Commute from Colorado Springs to Pueblo? Crazy? (Denver, Fountain: for rent, transfer to)

[kckchall]

We really had decided we wanted to live in D20 because we love the area and schools for our kids... However, now it looks as though my job will be in Pueblo area for now and probably transfer to Colorado Springs down the road.
We will be renting a year or so but don't want to move our kids to a different school once they settle in as we are moving from KS so want to get the area right the first time. Is it crazy to think of commuting from D20 to Pueblo? Or should we settle for Fountain D8 for a shorter commute?

[otowi]

I think D8 or D3 would be reasonable; D20 is kind of nuts if you ask me. The schools are good in those districts as well.

[Maynerd]

There are a ton of people who live in the Springs and commute to Denver every day. D20 (North side of town) to Pueblo is a shorter drive than that.

I don't see it as being an issue at all.

[otowi]

Google Maps puts it at around 50 minutes in 'normal/light' traffic, or 100 minutes daily, and about 110 miles daily. That's from downtown Pueblo to Briargate. Add 5-10 minutes for Rampart or Air Academy High Schools so essentially two hours driving and 120 miles each day.

To me, that's too much. But yes, some people do it.

[Rangerdude_Charlie]

I have a coworker who commutes from Pueblo to North side of Colorado Springs five days a week. I think that is too much but it must work for her since she has a house.

[kckchall]

Originally Posted by otowi

Google Maps puts it at around 50 minutes in 'normal/light' traffic, or 100 minutes daily, and about 110 miles daily. That's from downtown Pueblo to Briargate. Add 5-10 minutes for Rampart or Air Academy High Schools so essentially two hours driving and 120 miles each day.

To me, that's too much. But yes, some people do it.

That's about what I had it figured at as well which is why we started looking at D8, but we haven't been down in that area in our previous trips out as we were planning on staying North. My job would also involve driving around pueblo so I figure roughly an additional 30-50 miles a day on top of the 120. Are D3 schools comparable to D8? They seem to be rated lower, especially a few of them.

[lurtsman]

If I was doing a commute to Pueblo, I would definitely have picked Fountain over the North side of the Springs.

To be fair though, for renting the first year, I would've lived in Pueblo for that year. What if the position doesn't transfer? I know it stinks to have the kids changing schools twice, but if the position didn't transfer (and they already changed the tune once) you'd be stuck making an absurd commute for years, or having made it for a year and then moving to Pueblo and requiring the kids to make that change anyway.

Just something to think about. There are some fairly nice areas in Pueblo. There are also some fairly nice areas in Fountain, but the daily commute is generally a bad idea. Winter weather can be a little rough, and you'll be taking a dump on future generations by plowing through an absurd amount of gas. Might as well think of your grand kids.

[otowi]

Yes, at least in my opinion, D3 schools are comparable to D8. The one significant difference is D8 has some schools literally on the army base and gets some federal monies associated with that. But clientele, teachers, neighborhoods are all very similar. If you don't know the area, you can easily end up crossing the street and be in Fountain instead of Security or Widefield or vice versa and have no idea.

[Cubpower59]

One thing to consider is the relative cost of living in Pueblo vs. Colorado Springs. Also remember that Colorado Springs is very dependent on military spending. If the military gets cut the D20 school district experience might not be the best educational option.