New to Area - Baton Rouge,LA

Hey M.,
I wish you luck in this endeavor. I am a life long EBR and Ascension resident and well most of the schools are below par. EBRP has very few good schools and then Ascension while it has good primary and elementary schools... well the highschools are varied.
I am Catholic so it is a little easier for me.. my child is going to a Catholic School simply becasue I think the Catholic high schools are great well you have to be in Catholic school the whole way to be considered for high school. The only exceptions for other schools.... and again this is all in my opinion (someone else will probably feel different) but I also like Parkview Baptist and Episcopal. If a non denominational school is what you prefer... I really like Baton Rouge International School for it's language diversion program and small/individual feel. (although i heard some of EBR schools offer this but you have to search to know who.)

But best wishes on this issue... only because it is highly debated even in our government about which school is better and bringing them all up to a decent score and then mixing the ethic populations evenly in each district and the bussing of kids around the world. I decided along time ago, I would just be forking out the cost of private school for the security of not having to worry about moving when district lines are redrawn and for the peace of mind that my children would be recieving a higher standard of education.

Now with all my rambling.... I also think it is the parents that make the child and so if you are an awesome parent who helps thier child with thier studies and instills good educational values... well your child will make it through. I can attest to this by saying that all and I do mean all of my successful friends are private school and then college grads. While most of Louisiana public school friends never attended college and those that did quit... but on the Contrary, my own child's pediatrician graduated from a La public school and went on to medical school. Her siblings are also well educated and so I recognize that her parents instilled educational values.
There is no right or wrong answer here, just what works for your family. And for mine we are doing Private Catholic Schools.
Best Wishes,
MB

Hi, some great Catholic schools are St. Thomas More, St. Aloysius, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Jude. My 3 children went to STM, and they got a fantastic education. Be careful where you send them to public school. LA is last in education. I am a teacher, but I teach in Ascension Parish. Public education is very good in my parish, but EBR is not where I'd put my children. Sorry, but that's the true facts. I've lived in Baton Rouge for 55 years, and that's how it is in public schools, unless, of course, they go to a magnet school. Go to www.greatschools.net, and you will find out the facts about different schools. Look at their test ratings. That says it all. Catholic schools are not listed in these ratings. Then call your local high school and ask them how many National Merit finalists they put out each year. The Catholic high schools put out the most.

Welcome to Baton Rouge. To be honest, the public school system is not that great. I have two sons, almost 3 and 20 months old. I just started my 3 year old at Magnolia Montessori School (www.magnoliamontessorischool.com) on Old Hammond Hwy. It is a great school and goes through the 3rd grade. They are planning on expanded the grades in the future. My plan is to send my boys to Magnolia until they can go to Sacred Heart, hopefully in the 4 year-old pre-k program they have. As mentioned in other post, pretty much wherever you live there is a Catholic School close by and from what I hear, the Catholic system is pretty good.

Welcome to Baton Rouge, you mention Catholic or Christian, but do not understand why you do not memtion your beliefs. I do not mean this in any rude way. If you were catholic, and I am, I would suggest Catholic and you should have one very close by. If Lutheran I would suggest the Lutheran school which is down town. Either way I would suggest one of these two reason being in my opinion it would be for the best of the child. Let me call to you attention make sure you, if you can afford it, send them through high school. You will find that as this time public education is a complete flop. The reason being, in my opinion they do not hold the parent/guardian responsible. On the other had their are so many children where the father is not there. Therefore, do to the nature of being a mother the chilld can twist the mother around their little finger.
Since you are new let me mention you may want to check out the coffee call on college drive between Perkins and I 10.
They serve the regular New Orleans style Beignet, and a Beignet in the finger form. Suggest you compare as the fingers are very popular.
Good luck - God Bless - Welcome to the area.

Where do you live in East Baton Rouge? It really depends on the area...