Gurnee Schools (Deerfield, Woodland: neighborhood, school district, live in)

[MomtoMal]

Can anyone tell me what their experience has been with Gurnee schools? My husband and I currently live in Gurnee with our 1 year old daughter. Lately, the scores for Woodland Schools on Greatschools.net have been less that stellar.

I am just wondering if anyone has had a good experience or known anyone with a good experience at these schools. We don't know if we should consider sending her to private schools down the road, staying here if the schools are okay, or moving in a couple of years.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for the help.

[chet everett]

First you ought to know that sites that allow people to give 'stars' are perhaps useful for picking a movie or a restaurant but when trying to provide objective data about the relative merits of elementary schools there ought to be better tools.

Second anyone who is thinking about schools when they have 4-5 years before kindergarten is ON THE RIGHT TRACK! Odds that you will make a difference in your child's school readiness are HUGE.

The specifics of the decisions of the school district to operate "grade level centers" is somewhat unique in Illinois and makes it hard to directly compare to other districts where the decision to have neighborhood schools comes with different trade offs. The district numbers are mostly middle of road, but the experience is fairly different than having your child progress along with a smaller number of classmates from kindergarten to middle school or high school.

I would suggest that first hand experience in the schools themselves, and some time at comparison public or private schools in nearby towns are FAR BETTER than any impression you can get second hand...

Good Luck!

[MomtoMal]

Thank you. I appreciate your feedback and honesty. I think I have a lot of research to do. It's a good thing I have a few years.

[LCBoy1]

I would suggest not sending your kids to schools that are so big. Statistics show that big schools are bad for kids.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by LCBoy1

I would suggest not sending your kids to schools that are so big. Statistics show that big schools are bad for kids.

Like what? That many larger school such as Stevenson and New Trier, have excellent reputations?
What statistics?
If a school is too small it may not have the extra-curricular and academic offerings of a larger school.
I think staff, parents, funding and demographics have more to do with the quality than size alone.

[chet everett]

I believe LCBoy was responding to my post about the elementary district.

Woodlands is rather unique in have quite large schools that cluster all the elementary students.

[lakecountylifer]

No LC BOY is mad he/she got caught by the Gurnee red light cameras. I'm glad we snagged your pic! Slow down!

[lakecountylifer]

I missed this post about Gurnee schools. My kid goes to Woodland. First, I grew up in Deerfield and am a product of the Deerfield School system---highly rated as you know. My son in 3rd grade seems much more advanced than I was at his age. He is very motivated by the staff and challenged. So, I think Woodland is excellent. Sure its big, but the school operates "as many small schools within a a big school". This means that kids are grouped together in subsets K-6 so they are able to have a smaller school experience.

The other school district in town, Gurnee 56, is not as well regarded as Woodland.

[Suburban Gal]

I subbed for Woodland School District (District 50) and I liked it there. Good district. I also subbed for the Gurnee School District (District 56). Liked it there too. Both districts, in my eyes, are good districts.

[chet everett]

since the Illinois test for elementary schools are so pathetic I would have a hard time allowing anyone to say they are "good" -- basically if the numbers that are not in the high 80's / 90's that is cause for concern.

http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/pdf/elemagate.pdf (broken link)