School transitions and quality of districts.

Hello, again!  

Well, we are heading toward another year in school in a new state.  This has been our first move involving a school change for our oldest, and I think she is excited.  She does, however, miss her old friends and her old school.  Fortunately, we moved during the summer, so the switch occurred during her yearly transition from one grade to the next.  Whew!  

I know many aren't as fortunate as we have been.  Changing schools mid-year, or mid-semester can be especially challenging.  

Unfortunately for us, we have been stationed in states where the schools are struggling to keep pace academically.  Both our current and last assignments were in areas that also recently dealt with a high influx of students due to massive area growth.  The high number of students caused the school systems in these areas to struggle with getting new schools, new administrations, and new teachers fast enough.  Also, quality teachers, I've heard, are harder to come by in these areas as the housing prices went up so drastically that the teacher's salaries couldn't keep pace.  What a conundrum. 

 Honestly, I don't know where our children will fall on a state ranking list of school performance.  I have done what I can to supplement their education in my own way with books, and computer programs, and other educational products. 

As of yet, I don't mind, but the local district is putting more kids in the schools in our zone, by using 5 schedules of year round school so that the school can handle the number of students, and be used 12 months of the year.  That is true only of the elementary school here, so students in other schools are on a regular 9 months schedule.  That can make a mess for parents of many kids.  Hopefully, the change in schedule won't be a huge problem for my kids.  I don't think it will be, but we have so many transitions as it is.  :)

I have a son with some special school considerations, and transitioning him into this district was not easy.  I believe special kids' transitions could (should) be made easier for military families who are constantly on the move.  There will be more on this in a later blog. 

Have any opinions on military kids and schools?  Please feel free to leave your respectful comments.:)