Another Watertown "?": NORTH ELEMENTARY (Carthage, Black River: house, neighborhood, school district)

[Soon2BNYer]

Is anyone familiar with North Elementary in Watertown? Our children will be attending there this fall. I have only heard one person speak about it. We do have the option to pay tuition of $1200 each to go to Black River Elementary in Carthage if we want. I just don't think I want to pay that much, if North is a good option.

TIA!

[Soon2BNYer]

Bueller? Bueller? I thought it might be a long shot to find someone who knows about North Elementary. Did a search for it on greatschools.net, but didn't learn too much.

[Njrover0216]

North Elementary is a decent school. Most schools in that area are good schools, it is a NY education! North Elementary used to be a junior high school, then it was vacant for awhile, then they turned it into an elementary school. The school is getting a little overcrowded, but it is a large place. However, they plan on opening Starbuck back up also, so that should take some of the burden off of the school itself. Starbuck is about 1/4 mile down the street from North Elementary.

[NCBlizzard]

North Elementary is just fine---I would not pay the extra money to go to Black River. I have a friend that I respect who used to be a Watertown School district elementary teacher (she left to be a stay-at-home mom), and she told me that all of the Watertown School District elementary schools are good. My neighbor has been sending her son to North for two years, and she's pleased. He's a really bright boy---he's 6, and I've been impressed at his reading ability.

I think the real difference between the area's schools comes during high school---many people prefer Indian River or Carthage to Watertown.

[Soon2BNYer]

Thanks so much. So far we are hearing really good things about North. And we absolutely love our new neighborhood in Watertown. Hopefully things stay on a positive note for us here so we can enjoy the next four years.

[FromTampa]

We are headed up to the area. My kids will be going to Evans Mills elementary and Indian River Intermediate. Not being from the area, its hard to get a good sense on what are the good schools up there. We are having a house built near Ft Drum and it seems we are in the Evans Mills area.