STL Public Schools (St. Louis: credit, how much, neighborhoods)

[bissit]

I've been reading a lot of threads about the public schools in STL in which people say they are not good. However, there is nothing specific. I did a comparison between STL and my kids' school district in No. Calif and found that the student/teacher ratio as well as spending is far better in Missouri. I'm wondering if anyone can give me some specifics on the public schools there and if anyone (with kids) can has comparison stories between Calif and STL public schools. Our move is in June and my target neighborhoods are U-City and Soulard.

Thanks!

[aragx6]

You can see test scores on greatschools.net
Once you see them, you'll understand the issues with the school. Most score well below metro, state and national averages.
It's not all about how much money they spend.

[bissit]

Oh yes, I know that money isn't everything. I'm also not a huge fan of standardized test scores, for instance, we have a good language school here that gets poor test scores but their curriculum is superb. I'm just trying to figure out what the specific problems are - do you have gang violence, is it that kids are going hungry to school, are the teachers apathetic? Poor neighborhoods will have bad test scores but sometimes, there's a gem in there that goes beyond the standards.

[aragx6]

there's a difference between "so so" test scores and schools that are consistently scoring 15% when the state average is over 50%.

I heartily agree that test scores aren't everything, but they are something. These schools don't just score poorly; they score abysmally. There is violence, though this will greatly depend on the school, a lot of kids are on the free lunch program (though that doesn't affect my view of a school) and there are plenty of apathetic teachers, thoguh of course those who care as well.

Essentially the schools' major problem are that the whole district is in shambles. They're in constant danger of losing their accreditation, and they just announced their 7th superintendent since 2003 is leaving. Here's a link to an article about this in the Post-Dispatch: STLtoday - News - Education (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/2BF92B14ED7287B8862573EE0018A8B2?OpenDocument - broken link)

That being said there are some fantastic charter and magnet schools in the city, but they can be very difficult to get into (lottery).

[aragx6]

Here's an article from last year on the district's troubles form the New York Times- if the Times is reporting on this story, that can't bode well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/us...ls&oref=slogin

[bissit]

Well, you're probably correct - the scores are 'something'. I really want to live in the city and want my girls to attend public schools. Also, they deserve diversity and I just don't get that feel from the suburban schools. I suppose I'll have to go back to Great Schools and use the ol' test score mechanism in my decision.

[aragx6]

I'm like the last person to urge anyone not to live in the city, but the schools... well I don't have children, but I wouldn't even send my imaginary kids there.

I understand your hesitation for private schools, but one thing you'll find is that a lot of middle class families send their kids to private schools int he city, so they're not all uppity and elitist (plenty of them are don't get me wrong!)

I would also urge to look into the magnets and charters early and often. If you can get in, many of them are very good options.

[bissit]

Thanks so much for your input, aragx6! Its not the elitism, necessarily, its the price of private school. I'll definitely focus on the charters/magnets for now. If anyone knows about the waiting lists or particulars of these schools, please share!

[aragx6]

This details some of the process pretty well: http://www.slps.org/magnet/2008%202009%20Magnet%20School%20Brochure%20SLPS.pd f (broken link)

[aragx6]

That one above is for magnets
Here is some more info on charters: City of St. Louis: Helpful Information About Charter Schools