Chapel Hill / Carrboro School District (Raleigh: professionals, moving, relocating to)

[megh]

I know that as a whole the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro School District is highly regarded and considered one of the best in the state. My husband and I are moving from out of state and have been researching schools for our son (elementary age). I'm hoping to get some honest feedback about individuals schools within this district. Ones that are great and ones that are not so great. And elaboration/ reasoning or specific examples would also be very helpful. I know everyone has some variation in opinion and look for slightly different things in a school for their children. So far, I've heard that McDougle Elem/Middle Schools are really great.

Thanks for any feedback!

[mommapudding]

I'm from England so this is my first experience of any American school system, but my daughter is in 3rd grade and as I volunteer in a special needs unit in a different school, based upon comparisons with the UK I have found the classes smaller, therefore with a higher staff/pupil ratio, the overall standard of education seems higher here, few pupils in my daughters class are older than regular third graders, and most children are polite and inquisitive. There are a lot of liberal professionals' and academics' children attending these schools, placing a large emphasis on the positives of learning, so that raises the benchmark for the brighter children, no child left behind however sometimes leaves the classroom wanting more small group or one-to-one support for the less able, and few qualified or paid staff to support them and maintain the interest of the brighter children - but if you can come up with an answer for that one...
The insiders view - there is still an issue that resources and manpower are down on the ideal, volunteers are welcomed but perhaps misapplied, politics abound and there are good teachers mixed in with the not so good.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased with the school system for my daughter, but there is good reason I chose to work in another school, sometimes one can know too much ;0)

[laurelgreen]

Hi Mommapudding and others....We too are relocating to Chapel Hill and are looking at schools....Do you know anything about Glenwood Elementary or Scroggs? We have a rising second grader. We've been in the Triangle since 1990 but have our son in private school in Raleigh. We would like to hear more about the public elementary schools in Chapel Hill. Thanks!

[Chapel Hill Connection]

Both Glenwood and Scroggs are very highly regarded. Glenwood has a Chinese Immersion program which is very popular. Scroggs probably has the highest socioeconomic status of any of the schools, for better or worse, depending on your perspective. Glenwood is a much older facility than Scroggs. Both schools have wonderful teachers, dedicated parents, and complementary curriculum. You can compare and contrast at ReDir and GreatSchools.net.