Pat/Medford River Elementary or Catholic school?

Hi,

I dont know enough about LI to really answer my own question. What i have gathered from the internet is that Pat/Medford is low-average school district. My kids are 3 &2, so DH and I are considering a Catholic or Christian school instead. We are NOT Catholic- we are technically Christian Orthodox (Russian & Ukranian) however there are NO orthodox schools on the island that we could find- closest one was in Queens.


Can anyone recommend Catholic Schools? Location is anywhere in Eastern Nassau and Western Suffolk. I do not mind driving.

Also, how is admission for non Catholics? is it a far stretch to even get accepted?

Schools I have found so far but dont know enough about are:
St Patrick- Smithtown
Sts Philip and James - St James
St Joes- ronkonkoma

Can anyone give any feedback regarding these schools? Or Recommend Good Catholic schools on the island- PreK-12 is preferred but just elementary ones is okay too.

My kids went to Stony Brook Child Care- one still goes part time into the preschool program but they have terminated their part time program so my second child may not have that option not to mention it is VERY expensive. I do most of my activities in that area- stony brook, nesconset etc, that is why I was looking at Smithtown and St James for Catholic school and not Patchogue. In general i am not in love with patchogue and we hope to move from here.

Re: Pat/Medford River Elementary or Catholic school?

I can tell you that River is the best kept secret in the district!!! Don't waste your $$ on private school.

The state compares districts like pat-med and a more affluent district on the chart. lets call it district A. When there can be no comparison on so many different levels. However, the education that takes place is comparable. (however at the upper level a district like district A will offer more classes for budget is not as much of an issue) All school districts are rated on graduation rate and state test scores. A district like district A has (and I know I'm generalizing) next to no non english speakers, no free and reduced lunch, less unbroken homes, $$ for child care, more parents with a solid education meaning more employment, more kids in district A get tucked in at night by 2 parents, where more kids in patmed are going to sleep. all of these factors will leave district A performing better on state tests. but that does not mean that the students with some resources do not do just as well as kids from more affluent districts. District A does not have any "sub-groups" (that is what the state calls them) to possibly lower their test scores.

I teach in the district and I would send my children there. There are MANY teachers in the district that children also go to school there.

I hope that helps and it was not too long lol

Re: Pat/Medford River Elementary or Catholic school?