Thinking of relocating to Phoenix and need advice on excellent/good schools (Scottsdale: school districts, living in)

[bonesey]

I might be relocating to Phoenix area with my family. I have 3 kids and they are all in elementary school.

I would like to find an area with good schools and family oriented.

After some research, I narrowed my search down to Chandler, Gilbert and after reading some posts here, Litchfield.

I understand that not all schools in all above mentioned are good, I wanted to ask which city would be the most desirable in terms of school and also is it true that the South part of Chandler is more desirable than others?

Lastly, what are the good private schools in the area?

Thanks so much for your advice in advance. It is so valuable to people like me who does not know where to start looking.

[dc1225]

Bonesey,

Moderator cut: inappropriate and off topic ...as far as little ones goes, I hear Gilbert, Chandler and Litchfield Park all have solid school districts

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by A2M69

Bonesey,

Moderator cut: inappropriate and off topic quoted removed...as far as little ones goes, I hear Gilbert, Chandler and Litchfield Park all have solid school districts

What the heck?!?! Where'd that come from?

[dc1225]

Personal Experience???

I know I know I am sorry.....got a lil too frisky there....I get bored easy it seems! sowwy

[Synergy38]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

What the heck?!?! Where'd that come from?

LOL.. yeah not sure why he'd post that.

*Adds to my list of thinds to.. dooo*

[scratchNsniff]

You must like to torture yourself by living in BFE with gas prices so high!!! FYI, my friend did the same thing, moved out here to start fresh. I told her "Oh, Chandler is a GREAT place to live!!" A few months in, she was carjacked at gun point at a Chandler gas station in a pretty nice area of town. Had to move literally overnight as the carjackers had her housekeys and address, had to have the cops escort her to her place. Not fun. She had a nervous breakdown, moved away, and has still not recovered.

[Finger Laker]

as with any reloc decision here it's best to first determine where you will be working and what kind of commute can you stomach - then start fitting in the specifics

[deepinthedesert]

In Arizona, charter schools offer many more options than private schools, which are few and far between unless you want a religious school. Charter schools vary enormously in quality, but the highest-rated schools in the state are mostly charter schools. For a start, look at GreatSchools.net.

Keep in mind that Arizona is one of the lowest-performing states (in terms of schools). So you can't take what locals say about their "great" local schools very seriously. Some of the highest-rated school districts, such as Scottsdale, have nightmarish schools, such as Copper Ridge, a middle school, and Desert Mountain High School, which has a huge drug problem that the local adults by and large know nothing about. (They think that DMHS is tops. But why wake them from their dream?).

[Finger Laker]

OMG - a school with a drug problem?! - no way!

i'm not a big fan of the AZ school system, but you can find pretty good public schools here and your kids can learn lots of stuff and have a great education if you do your job as a parent and stay involved

the fact you are in here asking these questions helps indicate you are in that disposition

there are some really rough schools here - the type of places where kids go and really have little chance - welcome to a large city - with that said there are some quality schools and educators here as well, with technology laden classrooms and teachers dedicated to learning and implementing learning techniques

on the whole is this the best state for education? - no

if you are here can you give your kid a good education in a public school if you stay active and choose wisely? - yes

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by deepinthedesert

In Arizona, charter schools offer many more options than private schools, which are few and far between unless you want a religious school. Charter schools vary enormously in quality, but the highest-rated schools in the state are mostly charter schools. For a start, look at GreatSchools.net.

Keep in mind that Arizona is one of the lowest-performing states (in terms of schools). So you can't take what locals say about their "great" local schools very seriously. Some of the highest-rated school districts, such as Scottsdale, have nightmarish schools, such as Copper Ridge, a middle school, and Desert Mountain High School, which has a huge drug problem that the local adults by and large know nothing about. (They think that DMHS is tops. But why wake them from their dream?).

deepindesert, just curious...where are you getting this info that DMHS has a drug problem? what types of drugs? meth? heroine?