WHere to move..Campbell or Cupertino? (San Jose, Palo Alto: rental, house, schools)

[poetpoet]

Can anyone give us any feedback or personal experience about these specific schools, good or bad?
Rolling Hills middle
Westmont High
Cupertino High
Hyde middle

We are deciding between a rental house, one is in Campbell and one in West San Jose with Cupertino schools.

Cupertino house is larger, but the prices are the same.
But we are trying to find out more about the school atmosphere and the community atmosphere. We have 2 boys, 10 and 13. The Cupertino-schools house is located near Mitty School in San Jose.
The Campbell house is located near Waldo and Virginia.
I already looked on Greatschools.com but I want to get more personal experiences for either place. Thanks.


Thanks

[feskone]

you look at this!
There is nth better than Cupertino schools according to this and lots of people.
California School Performance Maps
Im facing the sam problem right now.

[tennis368fan]

The maps at the website for California School Performance Maps are not up to date for the latest scores available. Read what my other post for further information.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/4197584-post10.html

[Baron von Costume]

I think obviously the easiest answer is, by test scores, Cupertino is a better choice. And the data are *easily* available to help.

I think you are asking something a bit more... What, other than top scores, are your criteria? Hint: the Cupertino schools come with other baggage.

[Momma_s]

Baron~
Can you clarify what "other baggage" the Cupertino schools come with, as we're considering moving there because of the schools.

[sonarrat]

Mainly pressure to perform in tests above and beyond the call of duty. If you are anything other than Asian, your kids will likely be seen as the dumb ones and may feel their creativity is being suppressed. But there is the other side to it too - in the long run, the intense studying is likely to give your child better work habits which will be an increasingly strong asset as competition with hard-working East Asians continues.

[EllenOlenska]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Mainly pressure to perform in tests above and beyond the call of duty. If you are anything other than Asian, your kids will likely be seen as the dumb ones and may feel their creativity is being suppressed. But there is the other side to it too - in the long run, the intense studying is likely to give your child better work habits which will be an increasingly strong asset as competition with hard-working East Asians continues.

I wonder, is it only the school in Cupertino that is making tests the priority and pressuring kids, or is it because the school is primarily Asian that makes it an easy target for people to pin that on?

There are many schools that are predominantly white that are also very competitive, but people don't associate that kind of stigma with it. But all of a sudden, it's the Asians who are ruining our schools.

Is Cupertino so different than other competitive schools that happen to have a white majority?

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by EllenOlenska

I wonder, is it only the school in Cupertino that is making tests the priority and pressuring kids, or is it because the school is primarily Asian that makes it an easy target for people to pin that on?

There are many schools that are predominantly white that are also very competitive, but people don't associate that kind of stigma with it. But all of a sudden, it's the Asians who are ruining our schools.

Is Cupertino so different than other competitive schools that happen to have a white majority?

There is a big difference between Palo Alto and Cupertino schools for just this reason. The requirements are no less stringent in Palo Alto, but support of the arts and generally things other than test scores is much stronger. I work for a children's choir on the peninsula, and almost every child is from either Los Altos or Palo Alto. There is not a single Cupertino child.

[EllenOlenska]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

There is a big difference between Palo Alto and Cupertino schools for just this reason. The requirements are no less stringent in Palo Alto, but support of the arts and generally things other than test scores is much stronger. I work for a children's choir on the peninsula, and almost every child is from either Los Altos or Palo Alto. There is not a single Cupertino child.

That makes sense then. I wasn't sure if that accusation was a fair one or if it was based on stereotypes. Asian families do tend to favor academics over other developments from my own experience (i am Asian) and knowing other Asians. Just wasn't sure if that was the main factor. Thanks for clearing that up.