Worcester Area Schools? (Shrewsbury, Holden, Salisbury: condominium, neighborhood, private school)

[crimson-clover]

Thanks, Shrewsburried. That's very helpful info. Would love to hear some more anecdotal data from other school districts, if anyone has some.

[KellyCrash]

The city-data ratings for the highschools are confusing to me. Can anyone explain it?

I like greatschools.org's ratings. It's a 1-10 rating system with a 10 being the best and 1 being the worst.

North High is rated 1 - Google this school. A lot about it in the news lately with a gun found in a student's locker. Students not allowed to carry backpacks, etc.

Doherty High is in a decent neighborhood & is rated a 4. No first hand knowledge of this school, but I thought it was generally regarded as a decent school.

Burncoat High is a 2

South High is a 4

Forest Grove Middle School has been generally regarded as a decent school. It's rated a 6.

I would probably house hunt for a property that feeds into Forest Grove and Doherty. The Worcester Vocational Tech High School is brand new and the president was there last year for it's graduation. It's rated a 7.

Good luck. I understand the appeal of wanting to live in the city. Especially Worcester because of it's affordability & the beautiful older homes.

[CaseyB]

2014 Report Card Overview - Doherty Memorial High (03480512)

2014 Report Card - Doherty Memorial High (03480512)

Report cards for Doherty High.

[gentlearts]

I am a product of Nelson Place, Forest Grove and North (the original one). My sister and brother went to Doherty. I have heard they are building a new Nelson Place to replace the old one.
It has been many years since I was there, but they used to be good schools. My thoughts are that the lower grades are still safe. After that, evaluate the middle and high schools and go private if you think you must.
Back when I went to school there, my cousins went to Shrewsbury, and they had a smoking room for students. I trust that is no longer the case.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I am a product of Nelson Place, Forest Grove and North (the original one). My sister and brother went to Doherty. I have heard they are building a new Nelson Place to replace the old one.
It has been many years since I was there, but they used to be good schools. My thoughts are that the lower grades are still safe. After that, evaluate the middle and high schools and go private if you think you must.
Back when I went to school there, my cousins went to Shrewsbury, and they had a smoking room for students. I trust that is no longer the case.

My mother was a graduate of Worcester Classical ( I think it was called that). I understand that was replaced with Doherty?

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

My mother was a graduate of Worcester Classical ( I think it was called that). I understand that was replaced with Doherty?

I went to North in the 60s, and there was no Classical then. I think you are thinking of Commerce? When they built Doherty, North High, next to the armory, on Salisbury St. closed and became condominiums. Maybe Commerce did too? So then there was Doherty and Burncoat. Apparently they built another North High School somewhere after that.

[CaseyB]

Way before the 60's.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

Apparently they built another North High School somewhere after that.

Yes it's over on the east side near the Ecotarium. It's apparently a war zone, and always in the news. I wouldn't let my dog near that place with those animals.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Yes it's over on the east side near the Ecotarium. It's apparently a war zone, and always in the news. I wouldn't let my dog near that place with those animals.

Yeah, it's pretty sad. I was there in the gym and attended a conference in the cafeteria, and I had visions of Morgan Freeman in "Lean on Me." The INSIDE of the building was tagged with graffiti. It was all the rage when it opened...50 years ago.

[gentlearts]

Wow, the old North High was ancient when I went there, but the area was prosperous, and the kids were pretty well behaved.
LOL, I don't even know what an Ecotarium is.

When I lived there, they hadn't built the Galleria downtown yet, and now I hear it has been gone for years.