Our school board just voted to close one of the four elementaries in our district to save money. One of the options they are considering for next school year (2010-11) is changing the three remaining buildings into a K-1 building, a 2-3 building, and a 4-5 building. I am not thrilled with this idea, as I was hoping to have both boys in the same school at least for a couple of years (in the fall, Xander will be in 4th grade and Miles will be in K).
Is anyone else's district currently using this type of system and PLEASE tell me what you like and don't like about it? I can't seem to find much info on the web about it. Thanks so much.
My children's elementary schools are divided into K-2, which they call elementary, and then 3-5 which is called intermediate school. I haven't had any issues thus far because mine are just in Kdg and 2nd right now. Next year, I'll have to deal with this when my oldest goes to 3rd.
The split that your school district is proposing seems a bit extreme. I've never seen or heard of it being done that way.
The town my husband is from has their schools set up that way. When I was living there they had 3 elementary schools, a junior high and a high school but the elem. schools were old and falling apart so they closed them and built a nice new one near the other 2 schools (which were right next to each other. A couple years later the school was overcrowded so they built another school. Last I heard they were still having overcrowding so they build a 2nd elementary school on the property and divided up the schools.
Now they have an early education building for preK-K (before there was no preK option), the elementary school which is 1-2, the intermediate school which is 3-5, the middle school which is 6-8 and the high school.
I guess it works okay. Our 3 nephews have gone through the system and the schools seem nice (I've been inside the middle school--worked there for awhile and the intermediate school for a play). All the schools are right together on one campus, though and share outdoor spaces (like the sports fields) but have their own playgrounds for the little kids.
Around here elementary school is considered K-8 and most schools have all grades. They are actually building a middle school (6-8) to take on the older kids from 3 local elementary schools, including the one by my house (my kids don't go there). Middle schools/junior highs are very rare in the city.
I'm a lucky girl. Our district has 3 buildings all on the same campus and it's about a 5 minute drive from my house. Elementary is K-5, then Middle is 6-8, and High school is 9-12. And before someone freaks out about the schools being all together, the doors are locked and you can't get from building to building without being buzzed in by the secretary of that particular building and they are bussed according to school, so there are 3 bus runs, no K riding with a 12.
We live near an elementary school, and it used to be K-2. They changed it so it's now K-6 because the lack of kids enrolling in it. (My son attends a magnet school in the same district, and it is K-6.)
A point you might want to bring up is busing. Will this increase the time kids are on the bus? It seems like it would also take more gas to accomodate two grades serving a whole area. I know busing is on the biggest expenses in my son's school district, and they're trying to figure out ways to greatly reduce that expense. If they're doing this to save money, it may not work out that way due to busing costs. Might be a good argument to bring up.
I am sorry I do not know anything about this type of system. My sons elem school just put another wing on to add the 5th grade. I love this because I think puttting them in the middle school at 5th is a little to young. For him staying in the elem through 5th will be wonderful.
Sister's kids' parties and events....too much...need advice
- GirlieQ
on Feb. 23, 2010 at 9:49 AM