E. Central Illinois Schools (Champaign, Urbana: public schools, college, income)

[mare07]

I've read a few threads about schools around the C-U area and I wonder what makes Mahomet/SJO etc, better than Champaign Schools? Is it behavioral problems, involvement, diversity, curriculum? In terms of college preparedness, when looking at curriculum, one would think Champaign was better b/c of it's honors classes and sheer number of AP classes available. They seem to be comparable in almost every way except maybe diversity, as the bedroom communities are 97% caucasian. Just wondering.

[EyesInTheSky]

I don't mean to sound controversial and I'm not trying to start a debate, but the bottom line is this: It's the "diversity" in the Champaign-Urbana public school system that's at the root of most of their behavioral problems.

Although it's possible to get a solid preparatory education in the C-U public schools, your kids also will have to deal with much more violence and intimidation. It's no exaggeration to say the C-U public schools experience more violence and intimidation in a single day then Mahomet (or St. Joe or Monticello) pubic schools will experience in an entire year.

Originally Posted by mare07

I've read a few threads about schools around the C-U area and I wonder what makes Mahomet/SJO etc, better than Champaign Schools? Is it behavioral problems, involvement, diversity, curriculum? In terms of college preparedness, when looking at curriculum, one would think Champaign was better b/c of it's honors classes and sheer number of AP classes available. They seem to be comparable in almost every way except maybe diversity, as the bedroom communities are 97% caucasian. Just wondering.

[gingerbookgoddess]

Champaign Urbana is a more urban environment. This means that it has the benefits and problems of such an environment. Comparably, the more rural environments of Mahomet or St. Joe, etc. will have different benefts and problems. This is true on a city level as well as a school level. For me, there are a variety of advantages to life in Champaign-- access to public transit, living in a community that is diverse by a number of measures including traditional census type measures such as race, ethnicty, income, educational level, housing, and so forth, having convenient access to goods and services. There are also many advantages to education in such a system-- this could be related to things like choice of extracurricular activities, class choices and availability, resources, other kids to hang out with, and things of that nature. Now there are some disadvantges to living in Champaign for me as well-- it doesn't offer all the services or things a larger community would. It is still large enough to be overwhelming at times. The public transit to other cities is very limited, and job opportunities are limited. Of course, if I lived in a smaller town, like those mentioned,then I wouldn't get public transit at all and I imagine I would have to travel to Champaign for services and ammenities anyway, hence inviting inconfusion. The cost of living might be higher in a smaller town, of course, depending on the town, the tax rate may also be higher. Budget is likely a factor. Various community issues-- some related to things like diversity are also a factor. Quality of education is much more than just test scores or number of certain courses. There are many more factors that are more personable and more difficult to measure.

[asearchforreason]

Originally Posted by gingerbookgoddess

Champaign Urbana is a more urban environment. This means that it has the benefits and problems of such an environment. Comparably, the more rural environments of Mahomet or St. Joe, etc. will have different benefts and problems. This is true on a city level as well as a school level. For me, there are a variety of advantages to life in Champaign-- access to public transit, living in a community that is diverse by a number of measures including traditional census type measures such as race, ethnicty, income, educational level, housing, and so forth, having convenient access to goods and services. There are also many advantages to education in such a system-- this could be related to things like choice of extracurricular activities, class choices and availability, resources, other kids to hang out with, and things of that nature. Now there are some disadvantges to living in Champaign for me as well-- it doesn't offer all the services or things a larger community would. It is still large enough to be overwhelming at times. The public transit to other cities is very limited, and job opportunities are limited. Of course, if I lived in a smaller town, like those mentioned,then I wouldn't get public transit at all and I imagine I would have to travel to Champaign for services and ammenities anyway, hence inviting inconfusion. The cost of living might be higher in a smaller town, of course, depending on the town, the tax rate may also be higher. Budget is likely a factor. Various community issues-- some related to things like diversity are also a factor. Quality of education is much more than just test scores or number of certain courses. There are many more factors that are more personable and more difficult to measure.

This the most sensible answer to this question that I have heard yet.