Educating Our Children: Elementary Schools in Southern Utah

Currently there are twenty-four elementary schools in Washington County School District, and my personal experience is limited to only a small portion of them. http://www.washk12.org/schools/elementary-schools .

 I hesitate to point out one as exceptionally good or another as exceptionally bad simply because in my experience one change in administration, particularly if the principal is changed, a school can do a 180⁰ turn around in just a few months. That being said here are some things that I have observed about the elementary schools here in St. George.

First, how do they use their land trust money?  Our kids’ elementary school has used the money in the last few years to bring in specialty teachers for art and music in addition to their computer lab and p.e. instructors. Looking at how they have spent their money in the past few years can help you see some of their priorities.

Second, look at the parent involvement. Utah definitely spends less per student than most states but I believe that parents’ involvement augments education here in Utah especially in the elementary schools.

Next, I know of two schools that have highly unique programs. Crimson View elementary opened its doors in 2013. They are a STEM school meaning they are highly focused on SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING and MATHEMATICS. The students all have ipads; there is a definite emphasis on the technology/science area. http://cves.washk12.org/stem/  Dixie Sun Elementary has a dual immersion program. Instruction is given in English in the mornings and Spanish in the afternoons. http://dses.washk12.org/school-info/dual-immersion/

Two more questions to consider, depending on your situation, are what special education or Gifted programs does the school have in shape. Our experience with the gifted program is that there is a WIDE range of what different schools offer. Be vigilant in finding out how your student can be best served.

As a team, we have connections all around Washington County. Let us help you find the right fit as we look for a home for you.

Contact us at:

435-313-3966

Or

www.whystgeorge.com

Educating Our Children: Schools in Washington County, Utah

Raising children in Southern Utah naturally leads parents to be highly interested in the community’s schools. Personally, having children at all levels in the charter and public school system, we have had quite a bit of experience with different schools.

Washington County school district is somewhat unique in that there are four different schools in the progression of schools from kindergarten to 12^th grade: Elementary is K-5, Intermediate School is 6-7, Middle School is 8-9, High School is 10-12. The areas that feed into each high school are referred to as cone sites. In Washington County, we have the Desert Hills, Dixie, Hurricane, Pine View, Snow Canyon and Enterprise cone sites. In addition, there is Millcreek, an alternative high school, that is fed from all of the cone sites. A list of all the schools can be found on the county website: http://www.washk12.org/

There are also several private and charter schools that are worth, at least, considering as you choosing which area to purchase a home and lay down roots. Currently, the charter schools are George Washington Academy, Success Academy at Dixie State, Tuacahn, Valley Academy and Vista at Entrada. http://www.charterschooltools.org/charterSchools.cfm?stateID=44

One of the first things I find myself researching is test scores and comparisons of schools in the area. And one place to start is at the Utah Department of Education site. https://psdreports.schools.utah.gov/Gateway  Type in the school that you are curious about; see what scores pop up.

But as helpful as scores can be as a starting place, I find that talking to locals helps me find out more about the personality of each school and the meaning behind some of the scores. For example, East Elementary in St. George in recent years has posted low test scores, but when I talk to people whose children attend the school, I hear about wonderful, dedicated teachers and fantastic teaching. The explanation (that is completely unquantifiable and subjective) I hear from parents is that there is a high percentage of students who are not native English speakers. Despite the quality of teaching, this seems to drag down the test scores as a whole.

In the following posts, I will look a little closer at the schools, but there is nothing like talking to the locals. We can be some of the locals you talk to as you look for homes in the area. We have heard the praises and the frustrations. We want to help you find the best situation for you.

Contact us:

Chris Jones 435-313-3966

Or

www.whystgeorge.com