Best Elementary in Maplewood? How do they assign you to a school? archived
Apr 17, 2014 at 10:40am Edited
Okay calilo, I'll be more specific. My son goes to South Mountain school. K-5. The PE teachers and the principal seem to know every student by name. If I email a question to my sons teacher I get an intelligent answer very quickly. They are open to questions and never appear defensive. One time my son wasn't certain about whether he was taking the bus or getting picked up and his PE teacher called me on the spot with him to sort it out and keep him from getting stressed.
I said the schools are pretty good, and not the schools are the best you could ever get, because no matter how good they are some people will spend 30k to send their child to a private school. I also believe that any school is improved when parents actively volunteer. There is a good bit of parental involvement in our school, and it pleases me.
Personally I could not be happier. My son is surrounded by a faculty and staff who always seem to care about him, has made many friends, and adjusts well every year.
I said the schools are pretty good, and not the schools are the best you could ever get, because no matter how good they are some people will spend 30k to send their child to a private school. I also believe that any school is improved when parents actively volunteer. There is a good bit of parental involvement in our school, and it pleases me.
Personally I could not be happier. My son is surrounded by a faculty and staff who always seem to care about him, has made many friends, and adjusts well every year.
FWIW, The PE teacher also happens to be the bus duty teacher - so it wasn't part of the PE duty to call, it was him with his bus duty hat on. I've been out of SM almost two years, and I still miss the kids.FilmCarp said:
One time my son wasn't certain about whether he was taking the bus or getting picked up and his PE teacher called me on the spot with him to sort it out and keep him from getting stressed.
The school district website has a pdf that lists which school goes with which address, so if you see a house you like, you can find the correct school via that list. The MLS listings are not always correct. Everyone in Maplewood or South Orange can opt into Seth Boyden as an option as well. And if your school is full, you could be sent to an alternate school. As mentioned above, each school is good, really, and each has it's own personality, so it really is ok to choose the house & the neighborhood you like best. We love Tuscan. I cannot believe how lucky we are to have such amazing teachers year after year. I am always impressed. However, I would have no issue at all with sending my children to any school in town.
below is a link to interviews with most of the principals:
http://vanessapollock.com/inside-soma-schools
school zone pdf:
http://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib7/NJ01001050/Centricity/Domain/43/school_zone_list_-_7-9-10.pdf
below is a link to interviews with most of the principals:
http://vanessapollock.com/inside-soma-schools
school zone pdf:
http://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/cms/lib7/NJ01001050/Centricity/Domain/43/school_zone_list_-_7-9-10.pdf
Op--What do you expect us to say, the schools suck? As far as comparing the elementary schools, the only people that could truly do that would be someone having intimate experience with each school, either through work or parental involvement. Even then, that would be anecdotal.
I grew up in CA, so I get where you are coming from in terms of disparity in schools even in one district--but it us very different in New Jersey because we don't have large school districts covering multiple towns/areas/etc. the school district here is just Maplewood and south orange (and even having 2 towns is unique). Schools are run very locally and are mostly funded locally (depending on the town) by property taxes. So you don't see the fund raisers to hire another teacher, or "wealthy" parented schools supplementing the state funds (like my family still in CA sees). It really is a bit more uniform in terms of district-wide quality of education--the differences between schools come down to feel and personality, more than anything. I have lived in 3 different elementary zoned neighborhoods in Maplewood and I can honestly say there were only minor complaints from anyone I knew. My kids go to the "paired" schools discussed above (Marshall-Jefferson) and what I love is how Marshall "feels" because the kids are all grade 2 and under, and also because the principal is fun and seems to really love kids. My kids have also had great teachers and adequate resources. There are 22 kids in my children's classes (not 30 as in the CA elementary I attended); there is an amazing library and librarian at Marshall (that is valued and part of education), and the experiences in "special" classes like music and art have been meaningful. I honestly think that people are VERY passionate about education in this area, and it shows--to the point that we don't appreciate how truly wonderful NJ public schools and education are in comparison to MANY states. In short, we're kinda spoiled. That's why you get "all schools are awesome." Because they really are!
Also--we are bussed from Maplewood to Marshall. There is nothing more convenient than dropping at the bus right down the street! I was freaked out about it when they were in K but I got over it very quickly. :p
We spent 8 years at Clinton and miss it! It was a special time for our kids for all the reasons listed above. I think everyone is being exceptionally polite. The elementary schools here all do a terrific job so don't let any realtor bias sway your housing choice.
The schools are all good. If you're planning to walk to the train station, you'll probably want to be in the zone for Jefferson or Tuscan. Clinton is nice because you have the big parks nearby, but it's a hike. The others I don't really know about. They seem further away but I could be wrong.
If you want your kids to be able to walk to school and/or come home for lunch, there are some busy streets to avoid.
If you want your kids to be able to walk to school and/or come home for lunch, there are some busy streets to avoid.
You have to do a bit of sleuthing on the school district website about the schools that are not strictly neighborhood schools, because the site is not as clear as it should be. Seth Boyden is not only a magnet school; it has a catchment area within which all students are assigned to that school, just like any neighborhood school, but its catchment area is smaller than it otherwise would be because, as a magnet school, it also takes kids from all over the two towns. South Mountain School also has an "Annex" on the other side of the mountain (but in an adjoining area) in the Newstead section (it was originally called "Newstead School"), and, according to the District website the Annex has some kindergartners and all the first graders from the combined area, while the original S. Mountain School has some kindergartners and all the 2-5 graders from the combined area. Jefferson and Marshall (which are not in adjoining areas) are paired, as has been mentioned. This is for racial integration, as was the decision to make Seth Boyden a magnet school. Seth Boyden uses a "multiple intelligences' philosophy, and this was originally unique in the SOMSD, but I hear that that model has been somewhat adopted by the other schools. And, as has been said, all ESL students attend Clinton, which is (since the closing of Fielding and First Street Schools) the closest to the center of the combined towns.
Montclair, which in some ways is similar to the combined S.O./M'wood, has made all their elementary schools magnet schools with different emphases. This is because Montclair (with approximately the same black/white percentage overall as SOMSD) is more segregated racially throughout the town, and they could not integrate the way SOMSD did by fiddling with just three schools (out of an original 10 grade schools when I attended) to get racial balance. My impression is also that the upper class segment in the whole town of Montclair is somewhat more "upper," and the lower segment is either lower or larger. The two towns of Maplewood and South Orange have black/white ratios that are fairly similar to each other overall (although obviously neighborhoods differ -- hence the pairing and magnet), but Montclair and Upper Montclair (not separate municipalities but separate zip codes) are quite far apart on the average, economically and racially, although there is great wealth in one area of the Montclair zip code.
It should be noted that SOMSD is a unified district; the municipal boundaries have no bearing on school zones. The reason why all students from S. Orange attend SOMS and some students from Maplewood also attend SOMS is that the schools are approximately equal in size, but M'wood has about 50% more people than S. Orange (24,000 vs. 16,000).
To recap: strictly neighborhood school:
Tuscan
neighborhood plus magnet:
Seth Boyden
neighborhood plus ESL:
Clinton
neighborhood including annex
South Mountain plus S.M. Annex
paired:
Jefferson
Marshall
Random factoids: three grade schools were repurposed over several decades. Fielding School (next to Columbia High) was turned into the School District headquarters, after they sold a building that partly dates to 1680 to South Orange. First Street School was sold to commercial interests. Montrose School was used for a while as an alternative High School for kids who had problems in the standard high school setting at C.H.S. I'm under the impression that those students have been moved back to Columbia, although since I live out of town, I have not kept up with the current state of the Montrose School.
Montclair, which in some ways is similar to the combined S.O./M'wood, has made all their elementary schools magnet schools with different emphases. This is because Montclair (with approximately the same black/white percentage overall as SOMSD) is more segregated racially throughout the town, and they could not integrate the way SOMSD did by fiddling with just three schools (out of an original 10 grade schools when I attended) to get racial balance. My impression is also that the upper class segment in the whole town of Montclair is somewhat more "upper," and the lower segment is either lower or larger. The two towns of Maplewood and South Orange have black/white ratios that are fairly similar to each other overall (although obviously neighborhoods differ -- hence the pairing and magnet), but Montclair and Upper Montclair (not separate municipalities but separate zip codes) are quite far apart on the average, economically and racially, although there is great wealth in one area of the Montclair zip code.
It should be noted that SOMSD is a unified district; the municipal boundaries have no bearing on school zones. The reason why all students from S. Orange attend SOMS and some students from Maplewood also attend SOMS is that the schools are approximately equal in size, but M'wood has about 50% more people than S. Orange (24,000 vs. 16,000).
To recap: strictly neighborhood school:
Tuscan
neighborhood plus magnet:
Seth Boyden
neighborhood plus ESL:
Clinton
neighborhood including annex
South Mountain plus S.M. Annex
paired:
Jefferson
Marshall
Random factoids: three grade schools were repurposed over several decades. Fielding School (next to Columbia High) was turned into the School District headquarters, after they sold a building that partly dates to 1680 to South Orange. First Street School was sold to commercial interests. Montrose School was used for a while as an alternative High School for kids who had problems in the standard high school setting at C.H.S. I'm under the impression that those students have been moved back to Columbia, although since I live out of town, I have not kept up with the current state of the Montrose School.
Maybe it's obvious, but I should have stated that all 10 grade schools, from about 1955 (Newstead School being the only grade school to date from post-WW II) until 1970 and perhaps beyond, were strictly neighborhood schools.
It's too bad that the School District doesn't see fit to release a map of the school boundaries, only a list by street block. I guess that would be too simple, logical and helpful. It's not as if people don't already know the school zones have been fiddled with for racial balance. Or do some people actually not know this? Is the School District afraid they will find out? I'm assuming the District is following the letter or the spirit of the law in drawing up their zones. Most people would say that, regardless, it's the right thing to do.
On another point, some zone exceptions (or an actual choice) evidently can be sometimes made. I think that applies at very limited areas near zone boundaries (and are referred to in the list of street blocks), or apply to younger siblings of older students who want to attend a school that is already technically at its limit. I don't know the details.
On another point, some zone exceptions (or an actual choice) evidently can be sometimes made. I think that applies at very limited areas near zone boundaries (and are referred to in the list of street blocks), or apply to younger siblings of older students who want to attend a school that is already technically at its limit. I don't know the details.
calilo said:
townperson1 said:
I like how no one said why they think the schools are great-that to me doesn't show a ton of confidence. I could name a thousand reasons why the school my children attend is great besides just "it's great."
True! Which do yours attend, if you dont mind sharing? 4-5 reasons you love it?
From a testing and teacher/student ration the elementary schools are all the same, plus or minus. The only differences are the ethnic, racial and economic make-up of the students. This town is extremely PC, probably more so than any other bedroom community in suburban Jersey so that is why the posters on here are reluctant to post anything that goes against that spirit of tolerance. I'm being very blunt with you so if you are the type for whom ethnic/racial/income issues are important then you need to visit all the schools (and neighborhoods) to see what works best for you. This area is extremely diverse in many regards but politically it leans very left.
As others have mentioned, all the schools are great. They do have their unique flavor. Our kids go to Tuscan. We love the fact that we can walk to the school. Other schools rely more on bussing but I can't speak to that as we don't have experience with taking a bus. It has made a lot of situations easy, ie, last minute play dates, chatting with other parents during pick up and drop off, seeing different parents, chatting with the teachers, etc..
I didn't know any kids bussed to Clinton except from before-care at the Y, but there may have been some. Only one of our kids had a friend that was bussing distance, possibly. So we had the same benefits you mention about Tuscan. Plus the parents are hotter.
eliz said:
I think the only kids who get bused to Clinton are ESL kids.
I think system-wide any kids who qualify for special services also have the option of busing.
NizhoniGrrrl said:
I didn't know any kids bussed to Clinton except from before-care at the Y, but there may have been some. Only one of our kids had a friend that was bussing distance, possibly. So we had the same benefits you mention about Tuscan. Plus the parents are hotter.
I'm taking a deep breath here (I practice a lot of yoga and teach yoga to children). Have you seen the parents at Tuscan, including myself? ;-) But yes, I have a lot of hot friends whose children go to Clinton
Clinton is a wonderful school. I taught yoga there for 8 weeks last year to a 4th grade class. All the teachers and staff that I met seemed wonderful. I will say the PTA at Tuscan is hard core but again, I assume all the PTAs are great. The thing about SOMA parents is that most want to get involved with their children's education and wellbeing and go to great lengths to make that happen.
We love Marshall/Jefferson school although we only have a child in Marshall right now. If you live in Maplewood the bus works out perfect. When they are to young to walk to school alone they take the bus. When they are older they can walk alone to Jefferson.
The only down side is the after care. If you have two siblings in different schools ( Marshall/Jefferson) you cant take advantage of the school after care even though the school bus drops off close to each of the school. You will have to use a sitter of the Y which is substantially more money/child. This is an issue the district refuses to acknowledge and is a cost burden to the Marshall and Jefferson families. Just something to think about . The benefit is that you have two schools geared towards 3 grades each ..this is a benefit for the school libraries, assemblies etc. Besides the aftercare problem Marshall is an amazing place !
The only down side is the after care. If you have two siblings in different schools ( Marshall/Jefferson) you cant take advantage of the school after care even though the school bus drops off close to each of the school. You will have to use a sitter of the Y which is substantially more money/child. This is an issue the district refuses to acknowledge and is a cost burden to the Marshall and Jefferson families. Just something to think about . The benefit is that you have two schools geared towards 3 grades each ..this is a benefit for the school libraries, assemblies etc. Besides the aftercare problem Marshall is an amazing place !
@pipflip, Marshall and Jefferson have after-school programs on site. My kids have been in and are still in the program. I was there today...
I have had three kids go thru M/J, all in after-school, none in the Y.
I have had three kids go thru M/J, all in after-school, none in the Y.
Apr 17, 2014 at 4:19pm Edited
All the schools are great and I know VERY few (if any) parents who wished their child(ren) attended one of the other schools instead of their own.
As noted, students living anywhere in the two towns have a choice to "opt-in" to Seth Boyden or to attend their zoned school. (And in certain circumstances, may be able to transfer to another school, but there are caveats with that.) So, I would recommend that every family preparing to have their first child enter the school system at the elementary level should visit both their zoned school and Seth Boyden.
My family is zoned for Tuscan. Our older child attended Tuscan K-3 and we had a fine experience there. Her 3rd grade year was the first year of the Demo/opt-in program at Seth Boyden and we were very supportive of that approach by the district at the time, so enrolled both of our children at SB the following year when our younger child started Kindergarten. Having experienced both of those schools and having many friends whose kids attended all the other schools reinforced my feeling that, while there are "personality" differences as well as occasional transient "issues" (principal turnover or whatever), in general all of our schools are very good and the school zone really should not be a primary issue for people moving to town for the first time and choosing a neighborhood. It may legitimately be an issue for those moving within town who want their children to continue to attend the same school, although I believe that the district is fairly flexible about allowing children to continue in their same school under those circumstances. At least that was the experience for people I knew who moved while their children were in elementary school.
As noted, students living anywhere in the two towns have a choice to "opt-in" to Seth Boyden or to attend their zoned school. (And in certain circumstances, may be able to transfer to another school, but there are caveats with that.) So, I would recommend that every family preparing to have their first child enter the school system at the elementary level should visit both their zoned school and Seth Boyden.
My family is zoned for Tuscan. Our older child attended Tuscan K-3 and we had a fine experience there. Her 3rd grade year was the first year of the Demo/opt-in program at Seth Boyden and we were very supportive of that approach by the district at the time, so enrolled both of our children at SB the following year when our younger child started Kindergarten. Having experienced both of those schools and having many friends whose kids attended all the other schools reinforced my feeling that, while there are "personality" differences as well as occasional transient "issues" (principal turnover or whatever), in general all of our schools are very good and the school zone really should not be a primary issue for people moving to town for the first time and choosing a neighborhood. It may legitimately be an issue for those moving within town who want their children to continue to attend the same school, although I believe that the district is fairly flexible about allowing children to continue in their same school under those circumstances. At least that was the experience for people I knew who moved while their children were in elementary school.
Thanks everyone for this very helpful thread.
@chopin - Extremely informative and thorough, thanks.
@chopin - Extremely informative and thorough, thanks.
They don't do a map because the boundaries get tweaked a bit fairly often (perhaps every year or two at times) and if a map was released it would get out of date quickly but would no doubt live on forever on the internet. if you contact the registration office and provide an address, they will tell you which school it is zoned for.chopin said:
It's too bad that the School District doesn't see fit to release a map of the school boundaries, only a list by street block. I guess that would be too simple, logical and helpful. It's not as if people don't already know the school zones have been fiddled with for racial balance. Or do some people actually not know this? Is the School District afraid they will find out? I'm assuming the District is following the letter or the spirit of the law in drawing up their zones. Most people would say that, regardless, it's the right thing to do.
On another point, some zone exceptions (or an actual choice) evidently can be sometimes made. I think that applies at very limited areas near zone boundaries (and are referred to in the list of street blocks), or apply to younger siblings of older students who want to attend a school that is already technically at its limit. I don't know the details.
In this vein - DO NOT rely on realtor listings for school zone. They are not always correct.
Also (even more serious), there are some apartments (and perhaps also some houses) on the border of South Orange and Orange that have postal addresses (and perhaps part of their property) in the town of South Orange, but that are actually primarily or totally in the town of Orange and therefore the Orange School district. This is a huge deal because (sadly) the Orange schools are definitely not of the same caliber as the South Orange/Maplewood schools.
So be sure to do your due diligence on this issue.
Yes, we had the experience sac describes above. Although we lived in a place called South Orange Gardens AND our driver licenses indicated our legal address as South Orange, it turned out that our townhouse was actually in Orange. (Only the driveway of the entire complex was in South Orange, apparently!) Could not even get library cards with the address, much less enroll in the school district. Luckily we discovered this before we had a child of school age.
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I think there are two reasons for this. 1) Everyone is pretty tired of answering the question since it gets asked on a relatively frequent basis. and 2) No one wants to start the my school is better than yours crap because it's silly - the elementary schools are all good. Without knowing the OP's circumstances and needs no one could tell him/her which school is right for his/her family or even if this district is right for his/her family.
We are a Clinton family and we absolutely love it, primarily due to the incredible community. It's a neighborhood school and everyone knows everyone. It feels very intimate. If you have a drop-off/pick-up issue, you call a neighbor to help and then you reciprocate when they are in a pinch. We walk to school with a whole gaggle of kids and parents (your neighbors!) and have a blast. We just had our school show and 325 kids (well over 50% participation) and it was amazing. So many parents with arts backgrounds pitched in to give the show incredible polish - the kids blew our socks off. Principal O'Neill knows EVERY child and they know her. And they love her - they seek her out to share their accomplishments and problems. She was completely choked up after the show because she was so proud of and impressed by the students. It's a very diverse community. All the ESL children attend Clinton, so you have so many different cultures coming together and that is celebrated every day. They also learn a bunch of stuff. Clinton doesn't have the highest test scores, but I don't really pay attention to that as I think test scores are just one piece of a huge puzzle. My son is doing well academically and socially and that is my focus.
I'm sure all the other schools are fantastic in many similar and different ways. I'll bet if we were at any other school we would be happy, but I certainly wouldn't change it now that we are there. If your child needs special education or G&T services, you may want to do a search on the board because many people feel the MSO school district as a whole does not support those needs well. I cannot speak for that since we haven't had any special needs yet.
Another factor that may be important to you are school hours. Clinton is from 8:05 - 2:35. Other schools are 8:35 - 3:05. Depending on your drop-off, pick-up, train, childcare logistics, they may make a material difference to you. It may not matter at all. It doesn't make a difference to us since our sons' nanny does drop off an pickup, but for some of our friends it's huge that they can drop-off and still be in the city by 9am-ish.
http://www.clintonelementary.org/