Relocating to ID-info on Schools, Please

[Sandpointian]

Anybody out there from Sandpoint? Care to chime in on the local schools? Our little ones are a few years away...

[markpemble]

What's up with all this bad rap on Nampa/Caldwell????

It's like you have never even been there!!!!
You have NO IDEA what you are talking about!!!
Schools in Nampa/Caldwell (especially the charter schools) are hard to beat.

[omicronkappa278]

I am currently applying for a position at Boise State University. So, is Meridian far from there? What about Boise itself... does it have a good or bad section of town... What about the small towns like Idaho City?

[babydawn]

I have lived in the Meridian School District for about 17 years. The school system here is really great. You can live in Meridian, parts of Boise, Eagle, or Star and be in the Meridian School District. They have a variety of options for parents. They have year round schools (children attend the same amount of days, it is just broken up over 12 months instead of 9), tuition kindergarten (this is an all day kindergarten program which costs $200 per month), and several other schools which cater to the needs and interests of the kids and families. There is an elementry which focuses on teaching the arts, ie dance, drama, piano, band, etc...on top of the required stuff (english, math, science), there are several middle and high schools which cater to children who would otherwise be candidates for dropping out. The classrooms are smaller, there is more one on one time with teachers, and they just opened a high school which focuses on teaching the medical arts, for any of those kids who know they want to be a doctor, nurse, or other medical field. The only downfall is that spots in these schools are limited. My kids just go to the regular old schools which most of the kids go to and they do a fantastic job. The bad rap with Nampa/ Caldwell area is there seems to be more violence steming from those areas, mostly nampa...it is fairly close to Meridian, but I haven't noticed in my area at all. We are very happy here.

[movinonout]

GOOD LUCK-- schools are great, but per capita the crime DOES over ride cali! Hard to believe! I agree with the statement of schools are great in southern Idaho.

[babydawn]

Originally Posted by omicronkappa278

I am currently applying for a position at Boise State University. So, is Meridian far from there? What about Boise itself... does it have a good or bad section of town... What about the small towns like Idaho City?

Meridian is about a 20-30 minute drive to BSU (shorter if you go at times when there isn't a whole lot of traffic). Boise has a lot of nice areas....personally, there are a couple places I wouldn't live. Garden City and south Five Mile are probably on the top of my do not ever move there list.

[FL to ID]

We're headed to the Boise/Meridian area, too - in just a few weeks. It took me forever to find the school boundary maps, but I finally did. I'm trying to find a decent rental to keep us for 3-6 months, so we can scope out where we want to settle. Schools are a big issue, unless I can afford to stay home, in which case I may revisit home schooling my kids. My kids, two with special needs - two regular ed, have been hindered by the Pinellas County FL schools.
Does anyone have any information on the special needs programs and which schools might be best for them? I have a high schooler with mild autism and an elementary child with mild cerebral palsy. I had to fight to keep my two elementary kids in the same school when they finally placed the special needs child in a school with a program for her. I do hope it won't be a fight in ID!

[groganch]

Originally Posted by FL to ID

We're headed to the Boise/Meridian area, too - in just a few weeks. It took me forever to find the school boundary maps, but I finally did. I'm trying to find a decent rental to keep us for 3-6 months, so we can scope out where we want to settle. Schools are a big issue, unless I can afford to stay home, in which case I may revisit home schooling my kids. My kids, two with special needs - two regular ed, have been hindered by the Pinellas County FL schools.
Does anyone have any information on the special needs programs and which schools might be best for them? I have a high schooler with mild autism and an elementary child with mild cerebral palsy. I had to fight to keep my two elementary kids in the same school when they finally placed the special needs child in a school with a program for her. I do hope it won't be a fight in ID!

FL to ID, can you give me a link or an idea where you got the school district boundary and information. I'm a special education teacher from Beaverton OR and I'm looking at relocating to Boise. I would like to see what district best supports autism because that is what I specialize in and most passionate. Any information would be helpful.