Good Neighborhoods in Oaklawn Elementary Bus Zone

[bugguy]

Yes, you're right, but you have to be in the NEIGHBORHOOD to be in the school. And I guarantee that school will contain a big part of that neighborhood.

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

But again, tell her you mean the NEIGHBORHOOD, not necessarily the school

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by bugguy

Yes, you're right, but you have to be in the NEIGHBORHOOD to be in the school. And I guarantee that school will contain a big part of that neighborhood.

Not necessarily - it's a FULL magnet, meaning everyone there had to win the lottery.

[momoaries]

Thank you so much, lovesMountains, for posting that thread for me...That really is my exact situation just a different language...lol...so I will be calling the schools tomorrow to see what if any provisions can be made...
Just one other question (which you may or may not be able to answer)...in order to enroll my sons for next year, would we all have to be there or could my husband move down first and enroll them while they would still be in school here. Or would the children physically have to be living there and attending CMS as soon as the paperwork is filled out???
Also thank you for easing my fears a bit...I don't plan to be in the immediate area around Oaklawn just in the "Gray Zone"...The whole zone can't be that bad, right???

[gatovono]

I am biased because my children are there, but I do think that you need to look a little more at Collinswood. It is an excellent school.
Oaklawn draws from the north side of Charlotte and Collinswood from the south.

Good luck!

[momoaries]

Ok so I called both schools this afternoon, and gatovona I am not sure what to make of Collinswood. The lady that answered the phone didn't seem very cordial and I wasn't able to get a lot of information, just that my son would have to be tested.
Oaklawn was much more helpful and they told me that it depends on whether the school (any magnet program) has space-available when we actually move into Charlotte...*fingers crossed* that one of them will...they also told me about their upcoming open houses...and a few other things that made me hopeful.

[momoaries]

Originally Posted by gatovono

I am biased because my children are there, but I do think that you need to look a little more at Collinswood. It is an excellent school.
Oaklawn draws from the north side of Charlotte and Collinswood from the south.

Good luck!

By the way, just to be sure...Oaklawn is 100% Spanish and Collinswood is 50/50 English/Spanish, is that correct??? And thanks for the well wishes!!!

[gatovono]

Both schools are the same model, I believe. Full immersion in kindergarten and 50/50 every grade after that. Both schools will be going K-8 and adding their first 6th grade class next year.

I know that there are very many Oaklawn parents very happy with their school. My son was actually at Oaklawn for the first week of school when we moved here, but Collinswood was our first choice and we moved when a spot opened up. We did enjoy our time at Oaklawn very much.

Have you checked out Great Schools?

I am sorry to hear that you didn't feel welcomed on the phone. I do not believe that to be a common problem and hopefully won't happen again.

[momoaries]

Thanks, Gatovono

I hope the phone thing with Collinswood was just a one-time thing as well. I will be calling back on Monday to find out for sure if they are the same model.

Oaklawn was my first choice because I thought they were full immersion. If they and Collinswood have the same gameplan, I may reconsider my choice.

Thanks for that information.

I'll let you know what happens.

[Carolinajean]

Oaklawn is a good school in a bad part of town. However, even the neighborhood has improved as they have torn down the public housing project (Fairview Homes) and replaced it with mixed income housing.