JCPS info (Louisville: buying a house, transfer, buying)

[eve_rything]

I am looking for REAL, good information, not opinion or county based, please? My family recently relocated to Louisville from another state. We are Kentucky natives but have never dealt with this type of school set-up.

We applied for Magnet schools and programs hoping to get in one even though it was a long shot out of "season". My child has been assigned a school in our cluster, but it was the last choice for us. Had it not been required to be ranked, it would have been left off our options altogether. Not only is it the furthest away with no transportation options, but it is ranked as the lowest of all elementary schools in JCPS to mention one of the last in Kentucky. My child is an excellent student and I am terrified this will destroy her education goals. I looked into transfers but there seems to be so many negative things with this option.

Is this school our end-all? Can we apply again next year? (we will have two in school then) What are the chances of getting a different school?

We have looked into private schools and charters, but frankly, even with a healthy income; these options are still extremely expensive for primary school. And that is only after you meet all initial requirements. Is it really so different to my children's education, quality wise, to invest in the private/charter option? Many of the private schools seem to claim the same as all the public school websites. I understand school records matter, but is this a school curriculum quality difference or a parental involvement issue? Does JCPS provide good education?

I have asked all the questions to the school liaisons and my contacts here but I am only getting opinions. The stats on the internet vary from site to site. I just need to know that my child's education will not suffer by attending a JCPS school. I would love to get responses from parents who are in this boat, have been down this route or can provide factual information. This whole process seems insane. Normally where I wouldn't worry, the extreme reactions to JCPS vs the rest of Louisville has me paranoid. Thanks for any help!

[tomocox]

Ok, you don't want opinions, then this is what is left, go to the school board and take what they give you. I don't mean to be rude, cruel, or belligerent in any way. It just means that posters can't paint a crumbling house with pretty paint.

Without expressing opinions, your child CAN receive a VERY GOOD education in a JCPS school. Your child CAN receive a VERY GOOD education in the worst of the JCPS schools.

Now, here's the situation, your child's odds of receiving a VERY GOOD education in a VERY GOOD school are much better than your child receiving a VERY GOOD education in a very poor school. Five of Jefferson County's schools are VERY GOOD, some of the best in Kentucky. Then there are a couple of middle of the pack schools, the rest are very poor schools.

These are facts, not opinions. Unfortunately, now you have to choose whether or not your child will have a good chance.

I think we, as posters on this forum, all want your child to achieve educational success beyond imagination. I surely do!

[censusdata]

I am starting to think long term about buying a house in the metro area also and schools would be a consideration. JCPS is not simple... my best understanding is that there is one school at each level (elementary, middle, high) that you can guarantee your child's access to (called a "resides") school) and then there are other schools which your child could attend but it's not for sure. Sounds like you had the worst case scernario happen: you don't like your resides school and didn't get any of your other top options.

I like a lot of areas in Louisville / Jefferson Co that I would not consider buying a house in due to the schools.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by eve_rything

I am looking for REAL, good information, not opinion or county based, please? My family recently relocated to Louisville from another state. We are Kentucky natives but have never dealt with this type of school set-up.

We applied for Magnet schools and programs hoping to get in one even though it was a long shot out of "season". My child has been assigned a school in our cluster, but it was the last choice for us. Had it not been required to be ranked, it would have been left off our options altogether. Not only is it the furthest away with no transportation options, but it is ranked as the lowest of all elementary schools in JCPS to mention one of the last in Kentucky. My child is an excellent student and I am terrified this will destroy her education goals. I looked into transfers but there seems to be so many negative things with this option.

Is this school our end-all? Can we apply again next year? (we will have two in school then) What are the chances of getting a different school?

We have looked into private schools and charters, but frankly, even with a healthy income; these options are still extremely expensive for primary school. And that is only after you meet all initial requirements. Is it really so different to my children's education, quality wise, to invest in the private/charter option? Many of the private schools seem to claim the same as all the public school websites. I understand school records matter, but is this a school curriculum quality difference or a parental involvement issue? Does JCPS provide good education?

I have asked all the questions to the school liaisons and my contacts here but I am only getting opinions. The stats on the internet vary from site to site. I just need to know that my child's education will not suffer by attending a JCPS school. I would love to get responses from parents who are in this boat, have been down this route or can provide factual information. This whole process seems insane. Normally where I wouldn't worry, the extreme reactions to JCPS vs the rest of Louisville has me paranoid. Thanks for any help!

The same issue happened to my friends. They quickly were able to get their child to a magnet school the next year. It took a little complaining and a phone call to the board, but they were nice about it. Such is the facts with JCPS. It actually is not as terrible as everyone says given its size, but it needs a whole lot of work.

If I moved back to Louisville, I would enroll my young children in JCPS, and I am very educated.