But the worst schools in Kyrene are EXCELLING... if somebodies intent is to make them sound bad!  My child has been in Kyrene for 4 years now and we are very pleased with the Kyrene educational system.

We never hear of negative things like gangs, bullying, or vandalism. As far as the schedule goes, it varies by school. Your best bet would be to visit the Kyrene Web site. My child has gone to Lagos and Akimel. Again, we are very pleased.

www.kyrene.org/ksdportal/

And no, we never exposed our child to MUSD. At the time of initial enrollment there was pretty much nothing good being said about MUSD. It is my understanding that the K-5 has improved greatly, the 6-8 is maintaining adequacy, and that the High School is struggling. 

I applaud you for doing the proper research. your child only has one shot at an education and falling behind (sometimes unknowingly) can be devastating to a bright child.  

Good Luck with a difficult decision.

All good advice.
I question why there would be so much negativity about MUSD unless it had some foundation?  
And I completely forgot about Legacy. Whoops!

My opinion, MUSD is a district that only five years ago consisted of 5000 residents and three schools: Maricopa Elementary, Maricopa Middle and Maricopa High. In a state that is ranked 49th in the country for funding education, and a city population increase of 700%, it's difficult to turn the district around on a dime.

This fall, there will be six elementary schools, two middle schools and an updated high school. Sure, there's still work to be done, as there is with any growing community, but we're a lot better off than we were five years ago.

Alanf, you said at the time of initial enrollment of your child, there was nothing good to be said about MUSD. When was that? Parents today are seeking advice from others who are dispensing based on what their experience was like three years ago, four years ago or even five years ago and longer. Unfortunately, those parents taking the advice assume that is what it is like today.

That's why I say to visit the schools you're interested in, observe a class in session, speak with the teachers and administrators. You might find a school here locally you'll like. You may not. But, in doing so, you may save your child a long bus ride every day to and from school.

Ok well I'm sure I'll be lynched for this opinion.  Why do you shuttle your kids 20 miles away to school?  It really kills my commute to work in the morning.  Now before everyone starts arguing about the quality of schools, how in the hell is MUSD suppose to get better if the local community won't support them.  The education system can only change if your fighting for it.  But no...you give up. 

Now I attended Tolleson Union High School District in AZ and Pendergast Elem Schools.  Probably one of the worst in AZ.  Why did I attend it.....because I lived there.  It wasn't the greatest school, but I excelled because I was a good student.  If your kids aren't good students in Maricopa they sure won't be in Kyrene Elem.  I graduated and went on the get my Bachelors and Masters.  So answer me this......how did attending a low rated school hold me back???  I have an incredible job...and quite the nest egg for only 26.  Nothing beats involved parents and hard work. 

Ok...I'm ready...rip me a new one. 

Personally, I never got involved with MUSD. When we moved here, I got the data and made the decision where my child would go to school. That was 2005 when MUSD was in terrible shape and Kyrene was in fantastic shape. Like I've said before, if my child had been in early elementary I would have probably stayed local. But since my child was in the 6th grade, I went with the school district with a proven record of excellence and minimal criminal activities.
My child is a National Junior Honor Society Member and brings home the highest of grades. And I don't think he's challenged enough even where he is at in Kyrene! He rides the bus and is not socially linked to Maricopa except for karate. We are all fine with that. High School starts this year and there is no desire from any of us for a transfer to MUSD. Why? Because we have an option. If there were no option, we would not have even moved here with him at his current age.

Is MUSD improving? From what I have heard, yes. However, the High School still looks like a poor choice.  Am I quitting my community? No, we never started with MUSD, so how can we quit?

So here's a question back at the MUSD loyalists. With all the improvements/new schools/upgrades, how is Maricopa attracting QUALITY educators to it's ranks? High pay and promises of early tenure? Has the High School hired new staff to augment all the building money? Or will the students have more classrooms, but the same number of teachers? 

I've heard Maricopa "Talk the Talk", but my child has only one shot at education. We won't wait to see if Maricopa will "Walk the Walk". I congratulate all you families that are comfortable taking that chance.

And please, no more remarks about all of the Maricopa Kyrene students causing MUSD to have lower AIMS scores. What does that say about the current students?

So what chance are people taking by sending their kids to MUSD?  Maricopa doesn't have quality educators?  Should we throw the ones we have back?  Alanf, how do you personally rank the quality of schools?  Based on the AIMS exams?  Funding?  Number of teachers?  Violence?  Appearance?  All of the above?  Just trying to figure out whats wrong with MUSD.

I'm digging for info....I know.  We moved here last Oct and I guess I just don't understand why kids would be carted away.  I know a lot of successful people that attended not so great schools.  You know what the difference is between a Harvard education and an ASU education.  Not much.  What is very different is the perception of quality, environment, cost, and corporate relationships.  It has nothing to do with the actual quality of education.  I learned from the same MIT books they did.  Just a point.  

I'm definetly not saying your wrong.  Your entitled to your opinion and should absolutley do what's best for YOUR children.  I'm just trying to learn what people do not like.  Is it really the education or is it all perception?  I don't know.

I agree with alanf, the statement about AIMS scores being low because of those carted out of the city is rediculous.   I wonder how many families actually do send their kids out of Maricopa for education.  Would be interesting.

If you listen to the folks that send their kids to Kyrene, you would think that MUSD has retards for treachers, 167 kids in a classroom, rampant gang activity (especially the k-6) and a general lack of interest in the students.

Chevyguy, I appreciate your questions and hope many people have the same interest. Like I said, we do it because we had the option to choose. AIMS was very low and public opinion of the district was equal (in 2005). I had the school information before we moved from Oregon for most of the districts. When we arrived and found Maricopa and that it was what looked like a nice growing city I deepened my search and found that Kyrene (which I had liked from Oregon) took out of district and bused. I never set foot on a MUSD campus and based my entire decision on what had been mailed to me, been found on the internet, or was shared with me from people at work or realtors.

I have watched public opinion and the battles that take place on this subject carefully since early 2006 when I found this site. I have watched how the children from the buses for both Kyrene and MUSD dressed and acted (there is a huge difference and will not go into that - it's my observation and opinion only).

The biggest factor in my decision for my child was my own childhood and the schools I was forced to attend. They were craptacular. I refuse to put my child in a school where the attention is focused on the average or underachiever while the gifted are left to stagnate. And when a school is desperately trying to meet the "No Child Left Behind" mandates we all know who is getting this attention. I know personally what it is like to be ignored because you meet all the required criteria. I also know what it is like to not have anybody checking on my performance at home because I've always made the grade to get by. I found that acting out got me the attention I so desired and needed. Nothing more needs to be said about that. 

A funny statement I've heard several times is how a parent had a child was just average at another school, but when they got into MUSD they started bringing home great grades. Wow, must be because of our great teachers and administrators huh. But then you hear about the families with good students that grew tired of MUSD and left....but found their children behind the curve when getting to that other school. Food for thought.

But as you said, it was our (my wife and myself, not our child or MUSD) choice to make. We believe we made the best decision FOR our child. 

And as I said, MUSD is improving....just not to the point where I demand they be to get my child through their doors.

These are MY OPINIONS, and EVERY parent should consider all aspects of what they expect and what is available before deciding where their children should learn.   

Then don't listen RichTig. Where do your children (if you even have any) attend school. Or do you even know. I'll bet all you know is that they get on the bus in the morning and off the bus in the afternoon.  And if you don't get called in to see the principal, they must be doing great!

Yeah RichTig, your colors fly freely.

LMAO  Too funny.

I see your point about your child performing mediocre due to the focus on just passing.  That's nuff said.  Very very valid.  I think I will do some more digging before I form my own opinions.

We don't have children YET, but plan on raising a family in this community.  I have a strong (sometimes stubborn) sense of pride when it comes to community.  I find it sad that our school system is lagging behind.  I think this is a common growing pain for a fast growing yet once rural community.

We don't have kids.  We believe that with all of the kids in foster care and available for adoption, that its wrong to bring another life into this world (but we don't judge people who do).  We should take care of the kids that are here 1st.

Do it for the children!