Here's what I can answer:
What should I look for in a school?
Here's my situation, what do you think of my choices? or
This is my plan, do you see any loopholes?
Can you further explain this?
Here's where I can call in all my resources and try to get an answer:
What is the magnet program like at _____? or
Are there any parents with kids at ____ magnet?
--While
it may be a long shot, the Web casts a wide net. A shout out
from LAUSDmagnetangel.com will likely get a response from a friend of a friend.
But remember, all advice is free, so therefore, you get what you paid
for.
What are some unsung magnets/charters/neighborhood schools in my neighborhood?
--We've all got our favorites in certain neighborhoods, but one year's unsung hero may become next year's hot property, so there is no guaranteed "in."
Here are some of the questions I can NOT answer:
How many points does it take to get into _____ Magnet? or
I have ____ points. Will I get into the magnet?
--Even
seasoned magnet coordinators who are well up LAUSD's pay scale don't
get directly into quoting how many points it takes to get into a
specific magnet. Popularity among magnets changes between years as new
schools open up or administrations change.
What school should I send my child to? or
Which is the best school in my area?
Is _____ a good school?
--Without
the years of bonding that hopefully you and your child have formed,
it's impossible to guess which school is the best for your
child. We can recommend schools in a particular area to look at, but
ultimately where we would send our kids could be completely different
than where you might want your kids to go.
My child has a fall birthday. Should we put him in or hold him back?
--I
can help you see your options. We can link you to great articles on
redshirting kindergarteners, we can even tell you what we did with
*our* kids (and so far they've turned out ok....) but like other
personal questions, ultimately they're best left up to parents to make
the decision for their kids.
Feel free to post a comment or ask me at lausdmagnetangel at gmail dot com.
Need advice
My daughter is currently in the 3rd grade and my son is in kindergarten. They are both at Tulsa Street School. My daughter is in the SAS program and will be in GATE next year. Both kids have been accepted to Vintage Magnet for next year. It is my understanding that I should accept the spot so my daughter will not lose her points, and our goal is to make sure we are able to place her in a good middle school (our neighborhood school is Patrick Henry, which her current teacher says we should aim for Porter or Frost). My dilema is I'm happy with Tulsa and worried to make a change but want to make sure I am taking advantage of a good opportunity, also I'm concerned about the lack of after school care available at Vintage since I have a full time job. What are the pros and cons?
Thank you for your time and experience.
Sorry, Suzanne, I'm just
Sorry, Suzanne, I'm just seeing this post now. I'd already answered it over on Yentas, but I hadn't enabled it here. For sake of those who might have a similar question, here's the answer:
Hi Suzanne,
Yours is a common dilemma this time of year. I’ve already talked to
several parents at my daughter’s school, who were surprised with
acceptance letters from Balboa Gifted Magnet, and are wrestling with
the same question.
Here’s what I’ll ask:
Are you happy at Tulsa? Do you have a great PTA/PTO, an active
administration, and involved teachers? Do you feel like you work
together as a community?
Are you comfortable with the teachers at the upcoming levels for
both your daughter and son? You already know what your son is in
for–are you happy with those teachers?
On the other hand, it’s awfully rare that BOTH siblings get into a
magnet in the same year, so perhaps asking for a tour, or meeting with
some of the parents from Vintage, or popping in for their Open House,
Carnival, or even a PTA meeting could help you make the decision. A
quick phone call to the school will tell you if they have a YMCA
program afterschool or a free Beyond the Bell program.
In addition, by turning down the spots, you’re not going to have
much time to get points for your daughter for middle school. Are you ok
with the SAS at your neighborhood middle school (Porter? Patrick
Henry?)?
Speaking as a mom who turned down Balboa a couple years back for my
daughter–after my son went there and was very well served–just remember
it’s not a lottery in the sense you “won” a spot. You have been given
the opportunity, but if your kids are well served and you know what to
expect where you are, do NOT feel guilty about turning down the spot.