Relocating to KC MO- need to live by excellent elementary schools!! Suggestions?

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

My point is that a good set of parents in Raytown, Independence or Grandview will have just as much long term success with their children as a good set of parents in southern Leawood.

Emphasis is mine in your quote.

And I'm really not trying to be argumentative. (really! )

But my point is that I don't think this is necessarily true,

I think it may be true for some kids. But I do think the "bells and whistles" can make a difference for many if not MOST kids.

As I have said, we moved from one JoCo district to another. I honestly wasn't expecting a huge difference or improvement, especially at the lower grade levels. I expected some improvement in a few areas, but overall, we are involved parents with good kids and our kids were already doing well in school. I "couldn't imagine" more opportunities either.

I have been truly amazed at the difference in programs and opportunities and in my kids' progress since changing districts. Honestly. My kids were doing just fine, they would have been just fine had we stayed where we were, or moved to even a mediocre district. They would have been fine because of who they are and how they have been raised.

BUT - they are doing noticeably BETTER in their new schools. And I think it's appropriate to give credit where it's due.

[kcmo]

Weren’t you in the Desoto district though? If so, I understand what you are saying. That would be like going from the RayPec or Grain Valley district to Lee’s Summit. Very good districts, but still more rural, smaller districts with pretty limited opportunities and even some issues with growing pains as they slowly morph into a larger suburban district.

It’s hard to compete with an established, mature, large suburban district with grade A demographics.

I would think some high schools in the SMSD would compete with BV? Maybe not. My point is that if you are looking at the entire area, there are schools in other areas like the Northland and Lee’s Summit that also have extreme “bells and whistles” like performing arts centers etc. Blue Springs is a huge district to only have two high schools. The primary reason that district is delaying building a new high school is due to the fact that having such large schools allows them to have far more extra curricular activities for a much larger spectrum of students. Blue Springs High is practically a college campus for that reason with performing arts theaters, variety of sports programs and college prep courses etc.

So I would much rather go to Blue Springs than say Fort Osage, Grain Valley or Desoto, not to say those districts wouldn’t provide a fine education and plenty of extra curricular activities and college prep classes.

But I totally get where you are coming from especially if you are looking for very specific requirements.

There is one downside to being in a district with cream of the crop demographics and very high average test scores. The chances of getting scholarships can be more difficult because everybody in the school qualifies for the same grants. The same kids in the Raytown district might get a full ride academic scholarship. Other downsides to large suburban schools are that it might be much more difficult to make the sports teams or drama and theater clubs first tier. Unless the students are very good, it’s easy to be a backup in schools like that.

My wife (who teaches in KCMOSD) has always said we should put our kids in a KCMO high school for their senior year and they would get a full ride through college (except Lincoln Prep which has higher standards than most suburban schools).

I’m glad to see your kids are excelling though and doing even better and able to take advantage of what BV offers and you moved just so they could. That says a lot about your priorities and I’m sure it will pay off.

[OneKC]

I think it was one of Malcolm Gladwell's points in one of his books (Outliers?) that what matters most is not that you send your kid to a nice school, its that you care enough about them that you care which school they go to, that determines their success in life. Just food for thought.

[Samantha S]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Weren’t you in the Desoto district though? If so, I understand what you are saying. That would be like going from the RayPec or Grain Valley district to Lee’s Summit. Very good districts, but still more rural, smaller districts with pretty limited opportunities and even some issues with growing pains as they slowly morph into a larger suburban district.

Yes, we were in DeSoto District. At the time we moved there, 11 years ago, DeSoto was the highest ranking district in the state. Mainly due to it's small size and low teacher/student ratios. That's primarily why we chose that area.

But we lived in West Shawnee, we were not "rural". We knew that by the time our kids got to HS, that a new HS would be built that was closer than DeSoto High which does tend to be more rural.

Almost all of the growth in the district since then as been in Shawnee. And it has been very rapid. (6 new elementary schools as well as a new middle and new HS all within a decade and all within a couple mile radius.) Desoto has become a district that really IMO needs to be split.

The schools in our area were not at all "rural" schools. They are suburban schools and all quite good. I was not at all dissatisfied with the elementary schools. That's why I expected very little difference with the switch at that level.

The HS concerned me with the rapid growth. It's a very good school. Good teachers, good staff. My kids would have been fine there. But you are correct in that there was just no contest between a school that was struggling with ever-growing class sizes, with few resources or energy left for special programs and one in a more established area. It was a no-brainer to take the opportunity to change high schools.

I would think some high schools in the SMSD would compete with BV?

Yes, most definitely. My #1 choice of HS was SM East. But we just couldn't find the right house in PV area. And I tried! I love that area! So we went wth BV North, my second choice. Again, at the time, I wasn't thinking there would be much difference until they got to HS. I also know that SM has some excellent elementary and middle schools that I'm sure could arguably be as good as BV.

And I know that there are also some great schools with great programs in other parts of the metro. But when asked, I think I can honestly say, BV and/or SM are "better" in many regards.

Not that it's "best" for everyone but I do have some first-hand comparisons to offer.

Other downsides to large suburban schools are that it might be much more difficult to make the sports teams or drama and theater clubs first tier. Unless the students are very good, it’s easy to be a backup in schools like that.

I agree with this. However, in my humble opinion, being in the ensemble of a theater production with top notch directors and professional choreographers is going to be a better experience than being a lead in a production that's run by Mr. Jones from typing class who has been to a few plays.

Same deal in sports. It might be harder to get noticed, but the learning experience is likely to be better.

I’m glad to see your kids are excelling though and doing even better and able to take advantage of what BV offers and you moved just so they could. That says a lot about your priorities and I’m sure it will pay off.

Thanks. I hope so.

I guess the point of all this is that when people ask, and when I talk about why I think BV or SM are among the best public schools in the region, I'm not just tooting JoCo's horn.

[NJShoregirl72]

Hi there..I am moving to the KC area as well (from the East Coast) to live with my boyfriend. ( I am moving out there on Tuesday 13th)
He moved there in March of this year...he moved to Independence. I went to visit him in May and it seemed like a nice place to live.
I am nervous about midwest living..but I am happy to be with him!
good luck with your move..where are you coming from?

[kcmo]

You will be fine. I moved from KC to the Baltimore/DC area.

I think when people move from the east coast to the midwest, it might freak them out a bit. But so long as you live in a major metropolitan area like KC or St Louis you will find that there is little difference other than the housing is much cheaper and the fact that the cities are very isolated.

Entertainment, culture, museums, sports, amuesment parks, city life, suburban life. It's all there.

[crashcop]

The poster asked for good school districts, not everybodies thoughts on the educational process. The school districts metioned are all good, I would like to point out that with all districts there are problems. If you do not mind the Kansas/Missouri state line war these would be my picks to look at:
KS<Blue Valley, Shawnee Mission, Olathe

MO<Lee's Summit, Liberty, Park Hill, Blue Springs, Ray-Pec, Harrisonville

I am sure there are more but these are my picks. Look up the average SAT/ACT scores and the % of graduates going on the college. I also believe the US Dept. of Education will give stats on crime in individual schools.

[OneKC]

I think that's about right, although I've heard Turner is pretty decent and I think Gardner/Edgerton just got an award for biggest turnaround in test scores.