Good Elementary Schools

[Navywife01]

I'm a former elementary teacher and saw the Dodds test scores, :scared: I have no intention of homeschooling - it isn't for me or my family.

I am looking at private schools. My husband will be at the Naval Hospital so most likely we'll try and find housing in the area.

Can anyone tell me some honest thoughts on OCSI? I was also looking at East West Montessori preschool for my son. Are there any other schools I should consider.

My main concern for my daughter is a high level of academic expectations in her school and my son - well, to me preschool is socialization more then anything but obviously academics are a big deal to me.

thank you!

[ryukyuboi]

Are test scores the basic criteria you are using to evaluate a school? If so, I doubt you will find scores posted for private schools, although I don't know that for fact.

[Navywife01]

No, test scores are not my only criteria but when the Dodds consistently score in the 60's I know that isn't a good thing.

I'm not looking for test scores, I'm more looking for word of mouth at this point. OCSI is accredited (I think they are the only private school in Okinawa that is accredited but that isn't to say I wouldn't consider other private schools) so I would venture to guess they do routine testing that would be available.

I'm not all about test scores. I want to hear what parents think.

I haven't found much on people's opinions on the dodds schools in Okinawa but in Guam they are good at best (as are the private schools on that island)...I hope to find higher standards in Okinawa as there are a lot more choices then Guam.

[DoctorP]

I can tell you I am very pleased with both Bechtal and Lester Schools...can't say much about the others though as my kids have not attended. Best of luck finding what you are looking for.

[uriel]

Nice thing about off base schools seem to be, to me anyways, the cross culteral interaction that your child will get with the locals. Heck, your son will be getting free Japanese lessons, and while speaking Japanese may not be a goal for you, I've read that children exposed to other languages at a young age develop a little quicker. Either way, it can't be a bad thing, right? However, my daughter is only 2, and won't be going to preschool for another year, so these thoughts are just what I could see as being positives, not actual first hand experience with schools off base.

[okisteve]

No, test scores are not my only criteria but when the Dodds consistently score in the 60's I know that isn't a good thing.

I'm not looking for test scores, I'm more looking for word of mouth at this point. OCSI is accredited (I think they are the only private school in Okinawa that is accredited but that isn't to say I wouldn't consider other private schools) so I would venture to guess they do routine testing that would be available.

I'm not all about test scores. I want to hear what parents think.

I haven't found much on people's opinions on the dodds schools in Okinawa but in Guam they are good at best (as are the private schools on that island)...I hope to find higher standards in Okinawa as there are a lot more choices then Guam.

Aren't the school-wide test scores average performance ratings of the students? So a score in the 60's might mean that there are a fair number of slow learners, but it doesn't mean that bright kids don't get good instruction and can perform well.

[Asshat]

The national average is 50%.
.............................................. Reading LA Math Sci SS
2007 Grade 11 average for Guam: (http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/tdDistricts_results.cfm?dodaac=HEGUAM&year=2007&id=tn) 73% 65% 63% 62% 65%
2007 Grade 11 average for Okinawa (http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/tdDistricts_results.cfm?dodaac=HE7001&year=2007&id=tn): 74% 70% 69% 71% 64%

Testing starts at Grade 3. I can find no information about OCS and I have never heard they used a standardized testing format. There is plenty of information on their website about their Christian beliefs however, if that is what you are looking for.

[DougP]

The national average is 50%.
.............................................. Reading LA Math Sci SS
2007 Grade 11 average for Guam: (http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/tdDistricts_results.cfm?dodaac=HEGUAM&year=2007&id=tn) 73% 65% 63% 62% 65%
2007 Grade 11 average for Okinawa (http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/tdDistricts_results.cfm?dodaac=HE7001&year=2007&id=tn): 74% 70% 69% 71% 64%

Testing starts at Grade 3. I can find no information about OCS and I have never heard they used a standardized testing format. There is plenty of information on their website about their Christian beliefs however, if that is what you are looking for.

Hey even graduating with a C average in God can score you employment for eternity right?:w00t:

[Asshat]

Hey even graduating with a C average in God can score you employment for eternity right?:w00t:

PLUS it's a Free Pass to heaven, AND if you end up being morally bankrupt, all you have to do is tell baby Jesus "sorry!"

I'd take that deal over a 1200 SAT ANYDAY!

[DoctorP]

Hey even graduating with a C average in God can score you employment for eternity right?:w00t:

ha ha...he went there! :D

[Navywife01]

I don't want to start a debate over test score but yes

en't the school-wide test scores average performance ratings of the students? So a score in the 60's might mean that there are a fair number of slow learners, but it doesn't mean that bright kids don't get good instruction and can perform well.

but honestly they aren't impressive to say the least having taught in many different kinds of schools - it is basically saying these kids are performing (or at least they are testing) middle of the row or below - in today's day in age that's isn't saying much. A public school with these test scores gets a lot of public funding - never a good sign, JMO.

Thanks for the input. I'd just keep trying to find word of mouth.

Religion isn't my criteria - academic standard are my #1 concern so if it comes in a christian setting or not, that is fine with me.

Yes, the cultural interaction is a huge plus.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

I've heard really good things about Oyama Elementary School in Ginowan, near the Okinawa Convention Center. I do believe it's been discussed on here before, somewhere...

[ryukyuboi]

Please impress us with the test scores for the many different kinds of schools you have taught in. I would be interested in seeing the test results.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Here's the discussion of Oyama elementary I was thinking of...

http://www.japanupdate.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3832&highlight=oyama+elementary#post3832

[Navywife01]

eelecurb - thanks for the link.

[hankypanky]

My two younger kids are at ocs in high school now, have been there for about 5 years. The only problem that i can really state is that sometimes they are hard up for teachers and you get 1 teacher teaching 5 classes of math to different age groups, or teachers cross-teaching, ie math/english.

But other than that, they do care about scores, even hold back your student if they are not up to par for the next grade, something dods would never do! Even though they have a large percent of american/japanese students, they do not allow the students to talk japanese in class, because the teachers do not understand what they are saying.

After school though, is a mix of both. Good school for what it's worth, but costly.

[Asshat]

My two younger kids are at ocs in high school now, have been there for about 5 years. The only problem that i can really state is that sometimes they are hard up for teachers and you get 1 teacher teaching 5 classes of math to different age groups, or teachers cross-teaching, ie math/english.

But other than that, they do care about scores, even hold back your student if they are not up to par for the next grade, something dods would never do! Even though they have a large percent of american/japanese students, they do not allow the students to talk japanese in class, because the teachers do not understand what they are saying.

After school though, is a mix of both. Good school for what it's worth, but costly.


DoDDS can and does hold students back. It doesn't do well teaching young minds about immaculate conception and the baby Jesus though.

[CBRNGOD]

Consider this my children went to Lester MS in 04-05, After returning to the states, they went to public school in MD. My son in the 8th grade had to be sent to the local High School to take math and Science because the 8th grade work he was given he learn in 6th and 7th grade on Okinawa. DoD Schools are better then any of the public schools you'll find in the States and on average a DoD student will score about 20% higher the a student in the States.

[RenaissanceMan]

I'm a former elementary teacher and saw the Dodds test scores, :scared: I have no intention of homeschooling - it isn't for me or my family.

I am looking at private schools. My husband will be at the Naval Hospital so most likely we'll try and find housing in the area.

Can anyone tell me some honest thoughts on OCSI? I was also looking at East West Montessori preschool for my son. Are there any other schools I should consider.

My main concern for my daughter is a high level of academic expectations in her school and my son - well, to me preschool is socialization more then anything but obviously academics are a big deal to me.

thank you!

There are quite a few church related schools. All the ones I know of are ABEKA certified curriculum schools. The church I go to has an academy, though I don't want recommend one over the others, but the kids that go there leave public elementary, middle, or high schools on the honor roll, and usually struggle and just try to pass with Ds or Cs in the academy their first year. I think the biggest thing that got me primed on private education, was that fact that most teens (and even adults) can't pass an eighth grade math test witout a calculater. At my church's academy, they don't even use calculators or abacus(sp) until they are taking college prep math like Calculus 1 and 2.
But you should definetely go with private school. Matter of fact I was just talking to a teen last night, she is a cheerleader and has pretty good grades at her highschool here. She said she has good grades, but that classes are too easy...so I said, "What is that telling you." So she said, yeah I think I am going back to private school. She was in private school most of her life, and she only switched to public school when they came to Okinawa a little while ago.
Well, happy hunting to you.