How do you get your child enrolled at a school you're not zoned for? (Huntsville: apartments, house)

[vanllabean81]

Hi, everyone. We live in Madison, and our son is zoned for Providence. I'm a little worried that he won't be challenged at all academically, and pretty worried about all the strange safety precautions there. I've never heard of a school requiring the boys to tuck in their shirts (not as a dress code, but as a safety precaution.) They also are not allowed to carry backbacks, which I think is RIDICULOUS. And they are not permitted to wear jackets or hoodies. All so unbelievable to me. All they're missing is the metal detectors. So I am curious how the jacket/hoodie issue will be dealt with come wintertime. They said that as long as they end before the beltline the kids can wear them. But whose jacket is that short? Girls, perhaps, but not boys clothing. So anyhoo, I'm just wondering, what is the procedure for enrolling your child elsewhere? I'd like him to go to a Madison school if that's possible. And can anyone tell me if these rules are in effect everywhere?
Thanks!

[Charles]

The colorblind Huntsville City Schools may allow him to enroll into a school in which he doesn't increase the majority. So, if your kid is blue, he may be permitted to attend a majority green school.

"Majority to Minority − The school district shall permit a student attending a school in which the student’s race is in the majority to choose to attend another school where the student’s race is in the minority."

from


http://www.hsv.k12.al.us/dept/merts/pupilservices/Handbook_Appendix.pdf,

[vanllabean81]

Unfortunately, that doesn't help me. But thank you for the information.

[Mawoods]

I think the tucking the shirt in rule is to have a sense of discipline int he schools. Many have gone to uniforms also. It has been a while but I think it will be very difficult to get him in to city of Madison schools. The rule is you must live in the district.

[zenjenn]

There are a couple of Magnet schools you could apply to:

Academy for Academics and Arts:
EL_Index

Academy for Science and Foreign Language:
ASFL

If neither of those work for your son, do keep in mind that dress codes and other strange policies that seem strict are usually not as heavily enforced as you'd think in practice. For example, I was concerned that on paper, at Hampton Cove Elementary the children only receive 10 minutes of recess. In practice, the younger children have much more recess time than that.

As far as being "academically challenged", remember that a truly gifted child does not need a special school to challenge them. Such a child will learn and challenge themselves no matter what school they attend, and should learn early on that the only real obstacle to fulfilling their potential is themselves - not an inadequate school, teacher, etc. Virtually everyone in the teaching profession will fall over backwards to stimulate and encourage your son if he truly is dedicated to learning (not just "bright" - but dedicated to learning and willing to take age-appropriate initiative). I see too many parents of bright children blame their child's "boredom" on teachers and schools instead holding their children accountable for their attitude and approach. With just a bit of parental guidance and the right expectations, a child can learn how to be resourceful and creative enough to turn virtually any situation into a dynamic learning opportunity and a chance to excel.

Of course there are some schools that are just abysmal, and I know nothing about Providence, but in my experience usually the opportunities are present. My primary question would be... is Providence a safe school with sufficient resources.

[deesonic]

If you're zoned for Providence, you live in Huntsville.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by deesonic

If you're zoned for Providence, you live in Huntsville.

Yeah, I was gonna ask about that. Are you sure you are not just served by the Madison post office (and therefore have a Madison, AL ZIp) but are really in the Huntsville City Limits? There are some areas that have HSV, Madison and County areas and you can't tell based on your address with Zip. Even have a friend who is the only house in his neighborhood in Madison City Limits and all the other neighbors are in the County.

[friday13]

As I mentioned in another post, the school zoning for Arch is weird - at least as far as they posted on their websitehttp://www.livearchstreet.com/Schools.aspx
Elementary and HS in Huntsville, Middle in Madison.

You need to contact the two districts (Madison City, and Hsv City) and ask.
As far as I remember the answer from MCS was that only under three circumstances a student would go to a Madison school:
1. if he lives within Madison city limits - no questions here
2. a non-resident that "otherwise qualify to attend MCS", which by their response was:
2A. students who are wards of the state and through DHR placements are assigned to our school system
2B. employees children.

So - that leaves you with another school in Hsv - I know, it's painful to know that Horizon is just around the corner from where you live and a "better" school than Providence.

[vanllabean81]

Originally Posted by deesonic

If you're zoned for Providence, you live in Huntsville.

I will have to disagree with you. Lol. I live in Madison. Promise. Right on the outskirts, I think, but my address is Madison. 35758.

[vanllabean81]

Originally Posted by gsp4ever

Yeah, I was gonna ask about that. Are you sure you are not just served by the Madison post office (and therefore have a Madison, AL ZIp) but are really in the Huntsville City Limits? There are some areas that have HSV, Madison and County areas and you can't tell based on your address with Zip. Even have a friend who is the only house in his neighborhood in Madison City Limits and all the other neighbors are in the County.

Okay, now I'm confused. Are you saying I could have a Madison address, but really live in Huntsville? Why the hell would that be, I mean I know I'm in Alabama, but...never mind. Sorry, but I'm getting super annoyed with retarded zoning crap everywhere I go. We just came from Raleigh, where my son's bus picked him up at 6:15am to bus him over 11 miles away to school. Very good school, but unneccessary. Well, I'm new to Alabama, so how the heck am I supposed to know if my address, which says Madison, is actually Huntsville? Arch Street apartments is where I'm at, so can anyone answer this question for me. I would never have even considered that my address could be "wrong." Ridiculous. Grrrrr.