Junior High/High School Suggestions Gilbert Chandler (Queen Creek: neighborhoods, best schools)

[MrsBabs]

Good Morning,

Our Family is relocating to the area this summer. I have 7,8,9 graders. All Honors programs and active in Band and Sports. Suggestions? neighborhoods?
We have researched School Digger and Great schools and there are soo many options. Would like actual opinions. We are open...Opinions on Highland? new school Casteel?
I keep reading about the budget crisis. Is it effecting all districts? Is one in more trouble than another?
Thanks for input

[sandy6879]

There have been quite a few threads about Gilbert schools lately...you may want to also search google to determine if that is the best district for you to be in. The town is nice, the district has some issues.

[MrsBabs]

Thank you for your time to reply. I have been reading a lot, just trying to discern. Sometimes things that are written are true to fact, others seem to be a bit embellished. Since we are relocating cross country have to seek info without having the time to be local and discern the best for the kiddos

[sandy6879]

I understand, we were in the same position. The vast majority of what you are reading on this board in terms of Gilbert school district, is pretty factual.

[JTW2013]

The budget reduction was from the state so every school district is affected. But some districts are in better shape than others.

We quickly crossed Gilbert off of our list because of the drama with the school board. Some of what has been written online is surely exaggerated but we felt there was no reason to risk Gilbert when Chandler was right next door.

Coming from far away, CUSD is a much safer bet as long as you are south of the 202.

You might also want to consider the school year. Gilbert is on a traditional schedule while CUSD is on a modified year round schedule. We love the year round schedule but some families prefer the traditional schedule.

ETA, all of South Chandler (south of the 202) is nice and all of the CUSD schools south of the 202 are good. So you don't need to worry about the schools when selecting a neighborhood so you should choose based on your commute and your budget. Also remember that the school districts here don't match up the city boundaries. There are neighborhoods with Gilbert addresses that are in CUSD.

[MrsBabs]

Thank you for the information. Its appreciated

[asufan]

Casteel is not open yet, so there is no data on it. Although that school is in Queen Creek (I think), it is in the Chandler Unified district and thus does not have the Gilbert issues. It will be a grades 7-12 school which is new to me. Hamilton high is one of the best schools in the state regardless of private or public, Basha and Perry rate high as well.

[ajonesaz]

I graduated from Highland a LONG time ago. When I went, it was a great school. Although there was not a lot of diversity, which seemed to be the only real complaint.

My kids go to Gilbert Public Schools now and I think they are getting a great education. Most of the school board drama you see is posted by people with a motive of some kind.

Most of the teachers I had at Highland well over a decade ago are still there, so I am assuming they are happy!

[Pink Jazz]

You should also add the Higley district to your list. They are a highly performing district and haven't been facing the management issues that the Gilbert district has been facing. Also, Higley will be moving to a modified year-round calendar like the Chandler district.

[JTW2013]

When coming from out of state, one way to gauge a district's support for education is whether they've supported the override. I'm still a little confused about what the override is but as I understand it, it's a local tax that makes up for money that doesn't come from the state.

Higley and Gilbert voters keep voting it down while Kyrene and CUSD voters passed their overrides.