Great School Analysis (Huntsville, Madison: middle school, cost of, nicest)

[boilrmkr]

Unless for religious reasons I can't imagine anyone sending their child to a private school if you live in the Madison city school district. This is our first year here and my children have never been happier. They get up right away and can't wait to get to school. The teachers are great as is the staff. I feel they are getting a top notch education. I don't ever plan on moving from this area.

Certainly it is a personal choice. I know my kids will get a great education and they will go to great colleges.

[ionlife]

Bob Jones HS is a blue ribbon school and had over 15 semi finalists in the National Merit Scholar awards.

But hey, I'm saving my money for college (Princeton??? is not cheap???)

[flowslikeabutterfly]

This is in response to the poster who said they didn't know why anyone would NOT send their kids to public schools other than for religious reasons. We live in Madison City and our district has the highest scores. However, the music/arts and other offerings in the lower grades are downright nonexistent.

We took a tour of our elementary school last week...very impressive for a public facility, but it IS in Alabama, which is ranked lower overall and the arts/music issue is too large to explore.

We are ponying up for Randolph

[ionlife]

Originally Posted by flowslikeabutterfly

This is in response to the poster who said they didn't know why anyone would NOT send their kids to public schools other than for religious reasons. We live in Madison City and our district has the highest scores. However, the music/arts and other offerings in the lower grades are downright nonexistent.

We took a tour of our elementary school last week...very impressive for a public facility, but it IS in Alabama, which is ranked lower overall and the arts/music issue is too large to explore.

We are ponying up for Randolph School which is a two time blue ribbon winner. We are not looking for a "good" school but a great one.

Randolph School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Huntsville/Madison area has a lot of fabulous programs after school/on weekends as well that promote the arts for far less cost than a private school such as Randolph (if that is the only reason you're going private).

Fantasy Theater
Huntsville Community Chorus
ARS Nova

... just to name a few--

[financelife]

Originally Posted by vakinderegg

I have read so much about the poor test scores in Huntsville it is amazing how a city that has the most phd's per capita in the USA can allow this to continue.

Maybe because when you're transplanted to the area, you don't really have a deep connection, and so you don't care what happens to the school system in the long run because you either plan to move again or expect your children to leave when they are able to.

Why would you send your kid to a private school for the art program?

[vakinderegg]

I see you quoted me!I have a lot of interest in the test scores of the schools in Huntsville.As a former teacher and a parent I am most interested which school my child attends and what their outcomes are in the areas of Math, Reading, and Science in comparison to other districts in our state or other states.I have moved several times in the past years and usually always taught school and never did I not think that people who lived in my community did not have deep connections because that were transients. I have lived in military communities for almost 20 years and families moved , but were very active in their child's education and concerned about test scores.Parents, soldiers , and different organizations volunteered to help the schools academically or in the sports. That is what enabled the school to go from good to great!We moved here because of the quality of life that Huntsville/Madison claims to have for families. We do not intend to move for a very long time. We have decided to plant our roots here and have our child go to the Huntsville schools until she graduates HS if that is possible. ...and perhaps go to an Alabama University .We picked a neighborhood for it's beauty and it's schools.

So please financelife don't say things about people who move here that you have no idea why we are here,where we came from, what brought us here, or if we have family here.

flowslikeabutterfly are you from NOVA?If so I totally understand why you are so concerned about the overall test scores of Alabama. Huntsville and Madison do have some very good schools here that are equal to those in Fairfax County. Before you spend alot of money at Randolph you probably should check out some of the afterschool arts/music programs in this area. Is it hard to get into Randolph? Do they ask for recommendation letters and high test scores? How far is it from where you live? Is Randolph the only private HS in Huntsville.

Dramamama , I agree with you. Lots of great activities for kids and a lot less than in Fairfax County.

[BKOTH97]

Originally Posted by flowslikeabutterfly

We took a tour of our elementary school last week...very impressive for a public facility, but it IS in Alabama, which is ranked lower overall and the arts/music issue is too large to explore.

Do you realize that Bob Jones was chosen as the #1 Art Program in America by the Scholastic Art and Writing Society?

Given public schools like Bob Jones and Grissom, my personal opinion is that Randolph is a waste of money.

[ionlife]

Bob Jones has a fantastic art/graphic arts program as well as an excellent theater program. Huntsville HS looks like it has an amazing Theater program as well (I almost moved to that area based on the theater program but too far to commute for dear hubby).

Seriously, don't look at AL as a whole when choosing to avoid PS here in Huntsville/Madison areas. You'll actually be pleasantly surprised at the variety of activities and great after school programs for your children once they get to MS/HS. And in elementary school years, try Fantasy Theater, Huntsville Community Chorus and the various local classes offered here.

My daughter is auditioning for plays at Fantasy Theater and is currently being taught voice by a woman who worked in Miss Saigon, Hunchback of Notre Dame and more. She is a TREASURE that we wouldn't have afforded to pay for in the NoVA area (I've paid double what I pay now for voice and dance).

And Vakinderegg--you're right about transplants helping the community and making it better--surely demands for better quality by those very engineers/military experts and scientists have given many of the schools here a bounty of improved test scores and services. If I could up your rep, I would

[flowslikeabutterfly]

No, We are paying for Randolph for K-9 and then switching to Bob Jones. We took a detailed tour of the public school here in Madison (I am slated for one of the nicest ones) and it's still lacking. There are virtually no arts/music until middle school and Randolph way outpaces the academic side (its a 2 time national blue ribbon winner). I'm sorry, but status quo is not good enough for my child. I was a public school child and hold a PHD, but the struggle was ridiculous growing up. I need to give my child the best. Any yes, Randolph has a tough admission policy and requires testing for entrance. Its not for every kid.

[mm42]

My kids go to Randolph, but I would be perfectly satisfied to send them to public school as well. I'm in the Jones Valley / Whitesburg / Grissom district, and these schools are very good. (I went to Whitesburg and Grissom myself.)

We just moved here in June. So far everyone is loving it, especially the friendliness of the area.