ILT vs CSISD Elementary

3,454 Views | 34 Replies | Last: 25 days ago by General Jack D. Ripper
Nutmegger
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We are looking to move to College Station before the start of the school year and are curious about International Leadership of Texas. I see the proficiency scores are much lower than the top CSISD schools. I was told it was due to them having to learn Chinese which brings their scores down initially (early elementary), but that they are higher level overall in the later years.

I haven't seen many posts in recent years since the school first opened so figured I would try to get any opinions on the school now that they have been open for some time.

The other elementary schools we are looking at are Forest Ridge, Greens Prairie, and Pebble Creek.
RafterAg223
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Been here for 30 years and raised our family up through CSISD. Know many families who have had their kids at both ILT and CSISD. For the most part, I haven't heard great things about ILT, and most of the kids I'm familiar with ended up back in CSISD schools after trying ILT. I don't have any first hand experience with ILT, and it may be great. But I don't get that sense based on the feedback I've heard.
EriktheRed
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You will be hard pressed to find an elementary school better than Greens Prairie anywhere.
backinbcs
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+1 endorsing CSISD.
Tailgate88
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EriktheRed said:

You will be hard pressed to find an elementary school better than Greens Prairie anywhere.


Had kids go through GP and FR - both excellent schools.
ElephantRider
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My son is at GP now. It's a great school
Stupe
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I had kids go to Rock Prairie and Forest Ridge. Both were outstanding.

There isn't a bad school in CSISD.
CS78
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Our family is currently in year 9 of Greens Prairie Elementary. It's been great with a top notch principal and great positive atmosphere.
AggieAces06
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My son has been at ILT since kindergarten, he is in 4th grade now.

Is it perfect? No, but we haven't had any major issues.

We've known several families who have left. It's not the perfect for everyone. If your kid is motivated by challenge and is willing to put in the work, they'll do great.

You're going to find issues at every school. It's just what is the best fit for you and your kid.
AeroAg03
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The "9 year" comment made me do the math..
We are on 12 (!) straight years at GP and yes, I fully concur: THAT is how you run an elementary school, from the Principal to the aides to the building staff.

This is our very last year and I will truly miss that place.
Tookieclothespin
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We are zoned for Southwood Valley even though we are closer to Rock Prairie. Hard pass. We send to private school.

Too many zoning shenanigans
TAMU1990
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Pebble Creek has been good too. All of those schools the OP listed are fine.
EliteElectric
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AggieAces06 said:

My son has been at ILT since kindergarten, he is in 4th grade now.

Is it perfect? No, but we haven't had any major issues.

We've known several families who have left. It's not the perfect for everyone. If your kid is motivated by challenge and is willing to put in the work, they'll do great.

You're going to find issues at every school. It's just what is the best fit for you and your kid.
Same, daughter now in 5th grade has been there since K. Trilingual has to be hard on kids that start later in it.

****The following comments are gleaned from personal experience and 100% my opinion only****

Nearly all of the kids that we know, that have left, have left due to the Trilingual difficulty. That said, most of those kids are also being raised by helicopter parents that feel the need to do everything for their kids instead of letting the kids fail and learn/grow from that failure.

Prime example of this is last year when our daughter (honor roll kid) got an 80 on a math test and was distraught over it. She asked us to call her teacher and ask if she could retake it. I said no, you earned that 80 you're going to have to live with it. Several of her classmates also faired poorly on that test and nearly all of them had their parents complain and ask to retest. ILT did not acquiesce. That chapped a lot of parents. We have no juxtaposition because our child has always been at ILT, so CSISD or BISD may be better for our child we don't know. She loves it there, she has a lot of friends there and she excels there.


****ETA****

My nephews and nieces all went to Pebble Creek and they loved it
www.elitellp.net/

Stupe
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Tookieclothespin said:

We are zoned for Southwood Valley even though we are closer to Rock Prairie. Hard pass. We send to private school.

Too many zoning shenanigans
What does that have to do with the quality of the schools?
Texasyankee
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We sent our oldest to ILT for the first couple of years here in CSTAT and did not have a great experience. CSISD has been much better for our kids. PM me if you want more info.
Tookieclothespin
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Obviously that doesn't determine the quality. The ratings have had a say though. Southwood is way worse than rock prairie. We live closer to RP, but got scooped up for SWV in the last boundary game. I don't want to play, so we go private. CISD isn't as great as they think they are. Average at best.
Stupe
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That post actually made me laugh.

I guess that's why students that aren't in the top quarter of CSHS or Consol still get into A&M and Texas because it's considered a competitive school district by the university. Or get out of state tuition waived at others schools that recruit them.
Again...students outside of the top quarter of their senior classes.

We are close friends with a lot of people that work at A&M as advisors, admissions, and professors. Some have kids in private schools because of religious beliefs but most that live in the CSISD district have theirs in public schools. Primarily because of the accelerated classes.

Our friends that are advisors and professors have repeatedly told us that unless we just wanted our kids to go to private school to not spend the money. The private school students are no more ready for college than the students that come from either CSISD high school.

I guess that's because it's "average at best"

I was one of the most vocal against the school rezoning and if people wanted out of that mess, I don't blame them. But it's pretty humorous when parents that put their kids in private schools automatically think they are getting a better education.

That is not accurate and that is straight from the mouths of people that deal with them in college.
ElephantRider
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Tookieclothespin said:

Obviously that doesn't determine the quality. The ratings have had a say though. Southwood is way worse than rock prairie. We live closer to RP, but got scooped up for SWV in the last boundary game. I don't want to play, so we go private. CISD isn't as great as they think they are. Average at best.
This is just not true. To quote your own post "the ratings have had a say". CSISD is one of the best in the state.
gunan01
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The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
BCSWguru
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gunan01 said:

The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
This is just not true.
Jinx
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EliteElectric said:

AggieAces06 said:

My son has been at ILT since kindergarten, he is in 4th grade now.

Is it perfect? No, but we haven't had any major issues.

We've known several families who have left. It's not the perfect for everyone. If your kid is motivated by challenge and is willing to put in the work, they'll do great.

You're going to find issues at every school. It's just what is the best fit for you and your kid.
Same, daughter now in 5th grade has been there since K. Trilingual has to be hard on kids that start later in it.

****The following comments are gleaned from personal experience and 100% my opinion only****

Nearly all of the kids that we know, that have left, have left due to the Trilingual difficulty. That said, most of those kids are also being raised by helicopter parents that feel the need to do everything for their kids instead of letting the kids fail and learn/grow from that failure.

Prime example of this is last year when our daughter (honor roll kid) got an 80 on a math test and was distraught over it. She asked us to call her teacher and ask if she could retake it. I said no, you earned that 80 you're going to have to live with it. Several of her classmates also faired poorly on that test and nearly all of them had their parents complain and ask to retest. ILT did not acquiesce. That chapped a lot of parents. We have no juxtaposition because our child has always been at ILT, so CSISD or BISD may be better for our child we don't know. She loves it there, she has a lot of friends there and she excels there.


****ETA****

My nephews and nieces all went to Pebble Creek and they loved it



Seconding most of this. We have kids in 2nd and 4th. Kid in 2nd grader has been at ILT since Kinder and does well across the board, also loves the trilingual aspect.

4th grader came in a bit older and doesn't really have as good a grasp on the other languages, but same kind of student as yours. Likes to be a high achiever, rule follower type. They changed a bit of the way they teach languages this year and he's a lot more confident than he was, so I was glad for that.

We have also known many people who have left, and it's usually either kids struggling to keep up (prevalent in the higher grades) or displeasure at the school for various policies/procedures. I have my own complaints as well, but nothing big enough to consider moving them at this time.

Ultimately it works well for us, but OP would know their kid best.
General Jack D. Ripper
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BCSWguru said:

gunan01 said:

The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
This is just not true.


With exception of St Joseph's, these private schools aren't the kind of college prep that you'd get in Houston or DFW. I went to college prep and would spend the money if there was an advantage. CSISD and its honors program is better than any private school in the area.
I wish I was a messenger, and all the news was good. Eddie V.
TheOC16
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General Jack D. Ripper said:

BCSWguru said:

gunan01 said:

The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
This is just not true.


With exception of St Joseph's, these private schools aren't the kind of college prep that you'd get in Houston or DFW. I went to college prep and would spend the money if there was an advantage. CSISD and its honors program is better than any private school in the area.
St. Joseph must have really changed in the past decade if you are saying they are a quality college prep option! I'm glad to hear that if it's the case.
George Costanza
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With very few exceptions, the education a kid gets out of ANY school is going to be directly related to their parents being Involved (not talking "helicopter" involved). Parents with expectations and support for their kids are the biggest factor in success.
gunan01
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General Jack D. Ripper said:

BCSWguru said:

gunan01 said:

The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
This is just not true.


With exception of St Joseph's, these private schools aren't the kind of college prep that you'd get in Houston or DFW. I went to college prep and would spend the money if there was an advantage. CSISD and its honors program is better than any private school in the area.
Bit surprised to hear that about St. Joseph's. Do they send students with regularity to 4-year colleges, including UT and A&M? That info is not readily available online.
gunan01
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Getting back to the OP, I would consider IL Texas having sexual misconduct accusations against two different teachers in the last year, including one indictment.
https://www.kbtx.com/2024/08/10/former-iltexas-teacher-indicted-sexual-assault-child-charge/

If you Google it, this appears to be a system-wide issue with IL Texas.

Obviously, bad apples exist everywhere, but that was pretty shocking IMO.
Average Joe
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Tookieclothespin said:

We are zoned for Southwood Valley even though we are closer to Rock Prairie. Hard pass. We send to private school.

Too many zoning shenanigans
That's funny, because I have one kid who went to SWV and another that's in the dual language program there. They both excel far beyond state averages, and are pretty far ahead of kids we know in private school. A lot of the other parents we know at SWV are doctors, lawyers, a couple of A&M profs, and numerous business owners.
AgGunNut
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The bad apples exist everywhere, but IL's handling of it in the media and with parents was just as concerning.
trouble
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They sent more than half of last year's senior class to A&M.

They have 5 seniors who have already been accepted this year.
BiochemAg97
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trouble said:

They sent more than half of last year's senior class to A&M.

They have 5 seniors who have already been accepted this year.


If they were really a college prep, they would be sending those kids to Stanford, Yale, Harvard, etc.
trouble
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That's not the bar he set though.
ro828
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The nonsense of requiring students to learn Chinese makes ILT the Pet Rock of the 21st century. I'm 78 years old. As of Tuesday morning I've never had a situation arise where I needed to speak or understand Chinese. The Spanish classes in high school and college have come in handy more times than I can count.
RO828
EliteElectric
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ro828 said:

The nonsense of requiring students to learn Chinese makes ILT the Pet Rock of the 21st century. I'm 78 years old. As of Tuesday morning I've never had a situation arise where I needed to speak or understand Chinese. The Spanish classes in high school and college have come in handy more times than I can count.

I doubt you've ever ordered food delivery from your smart watch either
www.elitellp.net/

trouble
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I'm sure you've seen plenty of changes though.
General Jack D. Ripper
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gunan01 said:

General Jack D. Ripper said:

BCSWguru said:

gunan01 said:

The private schools in this county don't hold a candle to CSISD. Unless there's a social/behavioral/religious reason to go private, it's pointless to send your kid to private in this area.

Very different than Houston or Dallas.
This is just not true.


With exception of St Joseph's, these private schools aren't the kind of college prep that you'd get in Houston or DFW. I went to college prep and would spend the money if there was an advantage. CSISD and its honors program is better than any private school in the area.
Bit surprised to hear that about St. Joseph's. Do they send students with regularity to 4-year colleges, including UT and A&M? That info is not readily available online.


I knew two grads and they told me they were always 1 year ahead of their public school friends. That was my experience at my prep school as a teen.
I wish I was a messenger, and all the news was good. Eddie V.
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