Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]We are relocating to Greenville this summer, as it is happening quickly wedon't have time to visit and fully research schools. based on areas to live andsome input of those slightly familiar with Greenville we have narrowed it downto Pelham Road, Sara Collins or Mitchell Road Elementary. Our kids are enteringK and 2nd and don't want to have to change them again so want to feel confidentin our choice. I like Sara Collins, the IB program sounds great but again the statisticsversus what people experience can vary greatly. Mitchell Road does not have thebest stats, but I have had a few people mention it as worth looking into.Pelham and Mitchell both feed to good middle & high schools, but i am notsure about Sara Collins which feeds to JL Mann. So I will take any insight youall can provide or experiences you have had on the elementary programs (and JLMann as well). I appreciate it![/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
My family and I currently reside in Gower Estates.
Gower is considered by many to be Greenville's first suburb - it was sub-divided in the mid-1960's from farmland. I'm 5-7 minutes from downtown and about 10 minutes to Costco/Target/Trader Joe's/Magnolia Park. Further, Gower is well-known as having the best neighborhood swim team in SAIL. In fact, a family from Virginia recently moved to the Upstate and specifically moved to Gower for its swim team.
My kids are zoned for Sara Collins Elementary. Sara Collins catchment area is quite interesting - neighborhoods surrounding the school are very upscale (Collins Creek, Parkins Lake, Kellet Park, Parkins Mill/East Parkins Mill) - conversely, SCE draws children from other lower socioeconomic areas of the city of Greenville. The classes are extremely diverse. The staff is great - the parent support is phenomenal (no surprise). SCE is an IB school.
Here's a bonus: my children may have a choice for middle schools - we're zoned for Beck (very good middle school) or can apply for Fisher at ICAR (new STEM middle school - absolutely amazing building/property). Fisher Middle has an extremely small assigned attendance area (only 90 students). If one resides in Fisher's "Priority Relief Choice" attendance area (which we do), you have much better chance of matriculating than if one lives in other parts of Greenville county.
As for J L Mann - I've heard it's a very good/excellent public high school.
For cons: we live close to some very "sketchy" areas of Greenville - with this, comes an increase in property crime. In fact, we've had both of cars broken in to (they were both unlocked - stupid us). I did live in Simpsonville several years ago - I just "felt" safer there BUT I was a significant drive to downtown Greenville (our family loves Falls Park/downtown area). Additionally, home prices in the city of Greenville (in upscale areas) are expensive - you will get a much bigger/newer house in the Eastside/Greer/Simpsonville area. There are pros/cons with anything.
However, I would never give up the conveniences I have and move back to Simpsonville or Greer.
Drfranklin. Thanks for the input. Really helps. Gower was my favorite when we drove around. We are in Charlotte in a great location but with a bad school thus the kids attend magnets all over town. So we miss out on that sense of community which I am looking for in this move. I am hoping gower fits that bill.
What "sketchy areas" are very close to Gower? Nicholtown? People are not walking to Gower go break into cars because it is convenient. They would be driving to Gower AND any other nice neighborhood and targeting quick cash/goods.
We have had a very similar experience to drfranklin living in a nicer area near downtown, also with considerable property crime. It seems to definitely pick up in the summer months for whatever reason.
I would just add another note about a sense of community. These older neighborhoods are quite cliquish, in my opinion. If you don't attend the right church, or you are a transplant from somewhere outside of the South, it can be harder to fit. If you add being a liberal buddhist, some people treat you like you have made a deal with Satan himself and actually see you has something harmful. They may even hold their children a little closer when you show up.
Other people are awesome and so accepting. But I would not say that's the norm.
My impression that this is much less the case out in the burbs, with so many more transplants, and fewer families that have been entrenched in the Greenville scene for more than one generation.
We aren't suburb people, though. There are pros and cons to everything...
The clique thing is my concern, I have heard this can be an issue, not sure if that is true in gower estates. But i would hope with the influx of people* that is diminishing. I am not a suburban person either so in town is where we will most likely end up. I am pretty non-judgemental and would hope that being a non-church goer from san francisco does not define my family or make it difficult for my kids to "fit in." My other question is do kids in gower go to sara collins or are the mostly in private schools?
The clique thing is my concern, I have heard this can be an issue, not sure if that is true in gower estates. But i would hope with the influx of people* that is diminishing. I am not a suburban person either so in town is where we will most likely end up. I am pretty non-judgemental and would hope that being a non-church goer from san francisco does not define my family or make it difficult for my kids to "fit in." My other question is do kids in gower go to sara collins or are the mostly in private schools?
I think you would find that most kids in the Gower area are in public schools. The clique thing isn't an issue if you're willing to get involved in things in order to find common ground with folks. Sign up for the pool, get involved in the schools, and join neighborhood events. Get in with a carpool, and get out and enjoy your front yard instead of the back yard. And wave to every single car that passes. You'll see everyone throwing up a hand. It can go a long way!
I think you would find that most kids in the Gower area are in public schools. The clique thing isn't an issue if you're willing to get involved in things in order to find common ground with folks. Sign up for the pool, get involved in the schools, and join neighborhood events. Get in with a carpool, and get out and enjoy your front yard instead of the back yard. And wave to every single car that passes. You'll see everyone throwing up a hand. It can go a long way!
Thanks, I really want my kids to go to school with frineds in the neighborhood. As far as feeling like part of the neighborhood, I agree with your points will take some effort on our part as well (you get out what you put in). Maybe I am a bit naïve but Ilike to think most people are pretty friendly, especially to neighbors, regardless of whether or not they are long time residnets or new to town.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
