Where are the good schools? (San Jose, Fremont: house, middle school, to live)

[iconb]

We are looking for good schools in the greater Bay Area. Unfortunately the only places that seem good are not a huge price upgrade from Concord.

Anyone have any Ideas?

[gizmo980]

Are you looking to live on the Peninsula, city, or stay in the East Bay? I know some very good schools in San Mateo & SF counties, but can't tell if you're looking to move that far (or at all).

[18Montclair]

Good Elementary schools can be found anywhere in the Bay Area-literally.

Middle and High School is where it gets choppy.

[iconb]

Good question, we would want to stay in the eastbay. My work has a Data center in Napa but the schools seem really bad there so I'm not sure the area is what we are looking for. I can work almost anywhere in CA my my wifes family is here so she would like to stay in the area.

[iconb]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

Good Elementary schools can be found anywhere in the Bay Area-literally.

Middle and High School is where it gets choppy.

Correct, it's easy to find an affordable area with great Elementary schools but Middle school seems to be the great divider. I’m considering American Canyon but then my children would need to go to Napa for High School and I don’t think they rate well. No offence to anyone but if you don’t make $150,000 + you can’t get a nice house with good schools in the Bay Area. It make single earner families obsolete, no wonder there is graffiti all over the place no one is even at home to watch the little angels.

[sonarrat]

Mission San Jose district of Fremont, Piedmont, Orinda, Pleasanton. All expensive as all get-out.

[clongirl]

It really all depends on what you consider to be a good school. In my opinion, sometimes the schools with the best test scores/API ratings aren't that impressive in other ways. I can only speak of my own experiences ,but my own children, both elementary and middle school aged, are attending supposedly excellent schools here in the East Bay. Both of my kids tell me that they aren't really learning anything new and that they are bored and don't really like school anymore. I'm already seeing the joy of learning that they once had being stripped away. My 7yr old tells me that she learned all of this material in preschool! I would not be too eager to solely judge a school by those scores as many teachers are pressured to get the students to perform well on those tests while failing to inspire independent thinking, creativity, and the love of learning new or interesting material. I certainly wouldn't reject a school if the teachers are nurturing/caring/motivated but test scores are lower.

[iconb]

Unfortunately it’s difficult to tell if a school has teachers who are nurturing. API is the only real indicator that one would have the last thing I want to do is experiment with my children.

[clongirl]

Yes, you're absolutely right about that icon. I know that greatschools.net has parent ratings. Those can be of help in many cases, likewise with asking other parents in the area you wish to move, but I suppose that you're ultimately left to decide if a school is right for your child after they're already enrolled!

[mkcking]

What do you consider good? Do you want discipline and high test scores or art and music or cultural diversity?

What are your kids like? Do they have any special needs?

When looking at test scores remember that high scores often mean high pressure, on the kids and the family.

I don't agree that you can find good schools anywhere, it takes a lot of work to find the right school, and even if you do, they are all strapped for cash these days so they suffer in so many ways. You have to be involved.

You'll find the right school, it just takes a lot of leg work.