Glen Rock v. Ridgewood curriculum (mortgages, school district, colleges)

[Will's mom]

We are interested in moving to Bergen county and really like the towns of Glen Rock and Ridgewood. I know they have pretty good school systems (though I noticed Glen Rock dropped from 6 to 28 in NJ Monthly mag.)

I have heard that Glen Rock's curriculum places an emphasis on the "arts." Does anyone have any information regarding the curriculums of Glen Rock and Ridgewood...i.e emphasis on liberal arts, math/science, fine arts, etc?

Also, any information regarding Ridgewood's controversial new math program would be helpful. What is it exactly?!

Thank you!

[NJ Chutzpah]

rankings dont mean anything, you have to match the school with the kid

[Will's mom]

I totally agree! That is why I would like to know what each of these school's are strong in...

[EEEPNJ]

They are both excellent school systems. If I were you, I'd visit some schools in each district before you make a choice.

As a town, Ridgewood is very nice - as is Glen Rock. They are both upper middle class - so you will get materialism and snob issues in both town - probably a little more in Ridgewood. I have friends who attended both school systems, all went on to excellent colleges and good careers. All had solid educational backgrounds. I really don't think there would be a lot of differences between the 2 districts.

On a silly side note, I like Glen Rock's pool a lot more!

[Will's mom]

Good to know about the pool!

[clevedark]

What's the new math program in Ridgewood? My children are veterans of many (sigh).

[Will's mom]

"Reform math"
I am going to do some more research....here is an article from NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/ny...ewanted=1&_r=1

[Hal Jalikeakick]

The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood Views

you can search these blogs to get some background on the "math controversy" in ridgewood. i'd take it all with a grain of salt though.

[clevedark]

It sounds a lot like the math program my kids' school is currently using. I don't have any opinion one way or another, it's like the fourth program they've been taught (they've been in two schools and both switched math programs while they were there).

Of course at first it's shocking. You think they're not learning anything because they're not drilling all day and it's repetitive and circular. But the exercises they do are pretty interesting and advanced. It's pretty much the fashion in math education these days, unless the school wants to distinguish itself by doing a very regimented program like Singapore math. (Can you tell we've been through A LOT of programs???)

I was also thinking about the comment that one school district has more of an emphasis on the arts than the other. I've learned over the years that sometimes that means the high school sports teams don't win many games. Or it can mean at the other school if you're not sporty it's a bad deal for you. I don't know about these particular schools, I'm just sayin'....

[joe moving]

How about teaching real life math. Everything I know past basic additional subtraction multiplication and division I use a calculator or the internet for and I have taught myself. MANY people go into mortgages needing the bank to tell them what their monthly payment is going to be!!!!