Dysart, Peoria, or Buckeye School District - Where Should I Teach? (Phoenix: rent, income)

[garmsie]

I am finishing my student teaching at a local high school this semester and have been interviewing over the past few weeks. The good news is that I now have three job offers! The bad news is that I do not know which one to take. I have only been in Arizona for 4 months, so I am still learning about the area. I am married with a pre-school child, so community and elementary schools are important. Hubby works at Loop 101 and Glendale.

I have been reading the posts and while there is some good information, I would like to know how you think the following three schools compare:

Valley Vista HS, Dysart District
Estrella Foothills HS, Buckeye District
Raymond S. Kellis HS, Peoria District

I would appreciate any advice you can provide about the districts, communities, etc. We are looking for a place to settle down, but I have to make a decision by Wednesday! Please help!

[mattyk]

peoria would be your best bet! dysart is a good district but my cousin went to school in the district and they make the kids were uniforms

[sheena]

Originally Posted by garmsie

I am finishing my student teaching at a local high school this semester and have been interviewing over the past few weeks. The good news is that I now have three job offers! The bad news is that I do not know which one to take. I have only been in Arizona for 4 months, so I am still learning about the area. I am married with a pre-school child, so community and elementary schools are important. Hubby works at Loop 101 and Glendale.

I have been reading the posts and while there is some good information, I would like to know how you think the following three schools compare:

Valley Vista HS, Dysart District
Estrella Foothills HS, Buckeye District
Raymond S. Kellis HS, Peoria District

I would appreciate any advice you can provide about the districts, communities, etc. We are looking for a place to settle down, but I have to make a decision by Wednesday! Please help!

I don't know anything about that particular Peoria HS but my kids were in the Peoria school district for 5 years and I thought it was excellent.

Take the Peoria job and live in Arrowhead

[ibarrio]

Valley Vista is a nice school in a good area. It is across the street from Surprise Stadium and last time I checked Dysart pays more then Peoria.

[Hark]

Peoria all the way. My wife and I are both teachers and that would be where we would want to teach if we weren't already in Deer Valley.

[healthcaresafety]

Peoria - higher per capita income - thus generally more funding and better parent involvement

[Ponderosa]

Estrella Foothills! Maybe people don't know the name, but it is the HS for Estrella Mountain Ranch - one of the most upscale, desirable and arguably the most beautiful of the developments in the metro area. The school is new, the facilities awesome including an olympic aquatic center under development. Take the job and live in Estrella. One visit and you will see why. Check it out tomorrow. Ballet Folklorico Esparanza is opening for The Phoenix Symphony in its annual performance in the lakeside amphitheater under the stars followed by a fireworks show.

[garmsie]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. We are actually heading out now to go visit Estrella Mountain Ranch and to meet with the principal and tour the school again. We like the idea of the area, but it is about a 20 mile commute for my husband. Anyone out there make the commute out of Estrella? What do you think?

I appreciate all of the input and feel free to keep giving info - it is all very valuable to me!

[Ponderosa]

Everyone commutes from here (Estrella) to somewhere. Glendale and the 101 is easy, there is no traffic if you jump on I-10 past Dysart. When the freeway is widened next year it should be smooth sailing right from Estrella Blvd. Most people here consider the commute a small price to pay for the community amenities and to live isolated from the rat race in the valley the rest of the time.

[ibarrio]

Peoria - higher per capita income - thus generally more funding and better parent involvement

True for lower grades. Drops off tremendously in High School...where support is usually focused on Band, Football, and a few other extracurriculars.