Franklin Schools??? (Brentwood: fingerprinting, neighborhood, elementary schools)

[skpkFamily]

It looks like we will be moving to Franklin and I am curious about schools. I have a one in Kindergarten and one in First grade. We are currently in private school where class sizes are max of 14 kids per class. It looks like the private schools there will be out of our price range.

1)What are the class sizes in the public schools there?

2)What seem to be the top performing schools in reading and math?

3)Do the elementary schools offer foreign language?

4)What other classes do they offer? (Art, Music, Computer)?

5)I also love to volunteer and am looking for a school that encourages parent involvement.

I would love to hear your opinions. Thank you!

[septimus]

Originally Posted by skpkFamily

It looks like we will be moving to Franklin and I am curious about schools. I have a one in Kindergarten and one in First grade. We are currently in private school where class sizes are max of 14 kids per class. It looks like the private schools there will be out of our price range.

1)What are the class sizes in the public schools there?

2)What seem to be the top performing schools in reading and math?

3)Do the elementary schools offer foreign language?

4)What other classes do they offer? (Art, Music, Computer)?

5)I also love to volunteer and am looking for a school that encourages parent involvement.

I would love to hear your opinions. Thank you!

Class sizes are much larger than 14... I could be slightly off in my numbers (but not by more than 1 or 2) but basically at kindergarten max class size is 23 and average class size of all kindergarten classrooms at a school has to be 20. The numbers go up slighly as kids get older but in addition to a maximum class size there is an average class size that is set by state law.

I think you will find all of the Williamson County schools in Brentwood and Franklin city limits to be very comparable as far as test scores in math and reading. Some of the more rural areas of the county don't have as high of test scores, but they also have more poverty.

As a district Williamson doesn't offer foreign language at the elementary level. Edmondson is the only school that I've heard of offering it. The Super has said that he wants foreign language instruction in the elementary schools, but with such low property taxes and per pupil spending, I'm not sure where the funds will come from to do that.

All of the schools offer art, music, technology... that said every district I've ever lived/attended school up to this one has offered free musical instrument lessons starting in 3/4th grade and they don't do that here. It is amazing that for an area with such a big music industry we don't have a world class musical instrument education program. The high schools do have marching bands, but I don't think any of the high schools have orchestras.

I think all of the schools encourage parent envolvement.

[BirdieBelle]

The state allows higher maximum class sizes than many may be comfortable with. It's divided as follows: Kindergarten through third grade: average 20; maximum 25; fourth through sixth grade: average 25; maximum 30.

As for top-performing schools, you can view the 2009 standardized results here:
http://edu.reportcard.state.tn.us/pl...4450891::NO:::

You can search by school. The state has re-normed the TCAP score reporting system this year, which has delayed the release of the results from last year's test.

It is remarkable how similar the area elementaries are in test scores. It's a pretty homogenous population here, with lots of college-educated parents who encourage achievement. Your best bet would be to narrow down areas of town by price range and type of neighborhood and see how the culture of each school best fits your lifestyle.

Septimus addressed the foreign language issue. Edmondson lost their language teacher because it was funded separately and funding was cut.

Most local elementary schools offer what they call "specials" or "related arts." These include music, PE twice a week, art and guidance. All have designated reading time.

As far as volunteering, it is welcomed but our new superintendent has instituted stricter regulations. If you want to be in the classroom on a regular, lengthy basis or go on field trips, you will need to be fingerprinted and have a background check. Other levels of volunteering don't require fingerprinting but signing a confidentiality release. Wait until you select a school and check with the principal.

Before you decide anything, you should wait until after Sept. 17 when the district releases the results of its new computerized rezoning program. The entire county will be affected.