent a week checking out several of Nashville's nearby towns in hopes of finding the spot that would be home for years to come. Well, we never did find it and set our sights on Greenville. Aspects of it were lovely, but I never really felt like it was the right fit. My husband loved it. After a several visits and an arduous house hunt, we called it quits and were back at square one. Finally landed in Charlotte, NC last summer.
I think it all comes down to what you or your family are looking for, what makes you dislike TN, etc.
Long story short - I don't know if I can be of much help to you, but I'd be happy to try! I know what it's like to be in the 'move' mindset...Let me know if you have any other questions
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