Young Family-friendly neighborhoods in Chapel Hill - Page 2

[beanma]

Yep, Pittsboro is a sweet little town and so is Hillsborough about 20 minutes north of CH. Both are definitely worth a look. I think Orange and Chatham counties both have pretty decent school systems. They just suffer by comparison with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, but it's not like Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools are perfect or anything.

CHC Schools have got their own set of issues—they're very competitive especially in high school and can be very stressful, depending on your kid. I was just reading an article yesterday that was basically saying a "B" student in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools is an "A" student in most other systems so when the kids graduate their GPAs are actually sometimes a little lower than they would be if they went to a different school — their SAT and ACT scores are higher in comparison. It's that whole Bell curve thing. There is also an achievement gap issue with kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds and some minority groups not performing as well. However even the lower performing groups perform above the state average and the system as a whole always has the highest SAT scores in the state. There's usually at least one kid, and often several kids, in the system with a perfect SAT and/or ACT score.

If you're set on CHC schools, though you'll need to stay in CH/C and be sure you're in Orange County. There are little bits of Chapel Hill that hang over the edge into Durham and Chatham counties and the kids in those areas go to schools in those county systems.

[birthdancedoula]

Just sent you a pm, mama. ;)

[GreenRose]

Rrrrachel - Pittsboro looks really cute (and affordable!) I just worry that we're going to have enough of an adjustment moving from this metro area to Chapel Hill. Love all those food-related options though :) And I'm going to go drool over the homes/prices.

Thank you for the school info BeanMa -- I can absolutely see that overly competitive issue with the CH school system. Considering how much I've heard about it. It's so hard to know what your kids are going to want and need as they grow up. And of course, how these school districts change. I hear the Wake? system is a mess. Crystal ball please.. 

Thanks birthdancedoula! 

[AbbyGrant]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 
 

I hear the Wake? system is a mess.

It is a mess at the moment because of all the uncertainly. I just saw another story on the news about it the other day, and a realtor was saying that it's scaring people away who are moving to the area right now because no one can tell them what school they would be assigned to. She said she's having to learn a lot about Chapel Hill because that's where people are looking now. 

[pittsburrito]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 

Pittsboro looks really cute (and affordable!)  I just worry that we're going to have enough of an adjustment moving from this metro area to Chapel Hill. 

Just wanted to let you know that I moved from a city of 1.5 million people to Pittsboro, and had the same worries you describe--but once I did it, I found love it!  If ever I miss the traffic/crowds, it is only a 35-minute drive to Raleigh, 40 to Durham, and 25 to Chapel Hill.  So easy!  (And I'm always so happy to leave them behind when I return home.)  

Best wishes in finding the right place to land!

Pittsburrito

[HennaJen]

Hello Mamas!  What a useful thread!! I'm relocating to NC from CO.  Trying to decide between Charlotte and The Triangle.  I certainly know where to look for advice when I know exactly where I'm headed. 

In staring at the google map of NC, I've wondered about the town of Fearrington.  It's past Pittsboro I think.  Does anyone have any experience/thoughts on this area?

Thanks!!
 

[AbbyGrant]

If you mean Fearrington Village, it's not actually a town but rather a subdivision located between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. It started out being primarily geared toward retirees and many of them relocated to the area for it.

I recall reading something recently where they're trying to change that and attract families, but I'm not sure how that's going. I've never known anyone with children that lives there.

If you're interested in that area and that kind of development, Briar Chapel would probably be a better choice for a young family.

[Rrrrrachel]

Fearrington actually has lots of families, particularly in the original phase of development. The retirement part actually came later. My sister lives there and there are probably a dozen kids on their street. It is not technically a town, but there is a village center with shops and restaurants and a great little beer garden that has music on the weekends. I live very close to there so if you have any questions lemme have em!

[AbbyGrant]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

Fearrington actually has lots of families, particularly in the original phase of development. The retirement part actually came later. My sister lives there and there are probably a dozen kids on their street. It is not technically a town, but there is a village center with shops and restaurants and a great little beer garden that has music on the weekends. I live very close to there so if you have any questions lemme have em!

Oh I didn't just mean the newer retirement community. I've always associated it with senior citizens. Those are the only people I've ever known to live out there. I had no idea there were that many families out there.

[Rrrrrachel]

Right, it didn't actually start as a retirement community in the other part, either. It just kind of evolved like that and they capitalized on it.

[AbbyGrant]

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

Right, it didn't actually start as a retirement community in the other part, either. It just kind of evolved like that and they capitalized on it.

Ah, I see. I can see why it would have been more attractive to retirees at that time rather than families. But things have changed in that area quite a bit. There's more out that way now, and I hear the elementary school is pretty good.

[Rrrrrachel]

All the schools are good and the middle school is brand spanking new.

[beanma]

We have friends with kids in Fearrington, too, but they didn't like North Chatham Elementary for their daughter. Unless there's a particular draw for living in Fearrington I'd pick elsewhere personally just because you have to drive everywhere from Fearrington.

[Rrrrrachel]

Isn't that the case just about everywhere around here? Unless you're going to live somewhere like downtown carrboro, though, and sort of downtown Pittsboro.

[AbbyGrant]

      Quote:

Originally Posted by beanma 

We have friends with kids in Fearrington, too, but they didn't like North Chatham Elementary for their daughter.

Oh I didn't know Fearrington went to North Chatham Elementary. Scratch what I said earlier then about hearing the elementary was good since I know nothing about North Chatham Elementary. I thought it was Perry Harrison like Briar Chapel.

[Rrrrrachel]

Here was just a round of redistributing so who knows.

[beanma]

I live in Chapel Hill and can walk to Foster's cafe, Flyleaf bookstore, Weaver Street Mkt (bit of a hike, but we like to do it on the weekends), can take the greenway to the mall and the library (do that on my bike usually, but can walk, too) and just got back from walking to our pool and park. I can walk downtown, but it's uphill. My DH walks to work at UNC daily. My dd2 will probably be able to walk to Northside Elementary if we get redistricted, but we're at Carrboro now and it's a smidge too far to walk unless it's a delayed opening day when we do it sometimes. I know a lot of people who live in Carrboro (not downtown) and walk or bike lots of places. They don't live in the mill houses, either. Some of them live in the neighborhoods behind the farmer's mkt and some live in all those neighborhoods down off of N Greensboro. 

I like to visit Fearrington, but I wouldn't want to live there, personally. If you're wanting that inclusive neighborhood (with shops, etc) I'd pick Southern Village over Fearrington. More stuff there and it's more accessible for the average joe. The Fearrington shops are a little more upscale rather than family-friendly. We do go out there for special events like the carved pumpkin display at Halloween, but it's just not a place that I would pick, personally. It definitely has appeal for some folks, though. For me if I'm going to live in the country I want to have a few acres and have a big garden, etc. If I'm going to live in a neighborhood I want to be in town so I can be close to stuff. A neighborhood in the country doesn't have a lot of draw for me, but YMMV.

[Rrrrrachel]

In fearrington you can walk to two restaurants, a cafe, a beer garden, a bookstore, as well as bike several other places, and there's a community pool. It's a misconception that fearrington is inaccessible. Particularly in the older sections the housing prices are very reasonable.

[beanma]

BTW, HennaJen, there is a community of Farrington out south of Governer's Club on Farrington Rd near Jordan Lake, but it's not much more than a gas station/bait shop and a church and volunteer fire dept.  I imagine what you're seeing on the map is Fearrington Village.

[HennaJen]

Thanks Ladies, this is very helpful input! 

Ok, another question then, what is west of Carrboro, anything?  I'm looking to rent at least for the first year, I think that'll give us time to explore and figure out where we want to be long term.  I like the location of Carrboro, though a friend told me that it's mostly students living there?  Misconception?  I'll be out there next week looking around so hopefully I can get a feel for all those areas!  Excited!!!