Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

I have a 2 year old and a 9 mo old and I am already starting to stress about schooling...the more I look into my town's public schools, I am finding out that they are not that good..I never thought too much about it bec I knew that Catholic school was always a backup...but I have heard that ours is not that much better...

SO my question (bec I grew up in Queens, this LI schooling thing is all new to me)

Is it possible to go to public school in the next town over (which is a good school system)? How much would that cost and
what about other Catholic schools...you don't HAVE to go to your parish that you technically live near do you? can't I just go join a church a couple miles further?

I guess it is still early, but I love my house and my immediate neighborhood, so I want to know what my options are besides moving!?!?

sorry this was so long!!!

thanks for your help!

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

unfortunately, no.you cannot go to a school in another school district. Your DC would have to go to whatever school your address falls into as far as district goes.ETA Im not sure about catholic schools, Im sure someone else can shed some light on that for you.

Message edited 10/8/2009 10:48:36 PM.

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

I do not think that you can send a child to school in another district unless it is for an accommodation for a disability, an accommodation that your district does not have. I do not even know how common that is anymore but I went to school with someone who came in on a bus from another district for this reason.

I always thought that for Catholic schools you do not have to stay within your parish. I know that for HS, people go from all over to attend Chaminade.

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

You can actually go to a school in another district.

My mother was a teacher in a neighboring district to the one I attended, at one point in time they were thinking they would send me to her school as a "tuition student".

Now, I don't know if that was just b/c she was an employee of the school, or if everyone can do it.

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

i believe you can go to a public school outside of your district, but i think you'd have to pay that town's school taxes as a tuition in addition to your own. i've heard of people doing this before, but don't have any experience with it personally.

as for catholic schools, i know my cousins are technically zoned to one region but attended church and school in another. that's about all i know though...

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

Why is your district considered "bad"? I've found that even the best schools have teachers that don't work well with individual students, and some of the lower schools have amazing individual teachers. Classroom education is more about the individual teacher and teacher/student relationship.
However, if your district doesn't have after school activities, extra programs, etc, then there's not much you can do.

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

You can't go to school in the next town over if it's public school.

However, you can go to any Catholic school. It does not have to be your parish.

Re: Starting to worry about my kids' schooling

I know you can attend any Catholic school you want - the issue may arise with transportation and whether your public school district will provide the transportation to that school. You will also more than likely be asked to pay a higher tuition because you would be considered "non-parish supporting". My DS is in K at our local Catholic school and he has kids in his class from all over LI!