My family and I are preparing for a move and one of my picks is the Lexington area. I'm wondering how the schools are down there (meaning elementary, jr. high) as it has been a strong argument against moving to that area. I've heard bad things statistically about the school system in the South, but I'm wondering if there are just more weak/bad schools bringing the numbers down for other stronger/better programs. Living next to an area like the Red has been a dream of mine for a long time but climbing isn't everything, right? What are the summers like there?
Thanks for any help
Edu in the South
I can't comment much on the schools, but the summers can get hot...damn hot.....REAL hot....and it's hot and WET! That's nice if you with a lady, but it ain't no good if you in the jungle.....er, I mean climbing!
Mj
Mj
...quitting drinking is kinda like washing your hands after you take a crap...why start now?
I went to school hear all my life. I think they did a great job teching me stuf. I think that the school system sould be the last thing that caused you cocern about moving hear.
good luck on your desision
good luck on your desision
"Hookers and drugs man. Money can't buy happiness but it's really hard not to smile when you're in a cheap hotel room surrounded by hookers and drugs." ~ Charlie
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Guest
Realtor.com will run school district performance reports for a fee. You may want to do that once you narrow down the counties that interest you. WINTERSTORM needs to chime in here. I was asking him this same question not long ago and he had some good info (which I can't remember right now). Or was that SITA? Not that you two look alike or anything!
Okay, this is what I know. My nephews are 8 and 1 (and really freaking cute, check my website if you don't believe me 
and my sister bought her house based on school district concerns. My oldest nephew is in 2nd grade at Clays Mill elementary and my sister absolutely loves the school. Rosa Parks and Gardenside I do believe are nice. There was talk about redistricting so I don't know for sure how the districts are drawn now. If you want more info I would be more than happy to pass your e-mail address on to my sister. She could probably give you more info than you ever wanted about the schools in Lexington. I personally went to parochial school through 8th grade and then Dunbar High School (which I thought was great). Let me know how I can help. Lexington has some great schools.
and my sister bought her house based on school district concerns. My oldest nephew is in 2nd grade at Clays Mill elementary and my sister absolutely loves the school. Rosa Parks and Gardenside I do believe are nice. There was talk about redistricting so I don't know for sure how the districts are drawn now. If you want more info I would be more than happy to pass your e-mail address on to my sister. She could probably give you more info than you ever wanted about the schools in Lexington. I personally went to parochial school through 8th grade and then Dunbar High School (which I thought was great). Let me know how I can help. Lexington has some great schools.While I can't comment on Kentucky, I have distant cousins who went to primary and high school in Arkansas and Texas, then went to good Universities. With hindsight, they were horrified by the quality of their previous education. Evidently there was a great deal of confusion about the outcome of the Civil War, among other things.
Even though I am not Catholic, I received an excellent education at a progressive Catholic grammar school (with Protestant, Hindu and Jewish classmates) and an extremely competitive Catholic high school (St. Ignatius in Chicago, again with a very diverse student body). It was a broad and deep liberal arts education. I don't think that all Catholic schools are as free from right-wing ideology as mine were, though. If your area has good Catholic schools, I would recomend considering them, particularly for high school, even if you aren't Catholic. (And no, I never came anywhere near being molested! Also, they were never able to teach me to spell well
)
Even though I am not Catholic, I received an excellent education at a progressive Catholic grammar school (with Protestant, Hindu and Jewish classmates) and an extremely competitive Catholic high school (St. Ignatius in Chicago, again with a very diverse student body). It was a broad and deep liberal arts education. I don't think that all Catholic schools are as free from right-wing ideology as mine were, though. If your area has good Catholic schools, I would recomend considering them, particularly for high school, even if you aren't Catholic. (And no, I never came anywhere near being molested! Also, they were never able to teach me to spell well
)
I went to public schools in NY through 6th grade and they were fine. Then to Greensboro, NC for 7-10th grade, again at public schools that were fine. Next we moved to Savannah, Ga where I HAD to go to a private school. No question. The public schools there are down right scary; Metal detectors, riots...not a good place for kids. The south definitely has some bad schools compared to up north. I hear Lexington is good...REALLY good...IF you're in the right district. It seems to me like a good place to raise a family really. You should talk your folks into it. 
It's definitely an affordable place to raise a family.
It's definitely an affordable place to raise a family.My job takes me into schools all the time and I've seen a lot of good and bad. Fayette Co Public Schools are pretty good. There are some great educators working in the school system. Like others have said, unfortunatley its all about getting in the right school district. But within certain districts, students excell. As for the school board and central offices, there are kinda in limbo right now. Fay Co has had a tough time with the superentendent position and personally I feel that central offices have been mismanaged for years. The current school board is facing some really tough issues, and I'm not sure they are up the task. (gee Steve, how do you really feel). There are several private school options around town, Sayre and Lex Cath being really good.
Once you get out from Lexington the school systems go by the way of the landscape, rural. Not to say there aren't some great districts out there, but there is a difference when you get out into the smaller communities. Scott Co is pretty good, they get a lot of money from Toyota. Boyle Co and Danville schools are nice. I think the schools are good in Madison Co too.
I'm not sure where you are coming from but a brief history of schools in KY. For years and years KY ranked at the bottom of the education barrel. For years the moto in Frankfort was "thank God for Mississippi". Then in 1991 the General Assembly reshaped the face of education in this state. By passing the Kentucky Education Reform Act KY leaped to the top of the nation in education reform. Progressive, cutting edge style educating began to occur across the Commonwealth and results were seen. Students' test scores dramatically improved and much praise was bestowed on educators. Things have been riding along pretty good since, and in 1997 the GA passed some post secondary education reform and KY was well on its way to being know as a state who put a high priority on education. Despite all the Gov's short commings, he has put an emphisis on education. Currently the state is facing a budget shortfall in the next fiscal year. No one wants to cut funding to education, but when its all said and done schoold districts across the state could suffer.
OK, I'm going to shut up. I've gone on too long and I don't even have any childeren. Move to NC, I hear their schools are really good.
Once you get out from Lexington the school systems go by the way of the landscape, rural. Not to say there aren't some great districts out there, but there is a difference when you get out into the smaller communities. Scott Co is pretty good, they get a lot of money from Toyota. Boyle Co and Danville schools are nice. I think the schools are good in Madison Co too.
I'm not sure where you are coming from but a brief history of schools in KY. For years and years KY ranked at the bottom of the education barrel. For years the moto in Frankfort was "thank God for Mississippi". Then in 1991 the General Assembly reshaped the face of education in this state. By passing the Kentucky Education Reform Act KY leaped to the top of the nation in education reform. Progressive, cutting edge style educating began to occur across the Commonwealth and results were seen. Students' test scores dramatically improved and much praise was bestowed on educators. Things have been riding along pretty good since, and in 1997 the GA passed some post secondary education reform and KY was well on its way to being know as a state who put a high priority on education. Despite all the Gov's short commings, he has put an emphisis on education. Currently the state is facing a budget shortfall in the next fiscal year. No one wants to cut funding to education, but when its all said and done schoold districts across the state could suffer.
OK, I'm going to shut up. I've gone on too long and I don't even have any childeren. Move to NC, I hear their schools are really good.
I see they are still lopping off mountains in Eastern Kentucky. Electricity isn't cheap.
wow
Hey all, thanks for the great response. When I'm a little closer to making the big decisions I might try to shoot a few of you an e-mail, this definitely helped me start looking in the right direction. I'm just hoping that all the good districts aren't next to gated communities? Hopefully, there is some affordable housing near the good schools.
Also, anyone have some good advice for keeping your mind on work when a world class area is only minutes away?
Also, anyone have some good advice for keeping your mind on work when a world class area is only minutes away?