In Bethel, we have 2 k-3 schools and 1 upper elementary school. ALL the schools in our town are in one educational complex on a hill, so which K-3 school your child goes to depends on 2 things - your last name and how full the schools are when you register. When you register for Kindergarten during the 3 days in the spring, they divide the students alphabetically - beginning of the alphabet goes to Rockwell, and the end of the alphabet goes to Berry - generally. Registration outside of that depends on which school has more space.

Comparing Berry and Rockwell is basically comparing of buildings. My son goes to Berry, which is a newer school. It is a nice facility with air conditioning and an awesome staff. They encourage each student to do their "Berry best."

I have found the office staff to be quite helpful and Dr. Brooks, the principal, is quite responsive. My son's teacher has been great with communicating and they provided everyone with the staff email addresses at the beginning of the year.

Kindergarten is half day - and morning vs. afternoon is generally determined by where you live and the bus schedule, unless your child needs extra help like ESL, in which case they are in the morning group and stay an extra hour after class.

Berry also houses the Circle of Friends program - the integrated preschool program for special needs preschoolers. My son has speech and a social group through the special education department and enjoys them both. I am currently transitioning my other son from Birth to three to the Circle of Friends program, and the staff have been especially helpful with both my boys.

In addition to the regular academics, the children participate in "specials" each day. They rotate PE, art, music, and media center. At the end of the year the art teachers at Berry and Rockwell both put on an art show which is really neat. They also occasionally go to a computer class.

I love Berry and am glad my boys go there. I have friends who have kids at Rockwell and they also seem to love it, although the Berry building is nicer. Both schools have the same curriculum standards and run the same curriculum I have been told.