Grosse Pointe Area/Schools (Detroit, Harper Woods: work, home, investment)

[G.P. Steve]

Hello fellow Eastsiders,

My family & I live in Harper Woods near Helen. My children attend Monteith & couldnt be happier with this school. However, we've heard mixed reviews about Parcells & GP North. We've been playing around with the idea of selling our HW home in 2 years to move to the Farms for Brownell/GP South as my son will finish 5th grade at that time. I was wondering what people know about the area near the old woods theatre? There are some nice colonials on Bournemouth near Mack & that would enable us to attend Brownell & later GP North if push came to shove. I've heard this area is in decline? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by G.P. Steve

Hello fellow Eastsiders,

My family & I live in Harper Woods near Helen. My children attend Monteith & couldnt be happier with this school. However, we've heard mixed reviews about Parcells & GP North. We've been playing around with the idea of selling our HW home in 2 years to move to the Farms for Brownell/GP South as my son will finish 5th grade at that time. I was wondering what people know about the area near the old woods theatre? There are some nice colonials on Bournemouth near Mack & that would enable us to attend Brownell & later GP North if push came to shove. I've heard this area is in decline? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

I wouldn't say the area is in decline as much as it is increasingly Black. I've never heard a whisper about the school districts being worse (or, for that matter, better) as a result. GP North High is a zoo, but so is GP South. If anything, North is a little better. The high school you really want to avoid in that area is Finney.

This will be a better world to live in if, as soon as parents hear that a school district is lousy, they immediately move there so their children and PTA participation can improve the landscape.

[G.P. Steve]

"This will be a better world to live in if, as soon as parents hear that a school district is lousy, they immediately move there so their children and PTA participation can improve the landscape".

- we should all be moving to Detroit then.


Thanks for the reply. Well, my only recent experience with GPN was 2 yrs ago when I took my family to a North Football game & it greatly resembled a Finney game. I guess I'll have to go to a GPS game??

[saraht]

I've heard nothing but wonderful things about GP south. It is a beautiful school within walking distance for most of the Farms and City. THe kids there (mostly my babysitters) have been the most well-mannered kids I have ever been around. They are also highly ranked nationally. The teachers that Iknow there are wonderful. I think it is definitely worth the move. I think IF the property values ever go back up in the area that the FARMS and maybe the city have the best chance for a real recovery and you could end up doing very well financially. Plus you have the wonderful Pier Park or the city park with the beautiful lake. It is very family oriented.

[Cato the Elder]

The problem with schools is pretty much the fundamental problem we have today in the US. Many pillars of our society, such as education, politics, etc., are predicated on participation and individual investment. Increasingly, we live in a country where a larger percentage of people expect to drop off their kids at [fill in the blank], benefit from a nice program, and not chip in at all. These programs work because people actively participate and chip in. You can have a percentage of disinterested "moochers," but the minute there are too many of these people, institutions and programs typically get worse. And then the people who participate and contribute the least are usually the most vocal predictors of decline while those who have quietly contributed for years try their best to right the ship. You can't have your cake and eat it too...