Moving and school zones

[stockgirl]

I'm house hunting. I've noticed that the farther north in the county I look, I can get more bang for my buck. I've seen a ton of really nice houses in my price range. I've seen most of these in the Mechanicsville area, which is a great deal closer to work for me. Right now I have an hour and a half commute, one way.

Right now the kids are going to Chesapeake Public Charter School. If I moved farther north I would have to transfer them out of the school and back into regular public schools. I am just not sure that I want to do this. But, I cannot back-track that far to take them to their before/after school program. My kids love their school and are doing so well in it. I've heard that Dynard and Mechanicsville Elementary are decent schools though.

I am completely torn about this and do not know what to do. I've seen several houses and nothing has panned out. I've searched from Lexington Park to Hollywood. I have a few more to look at. I currently have an offer in on one in California, but I've been waiting for over a week to get the answer on that. Even that one is at the very top of my price point.

In your opinion, do you think that I should make the compromise with the school or with the house/drive to work?

 

[somdfunguy]

parents make the difference in education more than schools

 

[stockgirl]

parents make the difference in education more than schools

Yet, if your child was in an excellent school would you pull them out? CPCS has a lower student/teacher ratio than regular public schools. My son has excelled in this school. He did not in his previous schools. They have excellent teachers and I love the general environment of the school. While I am very interactive with my children's education, I cannot take full credit for what they are learning.

 

[somdfunguy]

yes

 

[stockgirl]

yes

Okay.

 

[Baja28]

There are three houses on my street for sale and the neighborhood has dozens for sale with good prices. As you know, there are good schools here. Lettie Dent, Margret Brent, Dynard and White Marsh.

 

[stockgirl]

There are three houses on my street for sale and the neighborhood has dozens for sale with good prices. As you know, there are good schools here. Lettie Dent, Margret Brent, Dynard and White Marsh.

I saw a few up there. I was going to schedule viewings for this weekend. One huge plus about your hood is that there are several daycares.

 

[Misfit]

Why do you want to move?

 

[stockgirl]

Why do you want to move?

I'm renting right now and want to buy. I had gone into a sale a few months back and there were title issues. I'd like to get atleast a little closer to work. I love the Hollywood area but am not finding much in the right price range.

 

[kwillia]

I saw a few up there. I was going to schedule viewings for this weekend. One huge plus about your hood is that there are several daycares.

I wouldn't be putting much focus on elementary schools... your concern should be more on the middle and high schools.

If you are going to relocate at all in the next few years... definately do it now when they are still in elementary.

 

[stockgirl]

I wouldn't be putting much focus on elementary schools... your concern should be more on the middle and high schools.

If you are going to relocate at all in the next few years... definately do it now when they are still in elementary.

I guess that I should have explained that my son is receiving special education classes. He has gotten far superior assistance from CPCS compared to what he received in his previous schools. He does not handle change well. I am more concerned with how well he would adjust to a new school. But, that's probably just me over-reacting.

 

[bresamil]

I saw a few up there. I was going to schedule viewings for this weekend. One huge plus about your hood is that there are several daycares.

There is a really nice daycare on my street.

I understand your concerns about education, it took me a long time to pull out of private school. My boys were both in private school through 8th but the girl only went through 6th. Boys are better students but the girl is more socially adaptable. Pros and cons to both types of schools.

In the end you know your children best and you'll figure out where they belong.

Also, consider whether you may be changing jobs in the future and whether your commute is temporary. Props to you for surviving the 1.5 hours each way because that is rough.

 

[stockgirl]

Also, CPCS is from K-8 and this is something that I really like.

 

[stockgirl]

There is a really nice daycare on my street.

I understand your concerns about education, it took me a long time to pull out of private school. My boys were both in private school through 8th but the girl only went through 6th. Boys are better students but the girl is more socially adaptable. Pros and cons to both types of schools.

In the end you know your children best and you'll figure out where they belong.

Also, consider whether you may be changing jobs in the future and whether your commute is temporary. Props to you for surviving the 1.5 hours each way because that is rough.

CPCS is like a private school. It offers a small class size and is a uniform school. They also have an almost 11 month school year. All of these are things that I am just not sure if I cannot give up, or expect the kids to.

The commute is not temporary. I love this base and do not plan on leaving. I've been trying to get a job on Pax for 17 years with no luck at all. I absolutely love my job here and am finally making decent money.

 

[bresamil]

CPCS is like a private school. It offers a small class size and is a uniform school. They also have an almost 11 month school year. All of these are things that I am just not sure if I cannot give up, or expect the kids to.

The commute is not temporary. I love this base and do not plan on leaving. I've been trying to get a job on Pax for 17 years with no luck at all. I absolutely love my job here and am finally making decent money.

Are you in IH or Dahlgren? If IH, there are a few excellent private schools in Charles County and if you lived in my hood you could drop them at school on the way. I think they have morning dropoff at 6am.

 

[stockgirl]

Another concern of mine is that the kids go to the before/after school program at Black Belt Academy. If I move farther north they will not be able to do this either. I swear I'm going to end up having an emotional breakdown over this.

 

[kwillia]

I guess that I should have explained that my son is receiving special education classes. He has gotten far superior assistance from CPCS compared to what he received in his previous schools. He does not handle change well. I am more concerned with how well he would adjust to a new school. But, that's probably just me over-reacting.

Also, CPCS is from K-8 and this is something that I really like.

CPCS is like a private school. It offers a small class size and is a uniform school. They also have an almost 11 month school year. All of these are things that I am just not sure if I cannot give up, or expect the kids to.

You already know how you feel and what you believe the right answer is for you and your kids... just go back an re-read your post in this thread.

There is nothing any of us can offer but generalizations. What works or has worked for others has nothing to do with your kids... you are the only one that can make that judgement and it sure sounds like you know what the right answer is you just hate that it is not the convenient one.

 

[stockgirl]

Are you in IH or Dahlgren? If IH, there are a few excellent private schools in Charles County and if you lived in my hood you could drop them at school on the way. I think they have morning dropoff at 6am.

IH, but I cannot afford schools like ANS and honestly do not want them in a religion based school.

 

[stockgirl]

You already know how you feel and what you believe the right answer is for you and your kids... just go back an re-read your post in this thread.

There is nothing any of us can offer but generalizations. What works or has worked for others has nothing to do with your kids... you are the only one that can make that judgement and it sure sounds like you know what the right answer is you just hate that it is not the convenient one.

I do know how I feel, but I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing. I know that they're doing so well in their school and am not sure if I want to take that away from them. I also know that the commute is alot on me. However, that is not the issue. The issue is that the housing market is not going to get any better and I'm forced to find a house soon. I am just not seeing anything in my price range in this area. I am going to keep looking in hopes that I can find something in the Hollywood area that would allow them to continue to go to their current school.

 

[huntr1]

You cannot go wrong with any of the Mechanicsville elementary schools (Dent, Mechanicsville, White Marsh). I have no personal experience with Dynard, other than knowing some of the teachers and knowing some kids that came out of there. No problems there either. Dent is by far my preferred elementary school.
Brent is a good middle school. We had good communication and support from the teachers with #1 son.
#1 son is a freshman at Chopticon. Have nothing but good things to say so far. Admin has been very helpful and proactive on a possible problem with some students. I like that we know some of the teachers and administrators there.
If you come up our way, we may be able to help you find daycare. While wife no longer does daycare, she still knows providers.