Moving to Huntsville area in three weeks (Madison, Valley: sales, house)

[wls2624]

I have posted for a while before knowing much. I'm a little more knowledgeable about the area (and I do mean little ) Anyway, when we were visiting down there, people were telling us about schools. Go to Bob Jones, it's the best, noooo go to Grissom, it's better. I really don't know where to go, they both have great ratings. Any personal opinions on either of these schools? Also, we will live our first month, company paid, at the Residence Inn. Does that mean we have to go to whatever school district that is in, which by the way, what district is it in? I called them and they don't even know! And then I'm wondering, when we move, will we have to uproot our kids after a month because we find a house we like that isn't in the same district as the Residence Inn? Not very new comer friendly if that is the case.

Also, I'm not having much luck finding a place for my dog kennel dream or horse farm dream for that matter, in either of these locations. Just wondered if there where any nice homes with basements in either of these districts with larger yards, or acreage.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by wls2624

I have posted for a while before knowing much. I'm a little more knowledgeable about the area (and I do mean little ) Anyway, when we were visiting down there, people were telling us about schools. Go to Bob Jones, it's the best, noooo go to Grissom, it's better. I really don't know where to go, they both have great ratings. Any personal opinions on either of these schools? Also, we will live our first month, company paid, at the Residence Inn. Does that mean we have to go to whatever school district that is in, which by the way, what district is it in? I called them and they don't even know! And then I'm wondering, when we move, will we have to uproot our kids after a month because we find a house we like that isn't in the same district as the Residence Inn? Not very new comer friendly if that is the case.

Also, I'm not having much luck finding a place for my dog kennel dream or horse farm dream for that matter, in either of these locations. Just wondered if there where any nice homes with basements in either of these districts with larger yards, or acreage.

Out of curiosity, what company is this paying for the Residence Inn?

High Schools

Here are some standardized data, broken down by subgroup, showing the performance of several high schools in the region (click the top of each image to expand and make more readable):

Math




Reading


Zoning

Yes you must attend the schools zone to your residence. If you are living in the Residence Inn, then you must attend those schools. However, if you can show the Huntsville City Schools (probably Madison City Schools and Madison County Schools too) that you have a contract to purchase elsewhere, then you can attend the schools zoned to the contracted location.

Large Acre Lots

Use ValleyMLS.com as one source to look for homes. Too bad the NAMLS voted against you seeing location, square footage and recent sales data. Those sure would have helped you buy a home.

If you have kids, be careful about large lots. If you live in a neighborhood with three or five acre lots (just for a dog) your kids will hate it. Most kids like to play with other kids and with large lots, the "kid density" is quite low. Plus, often the type of people who buy large lots are either retired, childless, antisocial, or a combination of all three. There's a reason some of them like large lots - they want their privacy and they don't really like interfacing with neighbors.

You don't want neighbors like this:

(image not protected by copyright)

"Keep your kids off my property"

[friday13]

Originally Posted by wls2624

Also, we will live our first month, company paid, at the Residence Inn. Does that mean we have to go to whatever school district that is in, which by the way, what district is it in? I called them and they don't even know! And then I'm wondering, when we move, will we have to uproot our kids after a month because we find a house we like that isn't in the same district as the Residence Inn? Not very new comer friendly if that is the case.
.

Residence Inn is zoned for HSV city schools. Providence Elem/Mid, Columbia High and you have to attend the school your residence is zoned for
Quick Address Search

You can still enroll your kids in Madison City Schools while residing elsewhere, provided you close in 45 days from registration and bring proof.
http://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/Reg...gistration.htm

Call Madison COUNTY Schools and HSV and ask if you can do the same there (you may want to, since Providence doesn't rate too good, and Columbia high neither-now, the Intl Baccalaureat program that is housed at Columbia High is a different story-and a good one from what I hear).

ROUGHLY, Madison city schools are the area between US72 (N)- Slaughter (E) - I565 (S) and beyond a little at Zierdt - County Line (W)

[rnc76]

In regards to Bob Jones or Grissom (I would throw HHS in there as well). I would just move to the part of town you like best. Your kids will do just fine at any of those 3.

[friday13]

Originally Posted by rnc76

In regards to Bob Jones or Grissom (I would throw HHS in there as well). I would just move to the part of town you like best. Your kids will do just fine at any of those 3.

People say Buckhorn, too, for the OP wants a larger lot

[hey teach]

Have you looked at Deer Creek Subd. This is a beautiful area between New Market and Hazel Green. I'm not sure about schools but I think it is zoned for Buckhorn, which is a great school. You can get 5 acre lots maybe larger in Deer Creek. I'm also sure you can keep animals (horses, calves, goats) there. Some subdivisions limit the types of animals you can have in them. And seems like a I read that inside the H'ville city limits there is a limit on the number of dogs a residence is allowed, maybe 2 or 3 max.

I would check with the school system I was planning to live in. I think they make some type of accomodations for people who are transferring in and are in housing transition. Believe me, as teachers, we would like to get students and keep them rather than have them transfer 4-6 weeks after enrollment.

[wls2624]

Thanks everyone for the info.

[Keeper]

There is a max of 3 dogs or cats in H'ville city limits

http://www.municode.com/resources/ga...id=1&pid=12962
Sec. 5-43. Harboring dogs or cats.
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep custody or take care of more than three dogs or cats, six months old or older which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises; however, any owner of more than three cats licensed by the city at the time of the effective date of Ord. No. 95-693, which cats are frequently outside the residence and on the premises, shall be allowed to keep such cats so long as they are properly licensed by the city, until the cats are no longer living, or until ownership of such cats is transferred to a person residing at another premises who is in compliance with this article. The city shall not license additional cats for such owner until the number of licensed cats which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises is less than three.

[wls2624]

Originally Posted by Charles

Out of curiosity, what company is this paying for the Residence Inn?


Yes you must attend the schools zone to your residence. If you are living in the Residence Inn, then you must attend those schools. However, if you can show the Huntsville City Schools (probably Madison City Schools and Madison County Schools too) that you have a contract to purchase elsewhere, then you can attend the schools zoned to the contracted location.

Large Acre Lots

Use ValleyMLS.com as one source to look for homes. Too bad the NAMLS voted against you seeing location, square footage and recent sales data. Those sure would have helped you buy a home.

If you have kids, be careful about large lots. If you live in a neighborhood with three or five acre lots (just for a dog) your kids will hate it. Most kids like to play with other kids and with large lots, the "kid density" is quite low. Plus, often the type of people who buy large lots are either retired, childless, antisocial, or a combination of all three. There's a reason some of them like large lots - they want their privacy and they don't really like interfacing with neighbors.

You don't want neighbors like this:

(image not protected by copyright)

"Keep your kids off my property"

Yikes, wouldn't want neighbors like that, but, you forgot that there are also people that buy large lots because they have a five dogs and hope to have horses. Which is our reason.

[wls2624]

Originally Posted by Keeper

There is a max of 3 dogs or cats in H'ville city limits

http://www.municode.com/resources/ga...id=1&pid=12962
Sec. 5-43. Harboring dogs or cats.
It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, keep custody or take care of more than three dogs or cats, six months old or older which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises; however, any owner of more than three cats licensed by the city at the time of the effective date of Ord. No. 95-693, which cats are frequently outside the residence and on the premises, shall be allowed to keep such cats so long as they are properly licensed by the city, until the cats are no longer living, or until ownership of such cats is transferred to a person residing at another premises who is in compliance with this article. The city shall not license additional cats for such owner until the number of licensed cats which are frequently outside the residence and on the premises is less than three.

How about Madison or New Market, do you know their ordinance on pets?