I've talked to parents throughout the city about why they have chosen private or religious schools or home schooling for their children, and have been told a variety of reasons. In some cases, no public school will ever adequately addressed their concerns, such as a desire for religiously based instruction, or for a particular specialty that a private school might offer.
Sometimes parents have decided to send their children to private schools because of outdated or inaccurate information. For these parents, I would recommend that they visit the schools, speak with some of the school staff, and talk to parents whose children attend the schools. They should also talk to those who have graduated and gone on to prestigious state and private universities, or who are now gainfully employed in a trade or profession. The Medford High School has extensive honors and advance placement programs and the Medford Vocational School is one of the few vocational schools in the region.
Additionally, Medford now has all new buildings for the K-8 schools that are physically accessible. And, while there is still much work to be done, the High School has had some major updates including a new roof, heating system, and elevator. Medford also has several special education programs for children with emotional or developmental disabilities -- something that you won't find in private schools.
Although there are many positive reasons for sending your children to Medford schools, in some cases the schools still fall short of parental expectations. As a member of the Medford School Committee, I would explore these reasons in more detail to see how they should be addressed. No parent should have to feel that they must choose a private school simply because Medford Schools "just aren't good enough".
