[lucysmom]

Or Bellevue, or Renton?

DD will stay in a montessori kindergarten next year but the year after that, she'll be entering elementary school in 1st grade. She has one parent each in Lake Washington & Renton School Districts (the Lake Washington parent has her most days so that is a better fit all other things being equal).

When I look at the Lake Washington SD website, all is bland uniformity. I cannot glean whether there are lively, subversive teachers at some who refuse to be crushed by testing & No Child Left Behind -- or not. Does anyone have any on the ground experience about a well-kept secret in these districts?

Thank you!!!

 

[BellaLuna Rayne]

I grew up in the district. What schools are you looking at in particular? I know about A.G. Bell Elementary and Helen Keller Elementary.

 

[DahliaRW]

I don't know specific LW or Renton schools, but I would say avoid Bellevue.

 

[lovetomom]

We were wondering about schools too, and I am curious about why they pp said to avoid Bellevue.

Thanks.

 

[angelpie545]

The Bellevue school district is very rigid and not very friendly to homeschoolers. They are also very mainstream and generally kind of snooty. I grew up in that school district, btw. My kids are currently attending an elementary school and the Lake Washington district, which is very friendly to homeschoolers, and had some great teachers. They are recognized as one of the best school districts in this area. Both of my kids are thriving currently and they do their best to involve parents. They were very respectful of my younger daughter's wheat and dairy sensitivities also, but that I guess could vary from school to school.

 

[DahliaRW]

I interned in bellevue while earning my degree. Their curriculum is very standardized and teachers are not allowed much flexibility at all. What I saw was the average kids were doing fine, the struggling kids were falling further behind, and the gifted kids were bored out of their mind. Not a good way to learn. It's just too rigid and ignores students individual needs.

 

[Aufilia]

District control of curriculum was one of the issues the Bellevue teachers went on strike over at the start of this school year. I think the district agreed to give them more leeway in their classrooms, but what that means in reality... I have no idea.

 

[MonAmiBella]

My oldest was at Lakeview Elementary in Kirkland for k and 1st grade. Now we're out in the Riverview district and he did 2-5th before being pulled out to be HSed.

While looking over the Lakeview site I just saw his most amazing awesome 1st grade teacher passed away recently, she was the one that got him excited about learning and set the bar for which all his and his sisters teachers have been held.

 

[lovetomom]

Has anyone heard about this school. We are thinking of moving into this catchment but the scores for this school are scaring us a little. Could anyone tell me about this school and about the neighborhoods surrounding it? I would really appreciate any feedback.

Thank you mamas,