I realize that school districts and neighbhorhood preferences are totally personal, but I'd like to hear your opinion on the public school district (and/or neighbhorhood) your kids go to. Likes? Dislikes? Any you think are particularly good or not so good? My husband and I are not from the area and are looking to buy a house somewhere with the idea that eventually our little guy will go to the public school there. Our current neighborhood doesn't have many kids. So far we've been looking at Mounds View district and St. Anthony. We don't want to live too far from DT Mpls, but it would depend on other factors (like the schools!). Thoughts?
Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I think I need to investigate open enrollment and what it means, and also find a good web site for public school info (I like some of the St.Paul areas mentioned in terms of neighborhood, but don't have a clue about the schools). I like the idea of focusing more on the community than the school. I think that might help me narrow things down.
yes i wouldn't worry about the schools as much because of open enrollment.
really depends on how much you can afford. have you thought of crystal/golden valley? st. louis park? all close to DT mpls.
We live in SW Mpls and absolutely LOVE it. My DH has a very short commute via bus to DT and has two or three close stops to choose from. We live in the Kingfield neighborhood which is in the "open" area for Mpls school choice. This makes it a high demand area as the school choices are the top schools in Mpls. (Burroughs, Barton, Lake Harriet, Hale, and Lyndale). Our eldest goes to Burroughs and we could not be happier with he school. Great staff, fab principal, great academics. We have neighbors at Lake Harriet and they love it as well. The area homes are reasonably priced turn of the century houses, though the closer to the lakes you get, the prices go up. There are a ton of families in the area. In my own neighborhood we have a playgoup of about 6 or 7 families that get together once a week. Great urban feel with wonderful shops and restaurants in walking distance. Friendly, engaged residents. I would never live anywhere else! Good luck with your transition.
These are all near St Anthony. Do you mean Village or the city of St Anthony? St Anthony park Elementary is very good - St Paul Schools. Pratt in Minneapolis is very good. Both are very small and have wonderful communities. (We have a couple great friends in that area- one has her Masters in Education and sends her kids to St Anthony Elementary) Also the German Immersion has been getting great kudos from people.
Hi Tracey,
I know you said you wanted to be closer, but I line in The Lakes in Blaine. Particularly the Crown Shores subdivision. I moved here not too long ago and absolutely love it! There are so many children in just my subdivision. The moms all regularly get together with and without the kids. Some of us are SAHM and we hold weekly playdates, go to the pool, the park, or just gather in someone's driveway. We also try to do a game night with all the adults once a month. It's the neighborhood I've always wanted. As far as schools go, I know I'm in the Anoka-Hennepin district and my neighbor has a son in the elementary school and loves it. She says the principal and teachers are wonderful.
Hope this helps a bit. If you want more info email me, I'd be happy to share anything I can.
S.
Mounds View is supposed to be the best school district. We are in the White Bear Lake district, but we will be sending our son to kindergarten at our church's school and it is in the MV district. My neighbor is using open enrollment so she can send her kindergartner to Turtle Lake because she wanted MV over WBL as well.
We are SW of Downtown in Eden Prairie. The school systems out here are wonderful. They have great preshools in the district too. we are about 20mins away. We have family in Golden Valley that love there schools and in the northern subs. I would worry more about finding a good neighborhood, because there is open enrollment.
