talk to me about East Grand Rapids public schools... (Kinde: homes, school district)

[steph410]

my family and I are considering moving (still ) and EGR is still on our list. I know that the public schools there rate very high, but i'm looking for more detail if possible. are the parents educated and highly interested in their children's education? are parents involved? for a fairly bright child, are there numerous opportunities for him to be challenged? is it likely for the current quality of EGR schools to continue? how is funding?

really any inside information about the public schools there would be greatly appreciated.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by steph410

my family and I are considering moving (still ) and EGR is still on our list. I know that the public schools there rate very high, but i'm looking for more detail if possible. are the parents educated and highly interested in their children's education? are parents involved? for a fairly bright child, are there numerous opportunities for him to be challenged? is it likely for the current quality of EGR schools to continue? how is funding?

really any inside information about the public schools there would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully someone who had kids that went through the system can comment, I do have friends who went through EGR schools themselves though.

I don't really know how "involved" parents are in the schools but people that go to EGR seem to wear that badge proudly, parents wear the bumper stickers and jackets etc etc. East Grand Rapids, at least the highschool is sort of like a private highschool. Most of the kids are pretty middle to upper class depending on your definition. People from out of the district put theirs kids on waiting lists to try and get them into the schools because they are solid.

In terms of a challenge? Probably above most other public schools in the area but lower than some of the private. Again this is just what certain people have told me. Some of my EGR friends said school was easy, some said it was tough. My friends that went to Grand Rapids Christian Highschool all said it was hard.

If your kid is really smart I think they will coast through most academics anyway until college.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by steph410

my family and I are considering moving (still ) and EGR is still on our list. I know that the public schools there rate very high, but i'm looking for more detail if possible. are the parents educated and highly interested in their children's education? are parents involved? for a fairly bright child, are there numerous opportunities for him to be challenged? is it likely for the current quality of EGR schools to continue? how is funding?

really any inside information about the public schools there would be greatly appreciated.

You can use this site (city-data.com) to check on the education level of the parents. It's higher at EGR than anywhere in the area. 99% of adults have a high school "degree" and 71% have a bachelor's degree or higher. That is unmatched in most areas of Michigan, let alone GR.

Parents are highly interested, to the point of annoyance by some. I would say that the problems you find in EGR are of over-involvement, not under-involvement.

EGR has long had high test scores, stellar AP programs (at the high school level), and gifted children coming out its ears. You will not lack challenges for your kids (though bright kids still coast through K-12 regardless of challenges, in my opinion).

Current quality is likely to continue, in my opinion, for a couple reasons: 1) The school district, and its quality are what drives the prosperity of the entire city. The city council, mayor, school board and superintendent work in concert because they each depend on each other. The home values that provide property tax are only as high as they are because the schools are so solid (just visit Ottawa Hills where equivalent homes, on the same street, fluctuate in value by 50% or more based on school district membership).

You asked about funding too. Funding is horrible, at every single public school district in Michigan without fail. EGR is not immune to this problem, and has been feeling the pressure for several years now. They may have started from a position of relative strength, but funding is terrible right now. You will not avoid this problem if you send you kids to public school.

[theKs]

I'm just starting my kids in the district, one in Kindergarten and the other at the Preschool. Having moved here a little over a year ago and had another child come up through a different district, I wouldn't want my kids going anywhere else. First thing is no buses! All schools are within walking / biking distance. Parents are VERY involved just having had the kids in different activities. I mean there was a waiting list for Kindergarten soccer because people are so active. Also just look at their website and the sports offered, Crew, Sailing, Field Hockey... on and on.

Aside from the schools the community is AMAZING! There are about 20 kids on my block. The day before school started we had an impromptu block party. My husband wheeled the grill across the street, we all whipped up dishes to pass, the kids all ran around the block. I could go on and on about EGR and how fantastic it is.