Phoenix Schools See School Choice As A Necessity

Phoenix Schools See School Choice As A Necessity

Summary: Neighborhood schools are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With such things as school rankings, school grades for each school, and the No Child Left Behind act, simply sending our children to the grade school down the street is going the way of the dodo bird.

Today, Phoenix Schools parents have the option of sending their children to almost any school they wish within the district serving Phoenix Public Schools. While some may indeed choose to stick with the neighbo...

Phoenix Schools, Patricia Hawke

Article Body: Neighborhood schools are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With such things as school rankings, school grades for each school, and the No Child Left Behind act, simply sending our children to the grade school down the street is going the way of the dodo bird.

Today, Phoenix Schools parents have the option of sending their children to almost any school they wish within the district serving Phoenix Public Schools. While some may indeed choose to stick with the neighborhood learning institution many, if not most, parents are enrolling their children in specialty schools that reflect their childs interests, strengths, or just the style of education they want for their student.

Phoenix Schools now offer various Magnet Schools to meet the growing demand for school choice. Called Signature Schools, these Phoenix Schools offer numerous options for students attending a Phoenix Schools magnet program.

There is a downside to the Phoenix Schools magnet program. By sending children to schools further away from home families now need to import playmates or drive their kids across town to visit friends. Families in the Phoenix Schools need to balance their desire for the strengths of a magnet with the burden of travel time and being more spread out.

If you are interested in the magnet programs offered by Phoenix Schools heres a partial list:

Montessori This program serves Phoenix Schools students in PreK through th grade. It follows the international curriculum developed by Maria Montessori.

Performing Arts Phoenix Schools students in th and th grades have the opportunity to participate in the performing arts throughout the school year with an emphasis on drama, dance, choir and instrumental music. Kindergarten through th grade students also participate in these disciplines.

Math, Science & Technology Phoenix Schools th and th grade students focus specifically on math, science and technology. The science campus at Lowell offers special benefits to prekindergarten through th grade students, as well.

Traditional & Balance the Basics Prekindergarten through th grade Phoenix Schools students engage in a heavy emphasis on reading, math and writing.

Global Community or Donde Vivo Donde Vivo students in th and th explore their global community through an interdisciplinary curriculum. Each year the students have the opportunity to experience their global community by traveling abroad.

Second Language Acquisition Second Language Acquisition is the focus of a program at Herrera School for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Students are immersed in both Spanish and English in all subject areas.

Science Investigations Phoenix Schools students in th and th grades engage in physical and life sciences during their regular science classes, as well as through an after school club with mentors from Arizona State University.

Magnet Schools offer options, but theyre not perfect. Most Phoenix Schools house magnet programs in less desirable parts of the city in an effort to draw more affluent and educated parents. But you and your child might find that its the right place for you.