Best school districts and nicest areas near Cleveland (Columbus, Cincinnati: middle-class, mortgage)

[cathgasp]

My family has the option to relocate near Cleveland Ohio, but are completely clueless where to even start looking. We are "middle class" with small kids. Our main concerns are a great school district in a nice/safe area. Do not have a huge budget because of another mortgage but looking to spend around $150,000-$160,000. Just looking for some good insight and direction because we will need to make a decision within the next few weeks. We would love a little space between our neighbors but not even sure if this is an option in the area with our budget. Thanks so much for any help :-)

[tribecavsbrowns]

I'd say you have more options in your price range if you want some space between your neighbors, not fewer. I'll throw out a couple names on the west side in Cuyahoga County to get you started: North Royalton, Strongsville, Independence, Broadview Heights, Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, and North Olmsted.

These cities are served by the North Royalton, Strongsville, Independence, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Berea, Olmsted Falls, and North Olmsted school districts, all of which you can't really go wrong with. Some are booming while others are declining in population. Some are big and some are small. Some have new buildings and some old. And some have great sports teams and some terrible. But all of those school districts operate functional, orderly, virtually problem-free schools that serve the needs of middle-class families.

Again, this is just to get you started. I didn't even cover the east side, you might look over there. Or if you want more space on the west side, you could check out communities in Lorain or Medina counties, such as North Ridgeville and Hinckley.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by cathgasp

My family has the option to relocate near Cleveland Ohio, but are completely clueless where to even start looking. We are "middle class" with small kids. Our main concerns are a great school district in a nice/safe area. Do not have a huge budget because of another mortgage but looking to spend around $150,000-$160,000. Just looking for some good insight and direction because we will need to make a decision within the next few weeks. We would love a little space between our neighbors but not even sure if this is an option in the area with our budget. Thanks so much for any help :-)

As far as the eastside locations, the best are:
Shaker heights
Beachwood
Lyndhurst
Solon
These locations are pretty reasonable with very good schools...also cleveland heights, and pepper pike, and south euclid are also within that price range...Good areas

[Flee to the Cleve]

Here are the top schools in Northeast Ohio, ranked by performance index set by the state:

1. Solon Schools (109.5)
2. Hudson Schools (108.6)
3. Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools (107.5)
4. Aurora Schools (107.3)
5. Beachwood Schools (107.2)
6. Chagrin Falls Schools (107)
7. Jackson Schools (106.7)
8. Avon Lake Schools (106.6)
9. Lake Local Schools (106.4)
10. Westlake Schools (106.3)

Ranking of top public school districts in Northeast Ohio (http://www.americaneer.com/bestnortheastohioschoolsranking/ - broken link)

All of these are great communities to live in, but some may be out of your price range.

[AGuyFromCleveland18]

Shaker Heights has a great school district, which is highly diverse, something that I think is important for any child to be exposed to. It has had more National Merit Scholars than any school in the state the past few years. On the Elementary level, Cleveland Heights is fairly good, especially Roxboro, and has plenty of homes in your price range, although it is more urban, so you won't easily be able to get that space you want. Beachwood and Solon are also both good, but not as diverse as the others I mentioned. Are you dead set on public school? There are some great Montessori schools in the area and other private schools that are pretty affordable.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by AGuyFromCleveland18

Shaker Heights has a great school district, which is highly diverse, something that I think is important for any child to be exposed to. It has had more National Merit Scholars than any school in the state the past few years. On the Elementary level, Cleveland Heights is fairly good, especially Roxboro, and has plenty of homes in your price range, although it is more urban, so you won't easily be able to get that space you want. Beachwood and Solon are also both good, but not as diverse as the others I mentioned. Are you dead set on public school? There are some great Montessori schools in the area and other private schools that are pretty affordable.

Correct. Tied with Solon.

Shaker Heights, Solon lead Greater Cleveland with most National Merit Scholar semifinalists | cleveland.com

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by AGuyFromCleveland18

Shaker Heights has a great school district, which is highly diverse, something that I think is important for any child to be exposed to. It has had more National Merit Scholars than any school in the state the past few years. On the Elementary level, Cleveland Heights is fairly good, especially Roxboro, and has plenty of homes in your price range, although it is more urban, so you won't easily be able to get that space you want. Beachwood and Solon are also both good, but not as diverse as the others I mentioned. Are you dead set on public school? There are some great Montessori schools in the area and other private schools that are pretty affordable.

Also don't forget about the charter schools in cleveland...My kids will be attending Cleveland Acadamy of Arts and Social Science.....

[Clevelander17]

Originally Posted by costello_musicman

Correct. Tied with Solon.

Shaker Heights, Solon lead Greater Cleveland with most National Merit Scholar semifinalists | cleveland.com

I think there are actually few schools in Columbus (Upper Arlington) and Cincinnati (Sycamore) that routinely put up big numbers--usually higher than Solon and Shaker Heights--in the NMSF category.

[tribecavsbrowns]

^Also St. Xavier in Cincinnati.

[jgproe]

My kids are in 4th and 6th grade in Shaker. We love the schools, our neighbors, and the community. It's safe, interesting, and diverse - and beautiful classic homes are availabel in your price range in the Sussex and Lomond neighborhoods. Lomond is a K-4 school with an "Excellent with Distinction" rating from the state, and all of the other schools are top-notch as well. Beyond school ratings, the Shaker schools are well-known for being academically rigorous and providing great opportunities to students in the arts (music, drama, fine arts, etc), foreign language study, overseas travel - you name it. The schools are becoming International Baccalaurete schools,too, if you're familiar with that program.