For those of you with first hand knowledge, what is your favorite public elementary school in Bryan or College Station? And why?

Also, if you really dislike a school for some real reason I would also like to know that. The fact that a school is across the street from "projects," etc. doesn't fall under this because I can figure that out myself.

I am really interested in teachers, staff, classes, extras the school does, outside and inside areas, parental involvement, etc. etc. If you removed your child from a particular school, why? If you moved into a certain area because of a particular school, I am interested in this too.

Thanks! Oh, and I know quite a bit about some of the private schools in the area, just trying to get some info. and background on different public schools.

Our granddaughters went to South Knoll in College Station and we were really impressed with the school. I can't speak for every child who walks through their doors, but they did a great job for our two girls.

Johnson Elementary!!

South Knoll parent here. My kids are happy and they've had great teachers. I really like it for two reasons: One, they are in dual language and are learning Spanish. Half of their instruction is in Spanish, and I'm amazed at all they know. The second reason I love South Knoll is that they are in school with kids from all over the world and of all walks of life, and that is really important to me. I want them to be exposed to great diversity, and they get that at South Knoll.

That being said, I think we are blessed to live in an area with amazing schools at all levels in both cities. There isn't a "bad" school in our area.

[This message has been edited by aggiegal99 (edited 1/2/2013 5:20p).]

Our two youngest went through College Hills from Kindergarten on. Great teachers, dedicated staff, and a solid support base. The school rebuilt a few years ago, so all of the physical facilities are up to date. A great place for children to learn.

Greens Prairie Elementary!!!!!

Another for College Hills... had kids there since 2003 though this is my youngest's last year.

Only deal with elementary schools ranked exemplary by the Texas Education Agency, if at all possible.

Another vote for Greens Prairie! I was nervous about sending my son to a brand new school, but the staff there is top notch and has a lot of experience!

I'm not a BCS native. We moved here when our kids were 6 and 3. We investigated lots of schools, picked one, and were happy with what we've experienced.

That said, the overwhelming impression we had was that our kids would thrive in any of the public schools in BCS. Any of them. And we looked at *a lot* of schools -- including having in-face interviews with principals, etc. -- before buying a house. Our view is that there are no losers in the bunch. I know successful kids and successful families in more or less every school here in BCS.

Pebble Creek

+1 Tradishun. There are plenty of great elementary schools here that are not ranked "exemplary" - for various reasons that may have nothing to do with the quality of education there.

College Hills, best teachers and coaches and support staff anywhere... of course, I might be biased....

But when your kids walk through my doors I will love them like my own... It's not a job, it's a calling...

We are happy at Pebble Creek as well but I agree with Tradishun - we would likely be happy at any elementary here.

As a whole, BCS is graced with some of the best educators in the nation!

I notice Sam Houston is no longer a favorite. After all the teacher shuffling around a few years ago, the school has suffered tremendous losses as far as good and experienced teachers. BISD have had numerous teachers resign during Christmas break and find it harder to replace those teachers. A main grade sadly is kindergarten where young children are gettig shuffled around to all ready crowded classrooms because of the lack of subs and there is no stability for these first time school children. Mitchell also suffered a loss of a good teacher. And most of these are headed to College Station!

nana, I won't say what I feel because I like my job....

OP, if you're interested in taking a look at area education rankings, the Texas Tribune has the info in a nice output. The same info is on the Texas Education Agency site, but the Trib has it in an easier to digest format.

Go to http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/interactive-children-risk-school-rankings-2012/

Select Elementary School.

Select Bryan or College Station ISD.

Click Search.

Exemplary is best, Recognized is second best. Then Acceptable, then Academically Unacceptable.

If a local elementary school is only ranked Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable, I'd have some serious concerns about my children going there. Others on here, as you've seen in prior posts, don't share those concerns, but it's up to you.

Techno, so you base your decision on test scores? Teach to the test or educate the kids... I scored higher on the SAT than most Doctors I know...

And that's a great website... Seriously...

More BISD teachers quit over the break?

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Techno, so you base your decision on test scores? Teach to the test or educate the kids... I scored higher on the SAT than most Doctors I know...

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It's a good starting point for the OP.

techno,

I am surprised that you use the Texas Tribune as a resource. Very surprised, actually.

This is interesting to me.

I would put my school up against any place in B/CS... Teachers make a school, not numbers...

Fleen and Tradishun FTW.

[This message has been edited by Acp46 (edited 1/3/2013 10:31a).]

acp

College Hills, my little girl and my wife cried on her last day...

CPA, think I know you...

2 Thumbs up for:
College Hills &
South Knoll

Oh and I would agree that the exemplary rating is simply how the kids score on the standard tests. This metric says virtually nothing about the quality of the schools teachers or other qualities leading to a learning environment etc. Unless of course you believe you can take teachers from an exemplary campus in CS and move them to a low ranking one in inner city Houston and get the same results... lol. If so I have some ocean front property for you.... Success on standard tests has everything to do with socioeconomic make up and parental involvement, values etc.. Now if you are like many and want your child in a mostly white upper middle class environment, look for the exemplary rating. Otherwise you have to dig deeper... I'm guessing all the schools in this area are great simply because there are so many quality teachers available.

Ask around, good teachers go where good teachers are needed...

We had great experiences with Forest Ridge. Lots of parental involvement and volunteers. It makes the teachers and students happy, and they perform as though they are happy.

A good mix of kids there. You have some kids that struggle to have school supplies and are on free/reduced lunch, and you have kids who come from Castlegate and Indian Lakes.

Kids of every color, some of whom have other languages spoken at home. It is a very good mix.

The PTO does an amazing job fundraising. We loved the teachers we had there and still see them in the community every so often and my son is always happy to see them.

I've also heard good things about the other schools. We are truly blessed in this community.

My girls go to Forrest Ridge... very pleased...

AgCPA raises some really good points.

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If a local elementary school is only ranked Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable, I'd have some serious concerns about my children going there. Others on here, as you've seen in prior posts, don't share those concerns, but it's up to you.

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What a load. Mitchell Elementary in Bryan has been ranked Exemplary and Academically Unacceptable over the course of a couple of years. What changed? Nothing except a few bad test scores.