Info on Post Falls (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint: homes, movies, law school)

[Irma Schnerd]

My family is considering a move to Idaho in the next few months. We currently live in Anchorage, Alaska. I like having a "big" city close by, but like the feel of the small town. What can anyone tell me about Post Falls. I am interested in the schools, as I have four children. I currently homeschool, because I think Anchorage schools are quite poor.

K

[Sage of Sagle]

Post Falls is not a small town in any sense of the word. It's a nice bedroom community, more like a suburb along with CdA. Not saying don't move there, but saying don't expect Mayberry RFD...more like soccer moms and subdivisions. (and no, I'm not slamming soccer moms...I'm a soccer dad myself...but you get my point)

[Irma Schnerd]

No, I wasn't wanting Mayberry, by small I meant under 50,000. Does anyone have info on which schools are good, ones to avoid, etc? What about local churches? I am a basketball mom by the way.

[pacalady]

Irma:
I live in Post Falls, and although I don't have children in school (both grown) I understand from neighbors/friends that have gradeschool and highschool children, that the schools are excellent. Lots of extra cirricular activities, smaller classes, and SUPER teachers. In fact I have a close friend that is a middle-school teacher!!

I also have friends that Homeschool (one family has 3 children, the other family 9 kids) If you'd like more information on Idaho requirements for homeschooling, PM me and I'll get you e-mail addresses for them.

To give you a better idea about living here, I live within 4 minutes of the 'town' of Post Falls, where there are good grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, Les Schwab, banks etc. I look out my living room window to see 400 acres of farm land planted in mint (smells WONDERFUL this time of year!) with a backdrop of mountains .... this is to the North of me. To the South is my 10 acres, with the adjoining 5 acres parcels also with a backdrop of mountains across the prairie. I am 20 minutes to major shopping ...Home Depot, Lowes, Malls, extremely good medical care, (however there are great 'immediate care' facilities here in PF as well).

I agree with Sage, that we are kind of like a 'bedroom community' to Coeur d' Alene and Spokane, but where I am is 'definately country' ..... yet close to everything.

Hope you get up this way for a visit!! (if you haven't already been here!!)

PacaLady

[Irma Schnerd]

So, I have been reading lots of comments about Idaho in the forum, and have seen many negative remarks regarding the schools. Poor funding, low teacher salary, lack of curriculum standards just to name a few. As I have said, previously, I homeschool because I think Anchorage schools have much to be desired. But I would really like for my kids to go to public school. Are the comments I have read true?

[Sage of Sagle]

Idaho SAT scores are above the national average, but I noted with interest that FEWER students (by percentage of total HS students enrolled) actually took the SAT test. I know our schools in Sandpoint and Sagle are very good (for public schools), but we homeschool as we're following the classical method with latin and logic and such even for the little ones....just our personal preference.

[eyetech]

Hi Irma, Just a thought about homeschool vs. public schools (or private)--My kids are all grown now, but were all homeschooled for at least a few years (9 years total homeschool teaching for me). As you must know from experience, homeschool is what you make of it, and kids can be as busy with extracurricular activities (science fairs, history fairs, track and field day events, music and sports teams/classes...you name it, you can find or initiate it and do it!) Academic integrity is the same; it can be highly structured and accountable, informal and tactile, or anything inbetween. But the public school system is partly what you make of it (involvement with the teacher or classroom, etc.) and partly almost the luck of the draw. There are "good" teachers and "bad" teachers (or good or bad schools); in my opinion, this has more to do with the rapport between your child and the teacher. That can run the whole gambit between wonderful and horrific! The learning is the goal, but it's also the offshoot of that rapport. Sometimes it can be helped and sometimes not. (The student relationships are another...very long...story!)

If I could, I would have liked to raised my kids in a much smaller and saner community than the Phoenix metro area. Still, your home and family life are what they will walk away with when the time comes, and that's something that you can give them in any size (or degree of sanity ) town!

I hope you can find the answers you're looking for with regard to the schools in certain areas. I just never did.

[Irma Schnerd]

Eyetech,

Thanks for your info. I totally agree. My initial reason for homeschooling was due to the fact that everytime I visited my childrens' classrooms I found them watching movies, having "free time" or some other non-educational activity. It seemed like a waste of time to send them to school, only to have them bring home a bunch of homework.

I realize that a school is what you make of it, but sometimes there isn't much to work with. I am hoping we find a place to raise our kids where a quality education is available.

Irma

[eyetech]

That's terrible! I had no idea that that could go on in the schools. There are probably as many horror stories as praises, but I'm glad that parents still have the option to parent--and make the ultimate decisions for their children's educations.
I applaud your involvement and concern. I'd love to hear how it turns out for you and your kids.

[AngID]

My BIL is a teacher/coach at Post Falls High School. Both nephews graduated there and, I believe, got a good education. One is a Washington State Trooper now.
My 26-year-old was educated in Coeur d'Alene and got an excellent education. Put himself through college and is now putting himself through law school at Gonzaga University.