Duval Schools/Areas - which are the best? Giving up on SJC? (Jacksonville: real estate, houses)

[justjill70]

I am trying to like St Johns County, I just can't do it. I want my kids in good schools, but I am not enthusiastic about the undeveloped nature of the area and the uncertainty of who may be my neighbors in the coming years. PVB is out of our price range. I have looked and looked in SJC and I can't find a place that feels right. Soooo, I am thinking about Duval.

I need to live in a community...where all of the neighbors shop in the same stores that are not more then 10 minutes away...and the landmarks are more then fireworks place. I want to be close to stores and restaurants. House with a small yard, and sidewalks connect the homes inside of the neighborhood. 2500+sf 4/2 with a pool...in the 300's.

There have to be good schools and areas in Duval - aren't there? We want to be on the east side of the river, and my husband works close to 295/95 intersection.

Any recommendations?

[fsquid]

San Marco area maybe

[EricBoyd]

Mandarin is probably gonna be your best bet, based on what you've mentioned. Look at zip codes 32223, 32257, and 32258.

[Ryde41]

I agree with Mandarin, also the Southside (32256) is now okay because they just opened a brand new high school. I think they have houses in that price range in East Hampton area and it would be close to your work.

[Ryde41]

Look around where this house is:
8692 Hunters Creek Drive South, Jacksonville FL - Trulia

[justjill70]

Thanks for the replies. Relocating is no fun

I suppose we will investigate Mandarin. Any recommendations on better areas/schools/neighborhoods?

[fsu813]

"I need to live in a community...where all of the neighbors shop in the same stores that are not more then 10 minutes away...and the landmarks are more then fireworks place. I want to be close to stores and restaurants. House with a small yard, and sidewalks connect the homes inside of the neighborhood. 2500+sf 4/2 with a pool...in the 300's."

You are describing the historic neighborhoods near the city to a tee. Real communities, with connecting sidewalks (harder to find than you might think in Jacksonville), neighborhoods haunts, unique places, etc. There are bad to great schools in the area, and everything in between.

Here are 3 realtors that specialize just in these areas (Jacksonville is so fragmeneted that very few realtors know much about all areas):

Dwellings, A Real Estate Companyâ„¢ / Jacksonville, Florida

www.intownjacksonville.com

Crissie's Comments


Here's a few good websites & photos on each area:

San Marco











San Marco is a mostly upscale neighborhood with an urban twist, as there are a variety of popular unique shops, restuarants, cafes, botiques, arts venues, parks, and events with in walking distance. There's a good mix of young professionals to older people here.

Major neighborhood organization: San Marco Preservation Society


Riverside....



.....and Avondale
















Riverside & Avondale are technically 2 different neighborhoods, but they are smushed next to eachother and together make up the largest historic district in th state. Avondale almost exclsuively is upscale, while Riverside is very mixed/artsy/bohemian. This area is over flowing with nice parks, art venues, events, unique cafes, restauarants, botiques, shops, etc most with in walking distance. All ages will live here.

Major neighborhood organization & blog: www.riverside-avondale.com

Very popular weekly festival: www.riversideartsmarket.com

Good video overview: RAP Produces Award Winning Video | Metro Jacksonville


Springfield




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Springfield is the oldest neighborhood in the city and is also a historic district. It was once the worst neighborhhod in the city, no kidding, but has gone through a hug transformation and has received alot of national and local positive press over the last few years (named the #1 up & coming nighborhood in the South, for example). It's not completely renovated yet, so you'll have very rich to lower income here, and everything in between. It's very walkable with parks (including a rare free dog park), cafes/restaurants, arts venues, and many events very close by. The neighborhood is developing into an artsy/slightly upscale area, but, like I mentioned, is a work in progress. All ages will live here as well.

Neighborhood forum & website: www.myspringfield.org

Major community organization: www.sparcouncil.org

Fantastic introductory video: animoto - Historic Springfield


San Marco, Riverside & Avondale, and Springfield are considered part of the "urban core" of neighborhoods that surround downtown. They are all close to downtown and all that it offers, and eachother. All very walkable, all have tons to do with in very short distancs, and a good quality of life.

I have lots of other info about these areas, if you like.

Here are all the schools ratings from last year (soley based on FCAT scores, btw): http://www.duvalschools.org/reseval/..._Sch_Alpha.pdf

And here is the Magnet School information:
Duval County Public Schools Magnet Programs

Jacksonville schools were rated a "B" overall: http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/xls/08...es20082009.xls



As you can see, there lots of good possibilities.

[hlauburn]

Have you looked at greatschools.com? That might be a good place to start...you can probably eliminate a lot of areas quickly based on the school ratings. I think you should be able to find plenty of good elem schools, but my concern would be high schools. Stanton and Paxon seem like amazing schools, but I think admission is based on lottery (is that right? someone please correct me if that's wrong!).

Other than that, Mandarin High looks like the best of the Duval High Schools.

What about Clay County?

Good luck!

[Ryde41]

Ponte Vedra High or Nease is good. I'm sure Twin Lakes High School will be good.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by hlauburn

Have you looked at greatschools.com? That might be a good place to start...you can probably eliminate a lot of areas quickly based on the school ratings. I think you should be able to find plenty of good elem schools, but my concern would be high schools. Stanton and Paxon seem like amazing schools, but I think admission is based on lottery (is that right? someone please correct me if that's wrong!).

If a student attends a feeder school, they are guaranteed a spot at one of those schools. If there are any other openings, then it is based on a lottery system.
Usually there are openings for 10th and 11th grade after students who decide Stanton or Paxon is not a good fit for them (after their 9th or 10th grade year).