I visited a big kid school today, for Freddie

Today I toured the local public school.  Kinda crazy to think about the whole prospect of school.  It will be a few years before Freddie attends the prekindergarten 4 year old program but I wanted to start thinking about what our options are when that time rolls around.  Our school options also will play a role in where we move after the time limit on hospital housing expires. 

My notes:

• 5 minute walk from apartment
• Security guard checks IDs of everyone entering building
• PreK-8, enrollment about 450 students
• 4 years old before December 31st for PreK, 5 years old before December 31st for Kindergarten
• Diversity is obvious.  Statistics given noted almost even percentages of black, white, Hispanic, Asian
• Couldn't tell me percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch.  Curious if the SES diversity is similar to racial diversity.  Will look into.
• 1 PreK class:  2.5 hours per day, note preference of morning or afternoon sessions on application, fills quickly, wait list, registration first week of March, 18 students, 1 teacher, 1 assistant
• Each grade level has 3 classes, one of which is a gifted class
• Kinder classes had 15 students, 1st grade had 13 students in each class
• 3 SPED classes, lower, middle, upper
• Auditorium is beautiful
• Gym
• Playground, recess daily, before lunch for younger students
• Computer lab with 40 work stations, full time computer teacher, younger students attend twice per week
• Full time music and art teacher with classes 1-2 times per week
• PE twice a week
• Student work all over school
• Kids smile, make eye contact, and say hello as they pass in halls
• Teachers were warm and appear to vary in experience and methods
• Freddie likes the way the toilets flushed...and the water fountains in each hallway

Freddie would be fine here.  The kids looked happy and engaged.  It's certainly traditional as most public schools are but I have no doubt he'd have an experience that would assist him in growing to his potential.  It'd prefer a bit of a longer day for him by the time he's 4, but 2.5 hours a day will be a good stepping stone to kindergarten. 

The tour was quite the outing for Freddie.  He acted as though I should be dropping him off in the classroom.  He greeted everyone, made eyes at the big kids, and thanked them for their time.  He walked in and out of classes with the other adults on the tour not really paying attention to if I was even visiting that particular classroom. 

I'm not certain we'll be here when he's prekindergarten age.  We'll see.  I imagine I should also check out some of the private school options, but with tuition being $25K I am not really sure how much of an option they really are.