<blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" That's great. And, there are some conscientious parents out there. Unfortunately, the number of parents that dont consider the school districts is shocking and depressing."</blockquote>




This is so true. We could have gotten a much larger home had we gone about 30-40mins from where we are but the school district is terrible so we opted for this home for that reason. We only had DS1 at the time and he wasn't even a year old but the schools played a major role in our decision. I have a aquaintance who has a toddler and she just bought a home in a terrible district and when I mentioned it to her she just said "well we have a while to figure that out"

Quoting JamieP:" <blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" That's great. And, there are some conscientious ... [snip!] ... bought a home in a terrible district and when I mentioned it to her she just said "well we have a while to figure that out""

If i had low income, I'd live in a hut that was in a good school district.

Your friend with the toddler has a little time to figure things out. Maybe they will be able to afford a private school. If not, I wouldnt have my child in a crappy school past 1st grade. After that i think they get too far behind AND they start associating with more and more kids from families that dont place a big emphasis on education.

<blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" If i had low income, I'd live in a hut that was in a good school district. Your friend with the ... [snip!] ... too far behind AND they start associating with more and more kids from families that dont place a big emphasis on education."</blockquote>




Yes I definitely agree growing up we lived in a terrible district but luckily I was put into gifted classes with some wonderful teachers really trying to make a difference and by high school my mom had gotten herself together to move us to a much better district. Thankfully my husband and I can afford a pretty nice home in either district but where we are we have a 4 bedroom home and in the other we could have had 6-7. I really hope she can figure something out as well and she does have time but I just don't understand locking yourself into a mortgage knowing there is a major (in my opinion) issue you currently have no way to resolve.

<blockquote><b>Quoting JamieP:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" If i had low income, I'd live in a hut ... [snip!] ... locking yourself into a mortgage knowing there is a major (in my opinion) issue you currently have no way to resolve."</blockquote>




In Arizona all districts have open enrollment, we also have charter schools and private school vouchers for those that would otherwise be unable to attend private school. It doesn't matter where you live. Its not like that in other states?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Bad {MAM} -A- Jamma:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting JamieP:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" ... [snip!] ... that would otherwise be unable to attend private school. It doesn't matter where you live. Its not like that in other states?"</blockquote>




No not at all. There are actually a lot of checks to be sure you are not going out of district and you can get into a lot of trouble if you do. I live in Georgia and we are normally somewhere at the bottle of this list as far as education in the US.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Bad {MAM} -A- Jamma:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting JamieP:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" ... [snip!] ... that would otherwise be unable to attend private school. It doesn't matter where you live. Its not like that in other states?"</blockquote>


That's howit is in MI too. It's called school of choice. We are sending my DD to a charter school since our home district sucks. We thought about taking her to the next district over but we didn't get the right feeling there like we did at the school we picked.

Quoting Bad {MAM} -A- Jamma:" <blockquote><b>Quoting JamieP:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting GrizzlyMamma:</b>" ... [snip!] ... that would otherwise be unable to attend private school. It doesn't matter where you live. Its not like that in other states?"

As someone else said, it's not that way everywhere. That is the main reason that many people are pushing for "school choice" via vouchers.
The chronically under-performing schools are kept "in business" as the area residents have no choice.
When you sign your child into a specific school, you must prove that the child resides in that district. Many areas have been experimenting with charter schools or specialized public schools, but in general, NY, NJ and PA are very strict.

Quoting GrizzlyMamma:" As someone else said, it's not that way everywhere. That is the main reason that many people are pushing ... [snip!] ... have been experimenting with charter schools or specialized public schools, but in general, NY, NJ and PA are very strict."

See, this has been whats upsetting us recently. The school our kids were put into is on the south side of town (even though there were other schools closer, we came in after school had already started, so I guess they put us where they had room) well.....I drive past the other schools in town all the time and the difference between the school MY kids were forced to go to and the other ones is sickening. The other ones are REALLY pretty with tons of space and nice equipment......I don't get why there is such a difference when they are both public schools. Why must my kids be forced to go to a crappy school when, since this is the public school district, there shouldn't BE a crappier choice to begin with.

Ugh, this is why homeschooling has been looking like such a viable option recently. I hate that there is such a disparity between schools that are all publicly funded. Why do the students at that school deserve more of a cut from the budget than the one's at the other school? SMH.....

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" See, this has been whats upsetting us recently. The school our kids were put into is on the south side ... [snip!] ... funded. Why do the students at that school deserve more of a cut from the budget than the one's at the other school? SMH....."

the outward appearance of a school, do not necessarily reflect the ability of the teachers or the academic records for that school.

Quoting A❤T=P[Baking]:" the outward appearance of a school, do not necessarily reflect the ability of the teachers or the academic records for that school."

Well obviously - but the fact that they are spending money on stuff like LED scoreboards and such when there are schools in the district that aren't doing anywhere near as well.....that's just not right.

Also, I have talked to other parents whose kid's go to the other school and they say the test scores are much higher at that school and that there are more resources for the kids - better library, tutors, resource rooms.....

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" See, this has been whats upsetting us recently. The school our kids were put into is on the south side ... [snip!] ... funded. Why do the students at that school deserve more of a cut from the budget than the one's at the other school? SMH....."

I'm sure there is a big difference in property taxes when you compare the areas.
Crappy and affordable ares usually have relatively crappier schools.
Like i said, I'd live in a hut in a nice part of town just so that my child's education was paid for by people who had more money than me.

Quoting GrizzlyMamma:" I'm sure there is a big difference in property taxes when you compare the areas. Crappy and affordable ... [snip!] ... I'd live in a hut in a nice part of town just so that my child's education was paid for by people who had more money than me."

I think that's a crap way to fund public schools, though. I don't think it's right in any way, shape or form that children whose parent's have more money automatically get a better education from whats supposed to be a public school, I think it's complete bull. How the hell are the kid's who come from a lower socio-economic standing supposed to climb their way out with things like that stopping them? Public schooling in general get's me fired up, but this whole disparity between whats supposed to be public has really gotten to me lately.

I hope not because we move every two to three years (we've actually moved twice in the past two years alone and are about to move again in September). We almost bought a house in NY to rent out but decided against it and it's a good thing too because I became pregnant shortly thereafter and that money was definitely a good thing to have since babies are so effing expensive.

One thing I like about renting is that if the school isn't working for our family, we can move.

I owned a home that was zoned for the best elementary school in town, which was the main reason I purchased it. Well, my son, who is autistic and was going through a major "bad phase" at the time of starting Kindergarten, was having a horrible time in school, the supposed best school in the county. They had no counselors, no OT, and their only solution was to put him in the lowest classroom level with severely handicapped kids, which would not have done him any good as he is highly intelligent and needed a lot of support services, which they said they could not provide due to budget cuts. The school was fabulous for "mainstream kids", but failed my son.

As soon as I sold the home, and moved to another area (my SO's hometown), which is known to have one of the states top school districts, my son turned into a completely different child. The school has done so well with him, that this upcoming school year he does not even need to be in special ed anymore, he is going to "normal class". And his behavior has done a complete 180.
And we are renting!

So no, as a Mom who has done both, I dont think owning vs renting impacts a child. There is a roof over my childrens heads and a love filled household. I am much happier renting right now than i was when i owned the home we lived in.