Need advice in Newport News schools!! (Hampton, Williamsburg: rent, home, to buy)

[Denysgill]

Hi, Im considering to buy a home in Newport News, Va but Im not familiar with the assigned schools:
Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary
J.M. Dozier Middle
Woodside High

Do you have any positive or negative comments on these schools? Im new to this area and I would like to know in the case I need to move and rent my property if the schools are good or not.

Thank you for your comments.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Denysgill

Hi, Im considering to buy a home in Newport News, Va but Im not familiar with the assigned schools:
Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary
J.M. Dozier Middle
Woodside High

Do you have any positive or negative comments on these schools? Im new to this area and I would like to know in the case I need to move and rent my property if the schools are good or not.

Thank you for your comments.

I have family that graduated from Woodside HS. They feel they got a solid education out the deal. In honesty, NNPS does not have a great reputation overall but I think some schools in NNPS can give a solid education.

[TN Lily]

My child is a junior at Woodside -- and started there as a freshman. We are in Newport News because of my spouse's job and live in employer-provided housing. We are zoned for Warwick. Though we learned of my spouse's move long after the lottery drawing to get into the "magnet" program at Woodside, she got into the music program. Being in the band was a blessing since band practice starts well before the start of the school year. It gave her group to be a part of and made the transition much easier. Woodside's student numbers are far past its planned capacity.

Though I would not say Woodside is a bad school, I also would not consider it a good school. It is mediocre. She has some excellent teachers. She's had some bad teachers and some so-so teachers. Dealing with the administration is another story. I would give them a D minus.

The school bus system in NN gets an F. When the bus is a no show (substitute driver who is over an hour late or wildly off course and won't be at yoru child's bus stop that day), the school administration could care less. Calling to complain is a waste of time as it changes nothing.

NNPS does not have a great reputation because its is NOT a great school system. For the first two years, she played on a sports team. It was eye opening merely to go to other school districts and see their high schools from the outside. Go on the websites of high schools in other districts in York County & Williamsburg --- I am assuming you need to be on the Peninsula. Just going on the websites of other high schools in other school districts shows a major difference. Woodside can't even get events put on the calender.

Woodside has plenty of students with no desire to be in school. My daughter avoids classes with the general population if at all possible. The AP courses are demanding. Sadlly, she's had some less than stellar AP teachers which makes a hard course even harder.

My impression is that Menchville is the best high school in NN. Booker T. Washington is the best middle school.

If you can avoid both Hampton & NN school systems, I would advise doing so. I have two older children who graduated elsewhere, so this is not our first go-round with high schools.

Good luck!