Kyrene Elementary District vs. Chandler Unified? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: 2014, neighborhood, school districts)

[JTW2013]

Sorry, I know these school districts are discussed over and over again on this forum but I can't find a good comparison. I've read posts saying that Kyrene is slipping and Chandler is better. Other posts suggest that they are equal in quality.

Chandler is growing like crazy and it's good growth. They have a modified year round calendar which I like. The CTAs appear to be excellent schools as are many other CUSD schools in south Chandler.

Is there anything to the claims that Kyrene is slipping?

Is there anything else we should consider when comparing the districts? I haven't even begun thinking about high schools yet as our kids are young elementary and pre-school.

Is there a blog or forum where Phoenix area parents discuss the schools?

TIA!

[JTW2013]

I found the Arizona school district rankings for 2013 and 2014. Kyrene was on in the top 10 in 2013 but not 2014. Chandler was in the top 10 both years.

I'll have to dig more into what happened in 2014 in Kyrene.

[AZPam]

Keep in mind that any school will be what you make of it. Even the worst rated school can be excellent if the parents are involved.

I do think Kyrene and Chandler have a lot of parent involvement, so that always helps in their ratings. I would be shocked to hear that Kyrene wasn't in the top 10 for 2014, but that's just my opinion. Nothing to back that up as I don't have kids in school anymore.

I do know their enrollment has slipped in the last few years district wide. I think that's mostly as the population has gotten older. I see it in my own neighborhood. When we moved in 19 years ago, everyone had little kids in elementary school. Now they are all grown and out. In the last 2-3 years we see the young families moving in again. I would think this is a normal trend for any district, but who knows.

The good thing about both Kyrene and Chandler districts is the fact that they are in the area of the silicone desert, meaning Intel, Honeywell, Microchip, Motorola, etc are all big employers for these areas and tend to be involved with the schools.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by AZPam

The good thing about both Kyrene and Chandler districts is the fact that they are in the area of the silicone desert, meaning Intel, Honeywell, Microchip, Motorola, etc are all big employers for these areas and tend to be involved with the schools.

LOL, pretty sure you meant Silicon. Scottsdale may be the 'Silicone Desert'.

[Ponderosa]

Kyrene voters failed to pass bond elections and the state also would not pass a law that would have allowed them to spend money they already had from previous bonds. That, in turn, may well have lead to cuts in staff and programs in the District, as well as increases in class sizes.

Kyrene school district will have to do without bond money

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Kyrene voters failed to pass bond elections and the state also would not pass a law that would have allowed them to spend money they already had from previous bonds. That, in turn, may well have lead to cuts in staff and programs in the District, as well as increases in class sizes.

Kyrene school district will have to do without bond money

That article doesn't say anything about bond elections not passing in Kyrene, just about the failed legislation which affected bonds already passed by voters. As a KESD resident, to my recollection bond issues have been passing here.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by observer53

That article doesn't say anything about bond elections not passing in Kyrene, just about the failed legislation which affected bonds already passed by voters. As a KESD resident, to my recollection bond issues have been passing here.

Overrides failed in 2010 and 2011 at least. I remember reading about it and being shocked because, like you, when I lived there, the voters never disapproved school bonds. It may be indicative of a changing demographic or just the recession. In any case, the schools today are highly dependent on those overrides. State cuts mean they are not for the frills anymore but just to keep the basics going.

[AZPam]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

LOL, pretty sure you meant Silicon. Scottsdale may be the 'Silicone Desert'.

My bad! But I think you described it better than I did

[JTW2013]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Overrides failed in 2010 and 2011 at least. I remember reading about it and being shocked because, like you, when I lived there, the voters never disapproved school bonds. It may be indicative of a changing demographic or just the recession. In any case, the schools today are highly dependent on those overrides. State cuts mean they are not for the frills anymore but just to keep the basics going.

According to Kyrene School District residents approve budget override, land capability the override passed in 2011 and 2013.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by JTW2013

According to Kyrene School District residents approve budget override, land capability the override passed in 2011 and 2013.

Arizona voters pass 7 of 8 school bondsParagraph 5.

My intent is not to go over every election with you as you find an exception or agreement. My point in response to your question is that maybe Kyrene, which is having budget problems because of failed (or delayed approval) of overrides and limits placed on them by the state, may be in decline for that reason.

To be frank with you, it is my opinion that you are getting way too OCD about this. There is not a hill of beans difference between the education that is offered in Kyrene or Chandler regardless of some unsubstantiated "rating" you find. These districts and the majority of the schools in them are tweedle-dee, tweedle-dum. As people have explained, it is more about you than it is about the school district. Pick-em. Seriously.