Help!! Wer'e moving to Tampa and.... (Brandon: renting, house, magnet school)

[shoey924]

my daughter's designated school is HORRIFIC!!

We are moving to a beautiful house in Brandon this weekend and we are right across the boundary line from Mann middle (which is a great school!) and we are supposed to send our kids to Schmidt and Mcclane!! Mcclane is a 3 rating on greatschools.com and parents, students, EVEN teachers who work there are commenting on how awful it is!!

It's too late in the school year for choice lottery and magnet school lottery, while ongoing, could take all year for all I know!

We can't afford private and I am freaking out!! My daughter has been in a small christian school all of her life , earns excellent grades, and is quiet and obedient. I loathe the idea of her not being able to learn or, even worse, getting hurt.

What do I do??

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by shoey924

my daughter's designated school is HORRIFIC!!

We are moving to a beautiful house in Brandon this weekend and we are right across the boundary line from Mann middle (which is a great school!) and we are supposed to send our kids to Schmidt and Mcclane!! Mcclane is a 3 rating on greatschools.com and parents, students, EVEN teachers who work there are commenting on how awful it is!!

It's too late in the school year for choice lottery and magnet school lottery, while ongoing, could take all year for all I know!

We can't afford private and I am freaking out!! My daughter has been in a small christian school all of her life , earns excellent grades, and is quiet and obedient. I loathe the idea of her not being able to learn or, even worse, getting hurt.

What do I do??

You can contact the school board and challenge the school assignment. I would mention your unfamiliarity with the area since you just moved there, and were under the impression your child would be headed to Mann. I would not make a big deal out of the quality issue as I'm sure they get that a lot. You can reach the School Choice Information Line at 813-272-4692.

[shoey924]

Thanks so much! I'm calling right now!!

[shoey924]

They were no help. :-(
They said there is nothing they can do, I have to wait until choice lottery opens again in january, or look into private or charter schools.
I'm pretty sure the charters run by lottery too though. Ugh.

[kyle19125]

I know this sounds cavalier, but it's not a complete wash-out. You're obviously an involved parent, whereas most of the parents at this particular school are not, based upon test results and the school grade. A vast majority of teachers will teach students that want to learn, and having parents who show an interest. In my opinion the issue with the majority of public schools is that parents check out of their parenting responsibilities, and expect teachers and school administration to take over. I get so angry when I hear that public schools/teachers aren't doing their jobs. It all starts and ends at home.

[bgirldeb]

I went there 20 years ago and turned out okay . I understand it has gone downhill since then. I had a workmate with kids there recently and the experience wasn't horrible. I do think it has a lot to do with how involved you are as a parent.

Something else that may be worth checking into is the Florida Virtual School:

Online High School | Online Middle School | Grades K-12 | Florida Virtual School

[shoey924]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I know this sounds cavalier, but it's not a complete wash-out. You're obviously an involved parent, whereas most of the parents at this particular school are not, based upon test results and the school grade. A vast majority of teachers will teach students that want to learn, and having parents who show an interest. In my opinion the issue with the majority of public schools is that parents check out of their parenting responsibilities, and expect teachers and school administration to take over. I get so angry when I hear that public schools/teachers aren't doing their jobs. It all starts and ends at home.

I completely agree. I was a miami, fl educator for 4 years and am now a school psychologist. I know how hard educators work despite lack of resources and parental involvement!

My issue is; I know what happens to kids who are eager to learn and they end up in an environment where the discipline problems get all of the attention and waylay instruction. They don't get the kind of instruction they deserve and often lose interest or worse. Secondly, I hear a lot of people complain about fights, and as a former middle school teacher, I believe this to be true! I don't want my daughter around that.

I appreciate the virtual school suggestions, but I honestly believe that keeping a child from a normal school environment is very detrimental to them. Kids need to have social interaction to develop and learn social skills, etc. Not to mention all of the extra-curriculars that my daughter wants to do!
I'm going to have to figure something out. Thanks for the input though!