Renting in Desired School Districts...Feeling Stuck...Any Advice? (Stone Mountain: section 8, apartment)
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Renting in Desired School Districts...Feeling Stuck...Any Advice?
Is there anyone else out there stuck in an undesirable school district but unable to sell the house and get out? How are you handling it? I am considering renting out my house and renting a house or apartment in the desired district, but am not really sure if it is the right thing to do. Renting is a scary option especially if my renters bailout along the way. My house is so underwater, I almost want to challenge the bank to take it. I am so frustrated because I can not forsee the house recovering in value in the next 5 - 7 years. I really can not comfortably afford private school, maybe a private school but not an elite one. Would it be best to stretch the budget and shoot for private school or proceed with the rental option? The only other option is to hope that I win the school choice lottery. I have 1 year to figure this out before my child starts Kindergarden. I am stressing out now about Pre-K but figure I can supplement this at home for now if she does not get in top my top choice. Anyone else facing this? Any advice would be welcome.
Fritz, I can appreciate where you are. I don't have words of wisdom but I think you are far from being alone.
What I would say is this. People have been raising kids for a long time under extremely adverse circumstances and billions still do. Even our "worst" schools are still vastly better than what most people on this planet have to deal with.
I truly don't mean that to be at all dismissive of your situation. All I really mean to say is that kids are phenomenally adaptive, especially if they have a loving adult behind them. That's what makes them thrive. It's clear from your post that you care and I'd wager that you will make up any difference.
Fritz, I can appreciate where you are. I don't have words of wisdom but I think you are far from being alone.
What I would say is this. People have been raising kids for a long time under extremely adverse circumstances and billions still do. Even our "worst" schools are still vastly better than what most people on this planet have to deal with.
I truly don't mean that to be at all dismissive of your situation. All I really mean to say is that kids are phenomenally adaptive, especially if they have a loving adult behind them. That's what makes them thrive. It's clear from your post that you care and I'd wager that you will make up any difference.
Good and sincere advice from arjay.
Which school district is this that you are very concerned about?
Stephenson Cluster in Stone Mountain. They are not the worst, but do not necessarily post the best test scores either. They seem to be trending down. I may have to suck it up and be over zealously involved. I would like to be in an environment where the other parents are just as involved. I imagine there are many other parents that have the same concerns, but I think the schools have a hard time just getting anyone to show up for PTA.
Stephenson Cluster in Stone Mountain. They are not the worst, but do not necessarily post the best test scores either. They seem to be trending down. I may have to suck it up and be over zealously involved. I would like to be in an environment where the other parents are just as involved. I imagine there are many other parents that have the same concerns, but I think the schools have a hard time just getting anyone to show up for PTA.
I understand where your are coming from, but don't know exactly what to tell you. I think most all of us who have purchased or refinanced in that area within the last five years or so are underwater. I also live in the Stephenson Cluster right on the DeKalb - Gwinnett line. The cluster is definitely trending downward, but as arjay57 stated, not as bad as some others. It's definitely better than any of the clusters to the south and west of it, and at the end of the day, I really don't think that the Shiloh Cluster in Gwinnett is any better, and ends up being a lateral move. Another issue that you run into is that the clusters that do have good schools, high test scores, and parental participation, tend not to have many rental properties available.
I'd say that your best overall option would be to lease your current home out and hopefully find a rental home in a more desirable district. Renting a home at $1,500-2,000 a month in a better school district would probably be slightly more affordable than attending a private school.
Tough position to be in... I will say that there is research on kids with very involved parents doing very well in more poor-performing schools. There was an article about this a couple of years ago in (I think) the New York Times. I tried to google the article, but only found this: Privileged children excel, even at low-performing comprehensives - Times Online Same idea, different country. Do some more research and you may end up feeling more comfortable about your situation.
Stephenson Cluster in Stone Mountain. They are not the worst, but do not necessarily post the best test scores either. They seem to be trending down. I may have to suck it up and be over zealously involved. I would like to be in an environment where the other parents are just as involved. I imagine there are many other parents that have the same concerns, but I think the schools have a hard time just getting anyone to show up for PTA.
Maybe the poor housing economy is what it will take to kick start more parental involvement in the Stephenson Cluster. The potential is certainly there, it doesn't take an army, just a small group of volunteers who initiate things.
Without sounding to dramatic, DeKalb schools can only improve if S. DeKalb parents as a whole become more engaged and frankly, demanding.
Maybe the poor housing economy is what it will take to kick start more parental involvement in the Stephenson Cluster. The potential is certainly there, it doesn't take an army, just a small group of volunteers who initiate things.
Without sounding to dramatic, DeKalb schools can only improve if S. DeKalb parents as a whole become more engaged and frankly, demanding.
True, but anyone with kids who are really truly concerned about their academics aren't going to consider the DCSS in the first place, unless you are lucky enough to purchase in one of few remaining clusters that are better performing. Most of the S. DeKalb Clusters just don't have the socio-economic makeup, or mentality where you're going to have an majority of the parents who are going to take any interest in the schools. The Stephenson Cluster is typical of many Central DeKalb Clusters where the parental involvement is better than what is the case in the south end of the county, but not quite what it should be. The problem in the neighborhoods of the Stephenson Cluster are that the area as a whole is undergoing a transformation. The upper end subdivisions of the area (Southland, Water's Edge, Deer Creek, Mountain Oaks) have for the most part, retained their character, but many of the lower end subdivisions have attracted more people from lower socio-economic environments, and Section 8 residents who tend to come from other poor performing clusters. Fortunately, the number of high achieving students still outnumber the students who are just taking up classroom space. With all that said, Stephenson still sends a high percentage of its students on to college.
True, but anyone with kids who are really truly concerned about their academics aren't going to consider the DCSS in the first place, unless you are lucky enough to purchase in one of few remaining clusters that are better performing. Most of the S. DeKalb Clusters just don't have the socio-economic makeup, or mentality where you're going to have an majority of the parents who are going to take any interest in the schools. The Stephenson Cluster is typical of many Central DeKalb Clusters where the parental involvement is better than what is the case in the south end of the county, but not quite what it should be. The problem in the neighborhoods of the Stephenson Cluster are that the area as a whole is undergoing a transformation. The upper end subdivisions of the area (Southland, Water's Edge, Deer Creek, Mountain Oaks) have for the most part, retained their character, but many of the lower end subdivisions have attracted more people from lower socio-economic environments, and Section 8 residents who tend to come from other poor performing clusters. Fortunately, the number of high achieving students still outnumber the students who are just taking up classroom space. With all that said, Stephenson still sends a high percentage of its students on to college.
I agree with these statements. I am not sure that I want my child to be the guinea pig while I wait on the other parents to get motivated to become involved. I know first hand from being involved with my HOA that trying to light a fire under apathetic people is too exhausting. The upper end subdivisions are also becoming lower end as well due to falling property values. And you are the folks moving in simply don't care enough to assert the level of involvement needed.
Is there anyone else out there stuck in an undesirable school district but unable to sell the house and get out? How are you handling it? I am considering renting out my house and renting a house or apartment in the desired district, but am not really sure if it is the right thing to do. Renting is a scary option especially if my renters bailout along the way. My house is so underwater, I almost want to challenge the bank to take it. I am so frustrated because I can not forsee the house recovering in value in the next 5 - 7 years. I really can not comfortably afford private school, maybe a private school but not an elite one. Would it be best to stretch the budget and shoot for private school or proceed with the rental option? The only other option is to hope that I win the school choice lottery. I have 1 year to figure this out before my child starts Kindergarden. I am stressing out now about Pre-K but figure I can supplement this at home for now if she does not get in top my top choice. Anyone else facing this? Any advice would be welcome.
Dont stress out about Pre-K, K, 1st. You could send your kid to some private school for now. Or send to public school, and be involved to supplement what is lacking. I think 2nd grade is where the action starts, try to get your act ready for that time frame.
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