Orange Park Country Club...What do you think? (Jennings: house, rental)

[grimmzoo]

We are moving to JAX area, possibly Orange Park. My husband will be working on Blanding just North of 295. We have two boys ages 8 and 4 so schools are a big concern. We like Eagle Harbor, Flemming Island but are checking out other options before we actually choose a home. We found a house or two in OPCC that we really liked but the proximity to Blanding scares me even though it is like an oasis once you enter the subdivision. What about the school for that area....S Bryan Jennings...it is and A school but has over 40% free and reduced lunches....hmmm

One last question....LOL we are also considering Julington Creek...what would the commute time be coming over the River??

Thanks for any help...I have gotten so much great info from reading these threads!!

[riveree]

All the schools have some percentage of free lunch or assisted lunch, it doesn't affect the school rating in any way. There are a lot of struggling families in Florida and you're looking at a location that is right on the edge of a large rural area.

[mawipafl]

One thing that can influence the school ratings that I don't think is often considered, is that if a particular school or district has had a large influx of students from other parts of the country. Since the FCATs, I guess, is the main tool for establishing the A,B,C, etc rating, it matters if transplanted students came from an excellent school system or a lousy one. Did these new students bring with them an excellent educational background or not? Essentially, a child who was previously educated in Wisconsin will probably do well on the FCAT, but a child from PA perhaps will not. Thus, I think a school district's ability - or perceived inability - to teach is not totally painted correctly by the ratings.

I don't know - it's just a thought. If children move in here less prepared, teachers have a lot of catch-up to do to fill in the educational gaps.

I think what goes hand-n-hand with school ratings is researching the mindset of the families in the district - does the school have an active parental involvement like a PTA? are there lots of clubs, sports, activities? or do the families have a laissez-faire attitude of oh just let the school deal with it?

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by riveree

All the schools have some percentage of free lunch or assisted lunch, it doesn't affect the school rating in any way. There are a lot of struggling families in Florida and you're looking at a location that is right on the edge of a large rural area.

a high percentage of kids in a school who are receiving subsidized meals is indicative of a low income area, low income areas usually do not produce a plethora of high performing students. Like it or not I've always noted that family income is directly correlated to how children perform in school.
So I'd be wary of any area which has a school with a high percentage of kids getting meals.

[fastninja500]

Like it or not I've always noted that family income is directly correlated to how children perform in school.

On the other hand, Asian children seem to be doing really well from elementary through college and post graduate school. And this is all over the country. So good, in fact, that they now get the "reverse discrimination" when they apply for college because there's so many Asian kids going to colleges and universities.

A lot of these Asian families are from poor families. They immigrate here, face the same difficulties as other poor families and their parents work their butts off trying to provide a better environment for their kids to thrive. Mind you, not all succeed. But there's a higher percentage that do, than don't.

It's a fairly simple equation: Knowledge / Education is one of the surest ways out of poverty. If you don't have it, ... get it.

So maybe "cultural background", "family values" or whatever sociologists call it these days is a better gauge, though probably more difficult to quantify. Most successful families emphasize values like hard work, honor, respect, confidence, perseverance and determination to succeed. Pride in yourself, your family and your work.

By the way, I may be biased since I'm of Asian extraction myself and have observed this first hand among family and friends and acquaintances. Among at least 20 kids and teenagers I know personally, all but 1 are doing well (above average or A students) in their school and social lives.

Ironically, the one kid that is just average (B or C student), is the kid from a pretty wealthy family! And his friends, mostly from relatively wealthy families, are the "party" kids. Mind you, they're not "bads" kids. Just more, shall we say, "rambunctious".

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by fastninja500

Ironically, the one kid that is just average (B or C student), is the kid from a pretty wealthy family! And his friends, mostly from relatively wealthy families, are the "party" kids. Mind you, they're not "bads" kids. Just more, shall we say, "rambunctious".

There is always a generational loss once someone has reached the big time. That C student takes things for granted. They should send him back to the homeland to appreciate the struggle so he doesn't take a step back and become an underachiever.

A fellow Asian....
Ti not Thai....

[grimmzoo]

Does anyone live in or near Orange Park CC that has any first hand experience with the local elementary school?

[riveree]

Originally Posted by apvbguy

a high percentage of kids in a school who are receiving subsidized meals is indicative of a low income area, low income areas usually do not produce a plethora of high performing students. Like it or not I've always noted that family income is directly correlated to how children perform in school.
So I'd be wary of any area which has a school with a high percentage of kids getting meals.

My point was, the OP had already indicated the school has an A-rating, so why be concerned if 40% of the kids have free lunch? Poor or not, they seem to be some pretty smart kids of the school is consistently rated A.

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by riveree

My point was, the OP had already indicated the school has an A-rating, so why be concerned if 40% of the kids have free lunch? Poor or not, they seem to be some pretty smart kids of the school is consistently rated A.

the operative word was usually, there are no assumptions that are universally true.

[lilred7879]

Hate to discourage a potential new neighbor. But personal experience on Orange Park Country Club - It is a great place to live "an Oasis" in the middle of Orange Park, but with your younger children I would have to recommend the Eagle Harbor/Flemining Island area, or the new Oakleaf developments. There is just a lot more for the younger kids to do in these areas.

Nothing wrong with the schools in the area at all just more activities and immediately available in the other "newer" neighborhoods.

BUT - OPCC is a lot safer/quieter/relaxing than the newer ones also.

Good Luck