Do you think students in Washington are getting jipped in the amount of time they are educated? (Seattle: school districts, college)

[debfromtx]

I moved from Katy, Texas to Mill Creek, Washington in October 2011, and I was shocked about a few things about the schools here.

The first surprise was that kindergarten was half day. The second shock was that there wasn't bus service for my 6th grader because we lived 1.3 miles away. The third shock was that he would have to cross a major highway to get to school. The next shock was that there were 25 early release days. The most recent shock was that my kindergartener's techer didn't know her reading level and reading groups aren't happening in her class. I used to teach in Cypress Fairbanks ISD in Texas, and this would never have happened!

It seemed like the kids were getting jipped on school from all of the early release days, so I did the math to compare how many hours a student attends school in Katy ISD in Texas and in Everett ISD in Washington.

Katy ISD = Elementary school day is 8:20am-3:40pm, even kinder
165 full days
6 early release days
1232 hours per year K and elem students are in school

Everett SD = Elementary school day is 8:35am-2:45pm,
Kinder school day is 8:35am-11:15am, early release is 8:35am-10:00am,
149 full days
25 early release days
432 hours kindergarteners are in school per year
966 hours 1st-5th are in school per year

That's 38 (7 hour) days less than in Texas for 1st-5th!
That's 114 (7 hour) days less than in Texas for kinder!!

I thought all schools in the US had to educate kids for the same amount of time, but I thought wrong. I wanted to share this so that you can make an informed decision about your child's education. I am only comparring Everett SD, and do not have experience with the other districts. But, it might be worth looking into if this is a concern.

[Inkpoe]

For starters, each state (city, and county and even the district itself) dictate the rules and schedule for their own schools. How Everett SD does their thing doesn't necessarily mean the other SD in the state does the same.

My experience: that Half-Day K is normal, you have AM and PM class... but if you want full day, then it's competitive and some even require that you pay. Buses are for students who live 1+ mile from the school. We have early release on Wednesdays... usually on the last week of the month (though, the schedule is a bit different on the middle/high school level).

I don't know if Everett SD, or specifically that school, has a waiver-- but if your calculations are correct and they don't have a waiver... they're actually violating State Law. I don't think they would intentionally or accidentally do that. Here the information about what the State Law has for schools: WAC 180-90-160: Minimum standards and certificate form.

[VeronikaW]

Coming from CA, the school offerings here are much better.

In CA you have to live a really ridiculous distance from a school for bus service, and even then it costs you upwards of $500/year for the privilege. I'm pretty sure kinder is half day, and all the elementary schools had 1 early release day per week, and junior high had a late start day. I don't know about high school.

Considering the test scores coming out of most of the Seattle suburbs east side schools, I don't think anyone in those districts is getting gypped.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

Coming from CA, the school offerings here are much better.

In CA you have to live a really ridiculous distance from a school for bus service, and even then it costs you upwards of $500/year for the privilege. I'm pretty sure kinder is half day, and all the elementary schools had 1 early release day per week, and junior high had a late start day. I don't know about high school.

Considering the test scores coming out of most of the Seattle suburbs east side schools, I don't think anyone in those districts is getting gypped.

Same experience here. using Everett as an example is no way to judge an entire state. Look at the college placement rate of schools in Mercer Island, Bellevue and Sammamish. There can be huge differences in schools within any state. Those considering moving to a new state should do the research on schools before moving to avoid disappointment.

[willow9713]

I wonder why you are polling people without providing more information regarding all of Washington School districts? As that is what the poll states. But only providing information on the Everett SD and a district in Texas. What are you really trying to find out?

[operaphantom2003]

My son's school in SLC has half-day Fridays, full-time Kindergarten where they learn their colors, numbers, letters, and beginning to read. Anything within 2 miles does not get bussed. There are 32 students in his 2nd grade class this year. There is no social studies, science, or health in his class--only reading, writing, and math.

So...I'd take Washington schools over his any day. And did I mention that it is a uniformed school so they can tell who belongs and who doesn't.

[Seacove]

Opera, I hope all is going well with you

To the OP, I've only seen kindergarten as half day programs in several states. Washington state has a basic set of days which each district must meet. When school was closed for four days during the snow, they added those four days to the end of the school year. To each his own but I would not consider sending my child to school in Texas.

[debfromtx]

Originally Posted by debfromtx

I thought all schools in the US had to educate kids for the same amount of time, but I thought wrong. I wanted to share this so that you can make an informed decision about your child's education. I am only comparring Everett SD, and do not have experience with the other districts. But, it might be worth looking into if this is a concern.

This is my purpose for this post.

[newguy416]

It all depends on what you are used to. I will say...it's difficult to find unbiased comments and opinions.

There are some excellent schools in Texas, just like every state.

I was not aware of this either and it is surprising.

[tatania199]

We're in the Bellevue school district.

Um...no. I do not think our children are getting "jipped". I think that we are incredibly lucky to have access to such a fantastic school district, particularly such an incredible high school. I think that the level of education received by students here would be much coveted by many, many areas of the country.