Forest Pines versus North Forest Pines Elementary Schools (2014, preschool)

[Jules_NC]

My oldest will be going to kindergarten for the 2014-15 school year (so hard to type that out!). We are zoned for Forest Pines with a choice of N. Forest Pines & Wakefield for year round options. Does anyone want to offer their first hand experience with kindergarten at Forest Pines and/or North Forest Pines? Most of my neighbors seem to go to North Forest Pines & seem to look down at Forest Pines without any real explanation. Many thanks for your insight!

[underPSI]

The only difference between the two is Forest Pines is traditional calendar while North Forest Pines is on a year-round calendar. (That's right, folks. 2 elementary schools side by side just to accommodate.) Only reason I can think of why your neighbors are looking down on Forest Pines is they simply are unfamiliar with the school and most people want others to think their choice is the best.

I can't speak for Forest Pines but I can for NFP. I absolutely love the staff at NFP. The principal is doing a fantastic job and so far have been blessed with great teachers. And I love the year-round calendar as well. Not saying it's the best but it's what works for my family. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Jules_NC]

Thanks for the personal recommendation underPSI, I appreciate it! I'm taking the paperwork to Forest Pines soon and then I'll have to decide if we stay or go to NFP (or if we "win" the lottery for Endeavor).

I am torn on the year round calendar since I also have another one who will be in preschool (traditional schedule). I'm also concerned that they won't be on the same track once they both are in school. I have heard of families that have children on different calendars and it sounds like a nightmare!

[ncbeckster]

Of those three schools, North Forest Pines is your best bet. Your children will be assigned the same track if they both go to the same school. One difference is that North Forest Pines offers science and technology as specials where FP and Wakefield just have PE, Media, Art and Music. At one point FP offered Spanish but I believe that was cut.

Forest Pines and Wakefield are also Title 1 schools.

I don't know much about the Charter school except a few teachers there and a former teacher of NFP started that charter school.

If you can, you could arrange to tour the schools to help make your decision.

[sonderella]

Originally Posted by ncbeckster

Of those three schools, North Forest Pines is your best bet. Your children will be assigned the same track if they both go to the same school. One difference is that North Forest Pines offers science and technology as specials where FP and Wakefield just have PE, Media, Art and Music. At one point FP offered Spanish but I believe that was cut.

Forest Pines and Wakefield are also Title 1 schools.

I don't know much about the Charter school except a few teachers there and a former teacher of NFP started that charter school.

If you can, you could arrange to tour the schools to help make your decision.

I realize this is an older post, but just happened to stumble upon it. In case anybody is still looking for info on these schools, I wanted to correct a statement made in the post that I quoted. I have two children at Forest Pines (the traditional calendar) and it DOES have both science and technology as specials. They've always (well, for the past four years) had technology, and this year they also do science.