Questions about Spokane (Tacoma, Bremerton, Pasco: relocation, house, rent)

[possibleVAtransplant]

Thanks to Earniefan, I was able to look up some of my info on greatschools.com, but I would still like to hear some replies from parents of students in private or Catholic schools. Any info that anyone could give me would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
We are possibly moving to Washington from Virginia Beach, VA. My husband would be working about 65 miles west of Spokane, so we would need to live west in order to make his commute work. With that said, we would possibly be looking at Catholic or private schools in the Spokane area for our girls--grades 7 and 9. Can anyone tell us about the quality of the Catholic or private schools in Spokane and the area? Our questions are:
1) size
2) teacher/student ratio
3) availability of AP and honors classes
4) average SAT/ACT score of students
5) test scores for the middle schools
6) quality of religious programs--retreat opportunities?
7) into what colleges are the graduates accepted
Any info that anyone can give us would be very much appreciated.

[WendyK]

Assumption Catholic School, Westgate Christian School, Spokane Lutheran School, St. Matthews Lutheran School, St. Thomas More (Catholic), Trinity Catholic School are all on the west side of Spokane. Gonzaga Prep is another good school but is just slightly on the east side of town. I have no personal experience with any of these schools, but have known people who have recommended Assumption, Westgate, St. Thomas More and Gonzaga Prep. You might want to do an internet search on each of these to see what you come up with.
If your husband is going to be working that far away, you may want to look into Lincoln county, too.

[mes3fils]

Here is your quote:

Grafitti has left Spokane looking like a badly tattooed sailor. Volunteers and police are making the rounds with paint to cover up the damage but they are having a hard time keeping up with it.

Ok, I told my husband about this info. He is a sgt here, for 16+ yrs. He says it may be a 'police officer' issue-the continuing graffiti. Says is curious if the officers are just following after the offenders/taggers, and covering up their work?

I say....Why would they not be forming some kind of 'task force' to actually catch them in action? I have to wonder what with all the other crime issues, are the officers not 'aggressive', 'motivated', 'proactive' enough?

To me, it just seems like graffiti shouldn't be a prominent issue in such a town as Spokane. It should be nipped in the bud, the taggers caught and arrested and hugely fined and really made to think two or four times before doing it again.

On the other hand, they are probably following after the officers/volunteers and tagging right over the cover-ups, with a smirk on their face.

[washinton native]

Originally Posted by photogoddess

BTW: a violent crime statistic (as all statistics) can be skewed because someone can be charged with a violent crime without actually causing physical harm to another.

replace charged with convicted, it still holds true even if you call me on the terminology.

Has no one bothered to read the first part of my post? Everyone seems so consumed by the crime stats that everything else is falling by the side, like actually trying to answer someone's question that doesn't relate to crime stats.

no, you are waving red herrings. unharmed "victims" make poor, poor witnesses. your point is invalid.

[WendyK]

Grafitti has left Spokane looking like a badly tattooed sailor. Volunteers and police are making the rounds with paint to cover up the damage but they are having a hard time keeping up with it.

This was a quote taken from the article in the Spokesman Review, not a quote from me. I've not really seen any graffiti around except near the Ash/Maple bridge and that's been there for years. Again, I don't hang out in the areas where graffiti spreading type people congregate, so maybe I'm sheltered.

[photogoddess]

washington native: maybe I am not making myself clear, or you are mis-reading what I am saying. Crime stats can be skewed because a violent crime statistic would also include those crimes labeled as violent, even if the particular crime or person committing (or convicted) of the crime did no actual harm to another person. An example being escape from prison or work farm. It is considered a violent crime in some states (I do not know if Washington falls into this) even though no one was harmed personally. If a person was convicted for this, it would show up in the violent crime stats. I realize this would be a small percent, but there are plenty of other examples, but I do not have the time or energy to argue this further. This in fact is a very valid point, and we must be informed in order to correctly translate those stats.
I understand you are not fond of Spokane, but arguing over this does not help anyone get any answers to the questions they are actually seeking. I understand your point, but beating this to death is doing no one any good. I am finished taking up room trying to prove my point on this.
If anyone has any answers on my original question, I would be grateful.

[mes3fils]

Your quote-"I've not really seen any graffiti around except near the Ash/Maple bridge and that's been there for years. Again, I don't hang out in the areas where graffiti spreading type people congregate, so maybe I'm sheltered."

Why would there be graffiti near the Ash/Maple bridge for years?? Does not the city think it needs to be covered over?

And, you did not address my point on your police force and their seeming to not be very proactive? Why would not they be focusing on 'catching' and 'punishing' the taggers instead of ridiculously following behind them in submission???

Can you shed some light on that point? Thanks.

[mes3fils]

"any information on the schools would be helpful, and I have gone to great schools site, but you can only get so much info there, and I would like a personal opinion from parents who have kids in these schools, or maybe teachers or others that have recent experience with the schools.
TIA"

Sorry no one has addressed your above original question. I can't really help you as I don't live in Spokane, just doing lots of research as it's one of two places we are going to relocate to in a few yrs.

My good friend lives in Liberty Lake. She homeschools and says the schools in Spokane aren't the greatest. Sorry, I don't have more info.

Good luck.

[WendyK]

Here's the whole section on graffiti that I quoted from earlier:

Don't look now, South Hill, but you're getting ink done.

Moderator cut: Provide a link instead of copying everything here, please

[mes3fils]

Originally Posted by WendyK

Here's the whole section on graffiti that I quoted from earlier:

.......Don't you guys think so? The city is even unable to curttail taggers! No less, vandals and other criminals who are adding to the high crime stats that 'almost' everyone on this thread is trying to deny! They are relying on the volunteer COPS program to take care of the graffiti and need more as the problem is apparently out of control.

Sad, that a probably nice city is being scarred by such silliness that could be taken care of fairly easily if the real police officers were more proactive. Which they are obviously NOT.

I am going to email my friend in LL and ask her if the graffiti is evident and if so, how obvious it is. I will also see for myself in early April.

I wonder if it's gone so far/or will get so far as locals of Spokane waking up in the mornings to find their cars, garage doors, homes or even driveways....all graffiti'd up. =(