Advice or Options for Mt. Vernon School District (Mount Vernon, Chester: house, neighborhood)

[Swop2016]

I own a home in the Chester Heights section of Mount Vernon and my daughter will be entering Kindergarten in the MVSD in September. So far I have only found terrible things about her assigned school and am hoping (maybe naively) that I'll be pleasantly surprised in September. I'm wondering if anyone on here has (recent) experience with either Traphagen or Pennington and whether one is recommended over the other. Private Schools? Charters? For some background we ended up in Mt. Vernon after an exhaustive several months long house hunt we were at our wits end and probably not as rigid about the school as we should have been. I know the bond recently passed and that there may be some improvements but that is probably a few years away still.

[jaymtea]

There's a Westchester Moms group on Facebook that may have information for you on specific schools. I've heard only bad things but I don't have any first hand experience, so it's all just talk and may not be accurate. I wish you luck!!

[Iching]

You can home school, pay for a private school or sell the house. These are your options. Good luck.

[Swop2016]

Thank you jaymtea! I'm a member of the Bronx and Westchester Mom's group on FB and already asked there but had no bites! I joined on here to cast a wider net and am hoping to have better luck - Thanks for the well wishes

[jaymtea]

There's a Bronx Westchester Moms but there's also a Westchester Moms - you can always try there.....here's the link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestchesterNYMoms/

[allanny13]

See if you can tuition into another nearby district or private will be your only good solution.

[ABQConvict]

My knowledge is ancient, but both Pennington and Traphagen were considered fine. I went to Pennington as a child and have cherished memories. It is a beautiful little campus and building, and the neighborhood is safe and very pleasant.

I think even in this day and age, Pennington should be just fine, but I would strongly consider looking into an alternative after elementary school which gives you a few years.

If you are Catholic, there are plenty of options, and if you have the money for a private school you have options up the wazoo. There were a couple of kids in my Fleetwood neighborhood whose parents shelled out the big bucks to send their children to Bronxville School, but unless you simply want your child to be able to walk to school, I would look into a private school over that option since there are many interesting schools in Westchester for the same or even less money, so I have heard.

[roskybosky]

Pennington has always been considered a good school.

[MichelleLC]

I've just recently moved from the lower Westchester area. I also lived in an area without great schools so chose a pre K-8 Catholic school. We had many families from Chester Heights. Some chose to start school at the preK/kindergarten levels, but we also had a large influx at the start of the middle school level. Immaculate Conception School in Tuckahoe. It is only a few minute drive from Chester Heights. Great school community open to all faith traditions ... Christian or not. They have always been open to late summer/early fall admissions as well if you are looking for a change right away and are more than willing to give you a tour and answer questions.

[Swop2016]

Thank you for the feedback! Pennington does seem to have a better activities schedule.