[connecticutbound]

We are moving to CT this summer - work will be in Shelton - and have a child in high school. Current high school in the Midwest is excellent, public and small (650 kids). Our daughter is top of her class - we want a great school and great fit. Really want a smallish school. Have checked out online ALL the schools within a commute of Shelton. (So many!) Next week will do school-hunting trip. Am visiting many schools, but too many are a longish commute from Shelton and many are quite large (2-3 times the size of her current school). (Middlebury/Southbury, Woodbury, Woodbridge, Cheshire, Shoreline communities.) Given longish commutes from most schools we are considering, am now seriously considering St. Joe's High School in Trumbull, and living in Trumbull. From friends I know who have lived in CT, have heard differing opinions about Trumbull as a place to live - nothing that really wows me. Any thoughts out there??????? Also, really curious for parents/former students of St. Joe's to offer input, and/or people in the community re what is the reputation of the school vs. local public schools. Thanks in advance!!!

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by connecticutbound

We are moving to CT this summer - work will be in Shelton - and have a child in high school. Current high school in the Midwest is excellent, public and small (650 kids). Our daughter is top of her class - we want a great school and great fit. Really want a smallish school. Have checked out online ALL the schools within a commute of Shelton. (So many!) Next week will do school-hunting trip. Am visiting many schools, but too many are a longish commute from Shelton and many are quite large (2-3 times the size of her current school). (Middlebury/Southbury, Woodbury, Woodbridge, Cheshire, Shoreline communities.) Given longish commutes from most schools we are considering, am now seriously considering St. Joe's High School in Trumbull, and living in Trumbull. From friends I know who have lived in CT, have heard differing opinions about Trumbull as a place to live - nothing that really wows me. Any thoughts out there??????? Also, really curious for parents/former students of St. Joe's to offer input, and/or people in the community re what is the reputation of the school vs. local public schools. Thanks in advance!!!

The local public schools you're considering can compete well with the private. Trumbull isn't a small town and the high school will be much larger than you're used to. Woodbridge is a smallish town with excellent schools, shared with neighboring Bethany and Orange to create the Amity district. Highly recommended if you can afford it, but it will be a bit larger than 650 kids.

From the towns you're considering, it seems that your price range is somewhere between $3-500k. Have you looked at Oxford? It's relatively rural in nature, scenic, and has good schools. The size of the high school is approximately what you desire.

Do you want rural or suburban? Also is a town center important to you?

[andthentherewere3]

I know several people who have sent their children to St. Jo's, it's said to be an excellent school academically. As for Trumbull itself, it's a suburban community. There are many nice areas in the town with homes on nice sized lots, and many areas that are more densely developed. It does not have a walkable downtown, it has mostly shopping centers, restaurants, and a mall on the Bridgeport border. Trumbull is considered to be a desired, rather upscale area.

If you prefer a similar feel to a town, but a little more rural, you should also consider Monroe on Shelton and Trumbull's border. Most homes in Monroe have a minimum of one acre.

Trumbull and Monroe both have very good high schools, so you don't need to worry about the school's "reputation".

You say you've heard nothing about Trumbull that really "wows" you--what would you like to see specifically in a town? That will help us narrow down which town might be a good fit for you.

[Connecticut Pam]

Welcome to Connecticut first of all. My son is grown so I am not "up" on all the schools in that area. What I know only comes from reading different articles in the paper on school testing scores, sports, stuff like that. I have, however been to the high school in Cheshire and have followed them in the paper and they appear to be a great high school. I am afraid unless you move along the coast of CT, you won't find a smaller high school. For the most part, they are pretty big. I know Cheshire not only has a great sports program, they also have a fantastic music program.

So, for a small state, Connecticut's schools are pretty good size. Where I live has three high schools, one which is a technical school. Southington has one VERY large high school but also has an amazing sports program.

Good luck with your school hunting.....and again Welcome to CT.

[usmcfamily]

What is your price range for a house? Weston High and Joel Barlow High are two smaller, excellent high schools. Weston is very expensive, upscale, rural and a gorgeous town. Easton and Redding are also beautiful, rural, towns that share Joel Barlow.

When we moved here we considered St. Joes for its size, but could not afford the tuition, (or the above mentioned towns). I live in Monroe and love it. I also love Trumbull and can't imagine what anyone could say about it that you wouldn't consider living there. The high school is very good but it was too large for us, as well. We moved here when 2 of my kids were entering 9th and 11th grade. Masuk was a great fit for them, academically and socially. They have thrived.

Good luck!

[JayCT]

I agree with what most of the others have recommended. The only thing I would disagree with is Cheshire. It is a very nice town with very good schools but it is not an easy commute to Shelton.

Trumbull is a great town with excellent schools and lots of family activities. It is very suburban in character with many nice neighborhoods and most major shopping needs. The only advice I would give is to try to stay north of the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) or if you do find a home to the south try to stay west of Main Street. To the east, just over the line in Bridgeport is a large public housing project that has some issues. Probably 95% of Trumbull is outside this area and even that area is not bad.

If Trumbull is too developed for your tastes, Monroe and Oxford are good choices too. The schools are very good and there is a lot for families in these towns as well.

For information on Connecticut schools, try the links below. Generally I look for schools that perform above the state averages on the Connecticut Mastery and Connecticut Academic Performance tests. I also look to see that class sizes are around or under 22 students per class. Good luck, Jay

Strategic School Profiles by District

Strategic School Profiles by School

[connecticutbound]

For rural vs. suburban, that's tough. Ideally would like a walkable community with sidewalks and a little downtown. But are willing to take lovely larger lot in beautiful setting, which I fully realize is much more the norm where we're looking. Have considered Oxford, but from what we read and after my husband drove through it he confirmed, it's too rural for us, also possibly (?) too new.

[usmcfamily]

We really need to know what your budget is for housing. Milford has a nice, small downtown area. Both of its public high schools have over 1000 students but Laurleton Hall is a smaller, excellent, private high school for girls there.

If your price range is higher, Westport has a very scenic, upscale, walkable downtown. Houses there will be much pricier. Very expensive.

[aroundthecorner059]

Originally Posted by connecticutbound

For rural vs. suburban, that's tough. Ideally would like a walkable community with sidewalks and a little downtown. But are willing to take lovely larger lot in beautiful setting, which I fully realize is much more the norm where we're looking. Have considered Oxford, but from what we read and after my husband drove through it he confirmed, it's too rural for us, also possibly (?) too new.

I live along the Route 188 stretch in Oxford and while it is fairly rural, I don't know what you mean by too new. Homes are too new? I can see that since the town is experiencing a population boom and has been for five years now. It is a wonderful and family oriented community.

If you want a walkable downtown you're gonna have to be in a larger suburban town like Fairfield or Milford. Southbury can fit but the downtown isn't little.

How much can you spend on a home? It can get far, but you might want to look into Guilford along the shore.

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I agree with what most of the others have recommended. The only thing I would disagree with is Cheshire. It is a very nice town with very good schools, but it is not an easy commute to Shelton.

I can shed some light on this. I commute to Shelton from Cheshire every day. It takes about 50 minutes to an hour in the morning and about 40 - 45 minutes in the evening.

I take a different route in the morning (Route 68 to Route 69 to Route 15 to Route 8) to bypass the Commodore-Hull Bridge. In the evening, I take Route 8 to Route 68.

Whenever school is out (like this week), my morning and evening commutes are the same.