[ALUmnus]

Hey guys, I've been trying to research the local private school scene, since my eldest will be of age in no time. I've got most of the prices and generic school statistics, but I'd like to get some inside/personal info from any of the parents out there that have had experience with these schools. We've heard things from some of our friends, but I wanted to see if I could get some more input.

We're looking mostly at New Covenant, but Timberlake and LCA could both be options, and I know that there are a few other smaller schools around, but I know nothing about them. James River Day School is not in the equation. I hear nothing but good things about New Covenant, and some people I really trust send their kids there. I hear some of the same about Timberlake, but that's from someone just starting their kid there. Everything I've heard about LCA academically has been negative, but I really would like to get more people's thoughts about the big boy on the block.

Any thoughts? And please, no rumor stuff, it doesn't help.

[LUconn]

what do you have against Tomahawk

[ALUmnus]

what do you have against ford, now shut your face and quit trying to change the subject.

[RubberMallet]

pwnt

that must bring back lots of memories...

hurts don't it hurts don't it..it burns it burns..

[LUconn]

are you talking about cars? I don't have anything against fords.

[Cider Jim]

2 things to consider:

LCA students get a 100% tuition free scholarship to Liberty University after 4 years of high school

Timberlake students get a 75% tuition free scholarship at Liberty (meaning they have only have to pay 25% of tuition)

New Covenant offers a "classical Christian" education.

[Sly Fox]

I get the impression that high school is not the primary concern in this thread.

[bigsmooth]

what do you have against JRDC if i may ask? is it because it is not a christian school?? i too have heard negative things about LCA academically and im not sure why , so i would lean toward new covenant beacuse of the "classical christian" over timberlake because it is more legalistic, but that' s just me. i went to a christian school much like timberlake but bigger and they are both church run schools that are independent baptist. most classical christian schools are run by a board, and i just think you avoid a lot of legalism that way.

[LUconn]

i too have heard negative things about LCA academically

I think we need an Alum to shed some light on this. They're accredited so they can't be that bad. And don't they have some kind of partnership with the LU Ed dept?

[Knucklehead]

Mine go to Temple in Mad. Heights. We love the school, especially in the Elementary grades. It is very managable price wise. They don't have the LU scholorship yet, but are actively in talks with LU. Only Drwaback - The homework in the JR/HS is very stiff (they use the ABeka Curriculum).

[prototype]

ALUmnus - My 5 year old just started at New Covenant 3 weeks ago. My wife and I could not be happier. We looked at JRDS too, and we were not impressed. NC has their act together. Nathan came home after the first week and said to my wife and I, "At my new school we don't get to play as much, but I love learning." And he is learning - in pretty much 2 weeks - learned so much, including the Lords Prayer, all colors in Latin (one night at dinner - my wife was wearing a purple shirt - Nathan looks over and points at her shirt and says populus - you're shirt is populus), and the first 5 key moments in history (They said that by the end of the year they will know the top 90 events in the history of the world). They have already started on reading and math. He really enjoys going and the are very organized and structured. With all that he is learning and the discipline they demand, you would think that he would hate it - but it's the exact opposite - he gets us up early to make sure he's not late.

Negatives - If your into sports - not a lot of choices for your children, but I think they are getting better.

[LUconn]

I took 3 years of latin, and I can't even remember if we learned colors. Surely we had to, right?

[prototype]

Man I don't know - The only language i ever took was English - and I suck at that:)

[Fumblerooskies]

What's wrong with public education in the area? I feel my son got a great worth-while education at Heritage HS. If your eldest is looking at anything athletically, I think New Covenant's sport of choice is soccer.

[prototype]

Just feel they are over crowded and the High School in my district is top 5 in the country for suicide rate. People can tell me that has nothing to do with the school, but a kid spend 75% of their time in school or scholl related activities - it had to have some effect.

[ALUmnus]

LUConn, I was referring to your sig.

I'm a product of public schools, so I'll always defend them, but I'm becoming more and more distrustful of the whole system, and if possible I want to give my kids the best chance to succeed academically. James River is a little costlier than all the others, is on the other side of town, and has too many added fees on top of the tuition.

Proto - did yours go to preschool also? I don't care to send mine to preschool full-time, don't really see the need, but do schools look down on taking kids who aren't preschooled?

And my eldest is only three right now, but I don't want to be too late in deciding how we want her educated.

[Sly Fox]

My oldest just started kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. And frankly I have been shocked at the changes in how public schools operate from when I attended them. Even my son has been taken back after attending preschool at Christian schools. There are still good public schools but you can't assume that yours is one of them.

[RubberMallet]

I'm a product of public schools, so I'll always defend them, but I'm becoming more and more distrustful of the whole system, and if possible I want to give my kids the best chance to succeed academically. James River is a little costlier than all the others, is on the other side of town, and has too many added fees on top of the tuition.

product of both...

k-6 - christian

7-12 - public

7th grade was a review for me...

i too will defend public but it depends on where.....me and my wife are seriously contemplating homeschools which i was against until i met semi normal homeschooled guys at liberty...

[thepostman]

I don't have kids yet, and don't plan to any time soon...but I just think unless the public school in your area is incredibly violent and its safety that is your concern, then there really is no good reason to send them to private school (simply my opinion)...I think public school gives them a more rounded education and in the end makes them well rounded people...are there things I don't like about public schools? sure...but I rather my kids make important choices earlier in life, then one day down the road being faced with some kind of temptation and not knowing what the heck to do...

but i also don't think its anybody's right to tell somebody else where they should send their own kids...if you want to send your kids to a private christian school...great...if you want to send them to a public school...great...homeschooling...ummm...hmmmm....great

regardless its really personal preference and one thing that annoys me so much is when i hear people trashing on parents that send their kids to public schools and what not...as if they are going to raise third class idiots if they do that.....

[prototype]

Yes, Nathan went to Heritage United Methodist Preschool. It was really good also. Went 3 days a week for 3 hours. I was a great chance for him to start to know what to expect in Kindergarten. Ones that haven't gone to preschool seem to be havng a harder time adjusting to New Covenant.

I wouldn't think that any school would not let a child in that hasn't gone to preschool. I know the only thing that NC was looking for in pre-interviews was the ability of the children to focus and take direction.

[LUconn]

it's easy to dump on public schools because they're run by the government and teacher's unions. And your more "well rounded" comment is laughable, but as you said, it is a matter of opinion and this thread is about someone trying to get info on the local private schools. I think he's already made up his mind. Where the stink is GMTM to answer my LCA question. Although, if he's any indication, they don't really focus on spelling tests.

[ALUmnus]

Mine go to Temple in Mad. Heights. We love the school, especially in the Elementary grades. It is very managable price wise. They don't have the LU scholorship yet, but are actively in talks with LU. Only Drwaback - The homework in the JR/HS is very stiff (they use the ABeka Curriculum).

Thanks, knuckle, like I said, there are some schools around here that I have no idea about, some I've not even heard of (which of course may not be a good thing).

[thepostman]

it's easy to dump on public schools because they're run by the government and teacher's unions. And your more "well rounded" comment is laughable, but as you said, it is a matter of opinion and this thread is about someone trying to get info on the local private schools. I think he's already made up his mind. Where the stink is GMTM to answer my LCA question. Although, if he's any indication, they don't really focus on spelling tests.

by well rounded, i do not mean just academics, I am also talking about the social aspects...just to clear that up...though, who knows, you may still think thats laughable...

[Purple Haize]

Here is something to think about

Purple Haize - Privately educated

Mrs. Purple - Publicly educated

Now you do the figuring!!

[ATrain]

GMTM graduated from LCA...his spelling skills are not indicative of the typical LCA graduate.