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My family are heading down to NC in a few weeks, we are looking to relocate from New York. I am looking for a great school district for my two boys ages 11 and 7. We would love to live within one hour from the beach. We looked in the Wilmington area last summer but was very disappointed to find out the schools weren't graded very high. Curious if there are other areas with large subdivisions we should look at?
We would love to live within one hour from the beach. We looked in the Wilmington area last summer but was very disappointed to find out the schools weren't graded very high. Curious if there are other areas with large subdivisions we should look at?
It's generally true of the coast that the schools are not exceptional. I think it's partly motivation. Kids are not pushed, and they have little incentive to work hard when the beach is next door and the weather is warm enough to surf much of the year.
Another issue is that there is not much of the upper-middle class achievers, except in Wilmington. The locals in the coastal towns include many lower-income folks who do construction work or wait on tables. Their kids don't aspire much higher.
However, Newport and Hampstead (Topsail High) have the best rated schools on the coast. Dare County is also good, but you may have more problem finding a job.
If you are willing to be further from the beach, look at the Triangle (Wake County). You could be 2.5 to 3 hours from the beach, and there are plenty of excellent schools there.
Last edited by goldenage1; 03-04-2013 at 08:10 AM..
My family are heading down to NC in a few weeks, we are looking to relocate from New York. I am looking for a great school district for my two boys ages 11 and 7. We would love to live within one hour from the beach. We looked in the Wilmington area last summer but was very disappointed to find out the schools weren't graded very high. Curious if there are other areas with large subdivisions we should look at?
Don't get too lost in the ratings...I made this point to a parent that insisted that their kids (even though they couldn't afford it) had to go to a private school in Wilmington because their districted school wasn't considered "the best" in Wilmington...in reality most all the schools in New Hanover County are good. Great? Not necessarily in terms of ratings. Why? Because for the most part they are diverse in terms of "income". But the teachers for the most part are good and there are good students in most all of them. There are poorer areas of the county that tend to have a negative effect on the ratings and for the most part all schools have some poorer parts districted to them. one reason Hampstead is considered pretty good is because Pender County's poorer areas go to its other high school's for the most part. In other words the County is poorer as you go inland and richer as you get to the coast. look at a map of Pender Co and you will see it clearly.
As for Elementary Schools...Eaton and Codington are way up there on the state rankings. They are year round and lottery based. Besides them Parsley and Holly Tree are really good and for the most part the rest are more than adequate, with maybe 3-4 exceptions. Roland-Grise Middle is considered the best now, with Myrtle Grove, Noble and Murray not far behind. Hoggard is considered the best high school, but the other 3 are good...just a bit more diverse.
Put it this way, I have a child that I will be moving from Codington to Pine Valley in a few years...which sounds crazy if you just look at the rankings, but I know there is nothing wrong with Pine Valley. I know high school age kids that have moved from Hoggard to New Hanover based on some curriculum reasons. Its all relative, use those rankings in comparison with each other maybe, but don't let them be the end all be all. The general rule of thumb is the closer to the water you are the better the schools are.
Its all relative, use those rankings in comparison with each other maybe, but don't let them be the end all be all. The general rule of thumb is the closer to the water you are the better the schools are.
That is a great post, HP. I agree with the generalization about closer to the water, as it is an economic breakpoint. The better-off families can aford to live close to the water.
Another issue is the number of military families in the area. The officer families in my community are transferred every 2-3 years. This has to hurt their kids' performance to change schools and curricula. They are great people, but the ratings of the Dixon schools in Sneads Ferry are underwhelming.
That is a great post, HP. I agree with the generalization about closer to the water, as it is an economic breakpoint. The better-off families can aford to live close to the water.
Another issue is the number of military families in the area. The officer families in my community are transferred every 2-3 years. This has to hurt their kids' performance to change schools and curricula. They are great people, but the ratings of the Dixon schools in Sneads Ferry are underwhelming.
I have to disagree with this or else you would see the same thing in Craven and Carteret County schools and schools like Croatan, West Carteret, and Havelock. The ratings of those schools have more to do with the locals than the military. Being a military kid typically allows you to learn and adapt faster.
It's generally true of the coast that the schools are not exceptional. I think it's partly motivation. Kids are not pushed, and they have little incentive to work hard when the beach is next door and the weather is warm enough to surf much of the year. Q.
Not sure where you get your information but it is not very accurate, Tucker Creek Middle compares favorably with any middle school in the state. Period. It is in Havelock. A high school in Carteret County is very highly rated.
The issue at the coast is the shortage of upper middle class families that truly value education. Wilmington probably has this, based on its size and supporting infrastructure.
It really don't matter a lot. Parental influence, values, and attitude toward education is by far the most important.
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