HELP!! Young AA family ISO affordable intown living and good public schools!! (Atlanta: middle-class, crime)

[TJ26]

Greetings!

Im new here and I know this post has been answered in some format or another numerous times on this website. However, I am unable to find specific answers to questions that relate to my situation. I certainly hope you all can help.

Here is the deal: my husband and I have been here for 3 years, currently own one of those large, quickly built homes in SW Atlanta. We are both educated, gainfully employed and have a toddler starting kindergarten next year. Our subdivision is going downhill b/c of all the obvious reasons and we just want to get out before its too late. Not to mention we really need some diversity in our lives.

We both love the City of Decatur and work right within its limits. We do almost everything around there: work, eat out, shop, library, parks, even my childs pre-K. Unfortunately, we are probably priced out of it and its surrounding areas.

My questions are this:

1. what safe affordable neighborhoods can we find in the $300k MAX price range?

2. what are the good public elem/middle schools outside of CID ( Ive scoured the websites but I want real opinions from parents who know. Honestly, figruing out the APS system requries a research degree it seems)?

3. how sketchy do I have to go? We work in law enforcement (kinda) and know quite a bit about the crime that happens in some affordable areas and what others call "diverse" makes me plain ole scared.

4. What about White Oak Hills, Avondale Estates, East Atlanta?

5. We'd like a newer, craftsman style 3/2, nice yard... is that impossible?

Any other suggestions for a young African American family who want to get back intown desperately. My all time fave place is Oakhurst if that gives you an idea of what we wish we could afford.

We are looking to sell/move in the next 6 months. Please HELP!

[Atlantasfinest]

Originally Posted by TJ26

Greetings!

Im new here and I know this post has been answered in some format or another numerous times on this website. However, I am unable to find specific answers to questions that relate to my situation. I certainly hope you all can help.

Here is the deal: my husband and I have been here for 3 years, currently own one of those large, quickly built homes in SW Atlanta. We are both educated, gainfully employed and have a toddler starting kindergarten next year. Our subdivision is going downhill b/c of all the obvious reasons and we just want to get out before its too late. Not to mention we really need some diversity in our lives.

We both love the City of Decatur and work right within its limits. We do almost everything around there: work, eat out, shop, library, parks, even my childs pre-K. Unfortunately, we are probably priced out of it and its surrounding areas.

My questions are this:

1. what safe affordable neighborhoods can we find in the $300k MAX price range?

2. what are the good public elem/middle schools outside of CID ( Ive scoured the websites but I want real opinions from parents who know. Honestly, figruing out the APS system requries a research degree it seems)?

3. how sketchy do I have to go? We work in law enforcement (kinda) and know quite a bit about the crime that happens in some affordable areas and what others call "diverse" makes me plain ole scared.

4. What about White Oak Hills, Avondale Estates, East Atlanta?

5. We'd like a newer, craftsman style 3/2, nice yard... is that impossible?

Any other suggestions for a young African American family who want to get back intown desperately. My all time fave place is Oakhurst if that gives you an idea of what we wish we could afford.

We are looking to sell/move in the next 6 months. Please HELP!

The areas that I know that would fit what your looking for include
Reynoldstown, Edgewood, Grant Park or Old 4th Ward.

Not as familiar with White Oak Hills, Avondale Estates or East Atlanta per say but I've heard some good things about the latter two neighborhoods. Which area of SW Atlanta are you living in now?

Good luck!

[SleeplessnATL]

TJ26,

PMed you info about Avondale Estates and White Oak Hills. . .

[lastminutemom]

I would say no to Avondale Estates if you want good public schools. They are trying to start a charter school in AE but it is at a minimum a year away from opening. International Community School (a charter school) has already had their enrollment period for next year so that is out.

Are you certain you can sell your home? Will you have to take a loss on it? Do you know that you can pay tuition to CoD schools? I know someone who did this for K last year so it seems to still be possible.

I am hearing good things about the schools near Drew Charter School not so much Drew. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the names of those schools but Aries probably can.

It takes a Phd to navigate DeKalb schools, I think. DeKalb is not a system on the way up, in my opinion, while I think Atlanta is at least on steady footing. The tragic episode at Dunaire, in my opinion, illustrates that the problems in DeKalb are deep especially because I believe that the quality of leadership from the top down is pretty poor. That said, and I am not at all confident that this a recommendation that could be for k-12 -- you might consider Midvale or Livsey if they meet your price range. Keep in mind that both Tucker Middle and Tucker High are majority AA by a large amount (70ish percent) and this has been increasing each year.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

I would say no to Avondale Estates if you want good public schools. They are trying to start a charter school in AE but it is at a minimum a year away from opening. International Community School (a charter school) has already had their enrollment period for next year so that is out.

Are you certain you can sell your home? Will you have to take a loss on it? Do you know that you can pay tuition to CoD schools? I know someone who did this for K last year so it seems to still be possible.

I am hearing good things about the schools near Drew Charter School not so much Drew. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the names of those schools but Aries probably can.

It takes a Phd to navigate DeKalb schools, I think. DeKalb is not a system on the way up, in my opinion, while I think Atlanta is at least on steady footing. The tragic episode at Dunaire, in my opinion, illustrates that the problems in DeKalb are deep especially because I believe that the quality of leadership from the top down is pretty poor. That said, and I am not at all confident that this a recommendation that could be for k-12 -- you might consider Midvale or Livsey if they meet your price range. Keep in mind that both Tucker Middle and Tucker High are majority AA by a large amount (70ish percent) and this has been increasing each year.

Hey...the schools near Drew Charter to look into are Toomer Elementary and East Lake Elementary...especially Toomer (both are good, but Toomer is becoming excellent/great!).

Both schools feed into Coan Middle and Grady High.

[mceis]

The big question is whether they can afford 2 mortgages. It's going to be really tough to sell their existing home. Also, the decent in-town areas have maintained their prices pretty well, especially when compared to the south side of the city (hopefully the in-town gentrification continues. Decatur is probably going to offer the best combo of affordability and safety.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by BringBackCobain

Also, the I responded because I am sick of the double standard around here. If someone had posted the same thing but replaced black with white people would have been all over them wondering why they needed to specify their race at all.

Ok, let's clear something up...

If someone comes in here and asks specifically for a "predominately black, white, Jewish, asian, gay... "whatever", type of neighborhood - guess what? We allow it. We answer it. Some folks raise stinks, but so long as the question is genuine and not presented in a prejudicial way, it's allowed. Folks are shelling out $$$ for a home - they have the right to live in whatever type of neighborhood they like. Although I didn't see a race-specific slant to THIS post.

That being said, stop getting on soap boxes, and stop entertaining those who do. Make your political statements in the politics room. Not here. Infractions are about to fly out of my butt like flying monkeys in Oz if folks keep acting crazy. Oh no, wait, they already HAVE. Let's hope no one else has to join them.

Now - back to topic - PLEASE.

[Atlantasfinest]

Thanks for clearing the bs out of this post Greg...most of the posters here are tired of the baiters who cause nothing but trouble in the Atlanta room. Hopefully this serves notice.

We are just trying to help the poster out with good information so hopefully we can get back on track. Thanks.

[TJ26]

Wow. You all are a REALLY helpful bunch.

I guess I should address "BringBack Cobains" rant (although atlanta Greg and Atlantasfinest did an excellent job already).

The reason I needed to specify our race is b/c Atlanta is a very interesting city to live in. We are Northerners and I recall growing up in a nice, middle class neighborhood with black, white, asian and hispanic neighbors all around me. We went to the local public schools, rode the bus together, did marching band together, no big deal. I cant really find that same idea here (well not so far, only been here 3 years), therefore I thought it was important to mention it.

Most AA would tell me to live in Cascade, Lithonia or stay where I am (off camp creek BTW) and that I would be foolish to move into a tiny bungalow intown with questionable schools. As my Mom even says " Oh dont do it honey, downtown Atlanta is not quite ready in my opinion."

I guess you can call us crazy but we feel like we want to at least give it a try. I want our daughter to have a wordly perspective like I did and be friends with all types of people. I guess another reason I mentioned our race b/c I rarely see middle to upper class AA families intown for some reason. "Diversity" usually means lower income AA who lived in the neighborhood for dozens of year prior living next door to more affluent caucasion families who have cleaned things up a bit.

Again, I am NOT making any political statements and am not a racist (quite the opposite). Just want to lay it all out there in the hopes of hearing from those who know more than I do.

Thank you soo much for your feedback thus far. And yes this is all contingent on us selling our house in the first place. Two have sold in my subdivision this year so maybe there is a chance. I am quite spiritual so I think that if it is meant to be for us, it will. If not, we can try again next year.

Any other school info I should know? How about any schools/areas to absolutely stay away from?

[plessthanpointohfive]

I think you'll find some good options intown. While the 30307 zipcode is usually just out of your price range with this economy it might not be so make sure to take a look. This is where I live and I feel like it's pretty diverse in the middle-class department. And the schools are really good.

Here's what I found with a quick search:

The Van Thompson Team - Search Results