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newlywedT
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 792 total posts
Name:
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Big or small school district?
Looking at houses again - what are your thoughts on the size of the school?
We're split on them, its:
Big school district (maybe 350 in a grade) vs Small school (about 100 in a grade)
What do you think is better?
Small school district might be good because everyone knows each other, but that could be bad too.
If the top mean girl in the school dislikes your kid then the whole school is against them.
But if its a big school district, there's higher chance they will find friends.
Thoughts?
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Posted 3/28/24 8:11 PM  |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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Big or small school district?
For me it wouldnt be the size of the school, it would be the ratings, class sizes and offerings that would make my decision.
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| Posted 3/29/24 10:22 AM |
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nycbuslady
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 1066 total posts
Name:
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Big or small school district?
I personally prefer big districts because you're not stuck with the same group forever. It's easier to move among friend groups as you get older. But, most districts tend to have smaller elementary schools. So, you can get the "small school" feel when the kids are little. Then, as they get older, they go on to a bigger Middle School and High School. Just my opinion.
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| Posted 3/29/24 10:55 AM |
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Re: Big or small school district?
My class was about 1,500 so I have no clue what it would be like to have a small class but I didn't find an issue with it at all.
I think the more people, the more diverse friends your children will have and more experiences they will have.
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| Posted 3/29/24 12:08 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Big or small school district?
I’ve taught in 4 districts. I consider 350 - medium sized - which would be my preference. Good opportunities but not too small. I think 100 is too small. My home district is around 300. I teach in a district that has 550 and I think it’s too big.
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| Posted 3/29/24 12:35 PM |
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newlywedT
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 792 total posts
Name:
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Big or small school district?
My senior class was about 1k kids from what I remember.
We're thinking Herricks vs East Williston - any thoughts on those areas?
Thanks
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| Posted 3/29/24 12:59 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Big or small school district?
I think the greatest benefit of a larger district is that it would likely have more resources (wider variety of electives, special programs, etc). I would put very little stock in rankings. My district is highly ranked and I know very few people who are happy with the district. If you can, talk to the parents in the district, see if you can access school board meeting info. A number on great schools or niche doesn’t really tell you a whole lot. You need to find out what’s really going on.
I have a family member who lives in Herricks. She is happy overall but says the social aspect is minimal. Very few play dates, parties, etc. Her kids are in elementary, not sure if it’s different as they get older.
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| Posted 3/29/24 6:28 PM |
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PitterPatter11
Baby Boy is Here!
Member since 5/11 7619 total posts
Name:
Momma <3
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Re: Big or small school district?
Posted by LuckyStar
I think the greatest benefit of a larger district is that it would likely have more resources (wider variety of electives, special programs, etc). I would put very little stock in rankings. My district is highly ranked and I know very few people who are happy with the district. If you can, talk to the parents in the district, see if you can access school board meeting info. A number on great schools or niche doesn’t really tell you a whole lot. You need to find out what’s really going on.
I have a family member who lives in Herricks. She is happy overall but says the social aspect is minimal. Very few play dates, parties, etc. Her kids are in elementary, not sure if it’s different as they get older.
I agree that all those website ratings are baloney. Even the school “report cards” are baloney.
Ask people who live in the district. If your child has a learning disability, ask others about services provided.
My district (upstate) is ranked in the top 5 out of 100. It has awesome “stats”. Trying to get my son the reading instruction he needs has been a 7 month battle which I am still fighting. You will find similar stories at LI schools as I am on many NYS reading FB groups. People not dealing with IEPs most likely have very different experiences than me - they’d give a glowing review. Typical learners are very successful because they all come from middle to upper middle class families who prioritize education. I mean my son is successful as well but could really excel with proper instruction.
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| Posted 3/30/24 11:42 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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Re: Big or small school district?
Posted by PitterPatter11
Posted by LuckyStar
I think the greatest benefit of a larger district is that it would likely have more resources (wider variety of electives, special programs, etc). I would put very little stock in rankings. My district is highly ranked and I know very few people who are happy with the district. If you can, talk to the parents in the district, see if you can access school board meeting info. A number on great schools or niche doesn’t really tell you a whole lot. You need to find out what’s really going on.
I have a family member who lives in Herricks. She is happy overall but says the social aspect is minimal. Very few play dates, parties, etc. Her kids are in elementary, not sure if it’s different as they get older.
I agree that all those website ratings are baloney. Even the school “report cards” are baloney.
Ask people who live in the district. If your child has a learning disability, ask others about services provided.
My district (upstate) is ranked in the top 5 out of 100. It has awesome “stats”. Trying to get my son the reading instruction he needs has been a 7 month battle which I am still fighting. You will find similar stories at LI schools as I am on many NYS reading FB groups. People not dealing with IEPs most likely have very different experiences than me - they’d give a glowing review. Typical learners are very successful because they all come from middle to upper middle class families who prioritize education. I mean my son is successful as well but could really excel with proper instruction.
You are correct that the ratings are baloney, I used them as a starting point in the past but our district has schools rated as low as the district next to us, which has a plethora of issues, and they are calling for the state to take it over.
I looked at the school districts OP listed - one thing to look at that I know bothers many, is that the smaller district has 8th graders in the high school. I think its fine as it allows kids to take classes they may not have had access to in the MS (as my district does that) but many dislike that their kids could have upper classmen in their classes (my kid does).
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| Posted 4/3/24 9:50 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Big or small school district?
I grew up in a small district (100 kids in graduating class)but now live in a medium (400 kids in graduating class) school district. Knowing what I know now, I would pick the medium district of 350-400 kids per grade every time. I think 1000 kids per grade is too large.
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| Posted 4/30/24 2:55 PM |
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nycbuslady
LIF Adult
Member since 9/15 1066 total posts
Name:
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Re: Big or small school district?
Posted by LSP2005
I grew up in a small district (100 kids in graduating class)but now live in a medium (400 kids in graduating class) school district. Knowing what I know now, I would pick the medium district of 350-400 kids per grade every time. I think 1000 kids per grade is too large.
I agree. I think 350-400 kids per grade is the ideal number.
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| Posted 5/1/24 10:38 AM |
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Re: Big or small school district?
Posted by LSP2005
I grew up in a small district (100 kids in graduating class)but now live in a medium (400 kids in graduating class) school district. Knowing what I know now, I would pick the medium district of 350-400 kids per grade every time. I think 1000 kids per grade is too large.
My class was like 1,500 
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| Posted 5/1/24 12:50 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Big or small school district?
350 per grade is still a low medium district and no where near large. The more important thing to look for is the financials of your district, do they spend their money wisely, what programs they offer (academic and extra curricular), what sports they participate in if that is on your radar, what supports they offer, and graduation rates.
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| Posted 5/1/24 2:00 PM |
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mama2charlotte
LIF Adult
Member since 7/12 1014 total posts
Name:
Kimberly
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Big or small school district?
I live in a tiny school district and the middle school drama alone makes me wish we lived somewhere bigger.
The positives are small classes and less competition in sports.
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| Posted 6/2/24 9:15 PM |
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mama2charlotte
LIF Adult
Member since 7/12 1014 total posts
Name:
Kimberly
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Big or small school district?
I live in a tiny school district and the middle school drama alone makes me wish we lived somewhere bigger.
The positives are small classes and less competition in sports.
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| Posted 6/2/24 9:15 PM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7537 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Big or small school district?
I wish I had done this kind of research when we moved, but it wasn't readily available.
This Website has links to data around test performance by students and graduation rates in districts across NYS.
Is test performance necessarily an indicator of a good district? Not really, but I'd rather my kid be in a district where a larger % are passing the regents, and have higher graduation rates etc.
https://data.nysed.gov/downloads.php
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| Posted 6/5/24 12:26 PM |
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