Educator moving to SLC... (Salt Lake City, West Valley City: low crime, school districts, universities)

[Educator4Esperanza]

I am a public school teacher currently living on the East Coast and planning to move to Salt Lake City this summer. I do not know much about the schools in the area and haven't been able to find sufficient answers to my inquiries. I am more interested to know which schools have the most diversity and also those which tend to have students who struggle both academically and behaviorally (drug, gangs, violence). I would greatly appreciate any information on this subject

[illinoisboy]

You should take a look at this thread

http://www.city-data.com/forum/utah/...-move-but.html

As for my opinion, I have heard many times that West Valley City has the most problems with crime, etc. Utah as a whole, though is a very good place to live when it comes to low crime. Through my own expiriences, I have found that everyone there were very friendly and polite.

Here are some excerpts I had read from the Utah lifestyle magazine...

Utah's average class size is large when compared to other states, yet excellent results are achieved. In fact, utah ranks 9th in the nation for public school spending per$1000 of personal income. Utah also ranks 9th among thstates for per-capita direct general expendenditures of state and local governments for education

I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds positive?

Utah has 40 public school districts, 100 privat/parochial schools, 53 charter schools, ten public four year degree-granting universities and colleges, and four private higher learning institutions

So theres plenty to chose from...

Utah ranks tenth in the nation in the percent of adults who have completed high school. Plus, 28 percent of Utahns have four year college degrees and higher. Utah is expected to have the nations fastest growing college enrollment through at least 2007

For more info,
Salt Lake City, Utah Guide, Life in the Valley Magazine

[illinoisboy]

Oh, I forgot to mention; Park City is among the top 10 school districts in the country.

[c-rouge]

What do you teach? I too am a teacher and taught in SLC 10 years ago. From what I hear, the state as a whole is growing in diversity by the day. So much so that we are considering a move back (we are in Mass. right now). SLC is quite diverse (as are its classrooms). Can you share more about what you teach - grade, subject, wishes, etc.? Where are you currently teaching?

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Check GreatSchools.net for info on schools' rankings as well as various info on % getting free lunch, racial %, etc.