We are bookish and outdoorsy too, and we love it here. All of our family and friends are on the East coast, but I doubt we will ever leave Abq.
Schools: We came from out East and used a mixture of public and private schools there. We have a freshman at Eldorado High and at first I was a little annoyed b/c they were making him retake several courses he took in 8th grade (he was in a gifted program and went to the local high school in 8th grade for math and English Lit). They told me that freshman, even as brilliant and talented as my son
NEVER, take courses with sophomores or upper classmen,
ever. No exceptions, so they put him in all honors courses. Honors or not, retaking Algebra I and English Lit I seemed like a total waste and I was perturbed. However, after talking with his teachers, they have been more than happy to give my son appropriate level work. He is getting the best of both worlds, age/peer appropriate socialization and a challenging individualized curriculum. He said he has 2 trouble makers in one of his classes, and the teacher just puts them in the hallway for the whole class. Now, this is not good for
those kids, but I am pleased that they are not permitted to disrupt the class and distract the students who do want to learn. My son also says that other than that class (his only non-honors course) he doesn't have any badly behaved kids in his courses. He is an athlete and the coaches really stress academics for the kids as well. Also, he plays more than one sport, and the coach for one sport comes to games for the other to cheer him on. I am very impressed at the support the teachers and coaches have shown my son. Granted, we are only 2 weeks into the year, but so far, I am extremely pleased with Eldorado. Downside: he is learning some colorful language I don't care for. :raise eyebrow:
We did not put our other kids into the local elementary and middle schools that we were zoned for, and since we are zoned for Eldorado, you can narrow that down, lol. We almost went private, but the day before school started they got a space so we sent them to a public charter school (they had been on waiting lists since April), and we LOVE it. I am not comfortable identifying where my young kids go to school, but I will say that we are extremely picky about education issues, and could NOT be more pleased with this school. They really go above and beyond in every respect. So all I can say is that there are outstanding options available that are not private. Each family will have to search and find the ones that work for them.
Library: My problem with the libraries is the same problem I'm having every where else it seems: lack of supervision for kids. The libraries are noisy and kids are running wild. This is not a City of Abq problem, this is a modern young parent problem (IMHO). However, it is irritating me to no end now b/c Abq is larger than my old town and there are
more unsupervised children and tweens, lol. Probably not more per capita, just more.
The library resources have been adequate, librarians excellent, and the main library is actually pretty neat (just don't go hoping to use a computer). They are very good about locating and ordering materials you want that they don't have.
Outdoors: we have it all. honestly, I can't get enough. I had to go back East last week and just got back, and when the plane was landing (good place to say what a nice airport Abq Sunport is) I was so happy to see the Abq landscape out the window. It isn't green, but it is starkly beautiful. I really appreciate how the mountains are not developed like they are back east, with condos and touristy crap everywhere. There is a ton of stuff to do. We hike, bike, run, and canoe weekly. My husband found a running club and a ball league for his age group, I am in a running group for fat old women
and all of my kids have league sports going on in addition to school. There are family events every weekend. Parks are everywhere, and they are safe and clean. Abq residents are friendly, and generous. My kids have been fundraising for school (yea, already) and each of them has raised hundreds of dollars easily. Plus, one of them made a pretty penny with a lemonade stand, lol. People here are just
nice.
I have heard complaints about the Abq PD, but I have found them friendly and helpful, perhaps b/c I have not broken any laws and just had questions.
In any event, they seemed pleased to be able to answer my questions and happy to welcome us to Abq. No crime in my neighborhood (NE Heights) that I am aware of. I lock the doors when I leave and don't put up signs that say "No one is home, help yourself," but so far, no problemo.
We don't speak any Spanish either. I rarely hear it spoken in public, and the t-shirt I saw at the Sunport comes to mind "New Mexico: Not really New, and not really Mexico." In other words, this is still the US and everybody pretty much speaks English.
We just love Abq. I just wish all my friends would move here. I miss them, but I won't move back.
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