public v/s private schools (Memphis: transfer, neighborhoods, school district)

[BZB2010]

I have 2 boys who are in elementary PRIVATE school in cordova. Thinking of moving them to public school once they reach middle/high school. Wanted to know whats the BIG difference between the two. Any recommendation for them to stay in private school. The boys love their school and are not keen in moving to any other public or private school. Haven't got any knowledge about public schools in TN. Any help is highly appreciated.

[neverrow]

I graduated from White Station a few years ago and also attended MUS for a short time. WSHS is large but doesn't feel that way because of the separation between optional and traditional (which is unfortunate, but such is life). The academics at WSHS are comparable to any private school, given that they have 19 AP classes. My 4 best friends went to Harvard, Yale, MIT, and UCLA. My friends at MUS went to similar schools. My sister went to St Mary's (just down the street from WSHS) and loved it. It really takes just feeling at the school and seeing where you are comfortable...I say that as another friend lasted a week at WSHS but transferred to St Agnes because WS felt too large...

Sorry for the slightly mixed advice

[maximus10]

Well, I'd say if your kids are comfortable in private, leave them in private.

[DubbleT]

Do you live inside the city school limits? It will make a difference in what your options would be as far as public schools go.
The county school system and the city school system are completely separate systems and Cordova, having been annexed by Memphis, is now mostly in the city school district.
Couple of maps to help you out~
http://www.mcsk12.net/maps/cordova%20high%20single.pdf
http://www.mcsk12.net/maps/whitestat...h%20single.pdf

If you aren't in either of those two mapped areas I would think you are in the Shelby County district and the advice you get will be different than living in the Memphis City school district..

[cheapsk8]

My neices go to public schools in Cordova....do your kids a favor......keep them in private school

[ColliervilleMom]

What high schools would they go to? It totally depends on that.

[BZB2010]

thanks for your responses. My kids go to Harding in cordova. BTW what is the difference between optional and traditional ? How does one qualify for the better of the two ?

[BZB2010]

thanks dubbleT for your response. I am in the first map that you sent.

[DubbleT]

Cordova High School then?
Traditional is just a regular school program. OTOH, students wanting to attend the optional programs usually have to apply and meet some kind of qualification, sort of like what most cities call a magnet program. In most of the Memphis schools the traditional kids and the optional kids share the same building and share non academic classes like PE and music. Your kids are allowed to attend any optional program in the city that they qualify for. Space in some programs is limited, although that is not usually a problem for most families. You provide the transportation.

Cordova Middle has an optional program, I haven't heard much about it through the parent grapevine, so I would guess that it's only okay. Maybe some of your neighbors might have heard opinions one way or another? Requirements here at the bottom of the page~ MCS -Optional Schools - Cordova Middle

White Station Middle optional would probably be your best bet if you choose to go with public schools. They have a very good program and the school isn't located too far from you. Requirements here ~ MCS -Optional Schools - White Station Middle Or maybe this, it's a new program that's just been added, so no feedback yet on how good this program might be. ~ MCS -Optional Schools - Ridgeway Middle

Kids from White Station Middle school usually go on to either Ridgeway (IB classes)MCS -Optional Schools - Ridgeway High or White Station High (AP classes) MCS -Optional Schools - White Station High White Station optional is the public school program preferred by most families. However Ridgeways reputation is quickly catching up.

BTW all this info pertains only to the optional programs. The traditional programs at these schools are not going to compare at all with a private school.

IMO the biggest difference between private and one of the good public schools is that the public schools are a little rougher. They are urban schools with kids from a lot of different ethnic and socio- econmic backgrounds attending. Academically White Station optional is on a par with several of the private schools, it occasions some friendly rivalry at science fairs and other academic competitions.
It's all what you make of it I guess. Parents send their kids to White Station from all over the city (including some pretty upscale neighborhoods) so it must have something going for it.

[BZB2010]

once again thanks DubbleT. Gotto learn a lots about the schooling system. I have one more question. Once a student is enrolled in Optional programs, will he/she be in optional for the whole school year or the student may be dropped to traditional if their grades go low. Likewise from traditional to optional, can they switch in-between the school year. Just curious... thanks