Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
The Brockmeyers
Chicago transplants Angelee Brockmeyer and her husband, Paul, knew they wanted to raise their family in the city limits. After exploring the local education scene’s many options, they decided to help other parents by using their personal skill sets. (Paul is a software designer and Angelee taught for seven years in Chicago Public Schools.) So they launched STL City Schools, an online resource for families considering education options in St. Louis. Angelee recently shared some tips for other parents beginning the school search.
Available Options
Angelee often meets with families to review the four basic options: charter, magnet, public, and private, including both religious and nonsectarian options. “We try to make our site as comprehensive and user-friendly as we can,” she says, “but sometimes there’s nothing like another individual sitting across from you who understands the choices.”
Getting Started
She suggests starting the process early to provide time for visits and meeting important benchmarks, such as lottery deadlines for public charter schools. She recommends scheduling school visits at least a year in advance of a child’s first day. “Nothing is worse than getting to a certain point only to find that, ‘Oh my gosh. We missed the lottery cutoff,’” she says. “St. Louis Public Schools’ first lottery starts halfway through September, and a lot of schools fill their positions with the first draw.”
School Visits
Rather than taking a predetermined checklist to school visits, Angelee recommends focusing on what really stands out to you. “Schedule at least two visits, but visit as many as you want because school shopping is free,” she says. “When you come home from each one, take a few minutes to make a list of pros and cons. By the time you have at least two [lists] to compare, you’re going to tease out what’s important to you and your family.”
Here are some other helpful resources for school shoppers:
Archdiocese of St. Louis’ Office of Education
Association Montessori Internationale
Christian Schools Association of St. Louis
Independent Schools Association of the Central States
Independent Schools of St. Louis
Jewish Federation of St. Louis Community Development
Lutheran Elementary School Association of St. Louis
Missouri Charter Public School Association
