[jetengineman's wife]

Ok... I've posted before about our impending move but I just gotta tell you how frustrated I am! Hubby landed a great job in Saginaw so we're packing up the family this summer and heading south from the Tawas area. I have been "researching" school districts until I am stir-crazy and am so worried that I'm not going to find the right fit. I'm a fairly intelligent person... why does it all seem so difficult and over-whelming?!

Do you base the choice purely on the school's "rating" and test scores? Do you go with your gut? I'm so worried that I'll make the wrong choice for my family. And with so many districts struggling... the programs and activities that look good might not be available in the next year. Take Midland, for instance... probably closing schools... so if I move near a certain elementary school... it's entirely possible that school could close next year and my kids will be stuck going to another new school... do I want to have this happen? Arrggghhh!

Just needing some words of wisdom from others who might have gone through this before. And if anyone wants to toss in their 2 cents worth... we're looking at Midland, Freeland, Flushing, New Lothrop, Clio and possibly Merrill. Thanks.

[Bydand]

Personally I would call the schools directly and have a short talk with the principal of whatever grade levels your children will be in. Write out your main concerns and make a list of them that is easy to follow and numbered. As you speak to the different people make notes of their answers and their attitudes on separate sheets of paper referenced by the number of your list. That way it is easy to compare directly the same points and questions between schools. Ask if there is a teacher from a grade level you could speak with and get their impressions on the district. I did this before a move and it made the choice an easy one because one school stood out head and shoulders above the others in the area because of the way they answered all my questions and how open they were. Test scores were not as good as a couple of other area schools but when the answer you get is how "test scores be damned, it is the individual student that counts, and making sure each and every child has the best chance at growth, even at the expense of a couple of points on a test."

That school told me their sole purpose of being was to make education a lifelong learning process for every child that they are entrusted with during the day.

[jetengineman's wife]

wow! That's good advice! There is one school district that stands out to me right now just based upon the principle emailing me directly to answer some questions that I had asked of their parent group... very nice. I was impressed right away by that kind of quick and direct attention from a busy administrator!

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by jetengineman's wife

wow! That's good advice! There is one school district that stands out to me right now just based upon the principle emailing me directly to answer some questions that I had asked of their parent group... very nice. I was impressed right away by that kind of quick and direct attention from a busy administrator!

Good sign for sure. I have found that if they are too busy to talk to you on the phone or in person for a few minutes, they will be too busy when you are part of the district and having a problem or concern.

[bluebird39]

I agree. I went even further and called the superintendents, and got some very valuable information that made my decision a no-brainer. I've dealt with a horrible principle before in a previous school, and IMO, the principle sets the whole tone and environment of a school. If you have problems with teachers and the principle doesn't care or isn't effective, it makes things very difficult. Good luck.

[Crustedfilth]

They will not be willing to tell you what schools are closing unless they have already released that to the press.

Good luck with your move.

[MSUgrad]

Some advice from a graduate student that did her undergrad at MSU. I'm not insulting or knocking any of the cities you are looking at but I'd look at Midland. I know multiple people from each of those cities and I've found those that are from Midland, and went to Dow High School, all seemed to come out of there with great grades and academically more able to hack college. I'm from the metro Detroit area so I am not familiar with those areas. My assumption would be though is most of my friends I knew, especially the ones that went to Dow, all had parents that worked at Dow and were engineers and other higher level professionals. I'm assuming there was a work ethic passed down.

Like I said I'm not insulting any of the areas or their school systems. I'm just basing my thoughts on knowing friends from each of those areas and the schools they went to and what they were like academically.

[Anet]

If you have not already found this out, New Lothrop has a unique commitment to the education of it's children. Including, but not limited to, the fact that the residents voted in a new elementary facility and improvements to its HS by around 73%. Now that is community dedication

[Crustedfilth]

Originally Posted by Anet

If you have not already found this out, New Lothrop has a unique commitment to the education of it's children. Including, but not limited to, the fact that the residents voted in a new elementary facility and improvements to its HS by around 73%. Now that is community dedication

when did the bond pass? Recently?

[Anet]

They finished the new facility in 2007, so about 2005 I believe...

In an area where even renewals had to fight for acceptance, it was a most impressive proof of one rural community's hope for a well rounded future for their children.