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Can anyone please comment on Monroe schools? I'm trying to compare it to East Brunswick. According to test scores EB is a much better school system, but those are only statistics. I would appreciate if someone can comment on a personal level as higher scores does not necessarily means is the best environment or the best school.
I went to East Brunswick schools. I have to tell you that while I do see why they are great schools, I personally got nothing out of them. I feel they totally go for the gifted children or the special education children. The middle road children, such as myself, got the shaft. That's just my opinion. I also have to say growing up in EB was much about brand names, what kind of car you drive, etc. We didn't have the money that many people do from that town, and well it becomes an issue.
I know my cousins are from Monroe and they rave on their school system. To this day, they state that Monroe, South Brunswick and EB are the best in the area. I'm not sure if its true or not.
I went to East Brunswick schools. I have to tell you that while I do see why they are great schools, I personally got nothing out of them. I feel they totally go for the gifted children or the special education children. The middle road children, such as myself, got the shaft. That's just my opinion. I also have to say growing up in EB was much about brand names, what kind of car you drive, etc. We didn't have the money that many people do from that town, and well it becomes an issue.
I know my cousins are from Monroe and they rave on their school system. To this day, they state that Monroe, South Brunswick and EB are the best in the area. I'm not sure if its true or not.
I grew up in East Brunswick and graduated the school system as well but I must say that I had a good experience. When I went to college I was very well prepared to write papers, do colleg math problems, and even partake in the sciences. Growing up as a kid, I hated it because there was so much work but when I got to college I really saw how good the school system in East Brunswick was. In my college class, 1/2 the class did not know how to cite sources properly or even what a thesis statement was. I am not saying that the East Brunswick school system is the holy grail because no school system is but I think it did a good job at preparing me for college and real life.
As for the wealth in the town, I will agree with you on that note. The town has a lot of somewhat wealthy families. The funny part is because these East Brunswick kids rarely get out of their town, they really do not know what true wealth is. Go to Los Angeles or Nassau County in Long Island, then they will understand how small they really are. I hated all the drama of high school, can you tell?
When I went to college I was very well prepared to write papers, do colleg math problems, and even partake in the sciences. Growing up as a kid, I hated it because there was so much work but when I got to college I really saw how good the school system in East Brunswick was. In my college class, 1/2 the class did not know how to cite sources properly or even what a thesis statement was.
I am also a graduate of EBHS and feel the same way! At times during HS, i definitely found myself thinking what is the point of all this work? However, once i got to college, i was shocked at how advanced I was compared to my peers. I had college classes teaching lessons that had been taught to me as a young child in middle school or elementary school in East Brunswick (obviously a little more in depth, of course). East Brunswick did a great job preparing me for college and I'd recommend it to anyone.
That being said, there are issues with money and popularity at EBHS, although speaking to other kids from around the east coast, i think that they are typical HS problems you'd find anywhere. One thing i liked about EBHS was the size. Although i was not rich and popular, the school was so big that i found enough kids who lived similar to me. I honestly felt that by the time my senior year had started, everyone was more worried about the issues within their own groups of friends, not about making fun of other kids and bringing others down.
momcc2's comment about EITHER Gifted Students OR Students with Special needs getting the BIGGEST benefit while the middle/average students being LOST in the system- seems to be the OVERWHELMING sentiment among thousands of parents & even kids who have graduated in many good public schools across NJ.
I must have heard that EXACT same comment that Momcc2 just made a HUNDRED times over the last 10-15 years from so many suburban parents from otherwise good or even top school districts.
It is also a repeated again & again as one of the top 3 reasons some parents of AVERAGE STUDENTS decide or justify their sending their kids to either catholic schools or private schools.
Since their kids are NEITHER GIFTED & TALENTED but are also NOT special needs- they fall into the 70% of all students who are average B+,B,C+,C students which majority of the student population fall into to. This is the group that some, not all, but some if not many fall thru the system of receiving LESS attention & help from educators.
(especially since school scores & achievements come from GPT kids while the special needs and/or trouble kids need lots of help & attention)
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