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Our family (my husband, 10 year old son and I) are relocating to Pittsburgh after Christmas. I am very excited but feel at present like my brain will explode with the information I'm trying to absorb in such a short time! I've been researching schools and neighborhoods and have tentatively settled on the following neighborhoods: Point Breeze, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Oakland, and maybe Mt. Washington or the South Side. Can anyone help me out with pros and cons?
For schools (our son will be completing 5th grade upon our arrival) I'd like to know about Dilworth, Liberty, Minadeo, and Phillips for fifth grade, and CAPA, International Baccalaureatte, Sterrett, and the Pittsburgh Science and Tech Academy after that.
I understand there are currently no elementary schools in Oakland. What about Mt. Washington?
We are really excited about our move and hope that the folks that know can help us make an advised choice.
Second, you are asking about a lot of schools so it may be a little difficult to get a lot of comparative information based on personal experience. Just a few notes about what I know/have heard:
I've heard Dilworth has a great arts and music program and generally parents seem to like it;
Liberty and Minadeo are generally regarded as among the top elementary schools in the district;
I don't know much about Phillips but I believe it is a smaller school and considered academically rigorous;
CAPA is an outstanding creative and performing arts magnet school, and generally regarded as one of the top couple upper schools in the district;
Science and Tech is brand new, but it is a proven model elsewhere, the location is great (including with respect to receiving ongoing support from the local universities), and I think the potential is very high;
IB is also new as a school but is collecting programs from various places, and I believe the ultimate location is in flux--anyway, the IB approach in general is an interesting one but I think it will all depend on execution once everything is settled;
Sterrett is a "classical academy" which means it has an interesting, if arguably dated, focus, and I believe it is considered one of the most academically rigorous middle school options.
As far as your neighborhoods in general, this is a matter of preference but I would tend to favor Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, and Highland Park on your list for raising a family. You tend to get a little more yard in those neighborhoods (for urban neighborhoods), there are lots of other families around, and you have good access to major parks in all three. Which is not to say you couldn't raise kids in the other neighborhoods you mention, but since you are new to the city it might be a good idea to play it a little safe, and those three choices are among the very safest options for people looking for family-friendly neighborhoods in the city.
Thank you SO much! I have read a number of your other posts and value your input! We are very excited about our move and we will follow your advice
You're very welcome--but please take my advice with a grain of salt! These are complex decisions and what might make the most sense to me may not make the most sense to someone else.
Incidentally, I think the sheer number and variety of neighborhoods in Pittsburgh can be overwhelming, but the good news is that a lot of them are in fact nice, safe, affordable places to raise a family, so it is really more a question of personal fit than anything else.
It's a fantastic Charter School downtown that's geared towards preparing students for college and the work business world. The education is project driven--much like in the work world. The school year is year-long with two week breaks during each quarter. The school hours are more like work hours---from 8am to 4pm (or something like that.)
Students do internships each year at companies for fields they have an interest to help determine their career goals. Each student is issued a laptop and the curriculum blends together subjects----liturature and essays in history class----etc. Math is a progression---instead of moving to a new course each year, it's one large course for the entire four years and students master it as their own speed. Sounds special ed but it's not---very challenging and makes certain students are prepared for college and business world.
Very interesting school. I wish I had heard about it a year sooner. They only admit students in 9th grade and some students are accepted in 10th grade for spots opened by students who leave. Regardless of openings, they never admit students for 11th and 12 grades. There's a waiting list.
It's a fantastic Charter School downtown that's geared towards preparing students for college and the work business world. The education is project driven--much like in the work world. The school year is year-long with two week breaks during each quarter. The school hours are more like work hours---from 8am to 4pm (or something like that.)
Students do internships each year at companies for fields they have an interest to help determine their career goals. Each student is issued a laptop and the curriculum blends together subjects----liturature and essays in history class----etc. Math is a progression---instead of moving to a new course each year, it's one large course for the entire four years and students master it as their own speed. Sounds special ed but it's not---very challenging and makes certain students are prepared for college and business world.
Very interesting school. I wish I had heard about it a year sooner. They only admit students in 9th grade and some students are accepted in 10th grade for spots opened by students who leave. Regardless of openings, they never admit students for 11th and 12 grades. There's a waiting list.
I just graduated from City High and I'm now a freshman at Duquesne. So I'm gonna write the pros and cons.
Pros: Teachers who care.
- Good Enlgish and History program.
- Good technology program and business classes.
- Class at CCAC in 12th grade.
- Internship; it was probably the thing I liked the most about my time there.
Cons: If you son's school is academically rigorous City High will be much/a little too easy/ier (I went to a Catholic school before there)
- Unruly inner city kids (mostly only 9th/10th grade)
- So-so math and not so good science (I'm a pharmacy major and I feel I wasn't prepared at all by the school for most of the material went over in - Gen Chem/ Bio at Duq and I struggle this semester)
- The schedule (It's a drain on you especially when you want to get a job later in high school)
- Lack of clubs/lack of involvement in school by most people.
City High offers a different schedule than most schools with the entire months of April, August, and December off. (one spring, one summer, and one winter month off)....so if this isn't going to work for you and your family then I suggest you not look into City High..
Here is the Pittsburgh Public School website. Lots of information on here for you.
...also, CAPA 6-12 has already held auditions for next school year, but I do believe they hold another one..sometime in January....you'll need to call CAPA and find out if its too late for your child to audition for next school year....
As a graduate of CAPA, I have to say that it was an incredible experience compared to the experiences of my friends that went to other Pittsburgh Public Schools. You don't have to worry about fights and drama. Your child will find their niche no matter who they are. It's a very accepting environment in which students are able to explore creatively and academically.
Plus, the facilities are outstanding. CAPA actually rents out their auditorium space to the Pittsburgh Opera and other cultural organizations.
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