Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

anyone out there live in a school district that has a bad reputation, or could be considered undesirable? I see everyone on here who are looking to move ask where are the best districts but if you bought in those lesser performing districts, or "tougher" districts, what helped you make your decision? Couldn't pass up on the house? It's where you grew up and there wasn't an option of leaving? It's where DH/SO grew up and talked you into moving there? Great neighborhood? Do you plan on sending your kids to the district or to private school? What helped you decide this?

This is me:
We live in South Amityville, Amityville School District

We moved here because: Main reason, DH grew up here as did his parents and grandparents and so on, his entire extended family lives here and most of the people who live here have the same story, people don't leave. I also LOVE our neighborhood, the super tight knit community that always looks out for one another, the Victorian homes, and the nautical atmosphere.

As for the school: I'm really at a loss as to what to do. Most of the families in our neighborhood send their kids to Catholic schools k-12 having also gone themselves, it's sort of like a tradition. Some families are starting to send their kids to the public schools as they are starting to make a lot of changes. I went to Massapequa, I got a great education but diversity wise, there was none and I feel like getting to know people from different backgrounds is also a very important part of an education, it's the real world. I LOVED that in college, I went to a very diverse college and learned so much about different cultures, customs and religions, lifestyles, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. I was such a learning experience, I want that for DS so bad. Amityville isn't just South of Oak Street, it's a huge town and he needs to know that, and there is nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand... DH went to Catholic school until 9th grade then his parents got divorced and they couldn't afford to send both him and his sister to Catholic HS so they went to Amityville HS. DH was really big into sports and said that he could have many other opportunities had he gone to a better high school, that the money wasn't there and scouts didn't come. He said he really missed out and it still upsets him because his family that went to St. John the Baptist had better opportunities. He also is a slacker when it comes to school work. Cut class all the time, said he did 20% of his homework, wondered around the school a lot. Was a good kid, didn't fight or cause trouble, just could care less about school work but some how was in 2 AP classes and graduated with the same grade point average as me. I'm a school nerd, he said that he was just given good grades because he showed up more that most of the kids in his classes, and at least handed in some of his homework and projects so the teachers gave those kids better grades because of the "effort"

I don't want that for DS. I want him to get a good education. I don't know if that was just his experience, that's how it was then, or that's how it really is. Also, he didn't go to the elementary school and I don't have anyone to ask how it is so I'm not sure what I should do.

DS is ONE lol so I have a long time to decide. But this is important so I want to start thinking about it now and see what others in this situation are doing or did. Whether you lived it growing up or are going through it now I'd love to hear many ideas.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I bought a house in MC SD.

I know many wouldn't list that as their top choice, although it's not spectacular it's also nowhere near bad, either. But, of course, I got a lot of "Oh.....you bought a house there..." from many. (Many who haven't even bought a home yet, mind you.)

I'd say it's average, I guess? But I don't know - my kids aren't in school yet and I'm just going by what I read/hear.

I grew up in a top-rated district and upper middle class area. Still had it's issues and problems and I didn't want to spend X amount on a tiny house with a tiny property just to live in a certain town.

Probably because even though I went to a top-rated district, did that guarantee that I got amazing grades or took advantage of all the benefits of clubs and sports? Nope. I went to school, was average student except for a few AP classes, and I didn't do sports or clubs - I had an after school job and I still went off to college. So I guess it wasn't a big priority to me to be in an amazing SD. I believe you can turn out well no matter where you are.

So, I bought a lovely home that would have been listed for about 150k more in my hometown... and for sure, the taxes are about half than the average house in my hometown. I have a 3 br house, 1.5 bath, finished basement, finished attic, garage, huge deck attached to kitchen, dollhouse shed, a gazebo, picturesque front and backyard, a porch.

I have no regrets. Yet. I doubt I will, but who knows.

Do I see where some people want nothing short of the best as far as SD for their kids or resale value? Yes. But I'm just not one of them.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

We bought a home in a less desirable school district, mainly because it was a great house for a great price. Something we wouldn’t of been able to touch in a "good" school district.
I have family who attended the school and they came out fine. Good grades and now good jobs, however if we do face problems when dd reaches school age then since we saved on our mortgage sending our child to catholic school may be an option. Other wise we just pray we raised a good child and are involved in her life enough to know what’s going on..

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I grew up in a 'less than desirable' school district - Bay Shore.

I had the BEST experience.

My parents were very involved in my education and it made all the difference. Teachers would never have gotten away with 'letting me slide' in any way shape or form. My AP and Regents scores needed to reflect that I was working hard and doing well or they would give me (and my teachers) holy he!!. And that taught me that PARENT INVOLVEMENT is the most important thing no matter what district you are in.

I don't know Amityville SD.. but as long as there wasn't a threat of bodily harm I think I'd give it a shot. Stay involved, stay active in the community and if you notice that something isn't right then speak up.

Good luck!

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Dh's youngest sister went through Amityville SD and came out fine. I have a coworker with 2 boys (middle and hs now) currently in Amityville SD and she has no complaints, both her and her husband went through Amityville too.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I LOVE South Amityville. It is so beautiful down there. I would buy a house there in a second but I would not send my kids to those schools. I know that's not what you want to hear, so I'm sorry, but it's JMO. And I have a big problem with paying LI's exorbitant taxes knowing I would have to send DS to catholic school. I want catholic school to be an option not a must.

I'm all for diversity in the schools and having DS have different experiences; however, I think what your DH said is true...there is less opportunity and I also think there is a lot of distraction from bad elements. That happens in every school but I just think there is more of it happening there.

I'm in what is perceived as a decent SD - I don't think it's the best but I know it's pretty good. BUT I hate the town. I absolutely hate living here and can not wait to move. The next time we move, I will of course consider the SD, but more importantly for me will be what types of residents make up the town.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

What does MC stand for?

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

We live in Longwood which is constantly called one of the worst districts on LI on this board. My children do not attend the district because my son was a senior in high school in our previous district when we moved here and it finished the year there. My stepdaughter attends her mothers school district. When we moved here 7 years ago we were considering having another child and we planned to send that child to these schools.
Many of my neighbors are teachers in other districts, they are all satisfied with the education their kids are getting. We also have lots of police office living here, my feeling is if Longwood was a dangerous as people think why would these officers send their own kids there?
My neighbors daughter just started her freshman year at Cornell, my other neighbors niece that also lives in the district just started university of Pennsylvania, i realize that is only 2 kids out of 1000 but they have great parents and that is what makes the difference
We have an amazing sports program- many of our teams have won state and national championships, we have a planetarium in our middle school, our budget always passes and the kids and parents have great school pride.

I don't know specifics about your district but I worked in a practice in massapequa for years and many of our patients lived in amity harbor and the kids all went to grace when they were little. I always thought it was weird, if the people that live there aren't willing to enroll their
children and get involved (like parochial schools insist parents are) how will they district ever get better? To me it always came off as an elitist mentality maybe bordering on racist.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

My family and I were just talking about this the other day.
When I was in HS, we moved from Merrick to Amityville. One of the things that I remember was that in Amityville, they did so much more to encourage students to find funding/scholarship oppurtunities for college. This was not a focus in Merrick, because it was assumed students had the resources for college. The diversity that I experienced in Amityviile, set me up for the real world.
It is a personal choice, but my feeling was based on the experience I had so many years ago, I would have no problem sending my child to Amityville schools.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Message edited 1/10/2014 1:46:19 PM.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

my HS (harborfields) played amityville in sports. I always thought we looked like stray cats compared to their teams. It made me think their sports were well funded.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Honestly - the SD was the most important factor when we were looking for a house. We wouldn't buy a house in a neighborhood where we weren't comfortable with the SD.

Everyone will tell you that they want their children to be exposed to cultural diversity and differing socio-economic backgrounds, but there is a reason that the areas with better SDs are more expensive. That's the plain truth about life on LI. Not pointing fingers, not assigning blame, that's just the way it is.

Quite frankly, I don't understand why I would pay $10K a year in property taxes and NOT be able to use the SD.

DH went to one of the worst SDs on LI. He said his experiences there have definitely influenced him and that he would NEVER send his children to a poor performing SD. I didn't have that experience. I went to an amazing SD and loved it.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Message edited 9/10/2011 3:10:47 PM.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I also believe the people that have the worst things to say about school districts, are the ones who don't live in them.

We live one town over, in Copiague, and hear awful, awful things about the district from people who don't live here, and honestly, I think a lot of it is based on fear and racism because those are the kinds of things that come out of peoples' mouths.

I'm not going to lie........even as a social worker with all my experiences around people with different backgrounds, it's really hard not to worry about my blonde-haired, blue eyed pale little white boy that my IL's have jokingly nicknamed Sven.

At the same time though too, I also worry about sending him to a richer, whiter school district such as Massapequa. I pass by there daily in the AM when I drop DS off in Seaford, and those kids don't look like angels either.

Especially the pack hanging out in front of the bagel store.

I think the key is definitely remaining an active, involved parent.

I am friendly with a few teachers who work in the more affluent school districts who say that it can be worse in them because a lot of issues are pushed under the rug.

I also don't want to offend anyone, especially because I know how hard it is to get a teaching job ANYWHERE these days, however, I have my own opinions about Catholic schools and feel that our child could get just as great of an education in a public school.

Fortunately, I don't think we really have to worry about any of this for a few more years (he's not even 3!).

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I also wanted to add that DH and I will never make a ton of $$$$, so I would also worry about the whole "keeping up with the Jones" mentality of sending my child to a more affluent school district.

Especially in this day and age where you are bullied for anything and everything.

Where we live now, I feel like at least he's around everyone else who is in a similar boat or (sadly) worse.

We are also friendly with all of our neighbors who have been through the district and have no complaints.

I work with one lady whose son graduated from Copiague and said actually the biggest issue on the HS level was dealing with kids from OUTSIDE of the district who would come and make trouble.

Message edited 9/10/2011 3:49:31 PM.

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I also live in south Amityville. I send my daughter to the district and am proud to do so. Superintendent Williams has made great strides in the district. The curriculum is way better IMO than what is going on in The local catholic school. I am on the parent teacher council and involved. I am also a member of the chamber of commerce and work very hard to make Amityville a better place. This will happen when people send their kids to the public school

I also went through Massapequa and there was no diversity. I also fell through the cracks there because I was middle of the road- not the smartest but not lowest. I was in top 1/4 but not dazzling enough to get attention. I floated through and then did amazing in college.

My mother didn't push the district enough to get me in the better classes and programs. She just wasn't that PTA mom.

I think education is what parents make of it too. You can't just expect your child to do great things because of the school district.

Many people make sweeping generalizations about Amityville because of it's socioeconomic and racial makeup without stepping foot in the school. When the time comes take a tour of the school. See it for yourself and compare the education to the alternatives

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Yep Riverhead, I chose this area because I llove the potential, what it has to offer, and things are getting better slowly but surely...

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

I also wanted to say that I have no kids but when I do will be sending there. My neighborhood is filled with people who love the community and are committed to it. On my block alone we have a rabbi, a minister who works wit at risk youth, a woman who founded a community garden which is flourishing in a formerly blighted downtown area, the general manager of a well known winery, the owner of a local nursery. I know the school doesnt have the best reputation but I never thought I would love living in a neighborhood so much. We get together with our neighbors often and enjoy each company. We have lived here just over a year and I never want to leave, I wish more places were like this on LI

Re: Everyone on here talks about finding a house in the best school district

Just so you know, I taught the same curriculum in Amityville as I did in West Islip. I'm a Secondary Ed. teacher.

(And the only thing that St. John's had that Amityville didn't was an updated version of the textbook, same curriculum as well )

I also think the "town" feel with an active main street with good restaurants as well as the beautiful victorian and colonial homes make Amityville that much better than some of the other "undesirable" districts.