Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

I think it depends on why you plan to send them to catholic school. If it is solely for the education, only you know how your district's education compares to your private alternatives.

If you are thinking about values and want religion to be a part of their education then you might want to consider catholic school. There is a lot of research suggesting that kids in private schools are kinder to each other and are more responsible than their public school peers. Most of that relates to how they dress and higher expectations as it relates to appearance.

For us, when DH and I bought our first home, there was no way I was sending any children to that district. If we still lived there, our DD would be going to some kind of private school. We have since moved to a very good school district so our plan is to send DD to that public school when she turns 5. She is currently in Montessori school and if we choose to keep her in that program we will move to a less expensive district. I refuse to pay the prices I pay for our property and taxes if I am not going to use the district. We shall see. We still have 3 years,.

Message edited 3/27/2015 3:56:22 PM.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

I don't have kids; however, I'm an avid supporter of Catholic schools. I attended Catholic schools my entire life, and I feel deeply shaped by my experience. I am not extremely religious, but I do have solid faith in my own beliefs and a solid understanding of, and respect for, other religious and cultural beliefs. We didn't learn about Catholicism exclusively; we explored religion overall as a subject and as a part of the human experience.

I also found the education at my schools to be exemplary. I went to a solid college and breezed through; I had learned all of the material, or at least the skills to tackle the material, in high school. My high school experience, in particular, was virtually flawless. Most of my best friends are from high school, and the closeness we have isn't an anomaly for people who went to our school. I feel that the sense of community left lasting impressions.

Yes, of course, not all Catholic schools are the same, but I wanted to share my experience.

Message edited 3/28/2015 12:38:13 PM.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

I am a public school teacher and I am sending my kids to Catholic School. I love the community feel to Catholic schools. I also went to Catholic School and had a wonderful experience and learned to much not only academically but spiritually. I am not totally against the common core because I think the increased standards could be a good thing if it wasn't implemented so horribly and had so many tie ins with Pearson. That being said I love the fact that in Catholic School the kids aren't tested to death which means they can learn so much more from their teachers who aren't being forced to teach to the test that so many kids aren't ready for. In Catholic Schools they are tested in 4th and 8th grade which is enough for me.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Anyone send DC to catholic school

Thank you everyone so much for your thoughts! We have some time to think about this, as I said my oldest will be in Pre-k in September, and will be doing Pre-k & K in Catholic school. We have plenty of time to decide what to do for 1st grade, but I am hoping I love the school and want to keep him there. DH is a huge advocate of a Catholic education. I actually went to Catholic school where I grew up, in Flushing, Queens. I LOVED my school, I also went to Catholic high school. I had a great experience but I also have nothing to compare it to.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

My DC are all in Catholic School. My oldest is graduating Holy Trinity High School in late May. My younger ones attend a Catholic school in our town.

I went to Catholic School through 8th grade then went to public high school. I wasn't making that mistake with my DC Catholic all the way.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Posted by DaniJude

I have to say, I was ALL about the public school system because I happen to LOVE my school district. It rates top-notch, it's wonderful. I went there, I loved it. BUT -- because of Common Core, I have really been thinking about other alternatives.

I have not really considered Catholic as much -- even though I am Catholic, but I was looking into private schools like Ivy League or Harbor Country Day School... and then places like the Knox Academy.

It is pricey but with Common Core, I don't know, I am really considering this.

You could always try it out for a year, see how they do, and then make a change.

Anyone send DC to catholic school

I went to Catholic School my entire life and received a wonderful academic and moral education. If I could afford it I would send my kids as well, unfortunately it is not in the cards for us. Luckily, we live in a great district, but it is large (Three Village), and I miss the close knit feeling of the Catholic Schools.

Message edited 3/29/2015 11:20:22 AM.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Posted by teachermom

Posted by JenandMikey

I went to catholic school for elementary and high school and I taught in a catholic school for seven years before having children and becoming a sahm

I send my kids to catholic school for many reasons....smaller class size...community/family feeling....principal most teachers know my children/family by name....classroom management is key with discipline and structure that helps provide an atmosphere conducive to learning....although common core is followed state tests are not the main focus and there isn't strict "teaching to the test" instead they focus on hands on manipulative activities projects that make learning fun.....social studies, science, art, music (option to learn an instrument), gym, computer, italian and Spanish are all still taught on a DAILY basis which most of the time in most public schools they are not ....cyo sports ....Girl Scouts.....lots of volunteer opportunities to be closer to your children and ability to help the school.....overall it's a struggle to pay tuition for two kids (soon 3) BUT I think it's the best decision my parents made for me and the best decision I made for my kids

Well said! I went to public school K-5 and Catholic from 6-12 and college as well. I teach in a public school and will be sending my daughter to Catholic school because of the reasons you listed as well as the fact that, in my experience, Catholic schools hold kids more accountable.

Message edited 3/29/2015 3:55:21 PM.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

I went to PS school K-8 and catholic HS, which is common in my area.

My kids will attend public elementary school, it is actually smaller in size than our local catholic school.

Based on the research I have done and just looking at class size and test scores the PS is the better choice. If I felt that they would be getting a better education at the catholic school then I would most certainly send them there. Friends of mine attended catholic elementary school so I get that they are comfortable sending their children to catholic school in the same way I am comfortable w PS, you do what you know I suppose.

Come JHS and HS I will have to reevaluate, I went to the local JHS but things change over the years and I have to see what I want to do at that time.

Additionally my personal experience, and again this may not be true for all schools, was that my PS education was much more rigorous than my catholic school experience. I entered HS basically a sophomore bc of the language and regents courses I took at the local PS which at that time were not available at the catholic school. I found that catholic school gave a lot of "busy" work as far as HW and such but the work was much, much easier for me.

Message edited 3/30/2015 9:14:25 AM.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Posted by bookloveK

Posted by DaniJude

I have to say, I was ALL about the public school system because I happen to LOVE my school district. It rates top-notch, it's wonderful. I went there, I loved it. BUT -- because of Common Core, I have really been thinking about other alternatives.

I have not really considered Catholic as much -- even though I am Catholic, but I was looking into private schools like Ivy League or Harbor Country Day School... and then places like the Knox Academy.

It is pricey but with Common Core, I don't know, I am really considering this.

You could always try it out for a year, see how they do, and then make a change.

Unfortunately Ivy League is very much pro common core My daughter is in the 3 year old program there and the Pre-K seems so intense! Never mind how much the price goes up! We are looking at other preschools.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Posted by DaniJude

Posted by bookloveK

Posted by DaniJude

I have to say, I was ALL about the public school system because I happen to LOVE my school district. It rates top-notch, it's wonderful. I went there, I loved it. BUT -- because of Common Core, I have really been thinking about other alternatives.

I have not really considered Catholic as much -- even though I am Catholic, but I was looking into private schools like Ivy League or Harbor Country Day School... and then places like the Knox Academy.

It is pricey but with Common Core, I don't know, I am really considering this.

You could always try it out for a year, see how they do, and then make a change.

Unfortunately Ivy League is very much pro common core My daughter is in the 3 year old program there and the Pre-K seems so intense! Never mind how much the price goes up! We are looking at other preschools.

Did you check out Harbor Country??

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

Sorry, I guess I should have added that my husband always went to Catholic school (never attended public school) so that's why we've been looking around. He really enjoyed his school experience!

Anyone send DC to catholic school

Honestly we thought it we ever moved out of the city to the burbs in a good school district we wouldn't even think about private school. Now we are in contract for a house, good school district and I'm thinking about it a lot. We either want a Catholic or Christian school for the values they receive but also because it seems there are more opportunities, smaller class sizes more a sense of community, etc.

Right now DD is in public in the city and we like her school a lot however she is only in 2nd. I definitely think if the finances work for middle and high school she will be attending a private Catholic or Christian school.

Re: Anyone send DC to catholic school

I live AND work in an excellent district and I have chosen to send my 2 kids to Catholic school-you've got a lot or info. and responses here so i'll just add that it has (for us) been a very worthwhile change. I love the small sense of community, the inclusion of prayer and God every day, and the overall discipline and accountability that is expected of the students. It's not for everybody and I understand that..
I wouldn't send them back to public school b.c the experience has been so good,