OHbaby! Forums : School decile ratings

School decile ratings : what i based a lot of my decision...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:19 +0000

Author: lizzle
Subject: 30018
Posted: 20�November�2009 at 4:45pm

what i based a lot of my decision around was teachers telling me about the schools, we bought a house this year. so a lot of our decision where to buy was based around area.

Teachers were telling me about staff turnover, how the staff treated relief workers, and these two things made me confident about the school I chose. decile rating was the least of my worries to be honest.

i checked the ERO report, but I talked to a lot of other parents and that was more helpful I thought

School decile ratings : This might be a helpful webpage...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:31:26 +0000

Author: myonlineself
Subject: 30018
Posted: 20�November�2009 at 12:31pm

This might be a helpful webpage to provide further information on the whole decile rating thing..
http://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/Topics/Education/Education+Overview/Deciles.html

School decile ratings : lizandtheboys wrote:Not all...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:23:46 +0000

Author: Bizzy
Subject: 30018
Posted: 20�November�2009 at 11:23am

lizandtheboys wrote:

Not all schools accept children out of zone, would be worth a quick call to the school office and they'll be able to tell you.� The school I teach at has a closed zone.

�

Higher decile doesn't mean better school at all.� In fact, the lower the decile the more funding they get lol.

�

It'd be worth checking out the ERO reports of the schools around you, just do a google search.� Also word of mouth is generally a good indicator - of people who've actually been involved there though, not just "reputation" (my highschool had a bad reputation but was a brilliant school.... it just had the bad rep cos it was lower decile and we had kids from 'poor' areas and lots of islanders and maori).

what she said ...

School decile ratings : I have to be honest, decile ratings...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:16:40 +0000

Author: busybee
Subject: 30018
Posted: 20�November�2009 at 8:16am

I have to be honest, decile ratings was one thing I looked at when we bought our place. It wasn't the only thing I looked at but it was definately a big factor. We ended up buying a much smaller house in what I concidered a good school zone, we are sacrificing a nicer house for a better school. Friends of ours didn't want to live in a smaller house for a better school zone and they now have a really nice house in a not so hot area. I suppose it is a personal matter.

School decile ratings : dont go by the decile - often...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:20:03 +0000

Author: crakars
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 9:20pm

dont go by the decile - often they are not that accurate anyway - done by the census (which is only every 5 years?)

visit the school and see if it feels right

if a school is zoned - they very rarely will take others

School decile ratings : Also remember kids bring their...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:09:24 +0000

Author: lemongirl
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 9:09pm

Also remember kids bring their own talents to the table.

I went to a decile 3 high school with a bad reputation, my sister a so-so decile 9 while my brother got to go to a swanky private school. I was the only one to make it to university and graduate with an honours degree while my brother failed his final year in high school.

School decile ratings : We had DSD at a Decile 3 school,...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:20:27 +0000

Author: Maya
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 7:20pm

We had DSD at a Decile 3 school, and Maya is at a Decile 8, the big difference I've noticed is that at DSD's school there wasn't a lot of "extracurricular" fees like sports etc. whereas at Maya's school they seem to constantly have their hands out for trips, plays at school etc. I don't know if that's coz the lower decile schools get more funding for these things, or just coz at a higher decile school there is the expectation that parents can "afford" these things.

I agree with Lemongirl tho that decile rating isn't always an accurate gauge of how good a school is, a bit like the Plunket "dep" areas that define how many contacts you are funded for - it's based average incomes in the area. We live in a lower decile area (Maya is at school out of zone) but it's not a 'bad' area, there's just a lot of pensioners living here who are on fixed incomes which skews the average.

School decile ratings : This post has prompted me to check...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:33:18 +0000

Author: Snappy
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 5:33pm

This post has prompted me to check Janaya's schools decile rating. I read the schools info and it said that the school has a high decile rating (9) and that the students mainly come from 2 parent familys and are able to pay for their childs education. (obviously something they pride themselves on ) I had no idea! I didnt even look at the decile rating when I enroled her, but I knew it was a really good school and that it was hard to get into.

Does a high decile mean that the parents pay more towards their childs education? Does anyone know? Sorry to thread hi-jack azza!

Edited by kaiz231

School decile ratings : Yeah check out the ERO reports. I...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:20 +0000

Author: kebakat
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 5:22pm

Yeah check out the ERO reports.

I went to a primary school that had a decile rating of 6 and a high school with a rating of 4 yet I managed to get into vet school at uni. Lower decile schools aren't all bad.

School decile ratings : Not all schools accept children...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:31:44 +0000

Author: arohanui
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:31pm

Not all schools accept children out of zone, would be worth a quick call to the school office and they'll be able to tell you. The school I teach at has a closed zone.

Higher decile doesn't mean better school at all. In fact, the lower the decile the more funding they get lol.

It'd be worth checking out the ERO reports of the schools around you, just do a google search. Also word of mouth is generally a good indicator - of people who've actually been involved there though, not just "reputation" (my highschool had a bad reputation but was a brilliant school.... it just had the bad rep cos it was lower decile and we had kids from 'poor' areas and lots of islanders and maori).

School decile ratings : We cant afford a home in an area...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:26:03 +0000

Author: AzzaNZ
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:26pm

We cant afford a home in an area with higher decile rating schools, so she'll either have to go to one with a lower decile rating or be accepted into a school thats out of zone.

We're in Birkenhead at the moment but cant afford to buy here so are looking at Birkdale.

She's not quite 3 yet so we still have time to get her into a school.

School decile ratings : Decile ratings say absolutely...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:21:30 +0000

Author: lemongirl
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:21pm

Decile ratings say absolutely nothing about the quality of the school, just how much money is in the neighbourhood. Please don't automatically assume wealthier parents = better school.

The best thing to do is go and visit the school yourself to get a 'feel' for the vibe of the place and the teachers.

And in answer to your question some schools accept out of zone enrolments. Siblings of current and former students get 'first' dibs then after that it is a ballot.

School decile ratings : Having said that there is nothing...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:20:46 +0000

Author: snooze
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:20pm

Having said that there is nothing wrong with the schools nearby to the new place but I have just heard more postive feedback for Campbells Bay primary,,,,

School decile ratings : I am house hunting too and have...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:19:24 +0000

Author: snooze
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:19pm

I am house hunting too and have taken into account school zones already and he is only 5 months. I think they do take kids from outside the zone but you have to go on a waiting list or something. Houses close to good school zones are usually a bit dearer in my experience. I am looking at moving from Forrest Hil to Albany potentially. Better house but school zones not as good so still deciding.....decisions decisions!!!

School decile ratings : Do you take school decile ratings...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:13:40 +0000

Author: AzzaNZ
Subject: 30018
Posted: 19�November�2009 at 4:13pm

Do you take school decile ratings into account when choosing one for your child?

We're looking at a house we love but all the schools its zoned for are decile 5 and lower. I dont know if this should influence our decision?

Do schools accept children from outside of their zone?