SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS - Cooper City (2015, home, neighborhood)

[Cooper City Mom]

I am fortunate enough to have what seem to be many good/great public school options for my son, who will be starting Kindergarten next year. i know it seems early, but schools are accepting applications for 2015-2016 already, and I want to make the most informed decision possible. My son has been attending Montessori school, and we are also thinking of keeping him there for a while longer, but the option of saving thousands is tempting. Anyone with kids in the following schools, please let me know if you have any praise/gripes that wouldn't necessarily show up on paper or in the test scores.

1. Beachside Montessori Village - (a wing and a prayer, since they use lottery system).
2. Cooper City Elementary - (our home school)
3. Ben Franklin Academy (Cooper City)
4. Renaissance Charter School (Cooper City)
5. Nova Eisenhower Elementary
6. Nova Blanche Forman Elementary

Thank you in advance for your input.

[ralanprod]

We are new this year to Cooper City, so I don't have personal experience with those particular schools - but I'll throw out what I do know...

If you are able to get in to Beachside, it means either having to drive there twice a day from Cooper City or put your son on the bus. You have to make sure you are comfortable with those options.

I haven't heard bad things per se about the charters - but the parents that we interact with have said they were expecting a better experience than in the public schools, and haven't really gotten it.

The Nova schools are good. The only negative is the same as Beachside - although Nova is certainly a lot closer.

Cooper City Elementary has a good reputation, and it has the benefit of being your neighborhood school. That makes the social aspect of school easier. This may not seem to be a big issue, but believe me having to drive all over the place for play dates, parties etc. gets to be a pain in the butt. The closer - the better.

[Cooper City Mom]

Thanks. We certainly moved to the area because of the schools. Will keep this in mind.