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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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- kim nakahodo - Profile | Pictures | Blog
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As I have mentioned before, we are in the process of moving. I am *hoping* to have our house for sale next week. (I have been saying “one more week” for months now, but it really does look like it’s going to happen now.)
We have been working so hard to get our house ready for sale that we have not had any time to consider where we are going to move to. I have to stay within Kansas City, Missouri’s city limits for my job so that HEAVILY restricts were we can move.
I must admit that when it comes to schools in KC, I am at a loss.
I am not from Kansas City, I’m from the Chicagoland area. I attended private school from K-3 through high school. Honestly, we went to private school because the school district we lived in was very, very bad. East Aurora school district was known for one thing – gang violence.
When I bought my current house, I was 23 years old and the thoughts of marriage, babies or school districts were not even on my radar. It’s amazing how different my life is almost 10 years later.
We don’t have many friends with kids – so we don’t have a lot of people to ask about schools or school districts. We have been surfing around on the net, but that isn’t really the best way to find out about a school.
So…. I need your help!!! If you had to buy a house in the Kansas City limits, where would you buy?
What school district is the best?
What school district should I avoid?
If you know of a great private school – let me know!
I work for Park Hill School district and I have to say I am impressed. Some other noteworthy districts are Liberty, as well as Smithville. I am from the Northland so I dont know much about other districts/areasThe Lee's Summit school district is highly rated. There are some small areas in the Kansas City city limits that are in the Lee's Summit school district. One is Summit Wood and I understand that there are KCMO police and firefighters that live there as they prefer the LS schools.I think you can live in Kansas City and go to Raytown Schools. I think they're pretty good. I value diversity and don't want my kids going to an all-white, all middle-class district. I think there are some parts of Kansas City that are within the Lee's Summit School District, too. Here's a link for some interesting information and conversation on this topic: http://www.city-data.com/forum/kansas-city/557764-metro-kansas-city-school-districts.html. Also, you didn't say if you're considering private schools. That's an option if you decided to stay within the confines of the KC district but don't want to send your kids there. You might want to check out www.greatschools.net. But I think there's more to a great school than high test scores and demographics. You have to make sure your child gets what he or she needs and not rely on the school to do it for you. I'm sure you already know that. But sometimes people go freaky when they listen to what other people say about schools and make judgments based on perceptions and misinformation. I think you have to trust your instincts and do what's right for your kiddo.Ditto the Lee's Summit comments. East on Bannister Road there is a housing development of very nice houses that I believe is in the KC limits but the kids attend Lee's Summit. My husband teaches at a small private school in KC and we've had many police/firefighter families through the years, also, due the address restrictions placed on them.Kate is right. I Live in KC and DD foes to Raytown. Look at the 64133 map. We are in the old part of the district which I like. The schools are a little smaller and there are more of them.The Lee's Summit school district is highly rated. There are some small areas in the Kansas City city limits that are in the Lee's Summit school district. One is Summit Wood and I understand that there are KCMO police and firefighters that live there as they prefer the LS schools.When we moved back to KC from Topeka we used the state's rankings on the state ed site & http://www,schoolmatters.com for head to head comparisons. In general, Johnson County schools are head and shoulders ahead of any of the other areas, with Blue Valley ranking the highest. With this info, we chose to live in JoCo instead of the Northland. Park Hill, Turner, and some of the others are okay..but others (KCMO, KCK,) are just horrid.We love our school in Lee's Summit, and I was from Liberty originally, so I can vouch for both districts. Liberty has several housing developments with KC addresses, and Liberty schools. I didn't know LS had the same set up, actually. As for KC itself, we wanted to move to the Waldo/ Brookside neighborhoods badly, and were ready to try Academy Lafayette for our 1st grader. It's a french immersion school, which wasn't something I was looking for, but I was very impressed with the staff and the tour (charter school, so not private.) The Brookside Montessori school might be an option, as well. I think it's a magnet or charter. Not sure of it's reputation all the way. Good luck!I think there's misconception out there that to get a good education you must stay on the Kansas side. But we are raising our children on the Missouri side and are very happy with our school district. We have friends who live in lovely Brookside and send their kids to private schools. I think Kate's right that you've just got to visit and get a feel for what you're comfortable with.You also asked about private schools-Pembroke and Barstow are both excellent. St. Elizabeth's is also a wonderful choice. If I had the $$ I would send my daughter to Barstow.My sister and her family lived near Hyde Park, and my nephew went to Border Star Elementary. It is a Montessori school, and they were quite pleased with his experience there.Our family RAVED about Blue Springs' schools before we moved out here. We checked out their site- lots of awards. Its a Blue Ribbon District. We've been very happy with the schools the boys have attended Sunny Pointe and Sunny Vale.I recommend you read the book "Mother On Fire!" by Sandra Tsing Loh. You've got alot in common and the book's an absolute scream! Sorry I can't recommend any school's (not from KC either) but best of luck with your search :)I recommend you read the book "Mother On Fire!" by Sandra Tsing Loh. You've got alot in common and the book's an absolute scream! Sorry I can't recommend any school's (not from KC either) but best of luck with your search :)I live in Liberty and we're pretty happy with the Liberty district. There are a number of neighborhoods in KC that are in the Liberty school district. Good luck!My 2 girls are in the Park Hill district. One is in the middle school and one in elementary. We really like it. My oldest has some learning issues and they have gone out of their way to help her and us.I second the Liberty schools. they are fantastic and the Academy Layfayette is amazing too. I have known three children to go there and its wonderful. St. Elizabeth's on 75th Street is excellent as well. Academy L. is free though if that is an issue.I live in kc and my kids go to lakewood elementry school. This is in the nkc school district. I love this school there is only one class for each grade level. which gives the kids a more one on one. the principal knows all the kids and they do lots of fun things at that school. also right next door to the elementry school is st. garbiels catholic school. which a lot of our neighbor attend. any way if you decide to check out that area look up my house it is for sale with a realtor right now but were dropping him to sell our house way cheep. if you want to check it out on line go to realtor.com with mls#1602583 and remember ill be dropping the price to 144,000. any question write jdhott2002@yahoo.com. p.s. we are with in walking distance to penquin park a fishing lake and nature walking trails
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