Jupiter public schools vs palm beach county private schools, input? (West Palm Beach: rentals, insuring)

[wpbmom]

I am trying to figure out if our son would get a better education in the Jupiter public school system or a pbc private school (cardinal newman, kings academy, berean, st. ann's, rosarian, etc...)

He's only 2.5 but we are trying to decide long term whether we want to move to Jupiter or stay in West Palm Beach. Staying in our current home gives us a low enough mortgage to afford 10k a year for private. But if we move to Jupiter our new mortgage/taxes won't allow for private school expenses.

I would appreciate anyone who has input on these two options. Especially if you are an educator at one of these schools or have children in them now. Thanks!

[5FLgirls]

That's a real toss up. I think the Jupiter public schools are decent. If I'd stayed in Jupiter, I would have sent my kids to public. However, when you are paying for private, I think you get better results in some instances. I have a friend who's a first grade teacher at Rosarian and really likes it. She sent her own daughter there. I taught at Academy of the Palm Beaches (I believe it's now a part of Palm Beach Day School) and I thought their pre-school was great. My cousin attended Palm Beach Day School from kindergarten through high school and now attends Benjamin. It appears that he got a very good education. Good Luck--making this decision is stressful. If you like where you live, stay and just put your child in private school. You might move to Jupiter and hate it.

[CJFlorida]

Both are fine options, it all depends on where you want to live.

The bottom line is that in today's world, parents have to be all over the kid's education, top school or not. There are lots of pressures, bullies, dating, teachers pushing political positions. Every school has weaknesses in their curriculum. Some don't teach creative thinking which leaves kids with good academics but lousy real world employable skills.

Us parents need to realize that moving to a decent school district is a step, but a small step in insuring good education. The rest is up to us. Unemployed bums can come from the best school systems, some doctors come from the worst. The parents are the deciding factors.

Either Jupiter public or WPB private are fine starting points, but thats all they are.

[yodamicky]

My feeling is this....I think the Public schools are not the best...but Florida in general is not known for quality schools. I agree with the gentlemen who said it is the parents tenacity with their child's education that will make the difference. I have my Master's degree in Education and when my husband and I plan on having kids we are talking about moving to Jupiter BECAUSE the schools are a little better than South County. Also, Just a side not on Private Schools....I don't believe your child will necessarily get a better education. Just to let you know, most private schools do not REQUIRE a teacher license to work there!! To me, that is scary!!! The pay is also lower than public schools, so you will not be getting top notch teachers for the most part(sad to say, but people need to make a living). I hope this helps a little! My husband and I were just having this discussion last night!!

[CJFlorida]

Originally Posted by yodamicky

My feeling is this....I think the Public schools are not the best...but Florida in general is not known for quality schools. I agree with the gentlemen who said it is the parents tenacity with their child's education that will make the difference. I have my Master's degree in Education and when my husband and I plan on having kids we are talking about moving to Jupiter BECAUSE the schools are a little better than South County. Also, Just a side not on Private Schools....I don't believe your child will necessarily get a better education. Just to let you know, most private schools do not REQUIRE a teacher license to work there!! To me, that is scary!!! The pay is also lower than public schools, so you will not be getting top notch teachers for the most part(sad to say, but people need to make a living). I hope this helps a little! My husband and I were just having this discussion last night!!

I am leery of many private schools, they have an agenda...politically, religiously. I want my kids to be open minded and learn all sides, then they can decide what to believe as adults. I never got the thing that because great Grandma was a certain religion or certain political persuasion, it had to be a mandate for everyone in every generation. We are individuals.

As a employer I have seen too many private school kids with decent book smarts but no common sense or creativity. Private schools are no substitution for a very involved parent.

[wpbmom]

Thanks for everyone's input. Basically, if we can't sell our home in wpb, we have no choice BUT to do private schools, so it may be decided for us. I have toured a few and so far the Rosarian Academy is our #1 choice, but we have more to see. The master plan is still to move to Jupiter, but the housing market may not let us make that decision any time soon! Any more input from anyone would be much appreciated.

[juancolombo]

Hello!
I about to finish my first year teaching Spanish at a public high school in a Pennsylvania suburb. I am considering moving to Lake Worth (where I have a home, friends and family). Do you have any suggestions as far a public schools where I can teach?
BTW, I am a native speaker of Spanish.

[071402]

From all our 'research' and discussing with those in Jupiter with kids, Jupiter publics sound VERY decent. I just don't like the price of homes there (so $$$) and rentals too.

It is a beautiful area though. At least the public schools are good.