Brandelyn
Posts:29
 | | 12/10/2007 10:50 AM |
 Alert | Good Morning,
I am moving to the Copa the end of December and have friends who live out here and bus their children to the Kyrene district due to gangs, and violence at the schools. I am curious if this is true. I have heard this from a couple of parents and have been reading some of the forums here and have noticed some complaints. I am scared and stressed on what to do with my three children. Keep them in Kyrene with the long bus ride or give the Maricopa schools a try? I am not expecting anyone to slam on the schools here by any means. I just would like to hear what other parents think and how much of this is true. Thank you. | | | |
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Bionicbunny
Posts:644
| | 12/10/2007 11:18 AM |
Alert | | IF you get anyone to answer you on here you will find a vast difference in opinion. That's because what is acceptable for one person may not be for someone else. I suggest that you go to the school your child will be going to and ask to sit in on a class or 2. Have someone give you a tour of the school, check out the cafeteria at lunch time and the playground at recess. Look in to the standardized test scores and talk to the teachers yourself. Don't make your decision on what a stranger on 85239.com says is dangerous or not, or academically sound or not. Check it out yourself. These are YOUR children we are talking about, only YOU know what is good and bad for them. | | | |
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Brandelyn
Posts:29
| | 12/10/2007 11:22 AM |
Alert | | Good Advise Bionicbunny. I had planned on visiting the schools in January regardless. I was just hoping to hear from some of the parents and what they might know. But you are right, they are strangers. | | | |
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Bionicbunny
Posts:644
| | 12/10/2007 11:39 AM |
Alert | | I hope I didn't come across as being rude, there have just been so many discussions on this forum about the schools and peoples opinions really range from the worst school ever seen to the most wonderful school in the world. I have heard someone say that the gangs are starting in elementary and someone else say they have never seen or heard of gangs even in the middle school. There are fights all the time, there are never fights. One child is excelling by leaps and bounds and another has wasted months because the school is behind. That is why I'm saying check it out yourself. Good luck. | | | |
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luv the copa
Posts:211
| | 12/10/2007 12:31 PM |
Alert | 1st,
welcome to Maricopa. I have been happy with some schools and with some admin and not happy with others. My 2 elem. kiddos go to Legascy Traditional Charter school here in town and my high schooler goes to the high school. This is our 4th year here with my kids in the schools. If you would like to PM me you can. I have experience elem. middle school and high school here. This year we are happy at all levels :o) | |
Changing lives one diaper at a time since 1993.
Trecia | |
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Brandelyn
Posts:29
| | 12/10/2007 12:47 PM |
Alert | | No, you were not rude at all! You are completely right. Visitng the schools is my best bet. <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/smile.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Smile' align='absmiddle'> Thanks | | | |
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thatperson
Posts:66
| | 12/10/2007 1:21 PM |
Alert | Sadly there is very little feedback in this section of the forum. People that slander and badmouth the district are subject to censor when they speak out here. The sad part is that people won't mention the good we are doing here.
Maricopa Teacher | | | |
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alanf
Posts:1601
| | 12/10/2007 1:22 PM |
Alert | No experience with Maricopa Schools. We enrolled our child in Kyrene as soon as we moved here in early 2005. It was a difficult decision due to the long bus ride to Kyrene. We do not question for a second our decision as the Kyrene schools are great and we will see how Desert Vista High School is next year.
From what I have read, the Maricopa Schools have turned the corner and are working in the right direction. We just did not have time to wait for it. Your child only gets one shot at it. | | | |
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karen
Posts:0
| | 12/10/2007 1:27 PM |
Alert | I am very happy with Legacy  My middle daughter is doing way more than my oldest daughter did in Kyrene at the same grade level. | | | |
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YZRacer
Posts:1653
| | 12/10/2007 2:04 PM |
Alert | This is the first year I have a child in school, here in Maricopa. I have been pleased so far. I think as long as you stay in touch with the teacher/school and address any concerns you may have, you will be okay. Also, being in touch with your child/student is key!
As far as the gang issue goes, they are going to be everywhere. I grew up in a "good" neighborhood in Tempe (went to Tempe elementarys, jr high and high schools) and there were gangs there. My husband grew up in a "better" neighborhood in Tempe (went to Kyrene elementary schools, jr high and CDS high school) and there were gangs there too. They are everywhere, it's not new to Maricopa or anywhere else for that matter.
Check into where your kids would be going, meet with the principal, the teachers, etc. Talk to families that go there. See what they think. Only you know what's best for your kids.
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If you can't spot the loser, it might be you
Senior Member
Posts: 665
Joined: Jun 2006 | |
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"Mrs.Jones"
Posts:20
| | 12/10/2007 2:14 PM |
Alert | | I have three children and all attend maricopa schools and I volunteer in two. I think maricopa is doing a great job and every year it is getting better. You have to remember we are still small and growing. I heard some issues about the middle school the year before my son started attending and was concerned, but they have really changed things around for the positive and my son really likes going to the middle school, my other two attend santa rosa and I'm pleased with the teachers. Hope this helps you out | | | |
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Brandelyn
Posts:29
| | 12/10/2007 3:32 PM |
Alert | | Thank you all for your positive feedbacks and advise. I am looking forward to moving to Maricopa and watching the city grow. <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/smile.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Smile' align='absmiddle'> | | | |
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Colgate
Posts:642
| | 12/10/2007 7:24 PM |
Alert | | You might want to try them out for a few weeks to see if you and your children like the school. I gave the MWM 2 months and MES 1 school yr. Both of my children go to Kyrene and love it there. You have to check it out for yourself. You will know if it is a right fit or not. | |
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goldy
Posts:71
| | 12/11/2007 3:28 PM |
Alert | | Welcome to copa. I have a child in Maricopa high school and it has been awful! I don't know if you read about the recent vandalism, but over the last week end some punks broke into the school, peed all over the cafeteria and stole all the food. The school did not have any food for lunch and my son had to go hungry. Then someone was smoking pot in the boys bathroom so they locked those and my son had to go but was forced to hold it until he got home. I am not impressed with this school at all and there is a lot of gang and drug activity as well as fighting. I have heard that Kyrene is a good school. If I could I would move my son there. So I would suggest you go to Kyrene. Good luck to you. | | | |
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hendersona
Posts:404
| | 12/11/2007 5:10 PM |
Alert | | If they are in emementry school I would keep them out here as for the older schools I hve no insight. Both my boys go to Santa Cruz and love it | | | |
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luv the copa
Posts:211
| | 12/11/2007 9:29 PM |
Alert | | My son came home and told me that he didn't much for lunch because someone broke into the caffeteria. I wondered what the whole story was to that. I just am not convinced that these things couldn't happen anywhere. I am not a huge MUSD advocate, just at that age there are going to be more problems at every school. I have not heard about the bathrooms. I will have to investigate that one a little more. I would die if I had to "hold it" all day. | |
Changing lives one diaper at a time since 1993.
Trecia | |
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pissedparent
Posts:355
| | 12/11/2007 9:51 PM |
Alert | First off, welcome to Maricopa, what everyone said is right you will have very differing options on sending your kids away verses keeping them here. I for one did send both my kids away last year but when I saw things were really no different I started to send them here.
What that lady said about there being no lunch and her son going hungry is NOT TRUE! The school brought in lunch from local fast food restaurants and the kids were charged the same price as a normal lunch. The vandalism was unfortunate but not unheard of at a high school. My daughter loves it there. And my son too loves Santa Cruz. For ever one person on this board who bashes the schools there are 100 who love it. PM if you would like more info. | | | |
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TC.
Posts:0
| | 12/11/2007 9:59 PM |
Alert |
Alanf...Unless you have an ex-spouse living in Ahwatukee, your child won't be going there even if they attend a Kyrene school now. Desert Vista does not have open enrollment. I am sure you know this and may have other connections to DV, but if you don't....your child won't get into DV. Registration starts in January for high school out there for next fall. I hope you have explored all your options.
My kids have completed all their school years in Kyrene and their school feeds into DV. One now goes to Mountain Pointe and the other one will go there next year as well. I probably could have gotten them into DV, but my one son plays sports and if his real address was known.....he would have been kicked out and basically it would have ruined it for him in school sports. Not worth it to us.
Just letting you know incase you had your heart set on DV.
My children love/loved their Kyrene school and the oldest enjoys attending Mountain Pointe High School. We moved here fours years ago and they wanted to stay in that school district. | | | |
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drummer72
Posts:3886
| | 12/11/2007 10:50 PM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By goldy on 12/11/2007 3:28 PM
Welcome to copa. I have a child in Maricopa high school and it has been awful! I don't know if you read about the recent vandalism, but over the last week end some punks broke into the school, peed all over the cafeteria and stole all the food. The school did not have any food for lunch and my son had to go hungry. Then someone was smoking pot in the boys bathroom so they locked those and my son had to go but was forced to hold it until he got home. I am not impressed with this school at all and there is a lot of gang and drug activity as well as fighting. I have heard that Kyrene is a good school. If I could I would move my son there. So I would suggest you go to Kyrene. Good luck to you.</div>
I went to very good schools in the northern suburbs of Illinois. As far as education goes, I think it may still be in the top 10 school districts in America.
My point is,is that we had drug and gang problems there too. About 85% were white students and the rest mexican and black students.
You're not going to find the perfect school ANYWHERE. Just make sure your kids do well in class. That's the best you can do.If you're a positive influence to them at home, it will carry over to their progress at school.
I'm only hoping that by the time my daughter starts school, in 2 years. Things will have improved.
D72
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Azgram01
Posts:285
| | 12/12/2007 5:55 AM |
Alert | There are gangs and vandalism in the best of schools.
Let's put the blame where most of it belongs. The kids and the parents.
I think the school and local authorities need to constantly inform all of the parents what is going on in the schools..... and the parents need to get involved in the schools, with their kids...... and take responsibility for what their kids are doing.
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