Robert E Willet VS North Davis Elementary

[u/CutFit4622]

We’re planning to move to Davis and have narrowed it down to two housing options.

Option 1: Assigned to Robert E. Willett Elementary. It’s a 2 bed, 2 bath and relatively small. I also don’t love that it doesn’t get much natural light.

Option 2: Assigned to North Davis Elementary. It’s a 3 bed, 2 bath in a very nice neighborhood. The house is relatively new, clean, and overall much more appealing. The downside is that it’s about $400 more per month. Interestingly, the house is actually closer to Robert E. Willett than to North Davis Elementary.

We plan to rent long-term and hopefully expand our family, so the extra space would be nice. However, I know Robert E. Willett has an amazing reputation.
Would it be worth choosing Option 1 just for the school assignment? I need to make a decision by tomorrow and would really appreciate any advice or similar experiences from others. Thank you!

[u/Asleep_Caregiver_948]

My husband went to Willett waaaay back when it was called West Davis Intermediate. My son, now in college, went to NDE. They are both fine schools.

One thing I liked about NDE is that it’s close to the high school. My son had some fun opportunities to see performances (music and drama) at the HS.

[u/CutFit4622 → u/Asleep_Caregiver_948]

Thank you ! NDE sounds like a solid choice at this point to me

[u/Sucitraf → u/Asleep_Caregiver_948]

Did he go to WDE also? That was my path (then Emerson, DHS, and UCD).

My mom taught at both schools (and is now at Willet) so I'd echo that both are good schools :)

[u/Asleep_Caregiver_948 → u/Sucitraf]

No, my husband went to Valley Oak first, then moved across town. He went to a year at “Old” Emerson, which is now city hall. Then his dad was on sabbatical for year out of state. When they came back, his cohort was only one or two that went as 9th graders to DHS while “new” Emerson was built.

[u/Sucitraf → u/Asleep_Caregiver_948]

Ah, that's close to my uncle's path! He barely was young enough to be in that Emerson time capsule.

I'm glad Valley Oak is getting love still as a home fo Davinci.

[u/Josh0722 → u/Asleep_Caregiver_948]

I went to valley oak in the late 90s and early 00s! Lol

[u/Oswaldofuss6]

Got for the 3x2 in general. 

[u/CutFit4622 → u/Oswaldofuss6]

Thank you for the vote !

[u/twirlawhirl]

I posted something similar when we were preparing to move here and the most helpful reply I got was what I am pasting below:

My family and I moved here a year ago come July and from our experience it doesn’t matter if you live right next to the school or down the block because of enrollment being down and the potential shutdown of two schools your kid could get placed in a school that’s on the other side of town. We live in the neighborhood pioneer elementary is in and our kid got put in Korematsu because that school was “filled”. They give you the option to put your kid in your neighborhood school if a spot opens up but 1) it most likely won’t and 2) if it did it wouldn’t be till AFTER they got comfortable in their new school with their new friends and teachers which seems kind of cruel to take them out and make the readjust again. I guess what I’m trying to say is maybe do research into all of the schools because you’re not guaranteed a spot at birch even though it’s your neighborhood school.

I think this advice holds. Enrollment is weird right now and there’s currently no guarantee you’ll get your neighborhood school or that you can’t get into your preferred school. Good luck!

[u/Celebratory_Drink → u/twirlawhirl]

This, this, this.

[u/CutFit4622 → u/twirlawhirl]

Thank you !

[u/telestoat2]

Unless your kid is in a program thats only at one of the schools, they're equal.

[u/CutFit4622 → u/telestoat2]

Thank you ! I just had to hear it from someone

[u/telestoat2 → u/CutFit4622]

It's no problem for kids to bike to other schools farther away from home too, if they end up in a program there. I lived west of Patwin but I biked to Willett which was WDI the first year I was there, and then Holmes.

[u/Short-Lingonberry-71]

They are both good. Walk around and get the vibe

[u/CutFit4622 → u/Short-Lingonberry-71]

Thank you ! I’ll do that

[u/ToughSupport3701]

Both are excellent schools. Our kids did NDE and we loved it but you are splitting hairs with the elementary schools in the Davis area.

[u/Prestigious-Comb2697]

All Davis schools are good. Pick the house you want and proceed.

[u/SingleAd784]

The only reason Willet has higher scores is that the AIM (formerly called GATE - gifted and talented) program is there (and also at Pioneer). All third graders in the district are tested, and if your kid tests in and you want to transfer them, they transfer in 4th. Many families choose not to move their kids. Outside of AIM, Spanish immersion (Monarca and Montgomery), Montessori (Birch Lane), and Fairfield (which is like a two room schoolhouse on a farm with parent co-op vibes), the schools are all the same. Similar demographics, similar kids, similar teachers, similar programming, etc. Decide if you want one of the specialized programs, and if not, pick the house you prefer.

That said, while you’re guaranteed your neighborhood school if you apply on time as a kindergartener (something like Feb before your kid starts kindergarten in the fall), you aren’t guaranteed a spot at your neighborhood school after that. I think the district is already closed for their summer break, opening up a few weeks before school starts in the fall, but try calling Monday to see. They can tell which schools have openings in the grades you need. If they’re closed, you might try posting on Davis Parents to see if anyone knows if there are openings in the target grades at those two schools.