I concur! My little boy is 4 today so, I have to strart getting this stuff on my mind!:help:

i Went to Westminster and it was pretty good, but still unsure if i wanna pony up the dough to send my kids there.

IMO, sent son to Cathedral for three years but were not allowed into the cool club due to not living in the "Hot Neighborhood" or "Driving" the best autos. Academics in most Private schools in the Lafayette area are below par with the exception on ESA but who can afford $12,000 a year? I believe the money spent on three years of Cathedral was wasted but he came away with a better understanding of how you should treat people.
It is what you put into it, public or private. Out of zone exemptions are available for any child that is not getting an education so no reason for any child to be stuck in a low preforming school.

Yes, I have two nephews that attended St. Pius and one still there. I also have a sister-in-law that is a teacher there.

You'll have issues no matter what school. If I were sending my kids to school for the best education this area has to offer (which I am) they are going to Westminster. Hands down the best education your kids can receive in the Acadiana area. As for as someone stating they want a small fortune, that person should do his homework first! Westminster is cheaper than Fatima and there tuition includes all fees unlike many if not all other private schools. Fatima is about $650 more per year than WCA.

Raymond: I will have to adamantly disagree with you on the "below par" quote. If you were to compare academics between the private and public schools in Lafayette, you would find that the private school students fair much better. Now I will admit that the variety of courses offered in a private school are fewer than that of public schools but if you compare the core courses, private would win out. The gifted program at Lafayette High would come close to private schools. I have one nephew that was in the gifted program from 1st grade through his senior year and he did exceptional, but he would have done so any where he went.

As for the "cool club", I never thought you would have wanted to be in such a snotty group and you drive/drove a Z so whats not cool about that?

Man you boys have made my decision all that much more difficult!
The wife and I decided to give him another six weeks (maybe conference tomorrow).

To all that say it's the crowed everyone of his friends are honor roll students??? Maybe he has my jeAns??? J/J he's a very intelligent kid!
He does the work but doesn't turn it in?!?!?!?
How do we help that?

You guys have helped out greatly!
Thank you!

Was thinking about you guys earlier today.
I hope he comes around man, I can also tell you that it's likely the other parents are saying the same thing "it's the crowd" all parents blame the other kids........

for what it's worth, I think you guys are on the right track....

Public V Private. weird subject for this board, but I have experience with both. The issue, like lots of things in life, is whether extra money is worth it, and I can tell you with certainty that.........it depends. I agree with Slidellkid above.

I grew up in an area where the private school was definitely better up through 8th grade. But public high school was arguably better than the local private school. Then I had kids, moved elsewhere, and found that the public elementary school was better than the private, and the public high school HONORs curriculum beat the crap out of the private option. So that's where I sent my kids (public), and today they're both doctors, one is a M.D. the other a PhD. BUT....It doesn't matter where you send your kids if you don't teach em to learn at home, help em with homework, get them excited about math and science, take em to museums, help with science fairs, assist judge their speech competitions, volunteer as den leader, share how cool it is to be smart and tell them they're special. Gain their respect and tell them life is tough, but it's tougher if don't study hard. If you don't do that, you might as well save your money, cause they're stuck in mediocre drive and you won't need to spend money on college, cause they won't be "college material". Conversely, if you do those things, they'll be successful almost anywhere you send them, and you'll save a bundle on TOPS.:) JUST MHO.

My little sister is in kindergarten there and my step Mon teaches(not sure the grade)

To the two young posters who seem to have hated being in a private school system, I would argue that the education you received may have led you to being the outstanding citizen you are now. School is for learning not to be a great big social hall. I think you are way too young to assess the education's merits. I have 3 kids who have been in the private school system ( 14, 11, and 8) and don't regret my decision one bit. I get weekly reports of there progress through the email system. I think the system has helped to shape them into great kids. Have regular meetings with their teachers who seem to care. Class sizes are small. Curriculums are top notch.

I didnt have time to read all the comments so bare with me.I grew up in private school and my dad was a pastor.I was extremely sheltered,so when 9th grade rolled around and there was no private school to go to for high school I was in for a rude awakening.I didnt have any idea about the things going on in the world,especially at a young age.Eventually it led to me going wild b/c I was in a sense "free".It took quite a few years for me to wake up and get back on track.My children are in public school b/c I didnt want that for them.They are able to see whats goin on in the world and know they dont want to live like that.So far its been a good thing for them.

Update
The wife and I talked to his teachers yesterday. If he wolud turn the work THAT HE HAS DONE in he would be an honor student??????
Our solution (Sience teacher idea) If he doesn't turn in the work the teacher is going to tell him (in front of the class) his mother will come and find it for him knowing my wife she will!!!

I'll keep you guys posted...

Tell him if he doesn't turn it in you will take a day off of work to escort him to each class and sit next to him to help him remember. Make him pay you for the lost wages from your day off.
Wear coveralls and some delcambre reeboks.
Seriously.

It may come down to that.:D