Finding the Best Middle School**** (Tampa, Seminole: homes, transfer, middle schools)

[Student66]

Greetings all:

As you know, simply sending your kids to the middle school nearest your home, is not necessarily the best option anymore. With so many options to choose from, public, private, charter, magnet, and homeschooling, finding the "best" middle school, is no easy task. So, my question: can you recommend some good middle schools? I know this is a highly subjective question, but, still, would appreciate your comments.

I also understand, correct me if I am wrong, please, but, aside from private schools, if you live in one county, you have no option, whatsoever, to try to get your child into some school, in a different county from which you live, correct?

With all the reports of lackluster teaching in some schools, and/or bullying incidents, finding the "best" school is very important, as you can surely agree.

Thank you.

[MortonR]

Can you be more specific as to "where"?

RM

[EngGirl]

go to Zillow, search all middle schools, sort by rating. All 8-10 out of 10 school are better than ones with lower grades.

[bentlebee]

The OP is right that there is no option for public schools unless you request and have a very good reason to get approved for school choice.

Years ago we requested school choice and it was awarded and back then it was much easier.

I didn't care to much about school grades since there is so much that is incl. into the grading that often it is not totally reflecting what your own experience can be.

It does however make a huge difference in what program if applicable you child will be in. Since my son was in the gifted advance program which made him be with mostly motivated kids and great teachers and that was a huge benefit.

[Loretta M Castorini]

Originally Posted by Student66

Greetings all:

As you know, simply sending your kids to the middle school nearest your home, is not necessarily the best option anymore. With so many options to choose from, public, private, charter, magnet, and homeschooling, finding the "best" middle school, is no easy task. So, my question: can you recommend some good middle schools? I know this is a highly subjective question, but, still, would appreciate your comments.

I also understand, correct me if I am wrong, please, but, aside from private schools, if you live in one county, you have no option, whatsoever, to try to get your child into some school, in a different county from which you live, correct?

With all the reports of lackluster teaching in some schools, and/or bullying incidents, finding the "best" school is very important, as you can surely agree.

Thank you.

When my grandkids were going to school they were going to Seminole Middle School... I hear its the best in the nation. high educated kids... not too far from me... but I pick up the little ones there after 2 mon-thurs.

[Student66]

thank you all for your comments..

[MMiles04]

Coleman Middle School and Wilson Middle School, both in South Tampa, are great. Both feed into Plant High School which is one of the best high schools in Tampa.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Student66

I also understand, correct me if I am wrong, please, but, aside from private schools, if you live in one county, you have no option, whatsoever, to try to get your child into some school, in a different county from which you live, correct?

If you want an answer that has some specificity, you're going to have to give us some details as to where you are talking about...

To answer the question above, no, you can't cross county boundaries for schools. Attendance is based on the legal residence of the parent or guardian, so if you live, for example, in Pasco County and want to send your child to a Hillsborough County school, you can't do it.

There are creative ways around this if you're so inclined, however, without revealing any secrets, the schools have ways of determining residency and if they suspect you're misrepresenting it they will investigate. I know of two such instances at a school I worked at where parents were using someone else's address to allow their child to attend an out of area school. When caught, the District immediately transferred the students back to their home schools.

RM

[bentlebee]

Many people would say Martinez.