Best public high school in Little Rock area? (home, transferring to)

[bootsbee]

Our family is being relocated from South Carolina to Little Rock, AR in 2012. We have a daughter that will be entering high school in the fall of 2012 (and she is NOT happy about this move). Can anyone tell me about the high schools in this area and school districts?!? My daughter is in advanced placement classes. She also loves being in the band. Which schools have strong academics and a solid marching band program? Where we currently live, we have an incredible school district with excellent extra-curricular programs. I am worried about this move and her adjustment.

We also have a 1st grader and need information about elementary and middle schools. Which school district is the best and which schools are top rated. I am a teacher, so I know you cannot always judge things by how they look on paper. I really want feedback from parents and locals. Thanks for your help!

[jenni-b]

Parkview might be a good choice for your daughter. it's the Arts/Science magnet and has both band and orchestra, in addition to choir, drama, visual arts, dance, and, well, science.

Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School (http://lrsdorg.nexpoint.net/secondary/parkview/parkview.htm - broken link)

most people promote Central and it is a very good school if your student is a high achiever, but average or smart-but-less-motivated students can easily fall through the cracks. they really put all their focus on the top percent there.

Little Rock Central High School

as for elementary and middle schools, my kid went to Gibbs and Dunbar and I have always been a big supporter of the magnets, but with the loss of federal funding it is uncertain whether the schools will be able to continue to offer the programs they have in the past. I'd say Gibbs is still a great school, as are Carver, Booker, and Williams (depending on your child's interests), but in a few years, who knows.

http://lrsd.org/schools.cfm#elementary

[bootsbee]

Thanks for your response!
Another question: How does the school district handle enrollment in the magnet schools? Is it a lottery system? Is there a wait list? Are your school options dependent on your home address?

[jenni-b]

it's a wait list. and magnet schools aren't dependent on your home address, but regular schools are.

though sometimes it's easier to get in the school of your choice if you do an M-to-M (Majority-to-Minority) transfer from outside the district you want to attend; for instance, transferring to a majority black district (like LR) from a majority white district (like PuCo) if you're white, or vice versa if you're black. at least that used to be the case, you might check with the district on that.

[ArkansasSlim]

Jenni-b, how are you going to keep up with all going on this weekend