Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Lafayette or Holy Rosary?
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July 24, 2010 at 3:54 am #595688
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberHello! We just moved to WS this summer. We originally weren’t sure where we were going to be living, so we toured Holy Rosary, were very happy with it, and got my son (entering K) on the wait list there. We have since purchased a home in the Lafayette boundary. I have heard great things about this school, have talked to a few teachers, and feel this would be a good fit for my son as well. Now a spot has opened up for us at Holy Rosary, and we are torn! I know we can always change schools, but would like to avoid it. Anyway, I’m looking for any advice about either school (maybe some “insider” info that I don’t know about) to help me make my decision.
We are Catholic…hubby attended Catholic school, I attended public. I’m perfectly happy with a good public school system, OR a good private school. He would prefer Catholic, but also just wants the best education possible for our kids. I plan to be very involved in PTA or whatever I can be involved in, either way we go.
Obviously one of the biggest factors for me is COST!! We have three more kids after this one…..and I can’t help but think, how much better could this school possibly be to warrant forking out that much cash every month :) Of course I know there are more factors than just the financial aspect, it just makes me throw up in my mouth a little LOL.
THANK you for any advice/opinions/help :) I appreciate it!!
July 24, 2010 at 4:10 am #699876
WesCAddleMemberMy two cents: Both are excellent schools…the thing you need to factor in is Middle school.
With Lafayette you will need to shop around for a good middle school in a few years (West Seattle is sadly lacking in this department). With HR your are in for 8 and good to go.
Also, Holy Rosary is easier to spell.
July 24, 2010 at 4:33 am #699877
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberOk I am laughing at the “easier to spell” comment because when I mentioned the name to my son he said, “waffle WHAT?”
Ahhh, that is such a good point. I remember middle school sucking….the K-8 is a big bonus for me at HR.
thanks for your input!!
July 24, 2010 at 4:37 am #699878
BonnieParticipantAre you planning to send ALL your kids to private school? If you can afford it, then go for it. If you think it would strain your budget with all your children then I’d go for Lafayette because I think that it is a very good school.
July 24, 2010 at 4:38 am #699879
BonnieParticipantOh, and a very good friend of mine is a teacher at Denny and I don’t think you could find a better middle school teacher at any private school anywhere. (public too!)
July 24, 2010 at 5:00 am #699880
yeah-meParticipantActually with the new changes this year in how the public schools work, your children would move from Lafayette to Madison Middle School.
Do you actually have a spot in Lafayette? You should make sure, as I do not believe that just because you move to the area that you are guaranteed a spot in your closest public school.
My daughter goes to Schmitz Park and I love the West Seattle public schools. I can’t speak for Lafayette myself, but I had to make the same decision you are making — Holy Rosary or Schmitz Park and in the end chose public school. We are very, very happy and I think that with the changes in the public schools recently that you should see improvements in what Madison offers in the future.
July 24, 2010 at 5:28 am #699881
DBurnsParticipantI have 2 kids going into 8th and 10th grades. We sent them to both public and private elementary schools and now they are at Denny and Kennedy. We chose schools for different reasons for each of our kids. Every school has advantages and disadvantages and can provide things that are a good match for your kids. Ultimately though, I believe that when your kids are little, you make the decision based on the teachers and what the school has to offer the students. As they get older, the social aspects begin to play a much bigger role. Are there programs that will benefit your student and contribute to their non-academic achievements? Is the school racially and economically diverse? Do the families at the school share and support my parenting style? Do I believe the school provides an academically challenging environment? (Is it “popular” to be smart?) These are some of the questions we asked when we looked at middle schools and high schools. I hope you feel great about your decision, whatever it is, because Kindergarten is such a fun time!
I also have to add that I totally disagree that West Seattle is “lacking” in the public middle school department – we have had so much success and positive experience with both of our kids at Denny – the staff is AMAZING great and the school has really grown over the last few years. With the brand new campus I think it will continue to be a winner in this community. My daughter tested at Holy Names and Kennedy and did very well – she was well educated at Denny. My son will test at O’Dea and Kennedy and we have no concerns that he will do just fine. I’m certain you could find equal support of Madison from their families.
If I could add one -no, two- last pieces of advice – please don’t spend a lot of time worrying about middle and high school now – the schools will change 5 times before then and so will your kids!!! And finally, don’t be intimidated or worried about switching schools if it doesn’t work out for any reason for any of your kids; it’s really not that big of a deal to switch – more friends! Finding a perfect match for 4 kids, well, it’ll be a challenge!
Best Wishes.
July 24, 2010 at 5:34 am #699882
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberThank you thank you!!! Great advice ;)
yeah-me, I did talk to the district office and they told me that they are required to hold spots for new residents of home-school areas. Considering kids move during the school year too, I’m sure they always hold a spot or two as a buffer? We are officially on the roster, regardless, so I’m not exactly sure how it works.
July 24, 2010 at 3:36 pm #699883
GinaParticipantI have a family member with one child at Holy Rosary, and the other child left Holy Rosary early to attend Madison starting with 6th grade.
If a child has any sort of learning disability, Holy Rosary will work with the child, but the public schools may be a better fit.
Holy Rosary requires many parent volunteer hours, be sure that the family has the time available!
Holy Rosary is smaller, and religious education is included so that your child need not feel like a second class citizen attending the Holy Rosary religious education program for public school children.
Lafayette has a lunchroom. Holy Rosary eats meals in the classroom.
Holy Rosary School hosts receptions during the school day for church events, so adult strangers will be wandering about the school using the restrooms. Nothing has ever happened, but if the idea of that freaks you out, better to be forewarned.
The public schools close for weather reasons more frequently because of the travel consideration for teachers and children on busses.
At Holy Rosary a child may worry about being sent home for wearing socks with two colors on them!
At Holy Rosary you will think that the school cheerleading squad is attending mass, but in actuality it is the row of 8th grade girls that have rolled the waistbands of their skirts!
If the child prefers a settled learning situation, Holy Rosary may be a better place. Lafayette has many distractions, and a loudspeaker system that is used constantly from 7am until 4pm.
Holy Rosary tests better.
Wait until the West Seattle vs. Kennedy debate if you think the Holy Rosary vs. Lafayette debate is bad!
One young relative loves Holy Rosary. The other one hated it.
I live very near Lafayette. A neighbor that was planning to move before the school year started (about 4 years ago) was delayed and tried to get into Lafayette. The nearest school opening was at Gatewood or Highpoint, though they could be placed on a waiting list. They ended up enrolling their child in Tilden.
July 24, 2010 at 4:16 pm #699884
CarsonParticipantAnother issue that you might want to consider. The Holy Rosary Parish is run by John Madigan. Madigan has preached that prejudice against others are just fine with him. His words,not mine. I would never let my children near the place..
July 24, 2010 at 4:37 pm #699885
yeah-meParticipantGina, I am curious where you got the information about Holy Rosary testing better. I find that hard to believe. Lafayette tests as one of (or the) best grade school in West Seattle.
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wowyouhaveyourhandsfull, that is great to hear that the schools are now leaving spaces for transferring students. It must be new with the changes as I can’t tell you how many horror stories I have heard to the contrary about not being able to get into a school near by when one moves to the neighborhood.
July 25, 2010 at 11:54 pm #699886
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberGina, thanks for all of that info!!!
July 28, 2010 at 4:37 am #699887
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberAnyone else have any feedback? I really appreciate it :)
July 28, 2010 at 7:21 am #699888
QueMemberYeah-me. Yes, it is part of the new Neighborhood School plan. Part of the new thinking is that “no school is full” So, there is always room that will be made for new-to-the-neighborhood kids. Of course the converse to that is that it may end up that we have some extremely crowded schools until we age out of the transition period from the School Choice plan and are fully into the Neighborhood Plan Enrollment. And that will take a couple years.
July 28, 2010 at 5:45 pm #699889
SmittyParticipantIt’s really a personal decision – I don’t think you can go wrong either way, but here is my input:
1) We love the sense of community that is HR. The parent commitment hours actually help solidify that.
2) The teachers and administration are excellent and consistent.
3) My kids absolutely LOVE going to school there – of course – they have nothing to really compare it too!
4) Religion is definitely part of the curriculum, but not TOO much (if that makes sense). It’s enough to provide structure and discipline – which I personally think is utmost important for a good learning environment.
5) We REALLY like the way they push kids from day one to be public speakers. If you talk to one of the 8th grade kids you will be amazed at their maturity and readiness for the next level(again, nothing to compare it too, just my opinion).
6) I personally like the K-8 set-up.
7) Something like 90%+ go on to college (they can tell you the exact number).
My wife and I are both products of a very good public education. We have neighbors who attend public and swear by it – some of them are Catholic educated! Sorry, probably didn’t help much!
August 2, 2010 at 8:18 pm #699890
wowyouhaveyourhandsfullMemberSmitty, that helped very much, thank you so much for your feedback :) THank you for touching on the religion aspect….it is a hard subject to bring up with the teachers, “hey, it isn’t TOO religious, is it?” LOL, even though we are catholic, we want to have the structure in school but still want to have academics be the majority..obviously you know what I mean. Thanks again :)
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