School feedback requested: private, public/magnet Duval, St John's public (Jacksonville: 2014, how much)

[snuffybear]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

The best public beach access in these parts is in JAX Beach/Atlantic Beach/Neptune Beach. All in Duval County. Robyn

Shut up Robyn, just shut up!

Perhaps I LIKE the PV area. It's not only your area and we are not all lower class than you (and FYI there is plenty of cheap housing in your area)! Stop trying to prove your point using other posters. YOU play the race card. My friends here are multicultural, that is NOT the issue. Again, SHUT UP and stay out of the education threads unless you have first hand experience with your OWN kids in the schools, as the OP requested.

[snuffybear]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

The best public beach access in these parts is in JAX Beach/Atlantic Beach/Neptune Beach. All in Duval County. Robyn

I was in JAX Beach exactly 2 minutes when some druggie looking guy whistled and yelled at me! Sorry, bad impression, not where I want to live...didn't feel safe. And btw the high school has a huge # of kids (2000-3000), far more than PVHS and Nease, and a reputation for fights, and is rated far lower than those in St. Johns. I didn't consider anywhere with high schools over 1600. But again, none of your business and I request you stop dragging personal information out of parents who just want excellent schools. YOU ARE NOT A PARENT!

[snuffybear]

My reputation comments are flowing in....+1 +1+1 +1 +1....

[alpineannie]

Originally Posted by snuffybear

Oh, interesting and hence the name "alpineannie"! I have been to Salzburg - it's beautiful!

Given you've been in private schools in Europe, you will probably want private schools. There is a lot going on with public schools these days with the "common core" requirements and "teaching to the tests" that divert attention from real learning to test prep. I think less of an issue in HS if one is taking AP classes; but definitely an issue in K-8.

Actually my kids have been in more public schools than private. I have had them enrolled in some privates here, but it was not a good experience. I'm familiar with the current educational landscape in the US, but only from a "theoretical" standpoint - my kids haven't had any meaningful exposure to the common core or testing. As with most things "educational," the controversies abound and the policy makers are usually pretty clueless, and this does not change when you cross the pond! I'm still hopeful that maybe someone can post something that will help us get a better picture of the differences between some of the privates or magnets and the "good" schools in SJC.

[alpineannie]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

I'm somewhat familiar with Stanton (not Paxson). Stanton would be difficult/impossible for someone moving from elsewhere. Because there is basically one way to get in on a "merit" basis (that's the IB admission). And that involves accomplishing specific things in middle school (in terms of FCAT scores and the like). I looked through some old threads here. And even a Stanton student didn't know whether there's a process for people from elsewhere to get into the IB program. The best way to try to get a good answer today is by calling Stanton/someone in the Duval County school district.

This has been a concern of mine from the start, however some have posted that there are "levers" that may "simplify" the process and I wish they would contact me with specifics. If I could get some feedback on the "school culture" from some insiders, that would certainly help me decide if the whole endeavor was even worth pursuing.

FWIW - some critics don't think Stanton is especially diverse - especially from a socio-economic: POV

I think the socio-economic diversity here still beats that of the privates. And before anybody gets their knickers in a twist, s/e diversity is not a MAIN factor for me, but an added bonus!

One notable thing about Stanton is it has a huge % of Asian students for this part of the world - especially since our Asian population is pretty tiny.

Other magnets in the NE have established quotas for this population group to keep their enrollment from growing. Don't think the stat is either surprising or relevant - to me at least.

As for private schools alpineannie - I honestly don't recall anyone who has inquired here about private schools in recent years who has come back and reported that his/her kids wound up in a private school. E.g.

//www.city-data.com/forum/jacks...e-schools.html

The vast majority of people here don't even consider any public schools outside of St. Johns County. And either can't/don't care to spend money on private schools. Almost all wind up moving to SJC and sending their kids to public schools here. Perhaps a question you could ask is why almost everyone here who moved from elsewhere did this. Perhaps snuffybear (who is planning to move here from elsewhere in the near future) and others can give you some insight into their decision making process. Robyn

Yes, the decision making process would interest me insofar as their choices were influenced by factors other than financial feasibility - this is IMO a non-issue and none of anyone's business. What factors did they weigh? Which sources did they rely on? This is ultimately what interests me. I also wonder if people don't report back b/c they have "turned the corner" on the whole re-location process? If I have chosen a school, neighborhood and the like, do I then post an "update" on my living/school status? not sure?

[alpineannie]

Originally Posted by Robyn55

alpineannie might be too shy or polite to ask. But I'm not. Did you ever consider living in Duval County and sending your kids to Stanton Prep or Paxon? If you didn't consider them - why? If you rejected them after due consideration - why?

Did you ever consider private schools in this area. If not - why? And if you considered them and rejected them - why?

Why did you pick public schools in St. Johns County over these other options?

Also - to others who have moved recently to SJC - or plan to move here in the near future - please tell alpineannie why if you have kids.

Note that when I moved here almost 20 years ago - I was just looking for good golf/tennis facilities. Not schools. So - all you school seekers (and there are many of you out there) - tell alpineannie how you wound up in public schools in SJC. Robyn

I have been called many names in my life, but no one has ever accused me of being "shy." I think all the questions are valid, yet I can't shake the feeling that there's a snarky undertone pervading the whole line of inquiry...

My interest in the answers is, however, very sincere!

[Giants6]

Originally Posted by snuffybear

My reputation comments are flowing in....+1 +1+1 +1 +1....

+1

[snuffybear]

Originally Posted by alpineannie

I have been called many names in my life, but no one has ever accused me of being "shy." I think all the questions are valid, yet I can't shake the feeling that there's a snarky undertone pervading the whole line of inquiry...

My interest in the answers is, however, very sincere!

I'm interested too! Don't worry about the ONE poster that is condescending and doesn't want families in her area that care about schools.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by Giants6

+1

I would give you all my reputation points if I could.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by alpineannie

I have been called many names in my life, but no one has ever accused me of being "shy." I think all the questions are valid, yet I can't shake the feeling that there's a snarky undertone pervading the whole line of inquiry...

Welcome to the Jacksonville message boards! 95% of the threads are taken over by Robyn and of those 95%, 100% contain her attempts to frown upon people for various things.

"You don't appear to be wealthy or as smart as I am." Robyn - just copy/paste that into your signature, that will save your from the 8 paragraphs of snark with each and every post, then we can just get, you know, actual information out of you.