Here's a link to the STAR results which is supposed to tell you how the school does when measured agianst otther school that are like them.

star.cde.ca.gov/star2005/viewreport.asp

In the county put Sacramento

In the Distric choose Elk Grove.

Then choose schools from the list.

While the STAR test may measure how well grammar school kids do it may not work so well with high schol kids who don't really try very hard on this test.

I'm not familiar with that church, but as a high school teacher in the EGUSD, I'd have to say it's one of the best districts in the area. I started working there because if it's commitment to students and continually high test scores. The schools vary from site to site because the district is so large, but as mentioned above, you can view each school's test scores on the website.

Not sure about Schools or Radiant Life but we go to Capital Christian Center and it's great! Come worship with us. We're at hwy 50 and Bradshaw. Check out the website www.ccconline.cc We have four different services every Sunday, you can pick which style you like. Let me know if you are interested and I'll meet you there and show you around.

I just found a great link to Sacramento Magazine about schools sacmag.com/media/…

oh oh oh... I just remembered about Radiant Life Church. I haven't been there but I know the Senior Pastor, Tony, he's a real neat guy. It should be a good church.

God Bless

TJ ;-D

I worked for Sacramento City Unified School District and I would say - STAY AWAY from it if you can! Poor management (at a principal level), tolerance of fighting and wild misbehavior, yuck! Maybe it's better in the more affluent neighborhoods.

I have heard good things about Elk Grove schools...the bad thing is, is that the city is growing so fast, it can't keep up with building schools, and they are overcrowded. You might live across the street from a school, but your child might get bussed across town. I don't know, but likely the schools are on the year-round calendar if they are overcrowded.

When I was a teacher in LA, we were being trained by some Sac City USD teachers in the "Open Court" reading program. Knowing I wanted to move to the area, I asked them which were the best school districts to put my daughter in. They told me San Juan, Folsom-Cordova, or Buckeye Union. THEY told me NOT to put my daughter in Sac City Unified.

San Juan serves the unincorporated part of Sac County, I believe the middle east (geographically, not ethnically) part of town. They have been in the news lateley because they have been shutting schools down for lack of enrollment - not many new houses in this part of town, apparently older folks living there whose kids have grown up. Interestingly, it seems in Northern CA, differently than Southern CA, young families tend to go for the new homes. In So. Cal, neighborhoods were more mixed. Anyways, there may be bussing if the local school is shut down.

Folsom-Cordova serves the cities of Folsom and Rancho Cordova. Which both have a large population, I'm still surprised they haven't split up. Folsom is a newer, upscale, growing area, and well-planned because it is newer. Rancho Cordova has a lot of older areas, although they have some big housing tracts going in south of highway 50.

We chose Buckeye Union, which serves El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, and Shingle Springs. It is about 30-40 miles out of downtown, up in the foothills. We have been extremely happy with our choice. Small schools, everyone knows my daughter - and she's a good kid, not a bad one- and the quality of life up here is great.

Good luck!

Just my quick two cents

I'm a mom and I used to live in Sac (and miss it!)

Sac District really is not very good - it has it's good schools but it's really hit or miss and if you have high schoolers you definately do not want to be there...

San Juan if fabulous as long as you pick the right areas - and it's high school (Rio) is the top school - or Jesuit High (in Fair Oaks) is amazing

Elk Grove used to be THE school district to go to - but it's gone down hill with all the yuck from South Sac moving downward - but it's still, out of three mentioned, the best choice.

You want good schools? GO to Roseville or El Dorado Hills - that's where the money is and the good schools

Ouch. Biting my tongue here. :) For what it's worth, as a teacher of 31 years, the last two decades in CA, I will offer my input. First of all. STAR scores can be very misleading. High scores MAY indicate that the school does nothing but teach to the test. That is proving to disenfranchise a lot of kids, who look forward to their fastest exit from formal education. Low scores MAY simply reflect that a majority of the kids taking the tests at that school are not yet fluent in English. (I teach at one of those schools, where once our students become fluently bilingual they outscore our English Only students. Their brains are in a higher gear I think.)

In my (admittedly biased) opinion the best teachers are often at the

"worst" schools. They teach because it is a vocation, and are trained and ready to accommodate for the individual learning style of each student. Success for every student regardless of situation is a more common goal. I tutor a lot of students (friends and neighbors) from affluent schools with high test scores whose teachers make them feel like an imposition if they ask for help. The pressure on them is intense, and the concept of actually loving to learn falls by the wayside. There is also the argument about safety. Hmmm. At our school we have to be vigilant about elementary students harrassed by wannabe gangsters. At my friend's affluent school they have to be vigilant about kids passing around drugs they got from their parents' medicine cabinets. School is a tough place these days for everybody.

In the end, I think that the most important aspect of a good education is finding students and teachers whose style is a good match. When that happens, the sky is the limit for your child. Whatever schools your children end up in, become involved in the process. Without judging or becoming rude, find teachers within that school who support your family's values and your goals for your child. An inspiring teacher can expand your child's horizons in ways you can't. I know this, from BOTH sides of the desk. I have experienced it as a parent and as a teacher. Good luck.

FYI - Jesuit High School is a private boys only Catholic school. You don't have to be Catholic, but it is part of the curriculum. And you do have to be male. Loretto is the equivalent for females.

Hi

I have been attending Radiant Life Church for about 5 years.

They have great programs and the people are real but most of all I see the presence of the living God there.

I continue to attend this church specifically because people in the church have proven themselves to not only be caring and helpful, but also they practice to live out what the word of God teaches.

Pastor Tony Cunningham and the other pastors and leaders more than anything try to do two things, that is love God and love others. Pastor Tony is well known and respected in the community.

Capitol Christian Center is also a good church to go to in this area. If you live close to Elk Grove I could recommend a few to check out such at Harvest Church off of Grant Line Rd or First Baptist church Near highway 99 and Sheldon Rd (East side of 99). There is more also

I actually go to Radiant Life Church of Laguna on Sundays off of Elk Grove Blvd and Fire Poppy service starts at 10:00 am. This is a church plant of Radiant Life of the Stockton Blvd church( started about 2 years ago) We also attend Friday night worship and other activities at the main church. You can check them out at

http://www.radiantlifechurch.org/index.html

Have a great day. Monica

I can't address the school question, but as far as churches go, there's a Lutheran church in Rocklin and another in Roseville that draw people from all over, and are supposed to be pretty good places to attend.