If you were working in Lenexa... (Overland: where to buy, school district, living in)

[tates96]

Where would you choose to hang your hat? It looks like my husband may be accepting a position there and we're just not sure where to buy a house. We have two elementary aged children and one starting high school in the fall and to be honest, schools are really important. We'll be moving from Charlotte, NC. We would like a diverse area and our budget is $300k. My husband doesn't mind driving 30 mins. one way to work. We thought Lawrence might be a good area, but I thought I would double check with some locals. Thanks!

[ProspectiveTransplant]

In looking for quality districts, you couldn't go wrong with Lawrence, Olathe, or Blue Valley (South Overland Park). Much of the Blue Valley district is not all that diverse; Olathe is more so. I would advise not living in the boundary area for Olathe North High School as this school is the least preferable of the four high schools in Olathe (East and Northwest are extremely good schools, if not the most diverse; South is okay too). If your husband really doesn't mind the drive, the Lawrence district is by far the more diverse and is strong. Some of the elementary schools in eastern Lawrence have relatively impoverished student populations, though with your budget being what it is I imagine you would probably live in western Lawrence, where most families tend to gravitate. (This would make your husband's commute longer, naturally, but K-10 isn't a bad drive at all. However, it's probably going to be longer than 30 minutes to a location in Lenexa.)

I think most of Lenexa is in the Shawnee Mission School District, which is also fine.