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Also, when you are shopping for condominiums or apartments, use http://maps.nycboe.net/ to determine the zoned elementary and middle schools. For high schools, you have to apply for high schools. While there are "neighborhood" high schools in Staten Island and some parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, you still have to "apply" to the zoned HS in order to automatically get in. The zoned HS is NOT indicated in the DOE search utility. To find your zoned high school, call the DOE local district.
Last edited by Vicman; 01-13-2007 at 10:26 PM..
Reason: Adding school zoning info
Both West Village schools are good PS41 and PS3. Several I recall on the Upper West Side (but can't think of their number) were always considered excellent.
Both West Village schools are good PS41 and PS3. Several I recall on the Upper West Side (but can't think of their number) were always considered excellent.
Here's something on PS41 (couldn't get up PS3 either) and it looks as if you can get info on other schools with some data searching (see upper right hand box).
Some of the schools we've listed are very good--are they comparable to Westchester Schools may be too generic. My nieces and nephew went to school in Scarsdale; my children in Manhattan (but a specialised public school, Hunter Elementary and High School).
I think they learned different things--and perhaps my children had more life-experiences as well as education.
And safe? I'd say reasonably safe but that is such a hard call these days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lbsing
What are the better public schools in the city? How do they compare with the ones in Westchester? Are they safe?
As a nyc teacher who went to school in Westchester, I would never EVER send my children to school in the city. I know too much of what goes on behind the scenes. Yes there are some (very few) good public schools in the city, but the teachers city wide are forced to complete so many assessments and meet so many curricular requirements that we cannot really meet the needs of our students. Class sizes are bigger in the city and believe me that matters. A few city schools are considered excellent because the kids perform on standardized tests. To me that is not excellence. Test scores don't always equal learning. Westchester schools often have the scores and more. In Westchester children have many more afterschool activities, such as art, debate, sports, language classes available after school. In the city after school programs are almost always for test prep. Schools are rated based on how well they do on tests and principals in the city are held accountable. They want kids to achieve on tests, not receive an education that is balanced and useful. As for life experience, if you want your children to experience being treated like a number not a person, send them to school in the city. I am not trying to imply that all city teachers and principals are bad, in fact there are wonderful caring people in the city. But the system does not have children and their development in mind. If you have no choice but to send your children to school in the city, then they can receive a decent education, especially in the specialized high schools and some magnet schools. But if you have a choice, I believe city schools do not give kids what they deserve.
I am a NYC teacher on leave and have 2 children who attend PS 113 in Glendale, Queens. The school is academically sound and safe but we agree that all students needs are not being met because the bottom line is test scores. We are considering a move to suffolk county, long island hoping our children will have a more well rounded educational experience. Incidentally if anyone has any advice about the longwood schools vs. rocky point schools, we are eager to listen! Good luck in your search in NYC.
These are all wonderful points and accurate. The one thing missing from this is middle and upper middle class flight to the suburbs that continues to make it impossible to provide that well-rounded opportunity for innercity youngsters.
Yes, I was fortunate that my children went to one of those specialised schools, enrollment by application and testing, but if they hadn't made that score, I would have enrolled them in one of the several "better" public schools.
One of the things I learned, and it was a curve, believe me, is that my participation as a parent was as necessary as the teacher's participation. Parents should be an active part of changing the landscape of poor education and pitiful educational policies. Then, and only then may we be able to turn the spiral around--for the better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eslteacher
As a nyc teacher who went to school in Westchester, I would never EVER send my children to school in the city. I know too much of what goes on behind the scenes. Yes there are some (very few) good public schools in the city, but the teachers city wide are forced to complete so many assessments and meet so many curricular requirements that we cannot really meet the needs of our students. Class sizes are bigger in the city and believe me that matters. A few city schools are considered excellent because the kids perform on standardized tests. To me that is not excellence. Test scores don't always equal learning. Westchester schools often have the scores and more. In Westchester children have many more afterschool activities, such as art, debate, sports, language classes available after school. In the city after school programs are almost always for test prep. Schools are rated based on how well they do on tests and principals in the city are held accountable. They want kids to achieve on tests, not receive an education that is balanced and useful. As for life experience, if you want your children to experience being treated like a number not a person, send them to school in the city. I am not trying to imply that all city teachers and principals are bad, in fact there are wonderful caring people in the city. But the system does not have children and their development in mind. If you have no choice but to send your children to school in the city, then they can receive a decent education, especially in the specialized high schools and some magnet schools. But if you have a choice, I believe city schools do not give kids what they deserve.
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