[bimbosiji]

Hello Everyone,
I will really appreciate it if people can help me out. We are moving to Michigan and need some advice about suburb areas with excellent schools. We have children in High and middle schools.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[scorpio516]

Houghton.

Michigan is kinda big...

[zthatzmanz28]

Where will you be living?

[bimbosiji]

Thanks everyone we are looking at Troy, Clarkston and Grand blanc.

[jaynarie]

All three are good districts. I'd look at commute time to work and settle there. While you can get from GB to Troy in about 30 minutes when it is traffic free, rush hour is very different.

[zthatzmanz28]

I would suggest Troy Schools, unless you commute more than 60 miles from Troy.

[jaynarie]

Originally Posted by zthatzmanz28

I would suggest Troy Schools, unless you commute more than 60 miles from Troy.

Troy is changing. As the economy tanked and people couldn't sell their houses, they've rented. This has brought in a different population. When I interviewed with them in May, I asked what their biggest challenge was. The principal answered that it was their changing population due to the increase in rental properties. Not the most positive of answers. (Not saying Troy is all of a sudden bad, but it is becoming equal with other districts.)

[magellan]

Originally Posted by jaynarie

Troy is changing. As the economy tanked and people couldn't sell their houses, they've rented. This has brought in a different population. When I interviewed with them in May, I asked what their biggest challenge was. The principal answered that it was their changing population due to the increase in rental properties. Not the most positive of answers. (Not saying Troy is all of a sudden bad, but it is becoming equal with other districts.)

That's code for "It's becoming more non-white."

[jaynarie]

Originally Posted by magellan

That's code for "It's becoming more non-white."

In a way, yes, it probably was.

I loved the time I spent in Grand Blanc. My classroom was very diverse and it was fantastic! It was about 55% white, 15 % African American, 10% Hispanic, 10% Asian, and 10% Middle Eastern. I loved having kids from different cultures!!

This is a blanket statement, and I hate blanket statements, but the quality of parenting is what generally makes a school 'good' or 'bad'. Race is not an issue. Transient families usually have a lower quality of parenting. Not that the parents don't try, but they are often single parent homes and the parents can't always be as involved. (Don't throw stones, I'm having a hard time wording this. I came from a single parent and I lived in an apartment and later a trailer park. But my mom made herself present and held us to very high standards.) I've taught rural, urban, and suburban kids. It is always the same- the parents who are involved in their kids' lives have kids who are better academically, socially, and behaviorally. Parents who throw their kids in front of a TV and have little interaction have kids who are usually behind academically, socially, and/or behaviorally. It isn't rocket science. Talk to your kid.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by jaynarie

In a way, yes, it probably was.

I loved the time I spent in Grand Blanc. My classroom was very diverse and it was fantastic! It was about 55% white, 15 % African American, 10% Hispanic, 10% Asian, and 10% Middle Eastern. I loved having kids from different cultures!!

This is a blanket statement, and I hate blanket statements, but the quality of parenting is what generally makes a school 'good' or 'bad'. Race is not an issue. Transient families usually have a lower quality of parenting. Not that the parents don't try, but they are often single parent homes and the parents can't always be as involved. (Don't throw stones, I'm having a hard time wording this. I came from a single parent and I lived in an apartment and later a trailer park. But my mom made herself present and held us to very high standards.) I've taught rural, urban, and suburban kids. It is always the same- the parents who are involved in their kids' lives have kids who are better academically, socially, and behaviorally. Parents who throw their kids in front of a TV and have little interaction have kids who are usually behind academically, socially, and/or behaviorally. It isn't rocket science. Talk to your kid.

I think you put it very well. A "good" school district has higher caliber students, not necessarily higher levels of instruction.