Another Cave Creek/Carefree question! (move, community, high school)

[frogandtoad]

I haven't had much luck with my last question about Carefree/Cave Creek but maybe someone can help with this one??

I keep reading on this board how schools in AZ are terrible, and even the good ones really are not good by Northeast standards....

So my question is, are Cave Creek schools good just by AZ standards or do they hold up to good schools in other states?! I know they have an IB program in High School and we were told they are excellent, but after reading all these posts I'm wondering if they are NE excellent, or AZ excellent....

Thoughts??

[Prinny]

I used to teach in Arizona, I might suggest you do a check on the school and check the school report card. It will say what their rating is. A school that say's underperforming or is improving is not a good sign. Compare it to performing schools and check all the schools in the area. Also check in the other areas as well, After No Child Left Behind came into play the rating system should be pretty standard. You can do all the checking online.

[frogandtoad]

It rates very well--a "10" at Greatschools and in the top percentiles for each grade but...that's all for Arizona. So I know it's a top performing school in AZ (and district)--my question though is how a top performing school in AZ compares to a top performing school in the NE--are the about equivalent or is being at the top of the worst state in the country for education not really saying all that much?!

[Prinny]

I can tell you that those report cards are based on test scores that are nationally based tests which all kids in the country take. AIMES.

You could though check report cards for the schools on the NE and compare but AIMES testing falls under the NCLB and all kids take that test nationally.

[frogandtoad]

OK, good to know! Thanks for responding--I appreciate it!! As we can choose from a number of states when we move, I'm trying to collect all info. to make sure we are making a good choice--and great schools are a priority.

Thanks again.

[westy]

I am in the same boat as you Frog. We are looking at Boulder or CaveCreek/CareFree, leaning toward AZ. Really found your questions and the responses helpful. There is just something about the expansiveness of the views/vistas/sunsets/openness etc that is very difficult to replicate in Boulder. It's much more urban. It's also much more expensive, and so politically one-sided that even moderate views increasingly aren't welcomed or considered socially "acceptable." But on the other hand my sense is that Boulder is a much more cohesive, supportive and tightly-knit community; in AZ there's more of an "every man to himself" kind of feeling. Anyway, thanks again for your posts and good luck. Would be curious to know what you decide!

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

I haven't had much luck with my last question about Carefree/Cave Creek but maybe someone can help with this one??

I keep reading on this board how schools in AZ are terrible, and even the good ones really are not good by Northeast standards....

So my question is, are Cave Creek schools good just by AZ standards or do they hold up to good schools in other states?! I know they have an IB program in High School and we were told they are excellent, but after reading all these posts I'm wondering if they are NE excellent, or AZ excellent....

Thoughts??

I don't know if i wanna live in someplace where the people are carefree? can you imagine all the homicides, robberies, etc...?