Looking for Info on Westerly

[tan27]

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I needed to comment on the rep. that Westerly has in terms of its school system.

Lee - I'd love to know what basis you are judging for "the school systems are wonderful". Westerly is widely known by educators in the state as being a weak system, especially in comparison to other southern RI areas like NK or East Greenwich. I would put Westerly pretty much on par with Chariho, to be honest.

The 2006 Rhode Island Department of Education ranked Westerly High School, Chariho Regional High School, North Kingston High School as High Performing and Commended while East Greenwich was High Performing. NK and EG may have been tops in the past, but things change.

The real issue is that RI is an underperforming state as a whole, in comparison to the rest of New England. But it is outdated to say that Westerly is lacking in comparison to the rest of Rhode Island.

Westerly itself has certainly improved. There has recently been a lot of money put into upgrading facilities - there is a brand new Middle School, and the high school has expanded to accomodate for overcrowding. The five elementary schools definately vary in quality.

20 years ago my family moved to Westerly after one of us took a job in Groton. Westerly is a good choice. Stonington and Mystic are also good choices. Few on this thread have mentioned that North Stonington is more rural that any of these place - there is no town center (if that matters to you).

It is absolutely more crowded in the summer and yes, there are tourists (go down to the Watch Hill and it's all license plates from CT), but that's the price you pay if you want to be 5-15 minutes away from good beaches.

[S Brodie]

I have lived in Westerly for 20 years. The school systems that we encountered were stronger in the elem. grades but were significanly lacking in the middle and high school level. We looked into independent school and found The Williams School to be exemplary. I commute to groton so the drive to new London is very easy. I love living in Westerky and find the resources to be great. The Arts and theater are strong. The people are friendly and yes the summer traffic is busy because the RI beaches far exceed the beaches in CT. Best of luck in your search.

[terrasurf]

I don't know but my friend's daughter went to Fitch HS in Groton and got into a great college.

[nate14ri]

Westerly is a great little town, especially to raise a family. Great parks, great downtown, active community and wonderful in the summer. Watch Hill, Misquamicut, Weekapaug, Block Island ect.

I was borned and raised there, graduated WHS in 2003. Parents still live there. The Westerly schools are one of the better public school systems in RI, but as posted before compared to CT and MA, thats not really saying much. Plenty of top notch students in each grade, good teachers and good courses available. There are also excellent private schools around if interested in taking that path. The Williams school, Hendricken, Moses Brown ect.

Southern RI is a very nice place to raise a family in general.