We moved last year and I am so happy about the public school system we were able to get our kids into.
1) It's school of choice here. We called the principal and told him we were thinking about sending our kids to the school although we are slightly outside of the district. He volunteered to meet us and spent around 90 minutes walking us through the school, showing us all of the facilities and answering all of our questions.
2) An abnormally large percentage of the teachers took on teaching as a second career so they bring a real-world perspective. Huge difference.
3) Some may think it is a little weird but I have seen many occasions where teachers were hugging children showing some sort of affection to greet them or console them. I personally think it's great and you don't see it elsewhere. It's like a second line of mothers for the kids.
4) Recently, at one of their "market days" (another great thing. twice per year the kids form entrepreneurial partnerships and sell products and services for school currency that they can use to buy things like pencils, extra restroom breaks, erasers, fun stuff for the kids) one of the groups had brought in Nerf guns that participants could pay to shoot at a target. I was blown away. At other schools they'd probably be kicked out for the rest of the year.
This is not a "rich" district by any means. The facilities themselves are actually not very impressive. It's a mix broad socioeconomic strata, although no "inner city" components. It's basically a farming and vacation community but the key is it has been run by people who are smart and give a shit, and leadership that lets common sense prevail.
Edit. Fixing give a shit typo.
1) It's school of choice here. We called the principal and told him we were thinking about sending our kids to the school although we are slightly outside of the district. He volunteered to meet us and spent around 90 minutes walking us through the school, showing us all of the facilities and answering all of our questions.
2) An abnormally large percentage of the teachers took on teaching as a second career so they bring a real-world perspective. Huge difference.
3) Some may think it is a little weird but I have seen many occasions where teachers were hugging children showing some sort of affection to greet them or console them. I personally think it's great and you don't see it elsewhere. It's like a second line of mothers for the kids.
4) Recently, at one of their "market days" (another great thing. twice per year the kids form entrepreneurial partnerships and sell products and services for school currency that they can use to buy things like pencils, extra restroom breaks, erasers, fun stuff for the kids) one of the groups had brought in Nerf guns that participants could pay to shoot at a target. I was blown away. At other schools they'd probably be kicked out for the rest of the year.
This is not a "rich" district by any means. The facilities themselves are actually not very impressive. It's a mix broad socioeconomic strata, although no "inner city" components. It's basically a farming and vacation community but the key is it has been run by people who are smart and give a shit, and leadership that lets common sense prevail.
Edit. Fixing give a shit typo.