Help me figure out PPS options!
November 14, 2009
My daughter will be entering kindergarten next fall. We are currently living with friends, near Foster and 82nd, but do not expect to be living here more than a year or so. We have no idea where we will live after that, and we're feeling paralyzed about the school situation. I think it would probably be best to put her into a school that fits her best, and then look for a place to live near that school. But I don't know what my options are, and the PPS website isn't exactly... helpful. I do know I'll need to figure out a plan in the next few months in order to meet the deadlines for lottery applications. So I thought I'd ask the Urbanmamas community for help!
So here are my questions:
1) Are the only options the charter schools, or can I "apply" to other schools, like language immersion schools? If so, how?
2) Does anybody recommend a school? (Public only, as we have no money.) My daughter is talkative, compliant, wants to please adults, and loves imaginative play. I would love to have her in a school that could harness her strengths, help her develop her (currently not so great) ability to cope with obstacles, and engage her in physical activity. Also, it has to be close to public transit!
Thanks very much!
You can apply to as many charter schools as you want. FOr the other schools (like language immersion or magnet schools) you fill out a transfer application and put your top three choices down. However, you really only have a chance of getting into your top choice.
Have you checked out the Portland Village School? It is a waldorf charter school and sounds like it might fit your daughter's needs.
Posted by: ruby tuesday | February 03, 2010 at 08:42 PM
Lewis Elementary in Woodstock neighborhood (not far from where you live) is an AMAZING PPS school. If I did not own a house in SW I would move into the neighborhood (which is also excellent by the way)to get my child in! Take a tour if nothing else, to know what 'outstanding'(without pretension or politics) looks and feels like)!
Posted by: Olive | January 20, 2010 at 12:09 PM
I love our PPS school in North Portland http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/ockleygreen/ Our Kindergarten round up is February 3rd.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 13, 2010 at 01:19 AM