Possible Relocation from South Carolina (Columbus, Fairfield: real estate, sex offender, low crime)

[Sharpcarolina]

Mid to late 30s professional couple with 2 girls, ages 10 and 4 might be moving to Columbus area after the first part of the year.

Need some direction about schools, neighborhoods and churches.

We are Baptist and live in a 4,000 square foot home. We have our kids in public schools and would like to continue that.

Can anyone offer any advice on quality of life, safety, schools, etc.

I would be working from home, so commute isn't that big of an issue.

Thanks so much, we know nothing about Ohio.

[LancasterNative]

Howdy Sharpcarolina,

There are five Baptist churches I know of around town here that have good reputations for preaching the uncompromised, inerrant Word of God. They are:

• Jersey Baptist, out northeast of town (they also have an awesome summer fest/July 4 celebration)
  
• High Street Baptist, at I-270 & U.S. 23 North (met some wonderful, bright young scholars from there recently; they were very informed and on-fire disciples of Jesus)
  
• North Columbus Baptist, near I-270 & Sawmill (home of "Old Fashioned Bible Preaching"!)
  
• Genoa Baptist, north of Westerville (a dynamic congregation in a rapidly growing exurban area)
  
• Southwest Free Will Baptist, near Frank Rd. & Brown Rd. on the south side (they just completed a major expansion, and the preaching there is terrific)

Just for full disclosure, I'm a conservative Presbyterian. But I have lots of respect for Baptists and they way y'all do things

The public schools up here, unfortunately, aren't going to be anything like those in South Carolina. This is secular-humanist, liberal country up here Political Correctness is the standard modus operandi in Ohio's educational system.

So if you really want a Christian education for your kids—or at least one that doesn't attack and belittle the faith you're teaching them at home—I'd urge caution dealing with ANY government schools here. At least be aware what you're getting into.

The Worthington Christian school system is a really good one. I'd definitely recommend checking them out. Even the Columbus Catholic diocese runs some pretty good schools as well (yes, different theology than Biblical Christian/Baptist, but at least the academic environment & moral atmosphere are good).

If you must do public schools, the ones with the strongest academic & overall reputations are Dublin, Powell (Olentangy Local), Upper Arlington, Gahanna and Worthington.

As far as crime & safety, it's pretty much the same pattern as any major metro in the U.S. Columbus has some scary ghettos to avoid (esp. on the east and south sides) while the suburbs are generally pretty safe. Outside of Franklin County is the safest of all—and also costs less b/c the taxes aren't as outrageous. Neighboring counties like Delaware, Licking & Fairfield also offer convenient access to the city but with quiter, more rural immediate surroundings.

Places you might particularly want to check out: Powell, Plain City, Dublin, Westerville, Gahanna, Pataskala, Delaware, Pickerington, Kirkersville, Sunbury, Grove City, Galloway, Lewis Center.

Best of luck to y'all, and welcome to Ohio
Lanc

[sftong]

Lanc, not sure if the school districts you mention are within a different context.

<< strongest academic & overall reputations are Dublin, Powell (Olentangy Local), Upper Arlington, Gahanna and Worthington >>

In my opinion, Gahanna is never a contender (rated Effective this year vs Excellent last year, and Performance Index Score was definitely in 2nd tier). Upper Arlington is undisputedly the best for many years, if the history of Performace Index Score is any indicator. Other strong contenders would include New Albany Plain Local, Bexley, and Grandview Heights.

[2006Buckeye]

If you search the forums you may find some useful information, as many people ask similar questions.

You can get tourism info from Experience Columbus (.com) or contact them at 614-221-6623. This will at least give you more detailed community maps than you can get through AAA in South Carolina.

Will you be purchasing a home right away? If so, what is your price range and what amenities are you looking for in a community?

I ask because a 4000 sq. ft. house in Pickerington or Grove City (not so great areas IMHO) is going to vary greatly in price from a 4000 sq. ft. home in Dublin or Upper Arlington (which are touted among the most elite places to live in the Columbus metro).

Since you indicated you would like to continue to send your kids to public schools, you may want to consider the school districts of Bexley, Dublin, Grandview, New Albany, Olentangy, Upper Arlington, Westerville and Worthington. Columbus public has several good schools, but to a newcomer it's likely easier to navigate the more suburban schools, particularly with the size house you seem to want.

Certain posters are somewhat fanatical, and since said poster doesn't even live in Columbus, I would take that advice with a grain of salt. Last I checked, school prayer was banned throughout the US, not just in Ohio. While public schools don't teach religion, they don't teach atheism either!

People love to debate about school quality, but you can find all the statistics (however skewed some perceive them to be) at the Ohio Board of Education website.

The areas I listed are all fairly low crime (although Bexley is surrounded by a rougher neighborhod and you want to be careful about Columbus taxes/Westerville or New Albany schools, as those neighborhoods may not retain their values for a variety of reasons). If you contact the local police departments for these communities they will give you the crime stats.

I like the HER Real Living real estate website. You can search for homes by school district.

Anyway, if you find areas that seem to click with what you're looking for with schools/housing/low crime and you have more questions to continue to narrow down your search, I'm sure the C-D folks would be happy to help!

[streetcreed]

I totally second what Buckeye poster just said.

For the size of house your looking for you could pay quite a pretty penny in a nice area of Columbus or a suburb. A nice house like that in the city of Columbus would most likely be an old mansion and run over a million or like 600,000. But you could find a newer large house in a suburb. Also, a suburban district would be easier to navigate for a newcomer, though, as he said Columbus City Schools does have some well performing schools.

I do not believe you have to avoid public schools here. I was taught in public schools (worthington) and never felt that I could not practice my faith. You learn to coexist with others of different religions and heritages.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by sftong

Upper Arlington is undisputedly the best for many years, if the history of Performace Index Score is any indicator. Other strong contenders would include New Albany Plain Local, Bexley, and Grandview Heights.

Good points. I forgot about Bexley and Grandview. Didn't realize N.A. was ranked so high, but with all that Wexner money they've got, they can pretty much buy anything, I reckon...

While there's no question that UA schools are consistently top-tier, it's no less certain that it costs an arm and a leg to live there. UA taxes are outrageous, and that's not even counting all the nickel-and-dime fees they hit you with. Depending on how important a factor the local schools are to the OP, he may want to consider those additional things and how they impact the family's bottom line.

Peace & good cheer!
Lanc

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by 2006Buckeye

Certain posters are somewhat fanatical, and since said poster doesn't even live in Columbus, I would take that advice with a grain of salt.

Actually "said poster" is still a resident of Columbus, thank you very much.

Originally Posted by 2006Buckeye

Last I checked, school prayer was banned throughout the US, not just in Ohio. While public schools don't teach religion, they don't teach atheism either!

Granted, but unless you've spent your entire life in the same place, then you know the religious atmosphere varies greatly from region to region, state to state, and community to community within each state.

I have a young friend who was valedictorian of his class, at a tiny public HS in Knox County, OH. In his 2004 commencement speech, he talked about Christ—and was enthusiastically supported his fellow students and their families!

It would be a safe bet there are similar places in South Carolina.

However, that would never happen at a large urban or suburban HS in any Northern metropolitan area, such as greater Columbus.

If my friend had delivered his commencement address just 30 miles away (anyplace in Franklin Co.) you just know some people would've gone ape-$#&t and reacted like a bunch of vampires exposed to sunlight.

[2006Buckeye]

Lanc- forgive me for assuming you don't live in Columbus. I was under the impression you lived in Lancaster.

Although you seem to provide a lot of helpful info, this poster was inquiring about public schools. Ohio does have many quality public schools, and although I have not been a K-12 student for some time, I'm pretty sure they still don't torture those students who possess religious beliefs!

I would also caution anyone considering Worthington Christian Schools to read the Columbus Dispatch article written on October 24th. Apparently they rehired a sex offender after he apologized and completed religious counseling. He wasn't their only sex offender on staff either! Sure, they are hiring a consultant and changing their policies, but in my mind it's too little, too late. The poor judgment exercised by the school oficials who would rehire a teacher who had committed sexual acts against students can't be cured by a consultant!

Anyway, there is a separate forum for religious debate. This forum is to respond to questions posed by those inquiring about aspects of life in Columbus. So that's all I have to say.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by 2006Buckeye

Lanc- forgive me for assuming you don't live in Columbus. I was under the impression you lived in Lancaster.

No worries, friend. Actually I'd looove to move back there...

Originally Posted by 2006Buckeye

I would also caution anyone considering Worthington Christian Schools to read the Columbus Dispatch article written on October 24th. Apparently they rehired a sex offender after he apologized and completed religious counseling. He wasn't their only sex offender on staff either! Sure, they are hiring a consultant and changing their policies, but in my mind it's too little, too late. The poor judgment exercised by the school oficials who would rehire a teacher who had committed sexual acts against students can't be cured by a consultant!

Holy moley! Had not heard about that one, but I'd be curious to hear all/both sides. Sometimes the news media take liberties with what their sources actually say. That said, pedophilia or any other perversion is serious stuff—whether in a school, church, or other organization entrusted with the care/education young people. They'd better not be sweepin' stuff under the rug!

[UNT_Eagle]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

No worries, friend. Actually I'd looove to move back there...

Hey Lanc,

I've got a quick question for you. How is I-71 North between Cinci and Columbus now? Last time I was up there over a year ago, the road was all messed up.. Have they fixed the interstate at all? I'll be coming up to Ohio to visit in-laws for a few days over Christmas.

See ya