PLEASE read if your child attends Stewarts Creek Elementary School (Murfreesboro: moving, transfer)

[dawn4261]

Wow mary_moon, thank you for all your responses. I'm still debating to change schools. My daughter is in 2nd grade and has been in 3 different schools. My only concern in moving her again, is that she'd be seperated from her new friends. She wants to attend SCE and alot of her friends will not be attending her current school next year. Two other children in our neighborhood, will be home schooled next year, there was a small incident with her son (No other child was involved) and the parents are not pleased with the school's overall conditions, and two more kids will attend SCE, because their mom works in the middle school. The SCE principal has told her that he is not allowing children that live out of the schools zoned area to attend the school. It is full enough already. Someone told me that if you request to go to a certain school in you county, you will get in. (Anyone know how school excemptions work in this county?) I dont think this is true, I feel I will be put on a waiting list which will make it even harder on my kids to move them later. Though, my kids will probably adjust easily as they make friends fast and are not afraid of change. My daughter feels that a change will be good for her and that she will be challenged more than bored at SCE.
I'm afraid they will have to stay put and our only option would be to move to the SCE area in the near future. I would love for them to attend the middle and high schools there. What does everyone think? Is it worth a try?
Thank you everyone for your help.
Dawn

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by dawn4261

The SCE principal has told her that he is not allowing children that live out of the schools zoned area to attend the school. It is full enough already.

I don't blame the guy as fast as that area is being built up.

Someone told me that if you request to go to a certain school in you county, you will get in.

I think they told you wrong.

Anyone know how school excemptions work in this county?

Click here. If it doesn't work let me know.

[Mary_Moon]

I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Zago isn't accepting further applications for zone exemptions. Exemptions are granted at his discretion and SCE jumped in enrollment from just over 600 last year to over 800 this school year. The school was buiilt for 1000 so we're already getting close to being full.

A new elementary school on Baker Road is scheduled to be built and open for the 2009-2010 school year and it will relieve any overcrowding at SCE. Subdivisions continue to be built left and right around here so I imagine SCE will stay at max capacity.

Have you given any thought to moving to the SCE school zone area? There are homes to be found in all price ranges and it's a great area to raise kids. I know, I was raised in the Almaville area myself and came back to raise my own here!

[dawn4261]

Thanks for everyones help. I haven't decided about trying to get her transfered there. I was just told of the new Rockvale school opening in a year to help with the over crowding at SCE. I think we may move over to that area in a year or so before my little on starts Kindergarden. My oldest does Karate over there also, so it would be a smart move. I also read online that they will be building a community center near Almaville with gyms and a pool in the near future. For now, I think we will stay put. Thank you everyone.

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by dawn4261

I was just told of the new Rockvale school opening in a year to help with the over crowding at SCE.

That doesn't seem right. Rockvale Middle is going to be for grades 6-8. It will be taking kids from the existing Rockvale K-8 school, Christiana Middle, and Central Middle.

There are plans for a Baker Rd area elementary school (Brown's Chapel Elementary) to be built in 2009. I would think this would relieve some overcrowding for the Blackman and SCE schools.

[dawn4261]

Is there a Rockvale elem? Maybe my friend was mistaken. She told me they were going to build an Elementary school. Maybe I heard her wrong. Your probably right.

Where exactly is Brown's Chapel Elementary school going to be located? Will it be in Smyrna or Murfreesboro? I dont know where Baker Rd. is. Thanks Mike.

[Mike in TN]

Originally Posted by dawn4261

Is there a Rockvale elem?

Yeah, currently Rockvale is a K-8 school, but starting next school year there will be separate elementary and middle schools located near each other.

She told me they were going to build an Elementary school. Maybe I heard her wrong. Your probably right.

It's definitely a middle school that's built.

Where exactly is Brown's Chapel Elementary school going to be located?

Somewhere on Baker Road, but I'm not sure of the exact location.

Will it be in Smyrna or Murfreesboro?

I believe it will be somewhere between the two, in the county.

I guess Baker Rd. is north of the Blackman Area and south of the Almaville area. To see where it is, go to Google Maps, then copy and paste "Baker Road, Rutherford County, TN."

[douglasawolfe]

Dawn, Unless you are willing t move, apply for a waiver or lie, you can not transfer your child out of one school aand into another. I taught in the Rutherford County School system for several years and know a few of the teachers at Stewarts Creek and respect them and their ability, but would not recommend the school to any parents. I wouldn't recommend the City of Smyrna as a place to live. If moving is a consideration, consider it!

Originally Posted by dawn4261

Hi, I live in Smyrna near the airport. I desperately want to transfer my child out of her currant school to Stewarts Creek and would like some info about the school. Negative or positive. Can anyone answer some questions for me?

1) Do the kids stay in the same classroom all day except for related arts?

2) Are they single classrooms or set up like pods? A pod is a large room seperated into 4 classrooms by faux walls or bookshelves. They are also called shared or community classrooms. Two first grade teachers and two second grade for example. We are from Fl and all the Elementary schools now have community classrooms. The teachers can help each other out or share supplies. A child can learn a specific subject from a higher grade teacher if they are excelling.

3) Do the teachers only teach one grade or are the grades mixed? Last year, my Daughter's class consisted of equal amounts of 1st and 2nd graders taught by the same teacher all year. This was so the 2nd graders could help out the 1st graders or the 1st graders could also learn at a second grade level. This was wonderful and I think it should be done here? My child will be 9in Sept and should be learning at a third grade level. Everything she learned this year, she mastered last year. She is bored. I tried to have her tested when we moved so she can enter Third grade, and was told that they dont do that.

4) Most importantly. does your child enjoy going to school and does he/she like the teachers and staff? Do you?

5) Is there alot of communication between the parents and teachers? Do you feel comfortable and welcomed whenever you visit your child at school?

6) Does anyone know anything about the Pre-K program. (I have an 8 and 4 year old) How many days it is and the hours? How about the teacher(s)?

I feel it will be worth the drive if my child can attend this school. I will go and take a closer look at it for myself but wanted to get the parents opinions also. Is it the best school in Smyrna? We are in the worst I feel and have researched all others and in my opinion, I think it may be. What do you think? Anything you tell me about the school would be greatly apprecited. We love Smyrna and are planning to stay a long time and I want my kids to attend a school where they can be challenged and have fun at the same time.

Thank you to everyone.









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[Mary_Moon]

Originally Posted by douglasawolfe

Dawn, Unless you are willing t move, apply for a waiver or lie, you can not transfer your child out of one school aand into another. I taught in the Rutherford County School system for several years and know a few of the teachers at Stewarts Creek and respect them and their ability, but would not recommend the school to any parents. I wouldn't recommend the City of Smyrna as a place to live. If moving is a consideration, consider it!

Douglasawolfe,

What exactly is your reasoning behind your negative view of SCE or the City of Smyrna?

[dawn4261]

Yes Douglasawolfe,

Please share with us the reasons behind your negative comments about Smyrna and SCE. We have lived here for 8 months and so far we are loving our new community everyday. We have met so many friendly people and we have great neighbors. We have been exploring Nashville and our other surrounding towns and we always end up someplace different and are realizing why so many people love living here. The weather and the scenery are so beautiful. So much more appealing than Fl. We like that Smyrna is a quiet small town, even with the new stores that are building built. I think all of Middle TN is a great place to raise a family.