Sorry for three seperate replies in a row, but they were all on different topics.
I live in Kirkwood and really like. That said, we are in the market for a larger house and we are looking at Kirkwood as well as a number of other neighborhoods on this side of the city. We are not so in love with Kirkwood that we might not go elsewhere with our next house purchase.
But to answer your questions:
1. How are the elementry schools?
The majority of the neighborhood is zoned to Toomer Elementary. A small portion of the southwest corner of the neighborhood is zoned to Whiteford. I am an active member of the Kirkwood School Coalition and have been since its inception. So drawing on a good amount of knowledge of the school, I can say that it is an entirely different school than it was just a few years ago. The principal is quite good and committed to making the school top-notch. However, it is a challenging student population. While the kids are great, the vast majority are coming from poor families (about 95% on free/reduced lunch last year). The result is that many do not have the same level of school readiness as in schools that serve a more affluent population, like Fernbank (5% free/reduced lunch), Oak Grove (6%) or even most of the city of Decatur schools (30-40%). But if you look at the most recent CRCT scores, Toomer is doing about as well as those schools in the upper grades, it is in 1st and 2nd grades that Toomer doesn't do as well. I see that as an indicator of how well Toomer is doing leveling the playing field between their students and the students at more affluent schools.
Now one way Toomer has done this is by using Direct Instruction (DI). It is a much maligned curriculum that is heavily scripted, to the point that the instructional units are timed. I would not want my child (when she is school age) exposed to DI. But DI does have a place in remediating students who are performing far below grade level. In past years Toomer used DI extensively. Now it only uses it for reading, and I fully expect the school to phase it out entirely in another year or so.
I also expect that the socioeconomic composition of the school will even out in a few years. Many of the middle/upper middle class young families see Toomer as an option (versus in the recent past when people who moved into the neighborhood did so fully expecting to send their children to private schools if they had the means to do so). The School Coalition recently conducted a survey of this group of parents, and 31% reported that Toomer was their first choice of schools to send their children when they reach school age.
Another important thing to note about Toomer... It is quite small, about 175 students in six grades last year (k-5 plus state-funded pre-k). The student-teacher ratio is 11:1. Not bad at all.
So my summary of the state of elementary schools in Kirkwood... Making some rough assumptions about your income given that you can afford a $300k house... If your children are school-age now, then they will be quite different from the current school population in terms of socioeconomic status. If your children are going to be entering school in another couple of years, then I predict they will fit right in to a diverse mix of kids. Either way, I think they can get a good education at Toomer.
OK, that was probably more than you wanted to know. Like I said, my child is not yet school age, so I can't tell you about my own experiences as a parent in the school. If you want to talk to some people who work there or regularly volunteer there, I can put you in touch with them. And I have a number of friends whose children will be starting pre-k there next month.
Also re: children in Kirkwood. The neighborhood has two very active playgroups. One for older children and one for babies and young toddlers. There is also a weekly picnic in the park for local families (Wednesday nights at 6:30). In the winter that switches to storytime in pajamas at the local coffee shop. There is also weekly storytime at the library in the mornings for preschoolers.
2. Safe? (compared to Decatur)
Well, I thought it was about equivalent to Oakhurst/College Heights, but some people on this board disaggree. So I may be wrong about that. A fair amount of petty crime (lawn mowers stolen from sheds, that sort of thing). Some clear drug dealing and prostitution, but isolated. Occasional gun fire, I have heard it maybe 3-4 times in 6 years. We have never been victimized in the neighborhood and I have no fears walking my dog in the evening (granted she is a rottweiler, but I wouldn't fear walking without her either).
3. How much do you think i could expect to spend on 1500 to 2000 sf house? This is going to vary greatly, depending on the location and the condition of the house. There was a recent sale on my street (not the best street in the neighborhood, but not bad) of a nicely renovated 3/2, I would guess 16-1700 sqft, for $350k. And I thought that was quite high. I would guess $320k would be about average for a typical (craftsman), renovated 3/2, on a decent street. Ranchs, week renovations, and fixer-uppers would be less. You have to get a good realtor to find a true fixer-upper in the neighborhood though. Professional flippers get them before the sign even goes up.
4. How do city of ATL taxes compare to city of Decatur? Decatur is higher.
5. any other thoughts?? I think Kirkwood's location is ideal. Perfectly situated near Decatur, Little 5 Points, VA Highlands, East Atlanta, downtown. Also, if you are local, come to a Kirkwood Neighbors Organization meeting to get a feel for the neighborhood. 7:00 on the 10th of every month at Turner Monumental Church on Howard St. The neighborhood also has a active website
Kirkwood Neighbors' Organization (KNO) :: Kirkwood Neighborhood, Atlanta, GA. I am not sure how much access you get as a guest, but if you want a password you can get one and then lurk around and see what people are talking about. You don't have to live in the neighborhood or be a member of the neighbors organization to check out the website.
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Kirkwood
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