madison schools and testing: are kids stressed out? (Randall: middle schools, to live in)

[loray]

thanks for reading.

i chose where i live right now because the school system was so excellent. i was surprised to find that this was actually a negative choice for my elementary aged kids, due to the high pressure on teachers and children to keep outdoing themselves on state testing. i have found there to be too much peer pressure within classes to get good grades in this school system as well.

i am moving to madison and am curious if we might experience similar issues....

my kids are very bright and make great grades but they both got anxious and lost confidence being in one of the better schools. it's more important to me that they have confidence and great social development than it is for them to have perfect grades and test scores.

i'd really like to live in the city of madison but i would consider outlying areas to find a school that fits us well. i would appreciate any input on how madison metro schools are with these issus, and any info on specific elem and middle schools that might be a little laid-back. i'm not concerned about high schools at all.

thank you very much

[marnitalane]

If you are THAT concerned about stressed out kids and TESTING you should send your kids to Wingra. They don't test, don't give grades, don't stress kids out. They also don't teach the kids how to spell, multiplication tables, proper handwriting, manners, social norms, etc. All this for $12,000 per year. Good value, eh???

[Megan1967]

I would say it depends on the school. I have worked in two of Madison's elementary schools, Lakeview and Randall.

I don't think the teachers pushed the kids unnecessarily at either school, but there were certainly expectations for effort, achievement and behavior. What one person considers putting on a lot of pressure another might consider reasonable expectations

The only caveat is that the kids at Randall were very aware of their grades because of parental expectations, so your children might feel that pressure by association.