port st. lucie schools

[newteach]

I keep hearing some dread about moving here from the north- I want to calm your nerves. I just moved last year from Michigan to teach here in PSL. I love teaching here at a new high school and I am a little familure with the policy. Tradition is great, and you will love PSL or PSL West. The schools here aren't so bad- it's where the kids come from that seems to be the issue. Many families are moving up from West Palm and Miami due to cheaper housing and the kids are coming from broken homes ect ect... so the kids really don't care about school. The ones that seem to care and make the schools great are the ones that are native to the area and from the north (not to sound biased). I'm not to up to date on how they recently changed the bussing system, but I know that kids are zoned closer to home than before. This place is great to teach your kids about diversity- but with a diverse population comes diverse issues.

[nesiedog]

We are new to Tradition and although we love the neighborhood, the school system is a challenge to say the least. Understand that this is the only county in FL like this. However, I have 2 that are IB students and one 3rd grader that is an ESE student. We have been fighting to get them all the best placement we can. I will say that all the Elementary and K-8 schools seem very good. However the middle and High are shameful.

BUT....I got what I wanted. After much research etc... I have come to realize that the problem is that the schools try to do what ever they want and the school board has no idea what the schools are doing (making up their own rules). However, the staff at the student assignment are great and they actually are very helpful. It is not their fault and they feel the same frustrations that we all do.

Peice of advise...don't take anyones answer just because. I pressed and pressed and got what was best for all 3 of my kids. Don't take no for an answer, there are alot of people in SLC school office that really want to help. Befriend them, be nice to them and talk to them alot. It may work to your advantage.