best school system around Concord? (Bedford, Durham: coop, home, income)

[motherof1]

I am looking for information on school systems around concord area and the lakes region area. What is the best in terms of education and safety?

[nhyrnut]

Originally Posted by motherof1

I am looking for information on school systems around concord area and the lakes region area. What is the best in terms of education and safety?

Concord is a real good system as well as Hopkinton and Warner

[smarty]

I often wonder what is the definition of a GOOD school system.

High SAT score? Low teacher to student ratio?

SAT scores only correlate with parent income and education. Where do school system comes in?

Low teacher to student ratio only says less number of kids per teacher. Does it mean the teacher can teach? I had an english teacher trying to teach Calculus once. Boy, was I lost.... I think the whole class was lost... most kids stop going to class. It had a very low teacher to student ratio in the end.

Is that why there are more and more parents choose to home school their kids?

[motherof1]

Originally Posted by smarty

I often wonder what is the definition of a GOOD school system.

High SAT score? Low teacher to student ratio?

SAT scores only correlate with parent income and education. Where do school system comes in?

Low teacher to student ratio only says less number of kids per teacher. Does it mean the teacher can teach? I had an english teacher trying to teach Calculus once. Boy, was I lost.... I think the whole class was lost... most kids stop going to class. It had a very low teacher to student ratio in the end.

Is that why there are more and more parents choose to home school their kids?

I guess I'm looking for a school for my son that is a safe environment (no gangs, weapons, drugs etc.) A place that the teachers really care if they are getting to the kids. I think good test scores show that, somewhat. I have done some searching and there are a few that have 80-90 percent for the general tests for 3rd, 6th and 10th grades. They were Amherst, Bedford, Bow, Contoocook (Hopkinton School District), Durham (Oyster River School District), and Hollis/Brookline Coop School District. Out of these, can anyone tell me anything specific about the school districts? I am leaning towards Bow because the student population is low...Thank you for your insight..