Best School Systems in OC?? (Long Beach, Santa Ana: crime rates, credit, find a job)

[Tom III]

My wife is a elementary school teacher on her 9th year of teaching and we will be moving to OC in a few months. Does anyone have any input on a good school system for her to attempt getting into? Also, what systems should she stay away from? The important things for her are quality of system over higher pay. Additionally, any insight on private schools would be great too...
She is already aware of CBEST and the prerequisites for teaching in CA.
Thanks for your help,
Tom-

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Hi Tom,
The Newport-Mesa district is an excellent system. Your wife would likely love teaching kids there. From firsthand, I can tell you the kids are generally very respectful and kind. Irvine also has a great district. It's schools are frequently rated as the top in the state. Capo, Viejo, Laguna, and Yorba Linda are known for good schools. Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Westminster are probably safer avoiding. Violence and gang trouble are frequently found in these schools. There can be some great kids too, but generally if she's looking for the schools to avoid-these would be it.

[KittyG]

Check greatschools.com...In addition to the post above, Ladera Ranch..

[shadow42]

Most of OC will be fine for you. Best areas probably Irvine, Newport/Newport Mesa, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo. However.....there are no teaching jobs here. Elementary school enrollment is declining here and there have even been school closures. I know this because my neighbor is an elementary school teacher and has been trying to get into the public schools in south county for almost 5 yrs, now. We live in Ladera Ranch, which is very affluent and very nice....great schools. Enrollment is up here. But....with school closures, teachers get layed off and shuffled around the district. You should check out the websites for some of the districts. Two big ones are Saddleback and Capistrano Unified. More likely to find a job in a poorer location..ie: Santa Ana, Long Beach (though not in OC), Garden Grove. But not sure of the opportunities there, just have heard from other teachers that it is easier to get jobs in the lower income areas. There are an abundance of private schools here and you can try that as well, although the pay is not as good. Anyway, good luck to you.

[AmericanRenaissance]

Schools are "good" or "best" not because of the schools themselves but because of the students.
Schools are all about the same.
The reason a school is considered "bad" has nothing to do with the school itself. The $/student, teacher experience, class size, performing arts, labs, computers, athletic facilities, hiring, accreditation, salaries, budgets, curriculum, state standards, are all "about" the same.
The reason a school is allegedly "bad" is because of the kids themselves. High truancy, high drop out, uncaring parents, fatherless families, high illegitimacy rates, high crime rates, high teen pregnancy rates and lower average IQ are the real reasons.