Need Help Choosing the Right School / District - WBL, Mahtomedi, or Roseville

Check into Harambee Elementary school. It is part of the East Metro Integration District which is a collaboration effort with the St. Paul school district and 9 suburban school districts. My son is attending K there this year and we love it. It has a year round school year (so 4 breaks spread out during the year rather than a huge long summer break), looping (which means students stay with the same teacher for 2 years), and an emphasis on community cultures and environmental science. The teachers are fantastic.

We live in the Roseville school district and frankly I have not really "clicked" with the district schools, but I certainly know parents who have been happy with them.

I have experience in all three districts (in many different capacities) and I can tell you that if you can get your daughter into the Mahtomedi district, that's where I would send my child without question.

I have absolutely zero experience with any of the schools, but I am a teacher, so I wanted to chime in. Remember that, to a great extent, your child's learning and schooling experiences are what you make of them. You can do so much for your child that the schools cannot, and it truly is those things that will impact their growing up and learning. I have seen kids from tiny itty bitty schools in rural districts go to Yale and get their doctorate, and I've seen kids from big, wealthy, academic schools drop out at 16. And ultimately, your goal seems worthy--your child's happiness, which is certainly linked with success in some ways, but often not in the ways society would have us believe. So...even if your daughter is truly unhappy with her school, you do have the option of switching. And, I recall being very frustrated with a teacher I hated, growing up (and having really no other options) and learning a) my mother supported me, wholeheartedly and b) that I HAD to learn to get along with people I didn't particularly like. Both were good lessons, even in a less-than-perfect district. Anyway--good luck with your choice; I hope you can find a good match, but if not, remember it is often what you make of it, too. :)

We lived in WBL and I worked in Woodbury in the public schools. I worked with people who lived in all the surrounding areas so I heard a lot about the schools. I can tell you that people specifically move to Mahtomedi just so their kids can go to school there. I only heard good things about their schools. Our neighbors kids did not attend WBL schools........the parents said they liked WBL as a town but the schools were terrible (they were school teachers too). They open enrolled them in North Saint Paul Schools and were very happy. I never really heard to much about Roseville.

I don't have experiences with this area but you may want to check if there is a cost with putting a child into another school district for the year. My friend wanted a certain school district and it would have cost her $6000.00 to put her child into that school district for the school year.

My husband's brother and his wife and kids live in WBL and they LOVE it! The kids go to Lincoln Elementary and it is a wonderful school. They are in 2nd and 5th grade. I have brought my daughter (2 1/2) there to have lunch with her cousins and all of the kids and teachers were so sweet to her. I know that all of the parents are very involved with the school. I don't know about the other schools so I don't know if one district is "better" than another. I don't think that you are crazy at all to want what is right and best for your daughter...just being a mom :)

I can totally understand COMPLETLY where you are coming from. We are now coming to a close on the 1 1/2 year search for the best district for us and we too, moved to where we wanted to be. I have researched every school district in the area until my head exploded. That being said, Mahtomedi is one of the top districts in the state and if you live in that district, I would stay there. It truly is a great district. Private message me if you want more info about anything.

K.