As I wrote in my previous post, I am searching for the just perfect kindergarten for my son.  Last week I visited a few schools and today, I think I finished it up. 

First I went to Gibert Traditional Academy, Neely Campus.  A group of friends strongly recommended this school for it's traditional, back-to-basics concepts, while being a public school without uniforms or the "weirdness" of a charter school.  Even though it is a public school, I wasn't allowed a tour under any circumstances.  I was given a DVD to watch and an invitation to email the principal with any questions.

The movie explained how they teach the Spalding method for spelling, implement the Saxon Math method, and use Accelerated Reading.  After watching the DVD, I am slightly more informed but nowhere closer to being able to make a decision.  The biggest thing that stood out from the DVD was one parent's comment about how once she saw the classrooms, she immediately knew she wanted to send her kids to Neely.  I'd like to know how she saw the classroom?  It was made clear to me that they were off limits. 

The other thing about Neely that sticks in my brain is that my friend told me each of the kindergarten classrooms gets a full time aide.  Only one other school had that.

Finally, I visited Greenfield Elementary, the school we are actually zoned for but is the farthest away.  I was told that there was no one available to take a tour but I was welcome to email the principal with questions.  I pushed a little further explaining that Mesquite was able to do a tour and it's hard to compare without one.  One of the leaders of the PTSO (Parent Teacher Student Organization) happened to be standing near and offered to give us a tour.

Wow!  What a spokesperson for the school.  She has one child in kindergarten and one in third grade.  She knew everything about the school, everyone who was there, etc.  The top things that struck me about Greenfield was

1. How big it was, it seemed to go on and on and on
2. How structured it was.  There was a program for every part of the curriculum.  Therefore every teacher taught the same way and every student was measured the same way for success.
3. Beautiful library and full time music teacher
4. A very active Dads Club.  Never even heard of that before. 
5. Full time aide in every kindergarten classroom

Anyway, there you go.  Here's a wrap up of the schools I visited:

• Mesquite Elementary School - Small elementary public school, very nice people, not very structured.
• Benjamin Franklin Elementary School - Traditional charter school, high test scores, not very nice people, extremely structured with a high student-teacher ration.
• West Gilbert Charter School - Charter school, with uniforms, more whole language learning focused than traditional.  Five kindergartens.  No music program.
• Gilbert Traditional Academy, Neely Campus - No tour allowed.  Full time kindergarten aides, Traditional, back-to-basics but not as hard core as Benjamin Franklin
• Greenfield Elementary- Huge, extremely structured without being Back to Basics, extremely active PTSO program, strong music program.   

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of some of the Gilbert schools.  As a Gilbert Realtor, I strive to make sure each of my clients finds the best home for their family and that includes a great school and neighborhood.  Let me know if I can provide a service for your family!

 UPDATE!  I got a call from Neely Elementary.  They said that they had one spot open for kindergarten and would I like to come to the orientation to check them out?  I didn't think I would be interested in the Traditional Back to Basics model, but I wanted to make sure I check out every option.

Turns out, I really liked the school.  The principal led the orientation and I liked everything she had to say.  Yes, they use the instructor-led model but for kindergarten there is still a lot of movement and "stations" and such.  And even in the older grades, math and science are taught in groups, which I really like. 

Overall, it was just a good feeling that I didn't get at the other schools.  Which reminded me a lot of real estate.  We can make priority lists and really ponder what we like over what we don't.  But it really comes down to a feeling you either get or you don't when you walk through the door.  It's either home or it isn't.  And I guess that works in finding a school in Gilbert AZ as well.  :)