Confused about Pittsburgh public schools

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Hopes

That's the case in the suburbs too. Even though elementary schools are zoned for a neighborhood school, parents can request their children attend any elementary school in the district. Then there are the children who attend private and catholic elementary schools. As a result, the neighborhood children easily attend more than 10 different schools.

At least in my neighborhood, the vast majority of the kids go to lthe local public elementary school. Although, a couple of kids go to Hillel, Falk and Shadyside. Some of these kids are in middle school though.

We have friends in Morningside and they made the same comment about children in their area all going to different schools.

[Stijl Council]

Originally Posted by Scientist Mom

What are your reasons for wanting a neighborhood school? Keep in mind that even if your kids go to the neighborhood school, they still might not be going to school with the neighbors. The kids in our neighborhood attend at least 9 different elementary schools. It may be different in the Colfax feeder neighborhoods, though. We feed to Minadeo.

I agree with this. On my street and the area nearby, no two families I've met with kids send their kids to the same school.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

If you're set on local neighborhood schools, here is the most recent map of feeder patterns. I'd suggest the following.

Elementary: You'd want Colfax or Minadeo. Greenfield and Brookline are okay.

I know some parents who like Phillips as well, although it isn't in the Allderdice pattern, and I suspect there may be more good options if you are looking exclusively at K-5/8 feeder schools without regard to higher grades.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I know some parents who like Phillips as well, although it isn't in the Allderdice pattern, and I suspect there may be more good options if you are looking exclusively at K-5/8 feeder schools without regard to higher grades.

Phillips does score fairly well. However, it's a partial magnet, so it's unclear how much of that is due to the magnet component. I know historically the non-magnet segment was supposed to be horrible, so much so that some of the early South Side pioneers enrolled their kids there (not understanding how the magnet system worked) and were shocked at the low quality.

That said, I am wondering if a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy in reverse is beginning to happen at Phillips. If enough "confused" white yuppies (e.g., transplants who don't understand they are supposed to avoid the school) enroll their kids there, it will be enough to boost test scores further, which in turn will cause buzz about the school, and cause more, slightly less "confused" yuppies to enroll, until it actually becomes a good neighborhood school. Gentrification is probably aiding it as well, as the children of poor renters are being pushed out of the neighborhood. Even if declining enrollment forces them to expand feeder area, it will just expand into the South Side Slopes, which will be more of the same, more or less.

FWIW, although Whittier doesn't have a good reputation, test scores there (adjusting for demographics) are actually the best outside of Colfax, Minadeo, and the magnets.

[Sideblinded]

Greenfield K-8 is a decent choice too, it is often overlooked and is in the Allderdice feeder pattern.

[amd115]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

Greenfield K-8 is a decent choice too, it is often overlooked and is in the Allderdice feeder pattern.

Second this. I find Greenfield better than Colfax and MUCH better than Minadeo as a substitute teacher anyway.