Overwhelmed by move to Philly. HELP with neighborhoods!

[claireelise]

Family of 4 have relocated from Oregon just last week and are looking for permanent housing in a walkable/bike friendly, kid-friendly (SAFE), progressive/liberal yet professional community. I assume diversity is everywhere (compared to Central Oregon!). I want a quiet street with lots of trees. And I don't want people looking at me sideways when I ask if the strawberries are organic. Actually, I don't want to have to ask if I REALLY find the right people/neighborhood. 

I am overwhelmed! My DH is working in Conshohocken and we have 1 car. (He's on a big project and working 12 hour days so I'm lucky to get any help from him). We have 2 children (rising 1st & 5th grader) so elementary/middle schools are of upmost importance. They were at a great Waldorf School in Bend, OR but probably won't continue with that route, especially bc it costs $15K/yr per kid! Ouch!

So far we have liked:

Chestnut Hill (but that's out bc city schools are underfunded) so Wyndmoor substitues

Erdenheim/Flourtown

Narberth

Ardmore

Media (LOVE IT!) School rates well, walkable, but a bit more commute than we want.

I'm looking on cragislist for rentals and have a few leads. We are fortunate to have a good paying job so can afford $1800-$2700/mo. 

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! Did I forget some areas? 

 

We will likely be here for 2 years unless we fall in love with the area.

[thegreenbeagle]

I went to college in Philly --- so this info is a couple of years old.  Check out Elkins Park, and other towns on the "main line" (you mentioned Ardmore) such as Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, Radnor (great schools!).  Also, look into The Museum District and Old City in Philly itself. Good luck!  I love that area as a student.  People tend to either really love or really hate Philadelphia.  It is a dirty city, but it offers great food, reasonably cheap housing and LOTS to do.  

[klk197]

I'm in South Philadelphia, so I don't have first hand knowledge of the 'burbs, but to your comment on the commute from Media to Conshy. . . its pretty direct along the Blue Route, aka 476.  My brother goes the opposite way from just beyond Conshy (Lafayette Hill) to Wilmington DE almost daily and its a pretty easy ride, assuming there aren't any accidents (which is possible on any route).  Some of the other towns may seem closer, but those windy town roads are heavily travelled and don't necessarily account for shorter commutes.  There have been times I've been in the car with my brother and it takes just as long to get from Conshy to Villanova along the town roads as it would be to take the highway all the way downtown.  So, if Media catches your eye, reconsider the actual travel times.

I'm car-free, which is essentially what you will be while your husband is at work.  Quite honestly, I can't imagine doing it beyond city limits.  Public transportation is great in town, but runs much less frequently out of town (as my husband learned when he worked out of town and missed his trains!).  Hopefully someone will chime in who has experience with it in the suburbs, but the way this region grew from its early days, then with rapid post-war growth and modern zoning, there are few places that have everything you need in one place.  Certain parts within the city are booming for just this reason; but as you note, the schools are a problem. . . (but the superintendent was fired today, so there is hope!).

[dsb76]

I am from mt. airy (which would be great for you if you were willing to live in the city) but I've heard great things about elkins park.

[HippieIncognito]

I live in Chestnut Hill and if you do decide to stick with Waldorf, the Waldorf school of Philadelphia is right there! Same with Mt. Airy but both are Philly. We just moved to the area a few weeks ago and love it. You can walk everywhere. There is a food co-op, coffees hops, farmers market, kid's consignment shops, playgrounds, and Pastorious Park which is nice and big.

[SpottedFoxx]

West Chester has good schools, not too far but I don't know about their diversity.  Ardmore and Upper Merion very good schools, not very diverse.  I have a dear friend who lives in Landsdown.  Very cute town, very diverse but I have no idea how the schools are.  

Good luck and don't worry - this area as a whole is full of really nice people.  Welcome to the East Coast :)

[claireelise]

We visited the Phila Waldorf School. I was SHOCKED at how gruff and rude the now 5th grade teacher was. Barely made eye contact before launching into a grilling "interview" "Do this! Stand like this! Now do this!" I interrupted after a few minutes, "Hello, My name is...". WOW. The kids were unbelievably disrespectful to the teacher: laid their heads on the desk during main lesson, leaned way back in chairs after having been asked not to, and all this while my husband was a guest in the classroom. NO WAY will my son be in that class!

Enough ranting. I'd consider it with a different teacher, but only bc generally I've had great experiences with Waldorf people and the admissions person was great. 

[claireelise]

Wanted to share this 'cause I think it's funny: I'm judging schools based on many things, but the lunch menu is very telling. Media has "Local marinated tomato and cucumber salad" while most districts have chicken nuggets, turkey burger patties, and nachos, plus the occasional "Breakfast for lunch" waffle and sausage patty BS. Media also has no treats even for birthday parties. I think that rule would help avoid much of the artificial flavors/colors. But quality rental housing in Media is scarce. So the hunt continues. Keep me in mind if you head of any inside information!!!! I am home schooling til we find a "permanent" home. Next I chose Lower Merior school district in Narberth/Ardmore, then Wyndmoor/Erdenheim/Flourtown which is Springfield Township

I did find a cool looking Hand Work studio in Narberth that offers kids classes a la Waldorf: wooden needles, wool yarns, etc. (Main Line may not be so uptight/conservative as you imagine...though I'm sure they have their share of right wing conservatives but I bet it's pretty mixed).

[SpottedFoxx]

Yes, the Main Line is definitely mixed as far as conservative vs. liberal but not very diverse IMHO.   Have you looked at Landsdown?  

[claireelise]

OK! OK! I am now researching Landsdowne!

I see they have a fantastic farmer's market, "No Place for Hate" policy, their public elementary school lunch menu serves tater tots and chicken nuggets, but at least whole wheat buns. Unfortunately the principal seat is VACANT so that will obviously be tough for the school administration. The district is also missing an HR director. Hmm. In THIS economy?! OK I just checked public school scores and they are failing!!! Many schools in yellow or red according to AYP,and with the vacancies? Forget it. SO that's OUT. I can't consider a community that has failing schools, bc we don't want to pay $15K per child for private school! 

Any other suggestions?

[SpottedFoxx]

Wow, had no idea (note to self to call friend later to discuss).  Hmmmm is center city out of the question?  As long as you stay in either Greenfield http://kidsincentercity.com/schools/go/albert-m-greenfield-school or Meredith http://kidsincentercity.com/schools/go/william-m-meredith-school districts you'd be golden, you can definitely find housing in that price range and the city is about as diverse as you can get.  

[klk197]

Originally Posted by claireelise 
pal seat is VACANT so that will obviously be tough for the school administration. The district is also missing an HR director. Hmm. In THIS economy?! OK I just checked public school scores and they are failing!!! Many schools in yellow or red according to AYP,and with the vacancies? Forget it. SO that's OUT. I can't consider a community that has failing schools, bc we don't want to pay $15K per child for private school! 

I know nothing about the district you are referring to, but I know quite a bit about AYP and "failing schools" (I got way too caught up in reading about public education policy, etc over the past few years; both fascinating and frustrating, and at times, mind numbing).  Never take the numbers or ratings at face value.  Always ask why, even for those that appear to be doing well, ideally by visiting the school and seeing it in action first hand.  My neighborhood school, for example, did not make AYP two years ago.  Scary and terrible, right?  Well, not exactly.  This a very diverse school culturally.  Every ethnic group represented must have a passing grade to qualify for AYP.  Every group except 1 (African American boys) did not meet the standard, and in this group, there were only 2 students in the grades tested (4th and 8th, I think?).  Therefore, only 1 of those students had to not meet the standard to sink the whole ship, so to speak.  Many of the students live below the poverty line, many are from immigrant families (many illegal, which lends to hesitant parent participation and other potential issues), yet the majority of the tested students met or exceeded the requirements.  My neighborhood school faces many challenges, but it is simply unfair to judge its ability to educate students by this method of breaking down into subgroups that each must perform/succeed individually rather than taken as a whole.

[claireelise]

OK I'm going in person to Lansdowne today (for a hula hooping in the park fun, as long as it doesn't rain!). 

Thanks for AYP reflections--very thoughtful, but unfortunately I don't have time to dig deep with the "why's". I KNOW it's always the TEACHER, not the district, but how to retain good teachers if the district doesn't provide support? And I can't choose a specific teacher at any school anyway, schools don't work like that. So, I'm stuck judging by the district AYP until I get to know the area better. Of course, by then, I'll have bought a house and be stuck in the neighborhood school. Catch 22.

Just visited Center City and loved it (over in the funky/historic 'hood near Independence Hall) but again, I've only heard bad things about the Phlia public schools. My kids are NOT city-smart, they are naive overprotected fairy world Waldorf kids. They would get EATEN ALIVE by tough city kids. 

As for diversity, anything here in Phila is more diverse that the town we moved from! Safety, strong community pride (like keeping it safe, being neighborly, taking care of your house, funding your schools, cleaning your streets) natural living leanings, farmers markets, arts, trees, those are what I NEED. 

[klk197]

Have you seen these websites?  You may find them helpful.

http://phillyschoolsearch.com/

http://phillyschoolmatch.org/

Your comment about city kids makes me giggle.  My kid is city-smart, for sure.  Its a learned attribute.  He can get anywhere on Septa at age 3.  The tough factor, however. . . on daily visits to the neighborhood park I am witness to many naive overprotected children.  And the only time I felt that my son was "bullied" was at a suburban birthday party--so you just never know!

[mom2tatum]

Wondering what you are doing for school??? Lansdowne is an AWESOME place, but not to send your kids to school unfortunately...not as bad as philly school dist, but I live right next door in Drexel Hill and HAPPY for it, used to teach in William Penn SD for 3 years, I know it well, wouldn't ever send my kids there and I'm no school snob or afraid of color (clearly, my family is brown, too). The town is great, but we like living next to it :) The Friends School is there, though, and less exp than Waldorf by a few thousands if that matters. Media is my vote for you. :) I could probably answer any area questions you have, too...

[SpottedFoxx]

I hate to break it to you, the kids in the city school can be just as innocent as their suburban counterparts.  Again, if you stick with Meredith or Greenfield, your kids are in amazing hands (these school are better than some of the suburban schools).  My BIL & SIL moved ONE block (yes, just one little itty block) to be in Meredith's catchment because they didn't want to take a chance that their kids would not get in on the lottery.  

[mom2keira]

We're in Abington (near the hospital) and LOVE LOVE LOVE it.  People are friendly, especially in my neighborhood.  There is definite diversity and I (personally) feel the "old school" respect still stands its ground (example- neighbors here will take out/in trash cans for older neighbors and a few times I've had an armload of groceries/kids and people in the parking lot would run to help/open the car door for me) We have Whole Foods, Trader Joes, a farmers market in very nearby Jenkintown and one in nearby Glenside.  Schools are very good from what I hear (my kids are still in preschool) and we even had the PA "teacher of the year" at our school up the hill.  Housing is reasonable (mostly older homes).  Oh- and we are less than 30 min from Chestnut Hill/Mt. Ariy and it's a pleasent ride.  GL with whatever you choose-I think with the suggestions you have you really can't go wrong.

ETA-we also have an art center and concerts in the park in the summer and in Glenside we have a theatre.  :-)