Seattle to Denver??? Is this a good idea??? (Colorado Springs, Aurora: new home, school districts)

[Suryoyo]

Denver has much more sunshine than cloudy Seattle.

[frisbiec]

I wouldn't do it, but it is all about preference. I currently live in Thornton, am from the northeast and have lived in DC, Denver, Central New York and Seattle. I cannot wait to get out and move back to Seattle, hopefully I will be doing so by December (I just have to fork over the dough to get out of my lease).

I can relate wanting to venture out and try new things, but being that you are coming from Seattle, the only thing that will be remotely close to your geography and what you are used to in Seattle is that Denver has mountains. I would honestly look into another area. One that is new and different, but not so drastically different than Seattle.

Here is a point by point comparison of how I think the two areas stack up.

1. Outdoor activities, they are about tied here, but I would give the edge to Seattle because of it's proximity to water and I personally feel the mountains are more visually stunning in Seattle

2. Nightlife, neither are on par with a larger city, but I find Seattle to be more cultural and diverse in the entertainment realm

3. Sunny days, Denver has the edge here, but it is DRY. Also, it's so sunny and there is barely any tree cover, so I find myself blinded even with sunglasses on. Also, if you are accustomed to Seattle's mild weather, Denver will be very extreme and HOT in the summer. You will hear people say, "But its dry heat." From my experience, hot is hot regardless of humidity.

4. Because of the sun and the fact that Denver is more or less desert, you will find the area to be brown most of the year.

5. Water, you are landlocked in Denver. Seattle is surrounded by water.

6. People will down play this on this board, but there is a larger gang problem here in Denver than Seattle (Both cities have gangs, but they seem more abundant around here). I can vouch for this as my wife works in probation. Another major problem around here is driving while intoxicated.

7. I realize this may not be a part of your worries, but the Denver area does not have an abundance of good school districts. Unlike Seattle which has several.

8. The job market is pretty weak everywhere, but it all depends on the employment you are seeking. Of all of the places I have been recently, Denver's job market is by far the worst.

9. Rent is cheaper in Denver, but salaries are also much lower in many professions.

Honestly, I would research some of the other areas that you can move to and at the very least, visit Denver and its surrounding areas

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by frisbiec

7. I realize this may not be a part of your worries, but the Denver area does not have an abundance of good school districts. Unlike Seattle which has several.

This is untrue, though I know people from Seattle think so. My daughter met a profesor at CSU from Seattle who said she was "surprised" how well-prepared the Colorado students were. Well, what was she expecting? Evidently, her expectations were pretty low, and based on what?

I am not one for the "best" school districts myself, but there are a number of good districts in this area. It's funny, but there are always lots of questions on the Denver boards about good school districts, and yet few people moving to Seattle even ask about it.

PS: Just checked, and currently there is one thread about schools on the front page of the Denver forum, and none on the front page of the Seattle forum. There are also fewer threads aboaut family areas on Seattle, so maybe people with families, ie, kids in school, don't move there.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by Seekingmore

So here is my situation:
My boyfriend and I are in a lease in the Seattle area with an apartment complex that has other complexes throughout the US, one of which is in Denver (Thornton ot be exact). Our rent is really high for what it should be and we have found that we can transfer our lease to this other complex in Denver for no additional fees and we can get lower rent there. My issue is that I have lived in the Seattle area my enite life and I really have the itch to out and see what else this big ol'world has to offer. (I moved out of my parents house at 23- yikes I know!) Would this move to Denver be a great idea? My parents for their own reasons are against the idea- the have lived in the greater Seattle area their entire lives. I am not liking the idea of the whole raise your kids where you grew up thing. I want to explore somewhere new.
I suppose what I am looking for here is some unbiased opinions as to whether or not I would be making a huge mistake by doing this??? I don't feel I would be and I guess that I will just need to listen to my heart.
My biggest worry is finding a job in Denver. Job market in the Seattle area is down right nasty. I do have a recently acquired bachelors degree. And I have loads of experience is several different areas, but because I am young, a lot of hiring employers do not see enough long term experience with an employer. Is the job market any better in Denver?
My thoughts are scattered about this whole thing and I am doing my best to keep it organized---Just gotta get out of this congested city!!!
Please help!

The whole apartment lease thing seems like a strange catalyst for a move like that.

[frisbiec]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is untrue, though I know people from Seattle think so. My daughter met a profesor at CSU from Seattle who said she was "surprised" how well-prepared the Colorado students were. Well, what was she expecting? Evidently, her expectations were pretty low, and based on what?

I am not one for the "best" school districts myself, but there are a number of good districts in this area. It's funny, but there are always lots of questions on the Denver boards about good school districts, and yet few people moving to Seattle even ask about it.

PS: Just checked, and currently there is one thread about schools on the front page of the Denver forum, and none on the front page of the Seattle forum. There are also fewer threads aboaut family areas on Seattle, so maybe people with families, ie, kids in school, don't move there.

I must say you are way too defensive when people question anything about Denver. But you love to throw jabs at other areas.

In regards to education, I am a teacher and a damn good one. But the fact is that the Denver area has very spotty school districts. I have taught for two of the very best in the country, Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and Bellevue Public Schools in Washington. Based on my experience in the schools around here, even those that are considered the best, they are not on par with better districts.

I don't put that much weight into these lists, but many people do. Check out both the Newsweek and US News & World Report studies on the best high schools. You will find several more Washington Schools than Colorado schools. I would take Bellevue Public Schools, Lake Washington, Issaquah school districts over any in the Denver Metro area.

Finally, the fact that the Seattle board doesn't have a lot of questions about school districts has no relevancy to whether or not there are good schools. People moving there KNOW there are excellent and prestigious school districts in the area. For example, the district I mentioned earlier, Bellevue, is known across the country. I cannot say the same for any school districts in the Denver area.

[Katiana]

You can save the amateur psychology. If I feel I need therapy, I will find someone qualified.

As for school districts, I am not a big fan of such lists myself, but I looked up the Newsweek list for 2008 and here is what I found. Colorado: 30 schools in the "Top High Schools"; Washington 45. Washington has 50% more "top" schools and 36% more people. Not much of a difference.

It is nonsense that people contemplating moving to Seattle don't have to ask about schools b/c it is so well known that Seattle's schools are so marvelous. Education is a very local subject of knowledge. I have been involved in education for many years and I had never heard of the Bellevue schools. On virutally every other city board I visit, the question of schools comes up from people considering a move there.

Here is the Colorado list:
Peak to Peak Charter, Lafayette
Lakewoood High School
Fairview High School, Boulder
East High School, Denver
Niwot High School
Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village
Evergreen High School
Smoky Hill HS, Aurora
Grandview HS, Aurora
Poudre High School, Ft. Collins
Cheyenne Mountain HS, Colorado Springs
George Washington HS, Denver
D'Evelyn HS, Denver (Jefferson Co)
Legacy HS, Broomfield
Eaglecrest HS, Aurora
Liberty HS, Colorado Springs
Heritage HS, Littleton
Aspen HS
Littleton HS
Air Academy HS, Colorado Springs
Monarch HS, Louisville (My kids' alma mater)
OVerland HS, Aurora
Palmer HS, Colorado Springs
Thunderridge HS, Highlands Ranch
Pine Creek HS, Colorado Springs
Chaparral HS, Parker
Ft. Collins HS
Thompson Valley HS, Loveland

[frisbiec]

Originally Posted by Katiana

You can save the amateur psychology. If I feel I need therapy, I will find someone qualified.

As for school districts, I am not a big fan of such lists myself, but I looked up the Newsweek list for 2008 and here is what I found. Colorado: 30 schools in the "Top High Schools"; Washington 45. Washington has 50% more "top" schools and 36% more people. Not much of a difference.

It is nonsense that people contemplating moving to Seattle don't have to ask about schools b/c it is so well known that Seattle's schools are so marvelous. Education is a very local subject of knowledge. I have been involved in education for many years and I had never heard of the Bellevue schools. On virutally every other city board I visit, the question of schools comes up from people considering a move there.

Here is the Colorado list:
Peak to Peak Charter, Lafayette
Lakewoood High School
Fairview High School, Boulder
East High School, Denver
Niwot High School
Cherry Creek High School, Greenwood Village
Evergreen High School
Smoky Hill HS, Aurora
Grandview HS, Aurora
Poudre High School, Ft. Collins
Cheyenne Mountain HS, Colorado Springs
George Washington HS, Denver
D'Evelyn HS, Denver (Jefferson Co)
Legacy HS, Broomfield
Eaglecrest HS, Aurora
Liberty HS, Colorado Springs
Heritage HS, Littleton
Aspen HS
Littleton HS
Air Academy HS, Colorado Springs
Monarch HS, Louisville (My kids' alma mater)
OVerland HS, Aurora
Palmer HS, Colorado Springs
Thunderridge HS, Highlands Ranch
Pine Creek HS, Colorado Springs
Chaparral HS, Parker
Ft. Collins HS
Thompson Valley HS, Loveland

Amateur psychology? Whatever, I just said you like to take shots at other areas and anyone who has a less than stellar view of Denver is wrong. Notice I said that the schools were "spotty." Did I say they were all bad? No. I just said the Seattle area school districts were better on average than the Denver area school districts. That would make perfect sense given the fact that Seattle is the most educated city in the country (Denver is 11) and Seattle is also one of the most wealthy. Therefore, using logic, it would be more likely that the school districts would be better on average than those in the Denver area because of access to resources.

Regardless, your numbers still prove the point that at least according to Newsweek, Washington has better schools.

I f you knew anything about the College Board or AP classes and attended their training sessions across the country, you would have heard of Bellevue Public Schools. Just citing Bellevue's schools alone, all 5 of their high schools rank on the list before you even get to the third Colorado school.

[frisbiec]

Originally Posted by Katiana

It is nonsense that people contemplating moving to Seattle don't have to ask about schools b/c it is so well known that Seattle's schools are so marvelous. Education is a very local subject of knowledge. I have been involved in education for many years and I had never heard of the Bellevue schools. On virutally every other city board I visit, the question of schools comes up from people considering a move there.

In regards to this comment, it is nonsense to imply that a "city-data" page is a reflection of whether or not the community in the area values education or family. Just because some people inquire or reply on a forum regarding education, it does not mean the area is "superior" on the education or family front.

[frisbiec]

Originally Posted by Katiana

This is untrue, though I know people from Seattle think so. My daughter met a profesor at CSU from Seattle who said she was "surprised" how well-prepared the Colorado students were. Well, what was she expecting? Evidently, her expectations were pretty low, and based on what?

Again, another statement when the Seattle native is the uniformed "bad-guy." You seem to have a lot of disdain for Seattle and Chicago. Why don't you just come out and say you don't like the areas?

This statement seems like you have some sort of inferiority complex in regards to how people perceive the Colorado school system. College professors commonly make comments like this. I went to a SUNY College and had an adjunct from a prestigious Ivy League school and he said, "I am surprised how well-prepared and knowledgeable public education students are . . ." Did people take offense or assume that he was talking down to the students? No.

[David Aguilar]

I love Seattle, with a passion, and would be there instead of here if I had no family there and if Seattle got a lot of snow on an annual basis. Those are the two deal-breakers for me.

Enough said.