Paxon? (Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Crystal Springs: rentals, high crime, mobile home)

[maybaby100]

Hello Everyone,
My family and I are planning to move down to Jacksonville. I have been reading and searching these forums and I just wondered is someone can give me as many details as possiable about the area of paxon. How are the schools, People, diversity etc...

This seems to me to be one of the areas we can afford. I am way confused about the school system you guys have down there and the names of the schools dont really help much, because I cant find anything on the school site about which addresses feed into which schools.

I need someone that is willing to be straight up with me about areas in Jax. We can afford about 600-700 a month rent and have no problem living in a mobile home, however I do have a problem comprimising my sons education or putting my family in the danger of a high crime area.

Let me know what you think

Thanks a bunch

[cellson]

Good morning. The school system can be confusing. To simplify; your child can basically (with few exceptions) go to a magnet school instead of your neighborhood school....from elementary to high school. Therefore, where you live doesn't necessarialy affect where your child/ren will attend school.

I looked on Realtor.com for rentals in your price range and found a couple in neighborhoods that I think would serve you better than Paxon. One was in San Marco, 32207. That area has a fantastic elementary school, Hendricks Avenue that would be fantastic if you have a young child. http://www.duvalschools.org/hendricks

The other 2 rentals I found are in the 32205 zip code the Riverside/Avondale area. One, on Jean Street, within walking distance to Fishweir Elementary, which has no website, but I hear is an OK choice.

One you hit middle and high school, ther magnet system is your best bet.

To be blunt; I would stay away from the Paxon area. I wish you and your family the best!

[JagFan27]

Yeah, I'm not sure I would want to live in the Paxon area. You might try on the westside, further south that the Paxon area. Crystal Springs area? Is anyone familiar with the safety of that area?

[maybaby100]

Thank you both for your insite that helps alot. Does anyone know anything about the area of 32250? I found a mobile home over there in our price range as well.

Thanks again

Candice

[lightheaded1der]

Just to reiterate what cellson said.... Jacksonville has magnet schools. From elementary school on, your child could attend ANY magnet school if you jump through the right hoops. I know that when I was growing up here, R.L Brown was the magnet elementary school that fed into James Weldon Johnson, a magnet middle school, which fed into Stanton College Prep (I'm a proud alumni and I owe a lot to that school. These schools are downtown, and not near good living areas, but Jacksonville's magnet schools are some of the best in the country (e.g. google Stanton College Prep). You can live anywhere in town and your child can attend these schools. Good luck.

[cellson]

32250 is the Jacksonville Beach area...which would be a great place to land. Fantastic schools too.

[lisainthesky]

Yeah, I'm not sure I would want to live in the Paxon area. You might try on the westside, further south that the Paxon area. Crystal Springs area? Is anyone familiar with the safety of that area?

I grew up in Crystal Springs, and as recently as five years ago it was perfectly safe. As for as I know, it still is. And it has a lot going for it now - a new library on Chafee, for example. When I was growing up, it was pretty rustic, you had to go all the way up to Fouraker and Normandy to even buy groceries.

[rtt]

But don't kids have to test into these magnets as "gifted"?

[riveree]

Originally Posted by rtt

But don't kids have to test into these magnets as "gifted"?

The general Magnet program is by application and lottery, there are a few schools though where the process is more stringent - such as Douglas Anderson, Stanton College Prep, etc.

Duval County Public Schools Magnet Programs

[kwilli]

A little off subject but important to some.

Look for the end of the Magnet Schools as we know them! It appears that the school board is going to be forced to allow kids from "F" x 2 schools to attend Stanton Paxon and Douglas Anderson with only an interview. This comes from the so called "brain drain" that magnet schools are blamed for. Many want the magnet done away with so this looks to be at least a temporary fix.