Union County (Charlotte, Indian Trail, Stallings: neighborhood, to buy, catholic schools)

[StaceyNJ]

Hi

Thank you all for the great info....We have heard great things about porter Ridge and to stay away from Monroe Middle/High School District.. How are the taxes in Stanly county? How far is ALbemarle from Charlotte (Center)?

Stacey

[gabmac]

Albemarle is about 30-40 minutes give or take.

[marvinnative]

OK, I'm gonna have to jump in here and defend my alumma mater - Parkwood. I did see the thread where one person complained that Parkwood was not a good fit for her family, and I respect that. For her, Parkwood was a culture shock because Parkwood is located in a more rural part of Union County than Marvin Ridge or Weddington. Parkwood's attendance area pulls from areas around Waxhaw/Wesley Chapel/Mineral Springs and deeper into southern Union County:
http://fpc.ucps.k12.nc.us/documents/...nceAreaMap.pdf

Feeder schools to the Parkwood cluster are:
New Town ES (partial)
Prospect ES
Rocky River ES (partial)
Waxhaw ES
Western Union ES

I can see where newcomers might find that they are among a lot more natives at Parkwood (and they might stand out more there), than at Weddington or Marvin Ridge (where nearly everyone is new to the area), but I don't think that makes Parkwood a bad school. The principal at Parkwood High was formerly the founding principal at Marvin Elementary (Rob Jackson). He was very well respected and loved. Other than finding yourself surrounded by some country folks and feeling out of place for a while, I see no reason to "diss" Parkwood. If you prefer to be surrounded by tons of NY/NJ transplants, definitely located yourself in Marvin Ridge and Weddington clusters. But, if you think you might like to get a taste of true Southern living, you'll more likely meet a native at Parkwood.

Just don't be trash talkin' my school...LOL!

[marvinnative]

Hey Stacey, maybe this link would be of some help to you in navigating the Union County public school area.

2007 /2008 District Attendance Maps

[threesons]

Originally Posted by snuggles23

I would stay away from Marvin Ridge feeder area, Weddington feeder area, and Monroe feeder area. I am a local and those are the schools that I would not send my son to. I find that these are the best school areas: Sun Valley, Piedmont, and Parkwood. Forest Hills is okay, as is Porter Ridge. I think the new Rocky River School will be a good one too because of the area where its students are coming from.

Why would you NOT sent your son to these areas?

[md to nc]

I would have to say I wish now I have not listened to my buyers agent at all when it came to recommending schools/subdivisions. I am not saying at all that I do not like Porter Ridge cuz I do, but dh and I found many homes in the Parkwood district that we absolutely loved, very affordable and very rural. No HOA's, sorry kmway, and at least 1 -2 acres. But she insisted that we would not "like" the people in the area. Well we travel down in that area all the time and I absolutely love it and the locals. Again, she was from NY as well so that summed it all up for me but we didn't find that out until after we put the contract on this "awful" house. Sometimes buyers agents are not always looking out for "your" best interests but their own, as she rec'd a $5k kickback for selling us this McCar house.

[Keith "Baby-Face" Lutz]

Originally Posted by md to nc

I would have to say I wish now I have not listened to my buyers agent at all when it came to recommending schools/subdivisions. I am not saying at all that I do not like Porter Ridge cuz I do,...

Buyers agents or any agents should not be advising you on Schools. Here is a blog a realtor wrote on it. I tell my clients, where to look, websites, magazines, Charlotte Observer articles, but they need to do their homework, pick the schools themselves. Then I will find them a home in that elemetary, middle or high, based on the other criteria they give me.

[marvinnative]

Originally Posted by threesons

Why would you NOT sent your son to these areas?

I can't speak for why this poster would not send her kids to the newest schools (Weddington, Marvin Ridge, Porter Ridge), but since I am in a similar position, maybe I could give a little perspective.

I am a native of this area. My children have attended Parkwood, Weddington, and now Marvin Ridge (and we have never moved, same house).

Parkwood, Piedmont, Sun Valley, and Forest Hills are high schools that have been around and are established since 1960's. They have stable programs with a history - teachers have been around, programs have accumulated supplies, etc. You have some sense of what you are getting at those established schools. Additionally, as a "local," the ratio of locals to newcomers is not so heavily "newcomer."

With the newest schools, there is great potential for a wonderful school, but the population is mostly newcomers. The program is just starting and evolving. It is still an unknown as to how "great" these schools will be. And, as more and more folks move in, we have a need to build more and more schools. So, you can pour your heart and soul into helping building a great school, but when it fills to overflowing, you are likely to be shifted to the next new school and you get to start all over again. (I know this because my family has opened these schools - new Waxhaw Elementary, Weddington Elementary, Weddington Middle, Weddington High, Marvin Elementary, and now it appears at least two more new ones - Marvin Ridge Middle & High - before my last child graduates.

I know that you newcomers are under a lot of stress with all the change and getting acclimated to your new surroundings. But, for some of us locals, we are also under the stress of change and getting acclimated to the huge influx of newcomers - especially in schools like Weddington & Marvin Ridge - where newcomers outnumbers locals by a large margin. So, I can see where a local would choose one of the established schools, over the overwhelming influx of newness! Most days, I hang in there pretty well. Sometimes, it is wearing to have to constantly explain why we are NOT like where you came from, or why WE talk funny. It just takes time for us all to come together as a community. Middle schoolers, in particular, are highly sensitive to "differences." (If you weren't picked on from where you were born, you'd likely be picked on for something else.) I always chuckle when I look back at my 1970's-era year book and notice that nearly every single one of us has long hair, parted down the middle. I tell my kids, we were all expressing our individuality - together! I hope we can teach our children to embrace our differences and learn more about our world in the process. (Still, I can be a mama bear if I feel my kids are being picked on, so I appreciate that we all want our kids to be in a situation where they feel comfortable). Hope that gives a little perspective.

[norrodh]

Stacynj:

I am also from New Jersey have been living in Waxhaw for a year now. I am one that "dissed" Parkwood. If you are from the North, you will not be happy with the academics and your child will be picked on because they are not like the natives. I am sorry but this is my experience and its not to offend anyone but the truth is the truth. I experienced this firsthand because I am a bus driver and I even did not like driving a bus there. I did not feel the most welcome from the other (native) bus drivers. My son really liked the school at first and we gave it a chance but as time went on and in as little as a month, I could not believe how much trouble my son was getting in. It was for such stupid things!!! In NJ they dont' pick on as many little things, they don't send a child to the principals just for talking or giving a weird look in class. I was also told to write up kids on the bus for every little thing and I won't do it. I don't have time and my feeling is they are kids. Let kids be kids unless they are hurting someone. These teachers should be able to control their classes. I would walk in that office at Parkwood and could not believe how many kids would be in there that had gotten written up and I even asked some of them what they did and I have to admit it was for ridiculous things. My son had to do push ups in a class for talking and when I approached the teacher about it, she totally denied it and glared at him and said oh he must misunderstood, i was only kidding. Meanwhile he ended up doing like 25 pushups and she was kidding??? Anyway, this is getting long, please think long and hard about it. The school is sooooo old and in disarray, and they do not keep it clean. I had to shut my eyes to use the ladies room because it was so disgusting!!! The vice principal is on a power trip and does not treat parents right!! My whole neighborhood is from up North and they are all trying to get out of Parkwood Middle. I heard Parkwood High is not as bad, the principals are real nice there. I drove for them too!! I will be putting this on greatschools.net.

norrodh

[StaceyNJ]

Thank you for the info...we are looking into Porter Ridge..Shiloh..Sun Valley School Districts...Has anyone heard anything on them...these were some recommendations from our agent...