Moving to Kansas City (Lee's Summit, Liberty: houses, school districts, live)

[schhajlani]

My family is planning to move to Kansas city area, we are OK with suburbs too.I am scratching my head over which areas are best to move in.My first priority is schools.I have a 9 year old who has autism so looking for a district that provides excellent Special needs education and I have a 7 year old who is gifted so again looking for a school that can challenge her.
Please, help me as I am not at all aware with area. I am moving from Michigan.

[bls5555]

Originally Posted by schhajlani

My family is planning to move to Kansas city area, we are OK with suburbs too.I am scratching my head over which areas are best to move in.My first priority is schools.I have a 9 year old who has autism so looking for a district that provides excellent Special needs education and I have a 7 year old who is gifted so again looking for a school that can challenge her.
Please, help me as I am not at all aware with area. I am moving from Michigan.

Park Hill school district in the Northland. I have a son with Autism and that is where we moved. We haven't had to fight for anything. They just give him the help he needs.

[schhajlani]

Thanks.I will check that out.

[JackieB23]

If you live further out - Kearney school district is very good with special needs kids as well.

[schhajlani]

Is it true that all school districts north of river are good? Are most of the communities upscale? Are houses in Kearney expensive?Sorry lot of questions,just very confused.

[luzianne]

Upscale - southern Overland Park on the Kansas side, Blue Valley School District (excellent district). Shawnee Mission is also an excellent school district, older area of Johnson County, less upscale than the newer Blue Valley area.

[TabulaRasa]

schhajlani, check your PMs, regarding autism stuff.

[bls5555]

Originally Posted by schhajlani

Is it true that all school districts north of river are good? Are most of the communities upscale? Are houses in Kearney expensive?Sorry lot of questions,just very confused.

From what I have heard, most of the schools districts are good around Kansas City, be it in Kansas or Missouri. There are a couple to avoid but those are the city ones I think. Most of the north is very nice, but a lot less expensive than the Johnson County area. A lot less suburbia like also, in my opinion.

[northbound74]

^^Yeah, only the inner-city schools are really bad. As far as special-needs is concerned, there's certain to be some better than others in that area.
Seems like I read something on the Kansas forums where someone who lived in the Blue Valley school district moved to Liberty, and their children were behind because BV didn't focus to well on some of the basics. The Kansas schools were accused of being all about the money and creative programs, or something like that. I've always had my suspicions that Johnson County schools were hideously overrated. Not bad, really, but made out to be much more than they actually are.

As for the nicer areas, Platte County is generally more upscale.
Shoal Creek, a development just west of Liberty along 152, is also very nice.
Several large sections of Lee's Summit are way out of my price range.
Come to think of it, I'd say 60% of the newer homes in the Kansas City area are in extremely nice/upscale areas.

[bls5555]

In regards to my 2nd post in this thread. The only thing I can speak to is the Park Hill School District. My son with Autism is going to be starting Kindergarten this fall and has been going to the ECE center for a year and a half now. Coming from where we came from it is night and day between the two districts. The Park Hill District is doing everything they can to give him what he needs. We don't have to ask, and we have never had to fight. They voluntarily put him in places where they feel he can get the therapy he needs. I have been nothing but impressed and would recommend the Park Hill district to everyone.

As for Houses in the Park Hill district. You can find all sorts in hugely varying price ranges. Not sure what you are looking to spend but you will be able to find a nice house in virtually any price range. Also, people get Park Hill District confused with just being Parkville, MO. You will find a LOT of houses with a KC, MO address in the Park Hill district. Don't be confused as the KC MO around the I-29 area is very nice. KC MO sometimes gets a bad rap, but the bad parts are nowhere near the Northland Park Hill District KC, MO.