Memphis School Help needed (Collierville, Central: renting, chapel, day care)

[4My2Boys]

I live in Collierville and I have 3 and 5 years old sons. My older son will be going to Kindergarten this August. I have hard time deciding which school he should go to. He is in Jr. K now in “Central Learning Center” Day care and they also offer “Central Day School” Grade K-8 (private school). Cost about $5000/school year.

If he goes public school, he will be going to Tara Oaks Elementary School.

The private school I’m thinking are as follow due to my budget ( less than 10K)
Central Day School - $5000
Briarcrest Christian School
Harding Academy
I like ECS (Evangelical Christian School) but we are not Christian so this is out since they require at least one of the parent to be christian)

I like the following school but they are out of my budget to put both boys in those schools..
Lausanne
St. George
St. Dominic School

I would appreciate any suggestion!!

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by 4My2Boys

I live in Collierville and I have 3 and 5 years old sons. My older son will be going to Kindergarten this August. I have hard time deciding which school he should go to. He is in Jr. K now in “Central Learning Center” Day care and they also offer “Central Day School” Grade K-8 (private school). Cost about $5000/school year.

If he goes public school, he will be going to Tara Oaks Elementary School.

The private school I’m thinking are as follow due to my budget ( less than 10K)
Central Day School - $5000
Briarcrest Christian School
Harding Academy
I like ECS (Evangelical Christian School) but we are not Christian so this is out since they require at least one of the parent to be christian)

I like the following school but they are out of my budget to put both boys in those schools..
Lausanne
St. George
St. Dominic School

I would appreciate any suggestion!!

The private schools are very much Christian schools and very evangelical about it. Even if a Christian parent isn't required, there's the expectation that the parents are Christian or will convert to Christianity. They will have Bible daily and will be thoroughly immersed in Christian teaching, worship, and prayers.

Of the three, I'd go with Briarcrest. Of course, being a Baptist school, it is heavily biased toward Christian beliefs. Central Day School is marginal in terms of reputation and uses a religion-based curriculum for all subjects.

[strumpeace]

Harding is a good school, but it is church of Christ affiliated. And as far as evangelism and 'fitting in', church of Christ schools tend to be a little more hardcore than most. (Absolutely no offense meant to the many fine, wonderful church of Christ members in Memphis.)

[4My2Boys]

Thanks for your reply! Most private schools are christian school except Lausanne. So it will be hard to find non-christian base private school. And I think I'm ok with them learning other religion as long as they are getting good education in other area.

I'm wondering how much more will the kid be learning from private school vs public schools in Kindergarten, 1st grade or even 2nd grade.
Will it worth it to spend $8000/year to choose Briarcrest over Tera Oaks?

Student teacher ratio are about the same for elementary. Curriculum are not much different except for bible study which I do not really need.
Will the kid be more discipline and learn better/more in private?

[TN-rox]

Tara Oaks is a pretty good school as are most all of Collierville's. From what Ive seen, the education is better in the public schools because they have more money and resources. There is a much larger variety of classes in public schools. Of course, that will not matter until higher grades. You lose a little less education for Bible studies and a safer environment in private schools (except for drugs, big problem in many private schools). Depends on what you want more...

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by 4My2Boys

Thanks for your reply! Most private schools are christian school except Lausanne. So it will be hard to find non-christian base private school. And I think I'm ok with them learning other religion as long as they are getting good education in other area.

I'm wondering how much more will the kid be learning from private school vs public schools in Kindergarten, 1st grade or even 2nd grade.
Will it worth it to spend $8000/year to choose Briarcrest over Tera Oaks?

Student teacher ratio are about the same for elementary. Curriculum are not much different except for bible study which I do not really need.
Will the kid be more discipline and learn better/more in private?

I have detected a significant difference between private and public in terms of educational quality in general. (Now, the difference in Central Day and public schools won't be as significant.) There isa stronger focus on discipline and there are smaller class sizes.

The Christian focus of schools involves more than learning another religion. In general, a kid who's actively non-Christian is going to have a hard time fitting in. Prayers are said multiple times per day; chapel is compulsory; and the Christian faith is indoctrinated throughout the day, not just in Bible class.

Be careful on using Student-teacher ratios as a deciding factor. Those include all specialty teachers as well, not just classroom. Consequently, a public school may have a smaller teacher/student ratio and yet have more kids per classroom than private.

I'm usually a proponent of private schools. However, if your family is not Christian and your other choice is Tara Oaks, which has a fairly solid reputation, I'd go with Tara Oaks. It's tough to be a non-Christian kid in a Christian school (not because the kids treat them badly but because it would never feel "at home".)

[4My2Boys]

Since we are not Christian, I do not mind they don't get any Bible studies.
I prefer the schools that will challenge them in education (English, Science, Math, Social Skill).
For Elementary, I think the Tara Oats is pretty safe environment
I will definitely not send them to public school for Middle or High School in Memphis (No offense to those who are going there).

I’m thinking may be I could let them go public school for until 2nd grade or so then send them to private at or after 3rd grade (before they get into middle school).
I have heard from a friend that in some private school, they filter/grade the kids and put them in special classes as they get into middle school (kids with special skills in particular area.. Math, Art, Atlantic and so on)
So if I move them to private school around 2nd or 3rd grade, then they can catch up if needed before they get into middle school.

[4My2Boys]

Originally Posted by tigergal

I have detected a significant difference between private and public in terms of educational quality in general. (Now, the difference in Central Day and public schools won't be as significant.) There isa stronger focus on discipline and there are smaller class sizes.

The Christian focus of schools involves more than learning another religion. In general, a kid who's actively non-Christian is going to have a hard time fitting in. Prayers are said multiple times per day; chapel is compulsory; and the Christian faith is indoctrinated throughout the day, not just in Bible class.

Be careful on using Student-teacher ratios as a deciding factor. Those include all specialty teachers as well, not just classroom. Consequently, a public school may have a smaller teacher/student ratio and yet have more kids per classroom than private.

I'm usually a proponent of private schools. However, if your family is not Christian and your other choice is Tara Oaks, which has a fairly solid reputation, I'd go with Tara Oaks. It's tough to be a non-Christian kid in a Christian school (not because the kids treat them badly but because it would never feel "at home".)

I think they will not have trouble fitting in the Christian School for now since they go to "Central Learning Center" day care for 3 years now and they learn to say Prayers and Bible verse.
But if I let them go public school for 3 years (K - 2nd) then switch them back to Private (Christian School) then they might have problem. Thanks for your input.. I will ahe to think about that..

[TN-rox]

[quote=4My2Boys;6997560]
For Elementary, I think the Tara Oats is pretty safe environment
I will definitely not send them to public school for Middle or High School in Memphis (No offense to those who are going there).
quote]

Tara Oaks is good. But you say Memphis, are you assuming the whole area has poor middle/high schools? Collierville is a whole world away from actual Memphis city middle/high schools. I mean, Collierville, the welltodo area of Memphis? The county, especially collierville, schools are great. No offense taken, just wondering what you mean.
Are you sure about taking them out at that grade level (2nd, 3rd)? I would finish out elementary at the same school, many private schools recieve a large number of students from public schools in middle school years, so they would probably place them accordingly to their grades at the public school. Having to compensate for this large influx of pub school students, there shouldnt be a very large educational difference/gap at the middle school level, not a big need to catch up. Socially, I mean, I know my sons were just beginning to make friends and all at that grade (2,3) and age, ripping them out of that environment as soon as they get situated and all....I understand you want the time for them to catch up educationally, but socially and mentally....
I sound like some expert on this stuff! Sorry, im not trying to question your parenting skills or anything. Please dont take it the wrong way.

[4My2Boys]

[quote=TN-rox;6998374]

Originally Posted by 4My2Boys

For Elementary, I think the Tara Oats is pretty safe environment
I will definitely not send them to public school for Middle or High School in Memphis (No offense to those who are going there).
quote]

Tara Oaks is good. But you say Memphis, are you assuming the whole area has poor middle/high schools? Collierville is a whole world away from actual Memphis city middle/high schools. I mean, Collierville, the welltodo area of Memphis? The county, especially collierville, schools are great. No offense taken, just wondering what you mean.
Are you sure about taking them out at that grade level (2nd, 3rd)? I would finish out elementary at the same school, many private schools recieve a large number of students from public schools in middle school years, so they would probably place them accordingly to their grades at the public school. Having to compensate for this large influx of pub school students, there shouldnt be a very large educational difference/gap at the middle school level, not a big need to catch up. Socially, I mean, I know my sons were just beginning to make friends and all at that grade (2,3) and age, ripping them out of that environment as soon as they get situated and all....I understand you want the time for them to catch up educationally, but socially and mentally....
I sound like some expert on this stuff! Sorry, im not trying to question your parenting skills or anything. Please dont take it the wrong way.

I wont take it the wrong way.. any suggestion is appriciated..
Middle/High School in Colliverville/Germentown area are good but I still think private schools like Briarcrest is better in every way for MS/HS even if Briarcrest is not a high end private school like say MUS.

My dilemma is should I start them now at private school or can I wait 2/3 years.
I think I definately dont want to wait until they get to middle school. I think they will have more problem fitting in when I move them later. By 2nd Grade, kids dont pick on each other that much yet and they are still kids and they can make friends easily. It will be more difficult as they get older. Any thought?
If I start them now at private then they will have no problem fitting in at Briarcrest since they have bible study at day care and they will know the prayer and bible verses.
But if they start going to public school, they might forget all the bible study and they will find it difficult to pick them up again once I move them back to private. It will be worse if I wait until they get to middle school.. By then they will know any bible study at all..

may be I can move them to private school like MUS when they get to High school.. but I cant affort to start them at those high end private schools starting Kindergarten.