University Place and Gig Harbor Schools... (Spokane, Tacoma: fit in, insurance, house)

[Deciding!!]

I would love some help with information regarding schools! What do y'all think of University Place schools?? What about Gig Harbor schools?? What about private schools in the UP/ Tacoma area? Our kids are young, but we are trying to decide where and if we should move. Our priority is good schools, but also desirable are large house and nice yard and good community to raise kiddos in.

Thanks in advance for helpful advice!!!

[mthomson]

Compared to their neighboring Tacoma Schools, UP is very highly regarded. According to the State Superintendent site, Gig Harbor tends to be in the top 3 in the state year after year. While home prices are a bit less (in general) in UP, property taxes are so much higher that monthly payments on the same price house are often $100/mo or more. Other factors, like auto insurance (UP is considered urban, Gig Harbor rural) are also more in UP. However, in Gig Harbor, you have the bridge toll.
In Gig Harbor, there are no private high schools, but several good private schools through 8th grade. Lighthouse Christian and Gig Harbor Academy are the two largest.
UP/Tacoma has a large selection...Bellarmine, Life Christian, Charles Wright, Annie Wright being the largest.
I think you'd most likely be happy with either. We moved from UP to Gig Harbor in '03, mainly for the greater sense of community we get here. Schools, we believe, are more a factor of your involvement as a parent than the school themselves. Every school has good teachers, every school has ones you won't click with. Every school produces great kids, every school has trouble makers.
Overall, UP and Gig Harbor are well run, safe districts.

[Inkpoe]

I'm not disputing the quality of education it provides, but this particular statement:

Originally Posted by mthomson

According to the State Superintendent site, Gig Harbor tends to be in the top 3 in the state year after year.

Link? I'm surprised that it would be that highly ranked.


OP, you should also take the time to go to each town centers. GH will definitely be more beautiful. But take the time to notice the ambience, the people aspect of it. One complaint that GH gets repeatedly is its snooty factor. Not everyone will experience it-- a lot of my family members claim not to and they love it there. But it is one thing that does pop up every now and then.

I'd live in UP, just to take advantage of the Tacoma Boys (... the grocer).

[mthomson]

Washington State Report Card

There are tons of different criteria that you can use, and compare against. Usually, using test scores, class size, etc, we are behind Mercer Island and one in Spokane...I can't remember which.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by mthomson

Washington State Report Card

There are tons of different criteria that you can use, and compare against. Usually, using test scores, class size, etc, we are behind Mercer Island and one in Spokane...I can't remember which.

I'm not seeing that at all.

In fact, I compared several school districts to GH... and there were definitely other school districts that have better testing scores and better (extended) graduation rates than GH (like Bainbridge Island SD, Tahoma SD, Issaquah SD, et. c). Schooldigger.com ranks the school districts using the same criteria you've mentioned and the Superintendent's information... and GH (Peninsula SD) comes out at #31: Washington State Districts - WA School District Rankings

[jjford]

UP and other areas (north end) of Tacoma have a longer historical value compared to Gig Harbor, and Gig Harbor schools have in fact changed over the last 20 years with the large influx of people who have moved to the area. Gig Harbor schools now have the same problems as inner city urban areas, specifically drugs, but also compounded by peer pressure to to fit in to what, as one commenter mentioned above, the "snob" factor, which exacerbates pressure for kids. If you are looking for a difference between city schools and Gig Harbor schools, you will not find it. There are probably more resources readily available for Tacoma area, but the expensive qualifier of saying you live in Gig Harbor for the Gig Harbor area but watch out for traffic jams in GH - if you are a homemaker and don't need to travel except to the store once a week it shouldn't be too bothersome. Just do some research, make site visits before making your decision.