What's your opinion? Being able to choose the elementary school my child attends is new to me. Since I'm not familiar with the elementary schools in the area I'm seeking your input.

Which do you like? Why?

I am not looking for personal issues with certain teachers/administration. Big concerns with the school in general, yes that is helpful.

Thanks!

My daughter went to Forest Hills and she liked it a lot. No problems with the teachers or the administrators. OK, the first day of Kindergarten she told her teacher "I am sick and tired of ABC's" but aside from that, no problems! If you'd prefer a county school, then I have friends who send their kids to Underwood and they all say good things about that school. What grades are your kids in?

2nd and 5th

When we lived in the area before I was involved with the middle and high schools, but I know nothing about the elementary. We live in the city system and I will hopefully be involved with the system as well so I don't think county is an option. I do need schools with good Challenge/gifted programs and extracurriculars.

I think a that Cloverdale is a great school. It goes from Kindergarden to 9th grade. The Principal is great amd the teachers are nice also. Underwood has a waiting list, so kinda hard to get in their.

Both my kids went to Underwood Elementary...excellent school. We called it the best kept secret in the Shoals area. Teachers and students score well. My son started at FHS this past year and if I had it to do over again, I would have sent both kids to FMS & FHS after finishing at Underwood. They offer much more than county schools. If your kids are athletic, they will do well in the county. My daughter finished at a county school and, being athletic, did well. If your kids are not athletic, you may prefer the extensive curriculum offered at FMS & FHS (so that your child can find an area in which to excel). We've been very impressed.

Sorry, Kontan, I just realized I was focusing on middle & high schools rather than elementary, which is what you need.

Underwood Elementary and (from what I hear from others) Forest Hills Elementary are both good choices. I found a lot of 'one on one' at Underwood. They really push the kids to excel. Both my kids would tell you the bulk of their education was K-6 and it was fun! Imagine that.

My son is already a different person after moving to FHS, able to be find classes, clubs, contests, etc. that interest him. I can only assume Forest Hills, being in the same system, is similar.

quote:

Originally posted by kontan:
What's your opinion? Being able to choose the elementary school my child attends is new to me. Since I'm not familiar with the elementary schools in the area I'm seeking your input.

Which do you like? Why?

I am not looking for personal issues with certain teachers/administration. Big concerns with the school in general, yes that is helpful.

Thanks!

I have a 10 yr old girl going into the 5th and 7 yr old boy going into the 2nd. They both went to Forest Hills up until this yr. Forest Hills stops at the 4th grade. I moved to Kendale Gardens so they would be in the Brooks school district. Forest Hills is great but my son started playing football and baseball in Kindergarten and we were driving back and forth between Florence for school and Killen for sports. Forest Hills does not have extra ciricular (sp) activities which I think are important. Now they do offer Show Choir for 4th grade and my daughter did that and enjoyed it. But, they dont have a sports program or anything like that. Academically they are the best around though. I like Brooks because it offers a wide range of opportunities. They also just have the feeling of a great big family. Over the past 3 yrs of my son playing sports for them we have all become really close and I think thats important when choosing a school - you know the saying about "IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD". Well I beleive that. My children are both on honor roll so I understand needing things that spark and keep their interest ..........hope this helps.......

We have way to many people that come to Brooks for school and youth sports that don't live here. The midget football team has 42 kids coming out and that is just to many. The board needs to crack down and make people show proof of residents.

The poor little kindergartens and 1st graders have to go to lunch at 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM for lunch because of the over crowding. I realize that the school gets funding on student attendance but they need to be more particular on who gets to attend school at Brooks.

quote:

Originally posted by Confederate Pride:
We have way to many people that come to Brooks for school and youth sports that don't live here. The midget football team has 42 kids coming out and that is just to many. The board needs to crack down and make people show proof of residents.

The poor little kindergartens and 1st graders have to go to lunch at 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM for lunch because of the over crowding. I realize that the school gets funding on student attendance but they need to be more particular on who gets to attend school at Brooks.

Well that doesnt apply to me. I do live there. I live in a house purchased in the Brooks School District. I went to school at Brooks for 12 years. The government takes out 700 a week on me in taxes plus I pay property tax. That gives me the right to put my child at Brooks. If we are buying houses in the Brooks district then how are they supposed to "weed people out??" I know for a fact that you must show proof of residence to go to school at Brooks or any other school. I guess you have some using their parents or families address or records to attend.

quote:

Originally posted by SO TIRED OF IGNORANCE:

quote:

Originally posted by Confederate Pride:
We have way to many people that come to Brooks for school and youth sports that don't live here. The midget football team has 42 kids coming out and that is just to many. The board needs to crack down and make people show proof of residents.

The poor little kindergartens and 1st graders have to go to lunch at 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM for lunch because of the over crowding. I realize that the school gets funding on student attendance but they need to be more particular on who gets to attend school at Brooks.

Well that doesnt apply to me. I do live there. I live in a house purchased in the Brooks School District. I went to school at Brooks for 12 years. The government takes out 700 a week on me in taxes plus I pay property tax. That gives me the right to put my child at Brooks. If we are buying houses in the Brooks district then how are they supposed to "weed people out??" I know for a fact that you must show proof of residence to go to school at Brooks or any other school. I guess you have some using their parents or families address or records to attend.

You hit the nail on the head. I actually know of some students that reside in Sheffield that are attending Brooks by using their grandparents Lauderdale county address. There are many more that live in Florence that attend Brooks.

I don't blame them one bit for trying to better their kids learning environment. From what I have heard the Sheffield school system is going down hill. The Florence's school system has people running out of Florence for some reason. I don't know if it is because of the consolidation or what.

We might as well use the voucher system if people are going to want to travel to other school districts outside of their own community.

TOI:
"If we are buying houses in the Brooks district then how are they supposed to "weed people out?"

Please forgive me but I don't understand this question. If you live here in the Brooks school district then your kids should attend Brooks.

Over crowding of schools is not a good thing. I can list many reason as to why over crowding is not optimal for learning. We must have measures in place to prevent it. I just don't think that the administration is doing the best they can to prevent over crowding. I believe they encourage it so that can reap the extra funding.

I graduated from Brooks in 1984. Even though I lived in Florence, I was able to catch the bus at Books a Million.

You also have kids from Florence Christian Academy that plays sports at Brooks, which I think is great cause I went there until coming to brooks 1983 great school but no sports but basketball when I went there.

Brooks Elementary is a great school. My daughter will be in 2nd grade this year and she loves it.

quote:

Originally posted by SO TIRED OF IGNORANCE:

quote:

Originally posted by Confederate Pride:
We have way to many people that come to Brooks for school and youth sports that don't live here. The midget football team has 42 kids coming out and that is just to many. The board needs to crack down and make people show proof of residents.

The poor little kindergartens and 1st graders have to go to lunch at 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM for lunch because of the over crowding. I realize that the school gets funding on student attendance but they need to be more particular on who gets to attend school at Brooks.

Well that doesnt apply to me. I do live there. I live in a house purchased in the Brooks School District. I went to school at Brooks for 12 years. The government takes out 700 a week on me in taxes plus I pay property tax. That gives me the right to put my child at Brooks. If we are buying houses in the Brooks district then how are they supposed to "weed people out??" I know for a fact that you must show proof of residence to go to school at Brooks or any other school. I guess you have some using their parents or families address or records to attend.

Anybody can go to brooks all they need is proof of address and thats easy if their are grandparents or friends that live in the district.

quote:

Originally posted by ~*~Freebird~*~:
I graduated from Brooks in 1984. Even though I lived in Florence, I was able to catch the bus at Books a Million.

You also have kids from Florence Christian Academy that plays sports at Brooks, which I think is great cause I went there until coming to brooks 1983 great school but no sports but basketball when I went there.

Brooks Elementary is a great school. My daughter will be in 2nd grade this year and she loves it.

My son is in Mrs. Ashleys 2nd grade class..............He loves it so far too

quote:

Originally posted by SO TIRED OF IGNORANCE:

quote:

Originally posted by ~*~Freebird~*~:
I graduated from Brooks in 1984. Even though I lived in Florence, I was able to catch the bus at Books a Million.

You also have kids from Florence Christian Academy that plays sports at Brooks, which I think is great cause I went there until coming to brooks 1983 great school but no sports but basketball when I went there.

Brooks Elementary is a great school. My daughter will be in 2nd grade this year and she loves it.

My son is in Mrs. Ashleys 2nd grade class..............He loves it so far too

My daughter is in Mrs. Cleveland's 2nd grade class. We have been at Brooks Elem since Kindergarten. We have loved it!