Are schools in East Brunswick School District going down in quality? If so, why? (Edison: neighborhood, school districts)

[pkpkpkpk]

Hello folks,

I have been researching this topic while looking for schools for my children who are now in pre-school.

The reviews in greatschools and other sites seem to indicate that while it was high, in the later reviews, parents don't seem that happy.

Could some locals and parents provide me some guidance?

Thanks very much!

[Zoila]

I would also like to have some feedback!
Thanks

[Hoboken1220]

School are unbelieve in East Brunswick. In terms of preparation for college - definitely one of the best in NJ.

[Whoelsebutcharles]

Originally Posted by Hoboken1220

School are unbelieve in East Brunswick. In terms of preparation for college - definitely one of the best in NJ.

Most of the school districts in Middlesex County are among the state's best. I know Edison has always been at the top, and all of the Brunswicks are not far behind.

I tried to get a sub job in East Brunswick a few years ago, but they told me I had to re-do everything just for their district, went to Piscataway instead. EB may be good then, but they obviously have an attitude about it.

Piscataway has some good quality education and some really great teachers, but the student life is somewhat questionable, someone told me it is the only school district in the county, aside from New Brunswick and Perth Amboy (the county's two abbots), not to achieve blue ribbon status. How true that is I really don't know, that's just what I've heard. Piscataway does have a gang problem, esp in the High School.

When we moved here in 1994, Sayreville was at the top of the list, but from what I read here it has apparently gone downhill drastically.

[Zoila]

(the county's two abbots) What do you mean? I am not familiar with that expression.

[jerseyj]

Originally Posted by Zoila

(the county's two abbots) What do you mean? I am not familiar with that expression.

Category:New Jersey Abbott Districts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Abbott Districts in NJ are typically poorer, urban districts that receive more State funding.

[Whoelsebutcharles]

Originally Posted by Zoila

(the county's two abbots) What do you mean? I am not familiar with that expression.

An Abbott district is a public school district in a poor inner-city neighborhood in New Jersey. It was a state-funded plan in an attempt to improve scores of students in low-income areas. They may actually be doing away with it since it hasn't shown any improvement. There was just a thing on the schools in Asbury Park, one of the Abbotts in the state, which stated the schools have actually gotten worse despite state funding.

In grad school I did a field placement in an Abbott district, down in Pemberton, which is not inner-city but is a large desolate area down in the pine barrens mainly full of poor farms. Lots of the kids there live in tents, or with just one parent, non-educated families to which education is not important. The school has many after-school programs to keep the kids out of trouble outside and also tries very hard to adjust to the students' lifestyles outside of school and help them succeed. A teacher there explained all this to me, saying like 3/4 of the parents could not care less. Really quite depressing.

All in all, you'll do fine anywhere as long as you have the will to. Good teachers are in the best, worst and mediocre districts.

[AnthonyB]

Originally Posted by Whoelsebutcharles

Piscataway has some good quality education and some really great teachers, but the student life is somewhat questionable, someone told me it is the only school district in the county, aside from New Brunswick and Perth Amboy (the county's two abbots), not to achieve blue ribbon status.

Blue Ribbon system you mentioned was mothballed in 2001. It hasn't existed for years and wasn't an award as in prize, school districts applied for it and had to show they met certain standards.

Now it is just used by realtors to pump up a district.

No Child Left Behind has a new Blue Ribbon system in place since 2003 which is awarded for EITHER academic superiority OR gains in performance. Only one public school in Middlesex County has received one, in Iselin. Most of the winners in fact appear to be private schools, either religious or charter.

http://ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf

[Zoila]

Thanks for the explantion!

Originally Posted by AnthonyB

Blue Ribbon system you mentioned was mothballed in 2001. It hasn't existed for years and wasn't an award as in prize, school districts applied for it and had to show they met certain standards.

I wasn't aware of that! That is some interesting fact.

[DodgeViper01]

Originally Posted by Hoboken1220

School are unbelieve in East Brunswick. In terms of preparation for college - definitely one of the best in NJ.

I will agree with you on that one. I graduated the East Brunswick school system in 2003, and let me tell you, when I went to college, my first year was beyond easy. It was sad to hear how many kids in their first year of college had never heard of thesis statements, works cited pages, citations, world history, basic algebra, etc! Of course as a kid, I hated all the work we had to do, but once you get to high school and college, you really see how ahead the EB school system was. Now I am not saying EB is the holy grail, but it did it's job very well on getting me prepared for college and I am grateful for that fact.

As for the "drama" in the school system, each one has it. There are always things going on beyond closed doors and East Brunswick is no different but if you look into each township based on the drama, you will NEVER find a school system you want to enroll your children in. I always tell my clients, speak to local residents and see how they feel about the EDUCATION aspect of the school system and work from there.

Best of luck with your choice!!