Possible Relocation to Pittsburgh - Need Catholic Junior (Middle) Schools and High Schools (Warren: sale, houses)

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Was meant as a joke.

From my experience most Central Grads (even old timers) are overly nterested in the how the school's football and basketball teams are doing. There attitude is basically that they and they alone had a positive high school experience. Sort of like the Penn Staters with their "Happy Valley" experience.

Central Catholic is the Pgh Mafia. I have met so many in the biz world.

[hinsey86]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Central Catholic is the Pgh Mafia. I have met so many in the biz world.

Damn I guess I married into a mafia family! I demand a reality show!

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Central Catholic is the Pgh Mafia. I have met so many in the biz world.

Central's alumni includes judges, lawyers, peep show operators and mafia underbosses. Pretty illustrious cast of characters, regardless of what field of endeavor the OP's offspring might want to pursue.

Making it in Pittsburgh: It's not required, but it helps if you graduated from Central

[DesignMoxe]

Wow, transportation to Catholic Schools? That's AMAZING to me. Unheard of in Denver.
I appreciate everyone's insight so far. Very helpful! We're not set on Greensburg or Cranberry, those are both just places I've heard of so far...this is why I posted here, to get the real story from those of you who know....

Keep the comments coming...so helpful! Thanks everyone!

[DesignMoxe]

I currently work at a Catholic School in Denver as their Director of Communications. I know that Catholic schools typically will not follow the IEP my daughter needs due to lack of resources...I get it. There is a Catholic High School here in Denver which offers a "Learning Services (Support) Program" for additional tuition for kids who are on IEPs to work with them on accommodations---i.e. extra time on tests, study skills, etc. Because they have learned that you can't put kids in a box and that there are learning differences, wondering if any of the Catholic High Schools in Pittsburgh area offer anything like this that you know of?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Central's alumni includes judges, lawyers, peep show operators and mafia underbosses. Pretty illustrious cast of characters, regardless of what field of endeavor the OP's offspring might want to pursue.

Making it in Pittsburgh: It's not required, but it helps if you graduated from Central

To be sure, go to Central, get a degree from Pitt/Duquesne, advanced degree from CMU, and you are set for life, baby. Or do what Luke did, BS from W and J and have your parents get you elected.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by DesignMoxe

I currently work at a Catholic School in Denver as their Director of Communications. I know that Catholic schools typically will not follow the IEP my daughter needs due to lack of resources...I get it. There is a Catholic High School here in Denver which offers a "Learning Services (Support) Program" for additional tuition for kids who are on IEPs to work with them on accommodations---i.e. extra time on tests, study skills, etc. Because they have learned that you can't put kids in a box and that there are learning differences, wondering if any of the Catholic High Schools in Pittsburgh area offer anything like this that you know of?

The accommodations are provided via 504. You'll need to get one while you're in Colorado. You'll slow down the process of receiving accommodations if you don't already have a 504 in place. Catholic schools are required by law to provide "reasonable" accommodations to children with disabilities. That falls under 504 law, not IEP law. Study skills is unlikely though. These things do NOT cost extra tuition in Pennsylvania.

The reality is a child with a learning disability is not going to get the same quality education at a Catholic school. If you don't want public school, consider the area's private non-religious schools. Sometimes they are more willing to make accommodations because the class sizes are smaller and the tuition is high enough for parents to expect a certain degree of thinking outside of the box.

[cooky01]

We live in Warrendale, which is right next to Cranberry, and love the area.
Houses are newer/bigger, w/ easy access to I-79.

Our kid goes to Aquinas Academy in Gibsonia, which is about 20-minute drive away.
The school doesn't provide as much resources as public schools, in terms of hardware or IEP in your case, but we like the smaller size classes (~15), and the academics.

One thing about transportation you may want to know:
Just because the public schools & their bus companies are required by law to get your kid to the private school of your choosing, doesn't mean they have to do it fast.
Even though it takes us 20 minutes to drive our kid to Aquinas, it takes North Allegheny an hour from pick-up in Warrendale, to drop-off in Gibsonia due to their bus routes. Pick-up is something ridiculous, like 6:30am.
Your millage may vary.
Another Aquinas family who's only one street over, is in a different school district (Seneca Valley).
It takes them only 25 - 30 minutes, because of different bus company & route.

[Hopes]

If I knew I was sending my children to Aquinas Academy before buying a house, I'd chose to live in Pine-Richland, Hampton or McCandless school districts.

[cooky01]

Originally Posted by Hopes

If I knew I was sending my children to Aquinas Academy before buying a house, I'd chose to live in Pine-Richland, Hampton or McCandless school districts.

In a hindsight, that's what we would've done.
At the time we weren't too sure about Aquinas, so picked Warrendale in case we need North Allegheny as backup plan.
McCandless did come across during the house hunting, but we preferred the Cranberry area over North Hills.
For some reason there just aren't as many houses for sale in Hampton.