Charleston neighborhoods

[localboy]

The thing that Park West/ Dunes West offers is that the primary, elementary, and middle schools are in the neighborhood. There is going to be a back road to the High school as well. The schools in there are excellent. Also, the Town of Mt. Pleasant Recreation department is there with it's sports complex including it's sports fields and one of it's pools. Then you have the shops, a great gym, grocery store, resturaunts, etc. I think they are great neighborhoods to live in. I love the Tennyson and Masonborough sections of Park West.

USCJoe who posted above listed some other great neigborhoods as well that you should also check out when you return.

Good luck!

[emilybh]

If you are looking for a great school, the Academic Magnet in North Charleston, according to the TOP 100 schools in America article for 2007 that "Newsweek" just put out, is #11 in the country. The highest rating of any Ohio school was Walnut Hills at #38 -- which is still great. Only 18 states had one or more schools rank in the top 100. These were high schools however.

There are excellent websites that do nothing but critique and analyze effectiveness of school systems. I'd mention a great one but the rules seem to not allow it. If you are interested, email me directly. However the site I'm thinking of I think only has info on middle and high schools.

[emilybh]

Do a search for the Best Schools in America on
MSN and a Newsweek article will list the top 100 schools for 2007. The Academic Magnet in N. Charleston is ranked #11 in the country! Only 18 states had schools that ranked in the top 100. I think Ohio had Walnut Hills that ranked #38. However, these may all be high schools - not kindergarten

[sbohandley]

For what it is worth the property in SC are pretty cheap by most standards so spending a little extra on private school isn't that big of a deal. I plan on living in the Charleston county side of Summerville and my kids will be going to Catholic school in the beginning. It is not just a better quality education but there are a lot of things that are being pushed on kids in public systems that I don't agree with.
As far as Dorchester school systems being better that is true, but as far as academic ratings go Summerville High isn't in the same league as Academic magnet in Charleston county. I think the schools in Dorchester county are a better all around choice for most kids, the Academic Magnet really swings for the fences and is great for the truly gifted student. My push will be to get them in there.