Moving from Europe - unusual situation, help with school system, please! (Phoenix: rent, houses)

[kodokan]

Hi, we're going to be moving to Phoenix with our 7 and 11 yr olds later this year. We're coming out in a week's time for a looking about trip to try and narrow down areas, and I'd be grateful for some help with understanding the school system.

Background: we're a British family who's been living in Switzerland for the past 3 yrs. My kids (girl, 7, 1st grade and boy, 11, 5th grade) have been in the local French-speaking school. So we're going to have a slightly weird situation of native English speakers who have been educated in French.

My daughter's ok, she can read and write sufficiently in English to drop into the correct grade and catch up. But I'm not sure what's best for my son; the curriculum here is quite old-fashioned with lots of grammar, so although he reads very well and writes quite well in English he has no knowledge at all about creative writing, how to structure an essay, summarize a piece of writing, etc. He has literally never once in 3 years been given a blank sheet of paper and told to write something - it's always 'fill in the sentence blank with the past conditional in the 3rd person plural'-type worksheets.

He should be going into 6th grade this fall, but perhaps he would be better off re-doing 5th. Is this even possible? Would it be our choice or the school's? Would it be social death for him? He has a February birthday and is a quite 'young' 11 yr old in his outlook and behaviour, still playing tag whilst others in his class have gone all cool and pre-teen. I'd say he's 'comfortably bright' but not an academic superstar.

And when it comes to middle and high school, do they tend to specialise? For example, UK secondary schools all do the core subjects, but then also have a reputation and extra facilities for sport, or art, or technology - is it the same there?

And one more question - last one, I promise! - I know that there's open enrolment and choice of school, but if we rent a house in the boundary area of a specific school, do we definitely get a place or is it only if there is a space in the classroom?

Grateful for any hints - I'm tearing my hair out trying to work my way through 5th or 6th grade, elementary or middle school. He's just at the exact cut-off to make it complicated!

Thanks a lot.

[observer53]

You should be able to enroll him in fifth grade here. My nephew lived with my mother and I -- when we moved to a different district, my mother chose to have him repeat sixth grade, as he, like your son, was on the young side and really wasn't ready for the transition. The kids were all new to him, no one knew he was repeating a grade. It worked out perfectly.

Most middle and high schools here don't specialize in the way you describe. Some have a reputation for particularly strong programs in certain sports, particularly, but that is pretty much the extent of it.

If you live in the boundary area of a particular school, then your children can attend there... the school can't tell you there's no room.

[khuntrevor]

Madison Elementary SD 38 - AZ - Enrollment Information This is a combination of the best district and best location in Phoenix. They now have a traditional school. Based on what you told me, your son doesn't need to repeat 5th grade.
I used to work for them, and probably would again. If you want to come by and pick me up, I will take you to the main office and get the ball rolling for you--free of charge. I don't think you have anything to worry about. There are many international students in the MSD. Welcome to America, Welcome to Phoenix. You didn't say where you will be working................Phoenix alone is 475 square miles. The bigger, newer houses are out in the exurbs, and a bad commute can come with that.

[ob11]

Don't know if that is something you would be interested in, but there is also a French speaking school, the International School of Arizona. Elementary school is private and thus not really cheap, but there is a new charter middle school (International Charter School of Arizona, near 56th Street & Shea) which will be free. My understanding is that about half of instruction is done in French, and the curriculum is approved by both Arizona and France. Check it out International Charter School of Arizona - An International Charter Middle SchoolFirst Day of School -*August 8, 2011! *The International Charter School of Arizona is launching a new charter (public, tuition-free)*middle school in August 2011 in Scott

[kodokan]

Thanks for the replies. Good to know we automatically get places at our boundary school; that's different both here in Switzerland and in the UK, where an incomer would only get a place space permitting, even if they moved into the house next door.

Hubby will be working near Sky Harbor, so we'll be looking at any nice areas within, say, a 45 min commute. When we come out next week, we're planning to drive around all the usual suspects - Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, etc - and get a feel for where we might like to be. We're looking for the usual sort of things - house (with a pool!) on a family street where the kids can play out with friends, in an area with parks, shops, leisure facilities and a library not too far. Bike-friendly is important to us, as is being able to walk/bike to school in the cooler months; not fussed about things like gated communities or upscale restaurants as we don't tend to go out much without the kids.

When it comes to schools, I'm more interested in a good all-round place where the kids will be happy and engaged, rather than an academic sweat-shop. My son went to one of those for a couple of years in the UK - absolutely stunning test results, among the top state primary schools in the UK, but achieved by ruthlessly excluding any individuality and teaching to the test. I want them to have an enjoyable childhood, not spend it drilling 2+ hours a day homework.

What do you think? Will I get everything on my wish list - good family area within 45 mins commute, pleasant school with a happy buzzing feel, bikeability to shops and parks, etc?

And when it comes to schools, is there any noticeable difference between districts that go K-6 then middle school, or those that do K-8; do the 'real' middle schools have better facilities like proper science labs, more computers, things like that?

Thanks everyone, any feedback is really helpful to planning our trip next week.

[observer53]

Keep Tempe on your list. Easy commute to the airport, good schools, good parks, rec and library dept with lots of activities, classes, etc. It is NOT just a college town. At normal commuting hours, parts of Glendale and Scottsdale, and the eastern parts of Gilbert, will stretch that 45 minute commute line.

[kodokan]

Ok, we'll take a spin around Tempe too, thanks. I must admit, I had slightly assumed it was largely for students. And I understand the Kyrene school district is terrific, but all the schools seem to cut from elementary to middle school between grades 5 and 6 - I thought that might overcomplicate deciding on my son's grade position, to have to deal with two schools about it!

But we shall see, we shall see... I plan to visit a couple of schools and have a good look at what the kids are working on in 5th grade, to best see where he will slot in. Or maybe pick up the sort of 'by grade' workbooks that joyless parents buy to make their kids' summer a misery - do they do that sort of thing in US bookshops and supermarkets too?

[maseyjean]

Originally Posted by kodokan

Ok, we'll take a spin around Tempe too, thanks. I must admit, I had slightly assumed it was largely for students. And I understand the Kyrene school district is terrific, but all the schools seem to cut from elementary to middle school between grades 5 and 6 - I thought that might overcomplicate deciding on my son's grade position, to have to deal with two schools about it!

But we shall see, we shall see... I plan to visit a couple of schools and have a good look at what the kids are working on in 5th grade, to best see where he will slot in. Or maybe pick up the sort of 'by grade' workbooks that joyless parents buy to make their kids' summer a misery - do they do that sort of thing in US bookshops and supermarkets too?

Yes, we most certainly do and I am guilty of it lol. I just picked up a couple of workbooks from Target for my daughter not too long ago. We're officially summer-ready

[kodokan]

Originally Posted by maseyjean

Yes, we most certainly do and I am guilty of it lol. I just picked up a couple of workbooks from Target for my daughter not too long ago. We're officially summer-ready

Oh, terrific - that'll make a nice change for my son from working through the practice AIMS tests I found online last week.

[Chanygirl]

Oh, I would definately look at Arcadia too....very close to the airport with the 143...and good schools...especially north of Indian School between 32nd street and say 56th Street. Very nice neighborhoods...lots of dog walkers, cyclists, speed bumps keep the traffic slow..shopping is close. I love living here.