Davis school and neighborhoods (school district, university, to live)

[chamoudah]

Hi.
We are moving to Davis this spring. We have a child in elementary school (who is in the GATE program here).
We're trying to decide where in Davis to live. Our biggest priority is being near excellent elementary and middle schools. Do you have any suggestions as to which schools/neighborhoods we should consider and/or avoid, please?
Thanks very much,
Chamoudah

[rockyhillgal]

All of the schools in the Davis Joint Unified School District are very good. However, the traditional public elementary schools in West Davis test better than in East Davis. Birch Lane ES tests lower in Davis than the others. Also, alternative programs within the public school system exist, including a Spanish Language Immersion school, Ceaser Chavez ES, and a Montessori-methods K-3 program.

There are several private schools that offer excellent programs. Grace Valley Christian Academy uses the Core Knowledge sequence. There is a pure Montessori school (not Montessori methods, as adapted to the public school system) and a Waldorf school, too.

Good luck!

[rockyhillgal]

I should also mention that in Davis, a university town whose culture extremely values education, the crack is that every child is a GATE student. The GATE program is histrionically competitive and political.