Relocating to University Park area (Elmhurst, Homewood: credit, houses, school districts)

[nicko]

We are planning to relocate for job in University Park. Need suggestions for areas with excellent public schools, quiet family life, enjoy outdoor recreation. Currently live 40 miles east of Atlanta.

[tennessebound]

Originally Posted by nicko

We are planning to relocate for job in University Park. Need suggestions for areas with excellent public schools, quiet family life, enjoy outdoor recreation. Currently live 40 miles east of Atlanta.

Are you looking to live in university park? Or just work there I live in Crete just south of Univerisity park looking to sell my house and moving to east tennessee maybe we will cross paths

[US-Traveller]

I would try and stick to the Homewood/Flossmoor area. I think if you do some research and search this forum you can find the answers to any questions you might have.

[Mamama Mia]

Crete, Monee or Frankfort, all neighborning communities would all be excellent choices.

[nicko]

Thanks for the replies. We really don't know where we want to be, except that good schools are top of our list. Our kids are currently in 5th and 3rd grade and we will re-locate after the end of term. We definitely are looking for houses with large lots, preferably not a big planned community. We enjoy doing lots out of doors, do not want upscale, but a comfortable quiet place to raise our kids. Crete, Frankfort and Monee have all been mentioned. I see "tennesseebound" lives in Crete. Can you tell us about the area? What do you like and dislike? Any cool progressive churches in the area?

[nicko]

where in east tennessee are you going? i grew up in oak ridge outside of knoxville but that was in the 80's. tell us about your house. do you have kids in the crete-monee schools? if so, what is your opinion of them. thanks for the info

[tennessebound]

We are moving to rutledge graingers landing it is really beautiful out there cant wait as far as my house goes its a three bedroom two bath house on four acre wooded lot with a heated swimming pool also not in a subdivision as far as the schools go we do not have children and there are plenty of churches around. If interested or more questions here is my e-mail address s_matthias@msn.com thanks.

[Mamama Mia]

Crete-Monee Schools don't receive the best ratings, but from what I know from families who live in the community, it is due, in most part to the mobility rate and also that the district is very diverse, socio-economically. I sometimes work with teachers from District 201-U and they employing best education practices and often cutting edge.
Our friends' children were able to participate in many sports and other activities at Crete-Monee High School because it does not have a large student population, they loved that, as well as having a wonderfully diverse group of friends that we have met at graduations and events over the years. They have many Advanced Placement courses and their students were challenged, academically.
Two of the families have children who are in elementary and high school, the others have gone on to top tier universities and are wonderful kids - very down to earth and although their families have much materialistically speaking, they do not have the sense of entitlement that I sometimes see. The parents have advanced degrees and selected the areas of Monee and Crete that they live in in order to provide their children with an educational environment that was not homogenous (Frankfort residents attend Lincoln Way Schools - not much diversity). All of the high school students graduated with many hours of college credit from receiving 4 or 5 on AP tests. One of the parents is the superintendent in another school districts and told me that there are currently 6 school district superintendents who reside in Crete - there were 7, one is now the superintendent of Elmhurst Schools, so I believe that speaks to their opinions of the quality of the school district.
From our visits to Crete and Monee, I think the area is beautiful, I love the large lots and wooded areas.

[nicko]

thank you "mamama mia" for your input...it is very helpful indeed. we'll be sure to check out crete and monee and the surrounding areas. can't thank you enough for your help

[tennessebound]

Hay nicko do you know much about grainger county tennessee? I know you said its been awile since you lived out that way.