Family friendly with best high school neighbourhood near Peoria (Pekin: crime, houses)

[livonian]

Hello all,
I am moving to Peoria shortly and I am interested in moving in neighbourhood which are safe and family friendly. It needs to be close to a very good public high school.

When I searched on Great Schools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community website, it suggests Morton high school and Dunlap high school. Morton has better math scores. How safe is Morton? Which are is newly developed with houses less than 5 years old?

Do you have any suggestions on any other area with 30 minutes from Peoria?

[histo320]

Might want to look at Limestone. It has a good reputation with sports and the testing scores are average and getting better.

[BUalumni]

Well, if you are looking for public high schools in the city limits, the best in Dist. 150 is going to be Richwoods. This would mean that you would have to have a residencial address in the general north Peoria area. Central is a decent school, but Richwoods still exceeds. Most, if not all of the neighborhoods within Richwoods are very safe. I'm not sure of the actual boundaries between the two, but I think that most of the area around Northwoods Mall is generally Richwoods, but don't quote me. Stay as far away as possible from Manuel or Woodruff!!

As far as private schools go though, there is a large Catholic school that always recieves high marks, as well as Peoria Christian, which isn't as nice (IMO) as Notre Dame, but still fairs much better than 3/4 public high schools in Peoria. There are also several academies that are first rate, but admission selection is very tight. Peoria Heights is another good option, but unless you are making some amazing money, the newer housing in that area is not going to be an option.

Between Dunlap and Morton, the majority of the bulk newerr housing is going to be found in the first. Almost everything between Allen Rd. and Knoxville has been built within the past 5-10 years. Morton on the other hand is much more established and central to it's core, and is much slower to build new subdivisions even though the demand is high. Both schools are some of the best in the state. If you prefer brand new subdivisions over older established, and want to be right on Peoria's door step, than Dunlap is the way to go.

But try not to limit youself to just these two though. Bartonville has many of the same attributes as Dunlap does in relation to the city. It sits right next to Peoria, but is much more spread out over "areas" of homes, rather than central. It also has a very nice high school. Down the hill, (a term that if you live in Peoria you will quickly understand) Bartonville tends to be a little bit more "rusty" for me, but "on top" it is just fine. If you really expand your commute radius to 30 mins, you will take in many towns that have much of what you are looking for. It sounds like you might like Washington alot! Even Groveland seems to be adding a good amount of newer housing as of late. But Groveland is also divided between Pekin and Morton HS's, so if you are dead set on Morton, make sure you are paying their taxes and not Pekin's. In the end though, Pekin is going to offer your child more in terms of quanity than Morton.

If you need anymore info, just let me know!

[linicx]

Washington, Germantown Hills and Morton are smaller areas. None of the areas have a hospital nearby. The hospitals are in Eureka, Havana, Peoria[3], Canton and Pekin. I do not recommend Canton or Pekin,

The school system is only as good as the Superintendent. We happen to have a great school system and a very good hospital. Crime is low and neighborhoods are very safe. I like it. The downside is it is 50 miles from Richwoods High School.

There aer several area around Richwoods that are very nice. You can spend $1M+ for a house in a new neighborhood or spend $200k in an older well maintained nice neighborhood and have the same advanges with out the higher taxes. You gets what you pays for. One of the nicest, most exclusive addresses with older very elegant homes is Grandview Drive in Peoria Heights (Between War Memorial Drive (USI50) and Knoxville, North of Lake off Prospect Avenue. The entrance is marked.

Peoria has three Country Clubs. The Peoria Country Club is the oldest and where the monied make deals and socialize. It is on Grandview Drive and it has all the perks for members and their families. The food is excellent.

I know the Peoria area well as I lived there for many years. Some things change very little in Peoria. Where the old monied live in one of the things that changes very little. This is not a bad thing to know when you are moving into a new town you are not familiar with. Morton has a lot of old money, but it is a snobby town My aunt was one of "them".

Here's the most important thing to know if you have chilren. Peoria has many thing things for kids to all year. Not so in the surrounding towns.

Good Luck in your move and new job.

[BUalumni]

Originally Posted by linicx

Washington, Germantown Hills and Morton are smaller areas. None of the areas have a hospital nearby. The hospitals are in Eureka, Havana, Peoria[3], Canton and Pekin. I do not recommend Canton or Pekin,

The school system is only as good as the Superintendent. We happen to have a great school system and a very good hospital. Crime is low and neighborhoods are very safe. I like it. The downside is it is 50 miles from Richwoods High School.

There aer several area around Richwoods that are very nice. You can spend $1M+ for a house in a new neighborhood or spend $200k in an older well maintained nice neighborhood and have the same advanges with out the higher taxes. You gets what you pays for. One of the nicest, most exclusive addresses with older very elegant homes is Grandview Drive in Peoria Heights (Between War Memorial Drive (USI50) and Knoxville, North of Lake off Prospect Avenue. The entrance is marked.

Peoria has three Country Clubs. The Peoria Country Club is the oldest and where the monied make deals and socialize. It is on Grandview Drive and it has all the perks for members and their families. The food is excellent.

I know the Peoria area well as I lived there for many years. Some things change very little in Peoria. Where the old monied live in one of the things that changes very little. This is not a bad thing to know when you are moving into a new town you are not familiar with. Morton has a lot of old money, but it is a snobby town My aunt was one of "them".

Here's the most important thing to know if you have chilren. Peoria has many thing things for kids to all year. Not so in the surrounding towns.

Good Luck in your move and new job.

After reading some of your posts, it is clear that you understand a good deal about central Illinois, and your knowledge has helped many. But I'm not sure if Havana is really what the OP is looking for in this case. It may work well for you, but Havana really isn't part of the Peoria metro, and is nice little drive into the city. A commute like that each day would be a killer. I work with several people that commute from the Manito/Green Valley/Delavan area, but even that isn't real close, and the drive would get old after awhile.

I'm not sure about Washington and GH, but I do know that Morton has a "Prompt Care", which is no way substitutes for a hospital, but is an excellent alternative to the traditional ER. But it isn't like we are talking about long distances here to begin with. All three are a 5-10 minute radius to East Peoria which I believe also has a similar alternative to that in Morton, and within a 10-20 minute drive into Peoria. Considering that OSF also has the largest and most comprehensive Life Flight program in the state, as long as you live close to Peoria, you are going to be fine.

[livonian]

Thank you all for very useful information.

Can you please clarify following.

1) Can we live in Richwood township area and take admission for our kid in Dunlap high school? Is that allowed or are there any restrictions?

2) If yes, are school bus routes flexible enough in such case so that the student donot have to walk too far to take the bus.

If no, are there defined boundaries for residence for attending a particular school.

Since in initial period, we will look for likable area first and then make a decision to buy house rather than buying before we come.

Thanks again

[linicx]

I was not suggesting the OP lived in Havana as it is way too far from their needs.. As to the question about school districts. I believe Richwoods and Dunlap are not in the same district, although I could be wrong. i suspect if you live in the Richwoods district that is where your child would go to high school unless you paid. You could certainly inquire of the school. .

[janieliza]

Richwoods is top IN Peoria. Dunlap is north and highly regarded. If you can afford above 450K, then some area of Grandview north of Lake street would put you into the Heights high school. South of Lake is Woodruff where there is considerable breadth of student capability ...NOT good, but you can do like others in that area do and send you child to a parochial school.