[quote author="traceimage" date=1251942730][quote author="Lilypad" date=1251893914][quote author="bltserv" date=1251891616]The overcrowding was the biggest issue. My son was very gifted in some subjects and asleep in others.
Dealing with staff was almost impossible. They were more concerned with him defending himself because he was
a martial arts student then anything else. He was suspended a couple of times when all he did was avoid a fight.
Now this is several years ago. My son is now 23. But his memory of that school is very poor. He said the staff and the police presence
was very intimidating. It was more an institution to house teenagers that a place of learning. He says he wasted his entire time there
except for a couple teachers and classes. The Capistrano School district is a disaster. Do some reading before sending your children to this district.
If you want them to learn about becoming institutionalized. Then go for it.
FYI:
He now works at a large Irvine Electronics Company in product development.</blockquote>
Hey thanks for posting. I am a product of irvine and irvine schools (Alderwood, Rancho, Uni, then UCI), yes hardcore irvinite.
My wife and I are having a debate over Irvine or not. I believe that the schools and kids make a huge difference in their upbringing. Not to offend anyone but even between Uni and Irvine high there was a large disparity between the caliber of education and the general SES of the kids that went there. Hence I'm scared to even buy in Tustin Ranch where they would be sent off to Foothill high.
Given your experience in Aliso am I'm being too paranoid? Or are they valid concerns to have?</blockquote>
Good schools *are* important, but it's not Irvine or nothing. Irvine does have good schools, but it's not the only place that does. Lots of cities in OC have good schools. And also, it depends what you mean by "good schools" anyway...do you mean high test scores? Good college acceptance rates? A low incidence of behavioral problems? A certain desired ethnic balance?
A kid can do well at any decent school. Going to the best school on earth doesn't guarantee success in life. And it can actually create more problems, because you have to deal with crazy parents pressuring their kids to be 3 years ahead in math or whatever. I think a kid needs time to be a kid. They don't need to feel academic pressure when they're 8. Just my opinion. My son is likely going to start out in Irvine schools when he's old enough, but if it's too much of a pressure-cooker, I'll move to a different district if necessary.
For what it's worth, I've actually heard that Aliso Niguel is a good high school.</blockquote>
Along Jeffrey the new business park offers many academic and extracurricular subject enhancement schools. Chinese parents thought the Irvine Schools are not hard and discipline enough for their children. After regular schools the kids attend mental math courses, short cut to arithmetic courses, PSAT classes, Princeton review courses, AP subject reviews, piano classes and etc. from 4-7pm everyday day and weekends. Chinese kids attend summer school at the Chinese Cultural center to learn their next year curriculum.
Parents buy their homes in specific school districts and many have already planned to moving to Fullerton's Troy district for their kids high school. A full set of AP study books and college prep books are the wonderful Christmas gifts Chinese kids love.
If your kids are not ready to accept that 1/2 of the class are already trained and drilled with GPA of 4.5 then as parents better start teaching them about self esteem fast.