Is Huntsville a Good Fit for This Family?

[TC2coolmom]

if i was you come to madison city, you can drive to huntsville for fun. there greenways here and lots of out door things to do and great schools. Huntsville, is too over crowed and to much crime. The schools are horrible.

[Mawoods]

Originally Posted by TC2coolmom

if i was you come to madison city, you can drive to huntsville for fun. there greenways here and lots of out door things to do and great schools. Huntsville, is too over crowed and to much crime. The schools are horrible.

I have lived in both city of Madison and Huntsville and theya re both good. Huntsville has different terrain and more hiking opportunities close by for sure. Not all schools in Huntsville are bad and I believe they are going the right way now. And to be fair, there is crime in Madison city also.Maybe you don't hear about it as much. I feel VERY safe when I travel and I live in Huntsville. Huntsville is not overcrowded -- where are you from? Huntsville is a lovely town, big enough to have lots of things going on such as concerts, plays, museums, and even a great Botanical Garden. But small enough to get around pretty fast.

I have neighbors who had teenagers in BJ in Madison but are now are at Huntsville High and are very happy. Believe it or not, these kids preferred HH and they are all headed toward Ivy League schools.
So I do not think it is a good idea or wise to make blanket statements and have to put down the other. Everyone has a preferrance and there are many positives about the whole area.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by TC2coolmom

if i was you come to madison city, you can drive to huntsville for fun. there greenways here and lots of out door things to do and great schools. Huntsville, is too over crowed and to much crime. The schools are horrible.

Madison: 1258 people/sq mi
Huntsville: 858 people/sq mi

Huntsville is probably one of the least dense cities in the country. The crime in Huntsville is not bad, a few neighborhoods produce 90% of the crime. There is no discernable difference in crime and safety between Madison and SE Huntsville. There really isn't any part of Huntsville other that I would not go to during the day.

Also, the schools aren't horrible. Some of the best schools in the area are in Huntsville. Now if you were to say, the school system in Huntsville is messed up right now I would agree. If I were moving here, I would consider the upheaval going on because of possible rezonings and closures.

They both have nice areas and are good places to live.

[LCTMadison]

I had to LOL at the "too much crime" in HSV. Obviously you have not lived in any other moderately sized metros, because HSV has a relatively low crime rate statistically for the size.

I also have to agree with the comment about HSV schools being "horrible". That is untrue. HSV has some wonderful schools, and while things are somewhat "a mess", they are taking firm steps to get things back on track financially and that has not affected the teaching in the classrooms. All my HSV friends love the schools. There are some I would not send my kid to, but you are going to have that in every system all over the US.

And, I live in Madison and LOVE it, but we are most definitely (as the above poster illustrated) more populated in relation to square miles.

[atrixwolfe]

I've recently left Huntsville and I thought it was a good place to raise a family. I have to share that I came there fully prepared to hate the school system and it surprised me. The schools system that my daughter just graduated from has been outstanding. She attended Weatherly, Mountain gap and Grissom. Grissom is a blue ribbon award winning school, yes it's big but I feel she got alot of personal attention there. Particualrly with her marginal dyslexia and at college prep and recommendation time. I had some high expectations from her schools and most of them were met. My Daughter is now in college with kids from MA, NH,CT and Maine and she can hold her own. She feels she had a great education in Huntsville.
I lived in both Madison and SE Huntsville and I have to say I vastly prefered SE huntsville!
SO really to each their own, but lets stop saying the huntsville schools system is horrible, there's good and bad. If madison keeps growing at the rate it has been its school system will be suffering soon. Best of luck in your move.

[Carley1852]

Okay, my family is in the process of relocating from the Houston area as well and I am now freaked out. Geez, I thought Madison was going to be great, public school wise, but now I am very confused. I looked into private school there and was not very impressed with the difference between the public and private school curriculum there. There were two exceptions, however. We are not zoned to a good school in Houston so our son was on his way to private school here. The majority of the public schools here are scary! Houston has a couple exceptional schools for sure and some of the magnet programs are great but overall, wow! So, someone please calm my nerves. BTW, visited and loved the area! Such a great change from Houston!