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Old 07-28-2015, 02:52 PM
 
3 posts, read 3,715 times
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I'm considering Colfax and Liberty for my child. Any experience with either? Looking for diversity, excellent teaching, good arts program and time outside.

...or should I really be considering Ellis or St. Edmund's?
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Old 07-28-2015, 02:53 PM
 
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Or do I have to lottery into Liberty?
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Old 07-28-2015, 05:36 PM
gg
 
Location: Pittsburgh
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Clearly Ellis is going to be head and shoulders above all others.
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Old 07-28-2015, 07:23 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Morningside)
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Liberty these days I think probably isn't as well regarded as the other East End magnets (Linden, Montessori, and Dilworth). It is a perfectly acceptable school however. With the magnet system you must apply - generally you put three options on your application, and your chances are well better than even of getting into one of the three.

That said, Colfax is by far the best regarded neighborhood school in Pittsburgh. If you are in the Colfax feeder zone you should not apply to the magnet system - if for no other reason than to allow that slot to go to someone else who has a greater need.
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Old 07-29-2015, 06:49 AM
 
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My niece attends Colfax and my sister is satisfied with the school and curriculum. The school is diverse and located in one of Pittsburgh's better neighborhoods. The school is diverse and many of the parents have scheduled play dates and attend all birthday parties. My sisters attended Colfax in the 80's and some of the teachers are still there.

Linden and Dilworth are good schools as well. All the the schools mentioned are in stable neighborhoods.
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Old 07-29-2015, 07:02 AM
 
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I have a four-year old who will be starting kindergarten last fall. We've researched and visited most of the area private and charter schools, and decided that Colfax meets our needs. They have a very involved PTA, which I've been told actually funded the music teacher's salary when the city wanted to cut the position (although I can't speak to the veracity of that claim).

While I'm generally anti-charter schools, as they divert both funds and strong students with involved parents from city schools, I find the Environmental Charter School's curriculum intriguing, and would probably send my daughter there, if given the chance.
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Old 07-29-2015, 11:29 AM
 
Location: Squirrel Hill
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My 3 kids are preschool and younger, but my oldest will start K in 2016. We live in Colfax feeder. We could pay for private school if needed. So this is not a firsthand opinion, but its an informed one by someone who has considered this issue at length. Colfax is fine for a public elementary school and reasonably comparable to any other "good" public elementary school. Unless you are wealthy enough that money is nearly irrelevant, I can't see paying the premium for private elementary education and don't plan to do it myself. I wouldn't consider Liberty (or any other elementary magnet school for that matter) over Colfax. Environmental charter would be an exception if its your cup of tea (its not mine). If you find you don't like Colfax, pull out next year and pony up for a private school. But for 20k a year or so that Ellis runs, I'd chance public schools for a year. You won't ruin your child's future.
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