Moving to JAX...advice on neighborhoods? (school, to live, estimate)

[travelingfood]

Originally Posted by riveree

.......and the one on Beach Blvd & Hodges - that's the SuperTarget. The one at the Saint Johns Town Center is just a regular Target, but a nice one .

We only have 1 SuperTarget on the Southside of the city, but it would be close to you if you end up in Atlantic Beach or PVB, Snomint:

Jacksonville East SuperTarget
13740 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32224

san jose target's old and messy most of the time

[ljfam]

Riveree
Thanks for validating my first opinion of Mandarin. My husband is already there and working near the Avenues mall. One of his coworkers lives in Mandarin and said he had to go the private school route because of the "terrible schools". The realtor that was assigned to us almost gasped when I told her we liked the Mandarin area. She told us that we really should look at N St.Johns. I felt like I did my homework in researching the schools, found A and B rated school in a nice area. Came to look at the area. I loved the charm of Mandarin. Some old mixed with some newer homes, Not all cookie cutters etc...It is very frustrating as we are dealing with a relo company and they gave us apts in Deerwood and we told them Mandarin. I've not even met the realtor yet just a phone call. I want to tell my DH company that I can find my own arrangements. I really appreciate your opinion on the Mandarin thing. I mean they just don't hand out A and B ratings to the first in line!!

[riveree]

Originally Posted by ljfam

Riveree
Thanks for validating my first opinion of Mandarin. My husband is already there and working near the Avenues mall. One of his coworkers lives in Mandarin and said he had to go the private school route because of the "terrible schools". The realtor that was assigned to us almost gasped when I told her we liked the Mandarin area. She told us that we really should look at N St.Johns. I felt like I did my homework in researching the schools, found A and B rated school in a nice area. Came to look at the area. I loved the charm of Mandarin. Some old mixed with some newer homes, Not all cookie cutters etc...It is very frustrating as we are dealing with a relo company and they gave us apts in Deerwood and we told them Mandarin. I've not even met the realtor yet just a phone call. I want to tell my DH company that I can find my own arrangements. I really appreciate your opinion on the Mandarin thing. I mean they just don't hand out A and B ratings to the first in line!!

It's all relative, of course. If private school is in the budget, that would be the first choice, I'd imagine. But as Florida public schools go, Mandarin has some very good public schools. Remember, those FCAT ratings are Florida-wide ratings. An A-rated school in Duval county is comparable to an A-rated school in St. John's county, so I don't know why the realtor would "gasp" .

The Deerwood area probably has a larger selection of rental apartments, so that may be why you were directed that way. Mandarin has some rental apartments too though, so if you want to stay in Mandarin, maybe browse realtor.com's rentals. The Avenues Mall is in zip 32256 and you can also search 32257 & 32217 for rentals that would keep you close to the Avenues.

[marieinjax]

I think you would be very happy living on Jax Beach- Atlantic Beach -Nepturne Beach
right near the ocean

[Johnne Lee]

Originally Posted by ljfam

Riveree

I felt like I did my homework in researching the schools, found A and B rated school in a nice area.

I really appreciate your opinion on the Mandarin thing. I mean they just don't hand out A and B ratings to the first in line!!

Just MHO..

My 4 redneck kids went to VERY poorly rated schools (mostly in the rural south somewhere). They all received slightly above average grades (B+ to C+). They all applied for and received college scholarships to the private/public universities of their choice. They all graduated from college in the top 20% of their class, and they all did well enough in Grad School to enter satisfying (and fiscally stable) professions.

They are all functional, responsible adults and parents (except my oldest son who passed away several years ago). My children all are reasonably happy with their lives and they consider themselves fairly secure, even in the current economic situation.

I am convinced that long-term student outcomes have no correlation whatsoever with school ratings.

IMHO, it is far, far from being that simple...

YMMV....

[snomint3]

Originally Posted by marieinjax

I think you would be very happy living on Jax Beach- Atlantic Beach -Nepturne Beach
right near the ocean

Thanks Marieinjax! Now that it's turning colder here in PA I am most certainly looking forward to being close to the ocean & warmer weather

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by Johnne Lee

I am convinced that long-term student outcomes have no correlation whatsoever with school ratings.

IMHO, it is far, far from being that simple...

YMMV....

I have to agree to a large extent and know many examples where this is true.

[ljfam]

I also agree that a child will get out of school what he puts into it. That being siad, I don't want my kids to be in a particularly violent or drug ridden evironment or where there is huge amount of racial tension.. My children have not been brought up this way and I do not worry they will conform to those bad behaviors but that they will not fit in if they are in a "bad environment". I am not naive but I just want to be in an area where these behaviors anre't the norm. My oldest(13) has a blackbelt in taekwondo and I know he could handle himself but not against guns knives or those types of things. I hope that I don't come off as a snob because it is not my intention. I just don't want to throw my kids into a firepit and hope they come out burned.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by travelingfood

san jose target's old and messy most of the time

That's not the impression I get from that Target at all. I like the San Jose Target much better than the one on Southside.

[JagFan27]

Originally Posted by Johnne Lee

Just MHO..

My 4 redneck kids went to VERY poorly rated schools (mostly in the rural south somewhere). They all received slightly above average grades (B+ to C+). They all applied for and received college scholarships to the private/public universities of their choice. They all graduated from college in the top 20% of their class, and they all did well enough in Grad School to enter satisfying (and fiscally stable) professions.

They are all functional, responsible adults and parents (except my oldest son who passed away several years ago). My children all are reasonably happy with their lives and they consider themselves fairly secure, even in the current economic situation.

I am convinced that long-term student outcomes have no correlation whatsoever with school ratings.

IMHO, it is far, far from being that simple...

YMMV....

I agree with you completely. It's what's inside the person that matters, not the school. You said what I've thought so much better than I could ever say it. Thank you.