Education Snob

We are just finishing the second week of this school year, so it is probably premature to say that everyone is doing well in school.  The kids seem happy, so that's good.  I have some issues, though.   I don't think my children are getting a very good education. 
There are things that have been bothering me, from Annalise not being able to preform basic addition without counting on her fingers, and not knowing place value, but still getting straight A's all year last year;  To Gabriel not being able to write complete sentences,  or know how to spell his brother's name, but being recommended for advanced language arts.  Or how about Gabriel not knowing the difference between a state and a country, and not knowing the names of all 50 states in the country he lives in, but making it to advanced Geography this year?  Then, of course, there was the beginning of the year welcome letter from Gabriel's "advanced" language arts teacher that was riddled with grammatical errors.
 I've been concerned with Annalise's lack of understanding, and memorization, in math for the past two years.  I've spoken with her teachers for the past two years about getting her extra help, and they've both said that she is doing fine.  It irritates me to no end to know that the problems and frustrations she will have this year, in fourth grade, could have been addressed in the second and third grades if her teachers hadn't blown me off.  I know, I should have trusted my instinct and gotten her extra help anyway.  At the beginning of 3rd grade, her teacher announced that the students are no longer made to memorize multiplication facts.  At the beginning of 4th grade, the same teacher, (who moved up with the class from last year), announced that the students will be responsible for memorizing their multiplication facts, as it will help them to complete the type of problems they will be doing this year.  Oh, do you really think so???  Don't get me wrong, I really like this teacher.  I was happy to hear he was going to move up with the class.  Annalise loves him!  He is very charismatic and does a wonderful job with the kids.  However, he is a product of the system, and the system says, "teach the big bad test, so the kids do well on it, and we get funding."  I am so over FCAT, or CRCT, or MEAP, or TAAS, or whatever the 'big bad test' is in your state.  It's not helping anyone. 
I haven't been overly happy with the junior high that Gabriel goes to, as a whole.  The administration has never impressed me, and as I indicated previously, the language arts and geography teachers are idiots.  I do, however, like his band teacher.  I think she is a phenomenal gem in the dung heap that is that school.  His science teacher this year, and the two math teachers he's had have also been very good. 
The question that has been on my mind for the past two weeks is this:  What can I do to give my children a better education than the one they are currently getting?  There are a few options.  Private school, homeschool, virtual school. 
Private school is expensive, especially with two kids.  A good private school is also quite a drive from where we are.  I know that with tuition assistance, we could probably scrape by and send them both.  I would also drive across town if it meant my kids were getting a rock solid education.
Homeschool is a non-option for us.  I know homeschooling works very well for some, but we just don't work together the way children and parents need to work together in order for homeschooling to be successful. 
Virtual school is a whole new thing to me.  Florida has a program called Florida Virtual School.  http://melearning.flvs.net/?gclid=CPiHztSq_rECFQSEnQodtkYA4A
I looked at this as an option for Annalise's math class, but much to my chagrin, they only offer classes for middle school and high school students.  I did, however, find a few classes that I believe would greatly benefit Gabriel if he were to take one at a time as a supplement to his normal schooling. 
http://issuu.com/fdgcreative/docs/flvs-course-catalog?mode=embed&layout=http://skin.issuu.com/v/light/layout.xml&showFlipBtn=true
Using the link above, find the course entitled, "M/J Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Learning" on the right hand side.  If you click on that page, it will zoom in so it's easier to read.  Read the course description.  That is the first class I would love Gabriel to take.  All of the language arts and social studies type classes look like great classes for him to take as well, but I'm pretty sure I can't "a la carte" his normal school, and fill in the blanks with this virtual school.   If I could, I'd keep him at LAJH half the day for band, math, and science, and have him home doing virtual school for language arts, and social studies.  In a perfect world, that would work!  Since this isn't a perfect world, I think we will just supplement the crappy education he is getting with these on line courses.
None of this fixes Annalise's math woes, though.  For the time being, Steve and I are going to have a meeting with her teacher and tell him that we want her to have extra help.  If that doesn't work, plan B is to look into private schools. 
What would you do?  I would LOVE suggestions!!