Classen school and open transfer- 2014

[beckyok]

I heard the controversies surrounding open transfer to Classen school of advanced studies. Does anyone know what they have decided for 2014? Can the students from other districts apply? If yes, when do they start the admission procedures?

[soonerguru]

Which districts? The "controversy" is that Classen is under MAPS construction and can't accommodate as many students. It is an Oklahoma City Public School and there are several parents who live in Edmond who are trying to get their kids into it. Easy solution: move to OKC. Are Edmond schools not good enough?

[beckyok]

Thanks Soonerguru for the reply. We are planning to move to OKC from Edmond and our house is in the market. But if our house doesn't sell by the application deadline, I want to know whether transfer is still an option or not.

[Pete]

Judging from the Oklahoman article below published this past May, it looks like out-of-district transfers will no longer be allowed:


http://newsok.com/transfer-students-...rticle/3840498


Transfer students admitted to Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City School Board voted 7-1 this week to allow those students in.
BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL ccoppernoll@opubco.com • Modified: May 31, 2013 at 9:27 pm • Published: June 1, 2013

A group of eight children who were accepted to Classen School of Advanced Studies and then denied will be able to attend the magnate school this fall.

The Oklahoma City School Board voted 7-1 this week to allow those students in.

The city school board unanimously denied eight transfer requests at a meeting May 6, even though they approved hundreds of other transfers to other Oklahoma City schools.

The application process for the 2013-14 school year was open to out-of-district students, so the board's abrupt decision to ban the students from Classen was unfair, said Bill Hickman, an Oklahoma City attorney whose daughter is one of the eight students affected by the board's decision.

The applications were due to Classen on Dec. 14, Hickman said.

Children had to have recommendations from their home schools, and had to submit academic information.

Those going into the arts programs had to audition.

“These weren't just some kids who sent in some papers and got in a fluke,” he said to the board Tuesday night.

“These are children who put themselves out there,” he said.

Acceptance letters were sent Feb. 8, and families were told to go to the school Feb. 18 to enroll for the coming year.

The Oklahoma City School Board and district administration has come under fire for not announcing a change in policy about out-of-district transfers and seeking community input.

This group will be the last group of students who live outside the Oklahoma City Public Schools boundaries who get to go to Classen.

“This decision to allow the out-of-district transfers will grandfather in for the last time the out-of-district students,” Superintendent Karl Springer said in a statement. “In future years, application to the school will only be open to students who reside within the district boundaries.”

Also, there were questions raised about 42 other students who had some paperwork issues.

The board also voted to allow them to attend Classen, but their admission process will be slightly different.

Because the open-transfer period is over, they will have to come to the district as emergency transfers.

Emergency transfers must be approved by those students' home districts.

[warreng88]

Not sure what the big deal is. People move out to Edmond, Norman, Yukon for the schools all the time and they don't allow people to come to their schools if they arent' within the district limits. Why shouldn't Classen SAS do the same?

[MikeLucky]

Which districts? The "controversy" is that Classen is under MAPS construction and can't accommodate as many students. It is an Oklahoma City Public School and there are several parents who live in Edmond who are trying to get their kids into it. Easy solution: move to OKC. Are Edmond schools not good enough?

Not sure what the big deal is. People move out to Edmond, Norman, Yukon for the schools all the time and they don't allow people to come to their schools if they arent' within the district limits. Why shouldn't Classen SAS do the same?

Yeah, I don't see why this is such an issue... there should be no reason they can't limit the enrollment to the OKC district...

And, yes, there is a HUGE difference between Classen SAS and pretty much any other public school in the area. It's essentially getting a very good private school education for free. I know why people are fighting this, but at the end of the day there is no reason why they can't limit this to OKC residents.

[bigjkt405]

I am all for limiting CSAS to OKC public school students only.

[Pete]

I'm surprised they ever allowed out of district students in the first place.

As was stated on another thread about wanting to attend public schools while living in a different district, people living in those districts have a good deal of their property taxes go to local schools.

Frankly, I'd be upset as someone living in the OKC district to be underwriting the education of children of those whose tax dollars are not contributing to the schools.

In fact, they could even be more strict and require that applicants only come from those who have completed middle school within the district, rather than allowing someone to quickly move in then apply.

[okc_bel_air]

My wife and I have looked at moving out of Deer Creek and into OKC schools so our son can attend CSAS. He is a Twice Exceptional child who is in the first grade. His academic level ranges from 3-5 grade already and he can not get the teaching he deserves from Deer Creek. At CSAS they teach kids AP classes early and this is what we need.

[beckyok]

In fact, they could even be more strict and require that applicants only come from those who have completed middle school within the district, rather than allowing someone to quickly move in then apply.

Even though we were living in Edmond for several years, our kids were going to Oklahoma city private schools. We are ready to move to OKC if we can get stellar education from OKC public middle schools. My child will be in 6th grade next year.

[Midtowner]

And, yes, there is a HUGE difference between Classen SAS and pretty much any other public school in the area. It's essentially getting a very good private school education for free. I know why people are fighting this, but at the end of the day there is no reason why they can't limit this to OKC residents.

Harding Charter Prep, Belle Isle or Independence MS would give Classen SAS a run for their money. They're in the same area.

Harding is a Blue Ribbon School this year and is consistently rated higher than Classen.

[Teo9969]

Harding is fantastic

[soonerguru]

Harding Charter Prep, Belle Isle or Independence MS would give Classen SAS a run for their money. They're in the same area.

Harding is a Blue Ribbon School this year and is consistently rated higher than Classen.

By whom? Classes, Booker T, OSSM, Norman and Bartlesville usually are the top of the heap. Not doubting you, just curious.

[Cocaine]

KIPP is also a really really good school. Harding is a really good school though like the best in the state besides OSSM. Also I don't think you have live in OKC to go to KIPP I'm not sure about Harding though.


https://sdeweb01.sde.ok.gov/Transpar...=E012&Site=982

[NWOKCGuy]

By whom? Classes, Booker T, OSSM, Norman and Bartlesville usually are the top of the heap. Not doubting you, just curious.

In 2012 Harding was #1 by USN&R, Washington Post, just about every publication.

[Midtowner]

By whom? Classes, Booker T, OSSM, Norman and Bartlesville usually are the top of the heap. Not doubting you, just curious.

And FWIW, they don't let you in based upon testing, recs or auditions. It's open enrollment and a lottery. So they're making those scores without cherry picking students which is pretty incredible.

[KenRagsdale]

Let's turn this discussion upside down and get another perspective. What is best for this person's child? What are the child's strengths? To what area of interest is the child drawn? Does the child feel comfortable at this-or-that school?

As a parent of two who has successfuly navigated K-through-graduate school, I assure you one size does not fit all.

Schedule visits to a handful of schools. Many schools have "discovery nights" as well. Filter the choices down to one or two and request the child be allowed to audit a few classes, eat lunch in the cafeteria, meet some of the current students.

By the end of this exercise, I believe your child will not only "buy in" to the decision, but the enrollment process as well.

Virtual, public, charter, magnet, private (religious/independent) and home school are available to your child. All should be considered as you guide your child through the process of "finding the right fit."

[soonerguru]

Well I guess it's all a matter of perspective. The link below shows OSSM and Classen as the top two schools in the state, and among the top 40 in the US, according to Newsweek.

Eight Oklahoma high schools named to top 1,000 list | News OK

[soonerguru]

In 2012 Harding was #1 by USN&R, Washington Post, just about every publication.

Nope, not Washington Post. Washington Post and Newsweek (they use same survey) show Classen higher rated.

Eight Oklahoma high schools named to top 1,000 list | News OK

[Garin]

What makes some schools dismal and some exceptional ?

[Midtowner]

Harding outscored everyone but a 14-student "magnet" grade school at Carlton's Landing (a gated resort community at Lake Eufaula) on the state's report card system. 107/100.

[Just the facts]

Carlton Landing isn't gated and the school is open to anyone who can get their kids to it.

[Midtowner]

Carlton Landing isn't gated and the school is open to anyone who can get their kids to it.

It's classified as a "magnet," so no.

[boitoirich]

People, take the rankings with a grain of salt. Classen SAS, OSSM, and Harding are all fine schools Oklahoma City is lucky to have just one of them, let alone all three. If you're in the district and spend many nights awake wondering where to send your kid, try something novel: have them go where they feel comfortable. Two decades ago we would have killed to have any schools as highly regarded as these. Now, we have -- gasp -- options!

I'm part of the original class at Classen SAS, starting the 6th grade in 1994 and graduating in 2001. Many friends of mine were Edmonites, Normanites, etc. Classen deserves credit for turning the tables on the suburbs. Parents no longer need to move elsewhere to get a quality education for their child. Today, however, it is time to make this education available only to those who are making OKCPS a better place. If you want to run to the suburbs, go there but don't expect OKC to offer your child a world-class education for free. You've chosen Edmond over OKC, after all, so let Edmond do the heavy lifting.

Besides, if your child is really exceptional and you as a parent don't have attachment issues, OSSM will board and educate her or him for two years, and then any state-run university will educate the kid for free.

If you want Harding or Classen, though, come back to the city and help.

[Midtowner]

The Hardings still accept out of district transfers.

The OKC school board doesn't control them except to renew or not renew their charters. And how they'd justify not renewing charters for inner-city schools which received a 93 (HFA) and 107 (HCP) this year is something I couldn't imagine.