Military move to Dover AFB (Newark, Milford: for rent, house, transfer) - Delaware (DE) - City-Data Forum

jamjen2k · 02-02-2013, 10:45 PM

Hello,

We are a military family moving from Tucson to DE for 2 years. We do not know exactly when, but it should be over the summer. I am looking for any help with school district recommendations and housing areas. I have not found much in the threads about Dover AFB...

We have 3 kids, two that will be in school (K and 4th grade). My parents will also be moving with us and have medical considerations - dialysis and many specialists...oncology, nephrology, neurology. I am hoping to find a home to rent that has bedrooms downstairs or an in-law suite because one parent cannot do steps.

I have surmised from some of the threads that Caesar Rodney is one of the best school districts...can anyone comment? We are looking at Magnolia, Camden Wyoming, maybe Milford. Any of these have a larger population of military than the other?

Thanks for any and all help. From what I have read, there is a wealth of Delaware knowledge from you folks!

maryCh · 02-04-2013, 06:24 PM

Plenty of military in the Magnolia/Camden/Wyoming areas. And as far as I know, the Caesar Rodney school district still has excellent ratings. Your kids will have no problems being the "new kids" in any of these areas and the schools they would be going to. That is always good to know!

I don't know as much about the Milford area so I can't comment good or bad there.

As far as medical services for the parents... I don't think you'll have any trouble with that either. The Dover area seems to be pretty well covered with the specialists you mentioned. My parents moved here a year after we did (in 2008) and had no problems finding a primary care physician and have been quite happy with specialists they have dealt with since. It seems a lot of the practices in the Dover area also have offices in Milford and/or Smyrna, which can be a small inconvenience but easily in reach. Even referrals to the "bigger" area of Newark isn't too bad... my mom was referred to a neurologist in Newark because of brain cancer and we just made a day of it when she had to go there.

Hopefully you'll get some other comments soon... I am curious to hear what folks that have been in DE longer than us have to say. Good luck!

jamjen2k · 02-04-2013, 09:06 PM

Thanks so much for your input. This will be probably one of our hardest moves because we do have more considerations with my parents coming with. Their health has been deteriorating and this will be a permanent thing for us, so making sure they have all their health needs is a big priority, as well as schools and large enough living space for all of us.

Good to know about the Magnolia area...that is where we are leaning towards having gotten some feedback from other military. The only thing I find a little annoying is that my kids will be in separate schools if I have read the CR website correctly. I guess all preK and K are in one school and the other schools only have 1-5. Minor inconvenience I suppose.

little eggplant · 02-05-2013, 04:36 PM

Have you checked with the relocation desk at your current base? I believe most bases have info on other base's areas. For example, when we lived near Brunswick NAS in Maine, they had an active relocation department for the people transferring out. I would check with them to see if they have any info on Dover AFB. Good luck!

jamjen2k · 02-08-2013, 01:20 AM

Thanks for the suggestion, but my 16+ years of experience as an Air Force spouse has taught me that local information is much more valuable than the info from base. They are not allowed to steer you one way when it comes to schools and generally have no idea of healthcare in the area. We have always relied on fellow military members or locals to give us the rundown on communites, schools, etc. I think we have narrowed it down to Magnolia and have not heard otherwise about the schools.

rdlr · 02-08-2013, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamjen2k

Thanks for the suggestion, but my 16+ years of experience as an Air Force spouse has taught me that local information is much more valuable than the info from base. They are not allowed to steer you one way when it comes to schools and generally have no idea of healthcare in the area. We have always relied on fellow military members or locals to give us the rundown on communites, schools, etc. I think we have narrowed it down to Magnolia and have not heard otherwise about the schools.

You know, then, that the Caesar Rodney School District covers a wide area, including the Town of Camden, Town of Wyoming, Town of Magnolia, and outlying areas, some more rural than others. Zip Codes are 19934, 19962, and even 19901, a Dover Zip Code, but close to Camden. Here's a link to the Caesar Rodney School District, and Bay Health Medical Center, Dover, Milford and Smyrna. Also, Eden Hill Medical Center in Dover, falls under Bay Health. That link is included here, also.

http://www.cr.k12.de.us/

http://www.bayhealth.org/BayhealthCo...ge.aspx?nd=840

http://www.edenhillmedicalcenter.com/

Here's an interactive map showing the school districts in Delaware. Click the school you're interested in (left column) and that will show locations of schools within that district. These State websites are a wealth of knowledge. http://www.doe.k12.de.us/gmaps/index.shtml

jamjen2k · 02-09-2013, 11:39 PM

Thank you rdlr for the great healthcare links! Yes, I was able to see a map of the CR school district. Everything else is moot unless I find a house with at least one bedroom downstairs for Dad who cannot do stairs. We still have a couple of months though, so I am hopeful that more homes for rent will become available as the military PCS season picks up...usually starting in spring.

Thanks for the great replies and wealth of info.

erinbee · 02-16-2013, 07:18 PM

The other thing to consider school wise is that you can request a school preference and have them go to the Elem school on base. This can be really handy if you need quality before and after school care and you want them in the same school. The disadvantage is that you have to provide transportation.

Camden/Wyoming/Magnolia are all teeming with military and former military. The Camden area works best for us, but all are nice places.

jamjen2k · 02-16-2013, 08:30 PM

Thanks erinbee. I did call the district and they explained that to me. I thought with school choice being closed for the year that I would be out of luck, but she said that coming in new, I can still apply and being military, I can choice on base. Something I did not know...I thought that only those living on base could go to that school, so it is nice to know that I have that choice and it will make it easier than taking the kids to separate schools. Do you have any feedback on Welch Elementary??

Thanks!