Ikea coming to Centennial. Questions about the area. (Denver, Highlands Ranch: cul-de-sac, for sale)

[BillRadio]

Soccer is huge, see the Colorado Storm Soccer.

Cheerleading isn't as big and depends on your school.

While Cherry Creek Schools are tops in the area, Littleton isn't far behind. They are probably number 1 and 2, with Douglas a close 3rd.

Littleton is the only "quaint" downtown but the housing stock around it is not as desirable as other areas. A new area, a living/shopping/eating "lifestyle center"-Southglenn in western Centennial, may be to your liking and houses around it are very reasonable.

Centennial has lots of houses in your price range, consider living close to Light Rail, the new IKEA store will be near it. There are areas with shuttles to the Light Rail stations. I avoided Lone Tree because of high taxes.

[Jake Gittes]

Bill

Southglenn sounds very interesting. What neighborhoods are close to the Light Rail?

Thanks for your response. Great link for Soccer.

[Katiana]

I would caution on the schools: what is "best" is often in the eye of the beholder. I know, I know, people will cite test scores, college acceptance rates, etc. But what is "best" for your kid may be entirely different. The state 4A boys' soccer champion last year was Broomfield, in the Boulder Valley SD. Just one example.

[Jake Gittes]

Katiana...in my eyes....Best would be:

1) Surrounded by kids who have high expectations for college/grades...good peers.
2) Excellent teaching staff
3) Extensive advanced placement program; offer foreign languages early; etc.
4) Large sports program. We are currently in a school district that doesn't have a girls soccer team. !!!!!
5) Offer lots of extra curricular activities, i.e. school newspaper, clubs, etc.
6) Test scores
7) Nice facilities, sports fields.

From my research, Littleton, Parker (Clark Farms, Stonegate, Pinery Glen - parks, trees, trails), and Southglenn sound the most promising. Any really cool neighborhoods in those areas, or that I'm missing, with trails, trees, etc.? I don't have a good handle on the school district for south Parker.

What is the "Tech Center" that is in CCHS district? Read that you get a lot for your money.

[Katiana]

Well, I don't know a lot about the southern suburban schools. I would say, though, that there are many options for a school such as you describe.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by Jake Gittes

What is the "Tech Center" that is in CCHS district? Read that you get a lot for your money.

Denver Tech center, or DTC, is an office park split between the city of Denver and Greenwood Village, basically centered around I-25 and Belleview. Cherry Creek High School is essentially right across the street from the actual DTC. However, usually when people say "DTC" area, they essentially mean the entire SE Metro Denver.

[steveindenver]

There are good schools and bad schools in every district at every level.

[rkb0305]

Since no one specifically pointed it out yet, re walkable downtown type neighborhoods, Centennial started out as unincorporated suburbs built mostly in the 1970's. It was only incorporated into a city in about 2001, I think. So, Centennial, as far as I know, doesn't have a downtown of any kind. Littleton has a cute downtown. Highlands Ranch is also suburban and only built in the last 25 years. It was built with a somewhat walkable "town center" with some nice condos and townhomes nearby. There is also a great network of walking trails that connect some single family home neighborhoods to town center.

[Jake Gittes]

"Well, I don't know a lot about the southern suburban schools. I would say, though, that there are many options for a school such as you describe."

Katiana...

We need to live close to Centennial. I'm reading about Cherry Creek, Littleton, and Douglas. What am I overlooking?

[2bindenver]

Littleton, Centennial, Lone Tree, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Englewood, Greenwood Village...

what else is important to you?