Fort Mill Elementary/Fort Mill Middle Schools? (Union, Tega Cay: low income, renting)

[PJM44]

Looking at buying in the Doby Bridge area of Fort Mill. The schools are Fort Mill Elementary/Fort Mill Middle/Nations Ford High. I'm especially interested in how the Elementary and Middle Schools rank in comparison to the other Fort Mill District schools? I've been to the district website, just looking for a more personal perspective. Anyone with direct experience with the schools and their feedback would be welcomed. We are also looking in Waxhaw/Union County and SE Charlotte. Thanks.

[mell21abe]

i work in union county as a teacher's assistant, and my husband is a teacher at another union county school. the "buzz" that i hear on a regular basis is that fort mill has great schools. we are actually in the process of buying a home there. union county is also a great school system. there are some schools that are better than others, but if you are moving to waxhaw, you will either be in the marvin ridge, parkwood, or "middle school c" (new construction) schools. marvin ridge is really great, and i know the future principal of the "middle school c" and she is great. i don't know much about parkwood, that is probably the least desirable of the three in the waxhaw area. i have only heard horror stories from the charlotte mecklenburg schools. but, of course, this is teacher perspective, not parent. but...i think we know what we're talking about (for the most part)! good luck in your search!

[PJM44]

Thanks. We are looking at a neighborhood recently rezoned to the new "C" schools. Why are you moving to Fort Mill? I can find a lot of posts about the elementary/middle schools closer to Tega Cay, though not much info on Fort Mill Elementary/Fort Mill Middle.

[sixinthefamily]

HI there,

My kids all go to FMES 1 in 4th, two in 2nd and one headed to K next year. Coming from PA I was not sure what to expect. I think the education quailty has been excellent although I do have two of my girls tutored to make sure they are getting some extra in certain areas. Neither the teacher or the tutor think they would have issues without it but I would rather be safe. One of the things I love most is that I can go into the school whenever I want and have lunch with them, I voluteer in my one daughters classroom a few times a week, I read with a child struggling in my other girls classroom. The experince has really helped both me and them adjust. Everything is not all rosy though , I do admit there were a few things I had to get used to. In my old school most everyone was from the same economic backround but here at FMES there is a wide variety of economic and social ranges. I am very impressed with how the school helps these students. I do however find that there are some students from all income levels that don't have the greatest level of parenting. The school is very focused on behavior which I guess can be good but it can also stiffle children for whom behavior is not an issue. I have met several times with the school about not being happy when a whole class is punished for a few bad apples miss behaving. They have been great in working with me. My obnly opther complaint is certain teachers just dont seem to be happy but then again I guess you ahve that anywhere. Good luck on your move.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by sixinthefamily

HI there,

......... I do admit there were a few things I had to get used to. In my old school most everyone was from the same economic backround but here at FMES there is a wide variety of economic and social ranges. I am very impressed with how the school helps these students. I.........

And this is bad how? I think that exposure to all kinds of socioeconomic levels is a good thing: one can shelter children too much.

[BagongBuhay]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

And this is bad how? I think that exposure to all kinds of socioeconomic levels is a good thing: one can shelter children too much.

I don't think sixinthefamily meant it as a bad thing. I recall reading she said it would take getting used to. Unless you live here, you may not realize the ramifications of a very wide swing in socioeconomic levels in the schools...

[mell21abe]

we are moving to fort mill because that was where we could find the best home for the price range we could afford. being teachers, we aren't paid very well . we were trying to find something in union county, simply because that is where we work and would rather pay taxes to the county in which we work. i think that the income difference you were mentioning in apparent anywhere in the union county/fort mill area as land use is changing from rural farm land to suburban subdivisions. i think that it is harder for the lower income families to adjust as their children are faced with "keeping up" with images that the wealthier children portray. although it may bring up questions by the wealthier children as to why the others are different, i think it is important for these children to realize that it's not all about ipods and hollister t-shirts.

i'll stop my rant now....

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Sorry if I misinterpreted sixinthefamily - I meant no insult. It's just that large subdivisions where everyone is pretty much the same socio-economic level tend to promote -well, not sure what to call it - sense of the world is just like us? Never exposed to differences, never challenged to understand other points of view. I was raised in that environment (small Southern town in the 50s) and I have to corral my thoughts at times or else I get judgmental. Thanks Mel21Abe for saying it better than I did.

[sixinthefamily]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

And this is bad how? I think that exposure to all kinds of socioeconomic levels is a good thing: one can shelter children too much.

You know when I wrote that I knew it would be taken the wrong way but at the same time sort of not taken the wrong way. I know there are no absolutes and I am not trying to say there are. We are by no means wealthy or even well off but there can be a big difference in the rearing of children among differnt backrounds. I have been reading to a child this year who does not ever have clothing that fits or personal heigine he lives in a very poor area and has parents that may be doing their best but are still unable to provide appropriately. I read with this child every week and was actually told by him that his father said "he don't have to read well cause he just gonna drive a truck" This broke my heart but is just an example of something I was not used to from my other school. the level of expectaion seems to be less then where I came from and it is an ajustment. It is no way meant as an insult but I wanted to share the truth as I see it. For the most part the children that have the majority of the behavior issues are from these very, very low income families. Yes there are some great parents in these households and I am sure many just dont have the time to spend the time with their kids but it does effect the way the interact within the school. Again I am not saying all children from low incomes have behavior issues, but I am in the school at least three days a week working with the kids and I have to say my biggest adjustment was the behavior issues of some of the children.

As far as sheltering my kids in their short lives they have worked with me at soup kitchens, food pantry's and helped me when I worked with the handicap community to fundraise, design and build a handicap accessible playground in my old hometown. We have held several Alex's lemonade stands and so forth. They are not in a bubble and do not own a Hollister anything.

I will be happy to share real honest from the heart experinces with anyone but I will not mislead or sugar coat it to anyone. I think I would have been better prepared if I knew what to expect.

[sixinthefamily]

Thank you- That was what I was trying to say. It is very touchy on this board when you try to give your honest opinion you are alway mis understood. So goes email I guess.