OT: Parents in Madison or similar areas

[CEO2044]

make Germantown a very good team this year. Florence plays very hard and if they have talent in the wings then yes they will be tough. My daughter is playing<div>out of position at striker and should be playing the mid field, she is a great passer of the ball with good foot skills, she just lacks the explosive speed she needs to be a great striker.</div>

Yes, she is out of position as well (one of their 3 most solid players, keeper is the other), but it's all out of necessity (obviously). Matt's a good coach IMO. They just need a few more kids, and with Ridgeland going down they may get those 2-3. All it will take, esp. in 4A right now. <div>
</div><div>Florence should be good again this year. Who knows what will happen between now and then, though. They play the way they have to, but they are extremely well-coached that knows exactly what he is doing.</div><div>
</div><div>Sorry, off-topic. Shoot me.</div>

 

[macpappy]

The Germantown area is awesome. I live directly behind the shcool and all my neighbors are great. I also can't speak high enough of the Germantown school district. This will also be my first year teaching there as well.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

"with Ridgeland going down"

Where is this coming from? Is it because Boozer retired? I'm not crazy about the new principle, but I don't see anything suffering at this point.

 

[8dog]

I laugh everytime someone suggests its ridiculous to send your kids to private school(or really, just a smaller school) so they have a better chance to participate in extra curricular activities.

Should people quit playing in rec tennis leagues b/c they didn't make the pro circuit?

There is an argument there is much more to be learned in school through your extra curricular activities. Why not want your kid to be a part?

there is no right or wrong answer. Well, except that saying madison people send kids to private schools b/c of status or religion. Thats mostly ridiculous.

 

[CEO2044]

"with Ridgeland going down"

Where is this coming from? Is it because Boozer retired? I'm not crazy about the new principle, but I don't see anything suffering at this point.

Well, probably shouldn't have said "going down", but was typing quickly. <div>
</div><div>Yeah, I've heard from people that would know that a lot of teachers resigned or are leaving for other jobs (some of those just because they were wanting to leave anyway). I think from the teachers' standpoint they were just unsure of the new regime and how it was going at the time (early May). I was told nearly 20 of 60 resigned- that's pretty high. Maybe some came back after it was all settled; I wouldn't know. But that was what I was told.</div><div>
</div><div>I've also been told a lot of parents were trying to move into the Gluckstadt area.</div><div>
</div><div>All hearsay, but it was from someone whom I think would know. I don't like a rumor any more than the next person, but I trust that guy to know. FWIW, I really liked Ridgeland a lot from an outsider's POV.</div>

 

[615dawg]

may have been unfair, but this is what I meant. And I am talking about my wife/her family, who probably attended private school for status purposes.<div>
</div><div>They thought that jobs/status/sorority bids, etc. would be handed to them on a platter because they went to Prep. And while it may happen 1 times out of 100, if there is a perception that it does happen, it goes to the home/family life more than the school. My point:</div><div>
</div><div>Student 1, 2, and 3 go to Jackson Prep. They are all friends. Student 1's dad is a prominent attorney whose name is well known, Student 2's family works hard and sacrifices to send them to Prep so they can have a better life. Student 3's parents are financing the lifestyle to keep up with the Jones'.</div><div>
</div><div>Student 1 barely makes it through college and is rewarded with a great job from a friend of his dad's. Not because he went to Prep.</div><div>Student 2 works hard, and earns job himself. Not because he went to Prep.</div><div>Student 3 thinks because they went to Prep, they should get the same benefit of Student 1 and Student 2 even without the connections or the work ethic.</div><div>
</div><div>There are a ton of Student 3's learning the hard way right now.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

 

[615dawg]

The principal had a heart attack mid year last year and the assistant stepped in an interim role. The principal decided to retire and the well-liked interim was promoted.<div>
</div><div>They have five new teachers at RHS this year - thats normal attrition. There are a few teachers that would like to transfer to Germantown, but they aren't leaving over it. But there are people at Germantown that would like to be at Ridgeland as well.</div><div>
</div><div>Overall, its a very good school with outstanding athletics and superior sports. A football team that makes the semifinals year in and out, a soccer team that is nationally ranked, good solid baseball/softball. Basketball takes its lumps because they are in the same district with Provine and Callaway. He said that Ridgeland's biggest problem was keeping kids from Jackson from illegally going to school there. Ridgeland and Clinton apparently have a big problem with it.</div>

 

[K9 Avenger]

My family had an experience that was the polar opposite of yours...My oldest daughter attended one of the high profile private schools in the Jackson Metro for 5 yrs. My wife and I both grew up attending private schools in Jackson which provided a bit of perspective on the lack of value we felt we were receiving as pertained to our daughter's education. After a thorough vetting, we made the decision to send our children into the Madison County School system and it was easily the best decision we've ever made. Not only did we feel like the quality of education was excellent, we were extremely pleased to see her thrive socially outside the insular, almost incestuous world of the N.E Jackson private school. As I'm certain you're aware, Madison Central annually leads ALL Mississippi schools in the number of National Merit semifinalists and is behind only St Andrews and roughly on par with Jackson Prep when that number is considered as a class percentage.

 

[Dawghouse]

<div>He said that Ridgeland's biggest problem was keeping kids from Jackson from illegally going to school there. Ridgeland and Clinton apparently have a big problem with it.</div>

<div>
</div>This is the reason I have been given for the downturn in Ridgeland schools. Not just illegally attending students but there is and will continue to be an influx of people fleeing JPS who land in Ridgeland mainly because Ridgeland is such a heavy rental area. There are tons of apartments and rental houses in Ridgeland and that invites people who otherwise couldn't afford to live in the Madison County district.<div>
</div><div>This isn't just a Ridgeland HS issue, this is happening all the way down to the elementary level.</div><div>
</div><div>I think Ridgeland schools are still very good but I'd be concerned with the trend because I don't see JPS improving, if anything it will get worse which means more and more people will be fleeing JPS district and Ridgeland is going to catch a lot of those people.
<div>
</div></div>

 

[NTDawg]

is in private school. Every child is different and no school, no matter how good it is, is perfect for every child. First child probably would have been ok at either a public or privateschool but he probably would have gotten lost (on purpose) at a big public school. He is extremely smart but as a teenager would rather have done nothing than something, he is not like that now and has a good job (figured things out in college). Middle child thrived on being around lots of different peopleand would not have liked being in a small pond. Third child is quiet and does not do well around lots of people, makes the best grades of the three because he is more focused and likes to please. He is the one out of the three that at this akward stage in life really needs to be in smaller enviroment. When he is a big crowd, despite knowing everyone in the crowd, shuts down but in small group he has a great time.

So it isn't always about sports or academics but sometimes about learning how to socialize and be part of society.

I have "friends" that I have heard state that the only reason anyone goes to private school is so jr can play sports. Well that maybe true for some but I'm not paying $11,000 a year for him to play anything, not that I don't see value in keeping your children busy. If they aren't busy doing something productive they will be busy doing something that is not productive. Let me also add that I have seen plenty of people think that they will send their child to a private school and no matter their lack of athletic ability they will be able to play whatever sport they want to. These people usually leave because their child doesn't touch the field/court. Those students who excel academically will be fine in the Madison public schools and a few of the private schools, not all private schools are equal. Those who struggle academically are better off at a public school or one of the private schools that primary emphasis is not academics, I'll leave it at that.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

He said that Ridgeland's biggest problem was keeping kids from Jackson
from illegally going to school there. Ridgeland and Clinton apparently
have a big problem with it.

Yes, it is a huge problem. With Ridgeland being so close to Jackson and it being a "transient" city, it is a challenge to keep the illegal "district jumpers" out. The wife has personally busted quite a few.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

that these are the major reasons people choose to got to private school. I'm sure there are exceptions, as with anything.

The religious aspect can't even be debated. The sports aspect has been verified by half the folks posting in this thread. And if you don't think the lovely folks in Madison, where I have lived the majority of my life, don't do things for the "status" or "social" aspect, you are crazy.

 

[NTDawg]

Germantown than at my sons school.

 

[coach66]

decision a couple of years ago that she was going to MSU and wanted to focus on academics more which she has done a magnificent job with. I'm<div>a proud papa.</div>

 

[coach66]

nm

 

[CEO2044]

The principal had a heart attack mid year last year and the assistant stepped in an interim role. The principal decided to retire and the well-liked interim was promoted.<div>
</div><div>They have five new teachers at RHS this year - thats normal attrition. There are a few teachers that would like to transfer to Germantown, but they aren't leaving over it. But there are people at Germantown that would like to be at Ridgeland as well.</div><div>
</div><div>Overall, its a very good school with outstanding athletics and superior sports. A football team that makes the semifinals year in and out, a soccer team that is nationally ranked, good solid baseball/softball. Basketball takes its lumps because they are in the same district with Provine and Callaway. He said that Ridgeland's biggest problem was keeping kids from Jackson from illegally going to school there. Ridgeland and Clinton apparently have a big problem with it.</div>

You could very well be right- as I said what I'd heard was from early May. That was also within the school. Maybe it was all talk and no walk at the end of the day. I don't think my person lied (I know he didn't), as they genuinely like Ridgeland. But it was probably said around time of the new hiring, probably before it- apparently that took a little longer than most would have liked, and I understand people not wanting to bank on something not certain.<div>
</div><div>Soccer's great (girls), but will probably be rebuilding a bit after this year. Maybe even this year. Not sure they still have the talent level that they are used to having coming up through the ranks. And that comes sometimes, but especially when you have new schools opening up around you- MC took a blow this year, as they took a small one when Ridgeland opened. They won't be bad this year, though, at all. The coach for boys and girls moved and there will be a new guy. Baseball, great coach. Don't know on the others.

</div>

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Link.

 

[fishwater99]

<div>He said that Ridgeland's biggest problem was keeping kids from Jackson from illegally going to school there. Ridgeland and Clinton apparently have a big problem with it.</div>

<div>
</div>This is the reason I have been given for the downturn in Ridgeland schools. Not just illegally attending students but there is and will continue to be an influx of people fleeing JPS who land in Ridgeland mainly because Ridgeland is such a heavy rental area. <span style="font-weight: bold;">There are tons of apartments and rental houses in Ridgeland and that invites people who otherwise couldn't afford to live in the Madison County district.</span><div>
</div><div>This isn't just a Ridgeland HS issue, this is happening all the way down to the elementary level.</div><div>
</div><div>I think Ridgeland schools are still very good but I'd be concerned with the trend because <span style="font-weight: bold;">I don't see JPS improving, if anything it will get worse which means more and more people will be fleeing JPS district and Ridgeland is going to catch a lot of those people.</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><div>
</div></div>

Ridgeland will become Jackson North in 10-20 years. More people and crime are coming..

 

[CEO2044]

decision a couple of years ago that she was going to MSU and wanted to focus on academics more which she has done a magnificent job with. I'm<div>a proud papa.</div>

That decision is harder to keep sometimes when soccer finally ends. But best of luck to her with whatever she chooses.<div>
</div>

 

[coach66]

very focused on school and going to take a shot at Biomedical Engineering and she thinks soccer would take too much time. The truth is<div>she also has a very busy social life and is looking forward to that aspect of college as well. She loves soccer but I think this year will be</div><div>the end of the line.</div>

 

[Dental Dawg]

They announced that MC had 25 national merit semi finalist and 8 students that scored 35 and above on ACT. I can not remember how many millions of dollars in scholarships this class had earn for academics. These numbers may not be exact but I'm pretty sure they're close.

 

[NTDawg]

nm</p>

 

[coach66]

considered by many to be one of the best in the State. The other good thing about MC and Germantown are they are probably 60<div>to 70% MSU fans.</div>

 

[Dental Dawg]

My daughter was going to Ole Miss because her friends were all going there. She switched to state 4-5 weeks ago. I lost my deposit at UM. But couldn't be happier to have her at State.

 

[NTDawg]

nm

 

[coach66]

nm

 

[coach66]

and went up to Ole Miss and got some liberal arts degree and couldn't find a job. She will graduate again from MSU<div>this year with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and already has multiple job offers. Ole Miss is where all her friends</div><div>were going, lesson in there.</div>

 

[NTDawg]

nm

 

[Johnson85]

Picking their kids peer group. You have groups of ****** kids/parents at every school, but for the most part, parents that drop $11k or more per year for a kid to go to private school are invested in how their kid turns out, which means most of the pool of kids that a student at a private school will be hanging out have a relatively good home life. Your kids friends will expect to graduate from college, expect to get married before having children, expect to have a career, expect to never have anything on their record worse than an MIP, etc. Even when this doesn't work and your kid ends up with the wrong crowd, it's usually a wrong crowd full of spoiled rich kids that are into drugs. I'm not sure how successful this tactic really is, but I think it's a big reason a lot of people choose to send their kids to private schools even when public schools are a viable alternative.

 

[MadDawg.sixpack]

"Picking their kids peer group"

 

[CivilEngineerDog]

Well played

 

[eurotrash]

and our great cities. I went to public school but my kids are now in private schools. They are surrounded by fellow students who come from stable, two-parent families with high expectations. Our kids are going to face pressure from their peers to succeed academically Sure we have our spoiled brats but that's much easier to deal with than the nonsense from area public schools. I know principals and public school teachers who send their kids to private schools. It's a shame so many decent, well-meaning Americans have been chased out of public schools just to provide a good education in a responsible setting. I pay a lot in taxes and I shouldn't be required to send my kids to inferior public schools. We really shouldn't even have to consider whether to send our kids to public or private schools.

"Your kids friends will expect to graduate from college, expect to get married before having children, expect to have a career" That's why my kids are in private school.

 

[CivilEngineerDog]

.

 

[Todd4State]

And I've done pretty well for myself. I was in honors classes, and I adjusted pretty well and quickly to MSU. Let me just say I learned a lot of lessons in high school that a lot of people learn their freshman year in college as far as responsibility and things like that. Doing well at MSU set me up to help me get into OT school.

The fine arts at MC are better than the other Madison private schools- band, choir, etc.

Sports- I guess it depends on the kid and the parent. If my kid was a legit D-I prospect, I would want them at MC. If I my kid was OK with sitting on the bench a couple of years, I would go to MC. If my kid got cut off the baseball team, I would consider going to a private school.

I would definitely send my child there unless they were a quarterback- and then I would send them to Prep to play for Ricky Black.

Bobby Hall is the worst thing about MC and the sooner he leaves the better.

There is a new principal at MC and I don't know how he feels on the Bobby Hall matter other than I assume he has more football knowledge than Edith.

 

[Rutherford B Hays]

asdf

 

[8dog]

you people act like our kids will eventually be dropped off in the middle of West Jackson in their underwear with only a knife and some duct tape.

and nothing teaches kids about the real world like the mean streets of Reunion Blvd.

In reality, these kids go to high school and then to starkville/Oxford (gasp, how will they handle that) and then onto, at least a lot of them, corporate america.

 

[NTDawg]

nm

 

[Spotdawg]

Hell, have you been to City Court in Ridgeland lately? It's just a shade less intense than Jackson court.

Shootings, robbery, and tons of theft fill the dockets. It would shock you.

You are absolutely right about the high availability of rental in Ridgeland...and that's the one of the major factors in the calculus of decline. I would not buy east of I-55 in Ridgeland if my life depended on it.

 

[onewoof]

You really can't make a bad decision here. Depends on your priorities.<div>
</div><div>I haven't read all the responses but I didn't see any responses relating to faith. Private schools can teach religion and lead prayers, have worship services at school, etc. Looking at where each was founded, in Jackson you have the Methodists, the Presbyterians, theEpiscopal'sand the Catholics. Some make faith more of the school environment than others. Do the teachers and other parents align with your beliefs and values? Other kids? May not be a big deal but your children are around them more than you during the school semesters.</div><div>
</div><div>If the goal is for college scholarships, the odds per capita at private schools are higher. Not that Madison public school kids don't get scholarships -- many do and do quite well.</div><div>
</div><div>Again, you really can't make a bad decision. Good luck.</div>

 

[BlankStare]

The way I'm reading this thread is that sending your kids to private school is ghey... and that they should be forced to go to public school with jackasses everyday for the "real world" life experience, rather than with kids who are probably actually going somewhere. While I agree that having to spend all day with jackasses is indeed a ****** part of the "real world"... Is that a point that really necessitates reinforcement during high school. <div>
<div>Subquestion: Is this a bizarre incarnation of public vs. private sports smack?</div> </div>