Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Old Apr 18th 2015, 9:21 pm
  #1  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Sarahhad is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Hi everyone,
I'm certain that people have posted these questions previously - forgive me, I can't find a relevant thread.

My husband has been offered a position in Burbank, CA. We are looking to move with our two daughters aged 5 & 7 this summer. I'm really struggling to find out about how we go about find the right school and enrolling in a new school. I have a list of the schools in the area that we are looking to live in from the great schools.org website but then it becomes gobbledygook! Any advice gratefully received, especially on:

- The grades the girls will enter into, I'm concerned about my 5 year old doing another stint in reception. She's 6 in September and I think she'll be bored!
- specific school you'd recommend in Burbank or Glendale or close by
- how to apply - do we have to be physically in a house in that schools catchment to apply?
- how many schools to visit and how to arrange? None of the schools appear to have email addresses.

Again, apologies for repetition but and help you can offer would be great.

Sarah x
Sarahhad is offline  
Old Apr 18th 2015, 10:07 pm
  #2  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Sally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond reputeSally Redux has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Yes it goes on where you live although sometimes where you work. Here is the boundary map for Burbank

Attendance Boundaries - School Locator • Page - Burbank Unified School District

You could phone the district to check but I think you do need to be living at an address to apply and they may well ask for proof.

5 will be kindergarten I think but they usually move kids as necessary.
Sally Redux is offline  
Old Apr 19th 2015, 6:14 am
  #3  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
GeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond reputeGeoffM has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Where you live mostly determines which school(s) the kids go to, so try to find that out first. There can be lotteries to get into a different school district but DS's previous school, there was a something like 1 in 10 chance of actually "winning" a place so not good odds. As to comparable grades, "repeating" Kindergarten/Reception is not an issue as such. It's not like 1st grade in the US is exactly equivalent to Year 1 in the UK, far from it. Different curriculums, different strategies, different everything really.

Can't remember the schedule exactly but California (? or is it LA?) schools are in transition at the moment. It used to be a December cut off for ages, but it's moving back a month each year for 3-4 years, which creates an age gap where a child falls neither in K or in 1st grade. If your child happens to fall in the 1 month transition gap then they end up in a transition class... sounds weird and TBH I'm not exactly sure what happens after T but I'm sure it all sorts itself out in the end. Our son was a Dec 2007 baby and was in K for the 2013-2014 year, currently in grade 1.

Schools in the LA USD vary a LOT. Greatschools is ok but look at the dates of the reviews. Our son's current school - he's not in LA USD any more but the principle still applies - has a 9/10 rating but it turns out that is a couple of years out of date. Possibly a 7-8 by now.
GeoffM is offline  
Old Apr 19th 2015, 11:46 am
  #4  
MODERATOR
 
penguinsix's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,213
penguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond reputepenguinsix has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Originally Posted by Sarahhad

- The grades the girls will enter into, I'm concerned about my 5 year old doing another stint in reception. She's 6 in September and I think she'll be bored!
This is an often asked question and I would recommend the WIKI and a thread we had on this a few years ago that addresses many of the issues with this:

Education: What do I need to enroll the kids in school? : British Expat Wiki

http://britishexpats.com/forum/loung...school-643985/

I'm in Hong Kong now with a child in an American-system and his friend, same age, in a British school. They are the same age but one is in Year 2 and the other Grade 1. Academically--it's basically identical. They are doing the same thing more or less, sometimes even the same homework. As you will see in the thread listed above kindergarten (age 5) is generally the same as year 1 so don't necessarily think of it as repeating reception.
penguinsix is offline  
Old Apr 19th 2015, 9:19 pm
  #5  
Just Joined
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Sarahhad is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Moving to Los Angeles...Q's about schools

Guys thank you so much. This is all super helpful. Really appreciate it!
Sarahhad is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.