shawnee mission middle schools and high schools (Overland Park, Olathe: cul-de-sac, real estate)

[bbmag]

We currently live in the Olathe school district boundaries and are looking to find a less expensive home in an established neighborhood, most likely the Shawnee Mission school district. I have looked at the ratings on Greatschools.net, but I was wondering if anyone in the district could share more personal information in regards to the middle schools and high schools. (keeping in mind we are looking at the $200K price range for homes) I have a daughter that would be starting middle school next year. Thanks

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by bbmag

We currently live in the Olathe school district boundaries and are looking to find a less expensive home in an established neighborhood, most likely the Shawnee Mission school district. I have looked at the ratings on Greatschools.net, but I was wondering if anyone in the district could share more personal information in regards to the middle schools and high schools. (keeping in mind we are looking at the $200K price range for homes) I have a daughter that would be starting middle school next year. Thanks

My parents used to live in Overland Park, a portion of which is in the Shawnee Mission School District. You really can't go wrong with Shawnee Mission East. This school is highly ranked, and the neighborhoods near the school are established with a good variety in housing stock. Some of the towns that are nearby Shawnee Mission East include: Prairie Village, old Leawood, and the northeast portion of Overland Park.

[gwander]

Look in the area around Indian Woods Middle School and Shawnee Mission South High School. You will find lots of wonderful established neighborhoods, with homes in your price range.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by bbmag

We currently live in the Olathe school district boundaries and are looking to find a less expensive home in an established neighborhood, most likely the Shawnee Mission school district. I have looked at the ratings on Greatschools.net, but I was wondering if anyone in the district could share more personal information in regards to the middle schools and high schools. (keeping in mind we are looking at the $200K price range for homes) I have a daughter that would be starting middle school next year. Thanks

I grew up in the Shawnee Mission School District and purposely moved back here to make sure my kids were in Shawnee Mission School District (that was before Blue Valley existed). The grade schools are wonderful. Honestly, the middle schools are pretty much "holding tanks" in between grade school and high school, but I figure middle schools everywhere are pretty much like that. The middle school age is just a hard age all the way around.

I would recommend either Mission Valley Middle School or Indian Hills Middle School and Shawnee Mission East high school for academics, but keep in mind if your kid goes to school in those schools they will be going to school with a lot of rich kids; the high school parking lot is filled with cars that the kids drive that are much nicer than some people own their entire lives. My kids grew up in this area and went to school with lots of kids who have much more money than we do (and we don't do bad, it's just that the wealth in this area is unreal) and they were okay knowing that they didn't get a brand new $30,000 car for their 16th birthday like some of their friends do, we don't have a marble entryway, we don't have a nanny or a housekeeper, etc. I think it just depends on the kid. My kids did, I think, think that how their friends lived was the "real world" and had the perception that we were poor in comparison. Now keep in my mind our household income varies from $150,000 to $200,000. The kids at school always have the latest cell phone, lots of expensive clothes, go to the Plaza for dinner before prom, etc. My kids lived through it and are now out of high school. Shawnee Mission East is an excellent school, though, and a lot of doctors, lawyers, etc. send their kids to East when they could well afford to send them to private school; the academics are that good. Several of the kids who graduated last year are in ivy league schools this year and there are always a few kids who get a perfect score on their ACT test every year.

At times I have wondered if it might have been better for us to live in a less "rich" area. I have a friend whose kids went to Shawnee Mission North and when my girls were spending $100-$200 on prom dresses, my friend's daughter and her friends bought $20-$50 dresses and they were fine with that, because that's what the kids at their school wore. Much more social pressure at Shawnee Mission East, I think. I don't know as much about the Shawnee Mission West, SM South or SM Northwest.

I do think my kids as a result of going to Shawnee Mission East think that this is the way most people live. I have told them when they get a little older and get out in the real world they will see that. They are in college now but still have a preference for expensive restaurants and expensive clothes and we are trying to teach them that they have to live within their means, that they don't make enough money to eat on the Plaza and buy $50 shirts from Express.

So, having lived through it, that is my take on it. Prairie Village is an excellent area to raise kids and you can find a home in that price range if you can handle rubbing elbows with those who have a lot more money than you do. That's not to say the there aren't lots of other families who are not "rich," it's just that I think the kids are influenced a lot by the kids who have everything. My kids have lots of friends, some with much more money than us and some with much less, and I have to say that while there are cliques like there are in any school, the kids don't seem to care much how much money your family has when choosing their friends.

[bbmag]

Originally Posted by luzianne

I grew up in the Shawnee Mission School District and purposely moved back here to make sure my kids were in Shawnee Mission School District (that was before Blue Valley existed). The grade schools are wonderful. Honestly, the middle schools are pretty much "holding tanks" in between grade school and high school, but I figure middle schools everywhere are pretty much like that. The middle school age is just a hard age all the way around.

I would recommend either Mission Valley Middle School or Indian Hills Middle School and Shawnee Mission East high school for academics, but keep in mind if your kid goes to school in those schools they will be going to school with a lot of rich kids; the high school parking lot is filled with cars that the kids drive that are much nicer than some people own their entire lives. My kids grew up in this area and went to school with lots of kids who have much more money than we do (and we don't do bad, it's just that the wealth in this area is unreal) and they were okay knowing that they didn't get a brand new $30,000 car for their 16th birthday like some of their friends do, we don't have a marble entryway, we don't have a nanny or a housekeeper, etc. I think it just depends on the kid. My kids did, I think, think that how their friends lived was the "real world" and had the perception that we were poor in comparison. Now keep in my mind our household income varies from $150,000 to $200,000. The kids at school always have the latest cell phone, lots of expensive clothes, go to the Plaza for dinner before prom, etc. My kids lived through it and are now out of high school. Shawnee Mission East is an excellent school, though, and a lot of doctors, lawyers, etc. send their kids to East when they could well afford to send them to private school; the academics are that good. Several of the kids who graduated last year are in ivy league schools this year and there are always a few kids who get a perfect score on their ACT test every year.

At times I have wondered if it might have been better for us to live in a less "rich" area. I have a friend whose kids went to Shawnee Mission North and when my girls were spending $100-$200 on prom dresses, my friend's daughter and her friends bought $20-$50 dresses and they were fine with that, because that's what the kids at their school wore. Much more social pressure at Shawnee Mission East, I think. I don't know as much about the Shawnee Mission West, SM South or SM Northwest.

I do think my kids as a result of going to Shawnee Mission East think that this is the way most people live. I have told them when they get a little older and get out in the real world they will see that. They are in college now but still have a preference for expensive restaurants and expensive clothes and we are trying to teach them that they have to live within their means, that they don't make enough money to eat on the Plaza and buy $50 shirts from Express.

So, having lived through it, that is my take on it. Prairie Village is an excellent area to raise kids and you can find a home in that price range if you can handle rubbing elbows with those who have a lot more money than you do. That's not to say the there aren't lots of other families who are not "rich," it's just that I think the kids are influenced a lot by the kids who have everything. My kids have lots of friends, some with much more money than us and some with much less, and I have to say that while there are cliques like there are in any school, the kids don't seem to care much how much money your family has when choosing their friends.

Thank you so much, that is what I was afraid of. We are looking to downsize and for the very reasons that you mention. We don't want our kids to expect a certain lifestyle, even if it means we live in a smaller home with less conveniences. Our kids are great students, but we don't for see them attending Ivy League schools, just would like them to get a good education to prepare them for college and be able to get involved in school activities and athletics.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by bbmag

Thank you so much, that is what I was afraid of. We are looking to downsize and for the very reasons that you mention. We don't want our kids to expect a certain lifestyle, even if it means we live in a smaller home with less conveniences. Our kids are great students, but we don't for see them attending Ivy League schools, just would like them to get a good education to prepare them for college and be able to get involved in school activities and athletics.

They would get a good education in any of the Shawnee Mission schools. I think Shawnee Mission North might be an excellent choice for you. Dr. Phil went to Shawnee Mission North - not that that matters at all!!! That is where I would have gone to high school if we hadn't moved before I went into high school. I did go to junior high in that area (Old Mission, which has now been turned into something else). Or even Shawnee Mission South or Shawnee Mission West. Shawnee Mission East is the most affluent/snooty of the Shawnee Mission schools. Good luck with your decision!

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by bbmag

Thank you so much, that is what I was afraid of. We are looking to downsize and for the very reasons that you mention. We don't want our kids to expect a certain lifestyle, even if it means we live in a smaller home with less conveniences. Our kids are great students, but we don't for see them attending Ivy League schools, just would like them to get a good education to prepare them for college and be able to get involved in school activities and athletics.

I think the "richness" factor stems from the Mission Hills influence in Shawnee Mission East. However, like I said before, a wide range of housing stock exists in the general area from old ranchers to upscale luxury houses. You could definitely find a solid house in the 200K-250K range in NE Overland Park, Prairie Village, etc.
Even though some areas of NE Johnson County are quite upscale you will find a lot of average middle class areas along with upper middle class neighborhoods.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I think the "richness" factor stems from the Mission Hills influence in Shawnee Mission East. However, like I said before, a wide range of housing stock exists in the general area from old ranchers to upscale luxury houses. You could definitely find a solid house in the 200K-250K range in NE Overland Park, Prairie Village, etc.
Even though some areas of NE Johnson County are quite upscale you will find a lot of average middle class areas along with upper middle class neighborhoods.

Noooooo....I think things have changed since you were here (regarding the "richness" factor). Yes, she can find a house in the $200-$250K range. But it's not just Mission Hills anymore; Prairie Village is what I was thinking of. There will be pockets of $200,000 homes and pockets of million dollar plus homes right next to each other. People are buying houses in Mission Hills/Prairie Village and tearing down the home and building multimillion dollar new homes on the lot. But I was thinking more PV than Mission Hills because other than a couple of kids from Mission Hills that my kids hung out with, the other rich kids that they knew from East were all PV kids. This is more the area I was thinking of: 8205 Juniper Ln, Prairie Village, KS | Reece & Nichols Real Estate, Mortgage, Closing Title Experts | Listing Information

There are definitely also $200,000 homes. I was just giving the OP my perspective on the effect living in the area has had on my kids and their perceptions.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by luzianne

Noooooo....I think things have changed since you were here (regarding the "richness" factor). Yes, she can find a house in the $200-$250K range. But it's not just Mission Hills anymore; Prairie Village is what I was thinking of. There will be pockets of $200,000 homes and pockets of million dollar plus homes right next to each other. People are buying houses in Mission Hills/Prairie Village and tearing down the home and building multimillion dollar new homes on the lot. But I was thinking more PV than Mission Hills because other than a couple of kids from Mission Hills that my kids hung out with, the other rich kids that they knew from East were all PV kids. This is more the area I was thinking of: 8205 Juniper Ln, Prairie Village, KS | Reece & Nichols Real Estate, Mortgage, Closing Title Experts | Listing Information

There are definitely also $200,000 homes. I was just giving the OP my perspective on the effect living in the area has had on my kids and their perceptions.

I definitely agree with the point that a number of older houses are being torn down and are being replaced with upscale houses and McMansions.
I know of a street a few blocks west off Mission Road and 75ST that has some newer construction. Western portions of PV around the Somerset Road corridor are quite nice and upscale.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Prairi...ge-Kansas.html
20 new building permits for PV were issued between 2005-2007 with an average cost an excess of 600K.
I have a lot of relatives that still live in JOCO, but it has so many neighborhoods that constantly change that it is sometimes tricky to get a handle on "older" emerging areas, "declining" established areas, and newer cookie cutter developments, etc.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I definitely agree with the point that a number of older houses are being torn down and are being replaced with upscale houses and McMansions.
I know of a street a few blocks west off Mission Road and 75ST that has some newer construction. Western portions of PV around the Somerset Road corridor are quite nice and upscale.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Prairi...ge-Kansas.html
20 new building permits for PV were issued between 2005-2007 with an average cost an excess of 600K.
I have a lot of relatives that still live in JOCO, but it has so many neighborhoods that constantly change that it is sometimes tricky to get a handle on "older" emerging areas, "declining" established areas, and newer cookie cutter developments, etc.

Yep, you mention exactly the area I was talking about, in the area all around Franklin Park around Somerset and Roe, and really from there over to Nall too. Is Canterbury the street you mention west of Mission and 75th? Definitely some nice homes in that cul-de-sac not to mention one that is no longer there for reasons we won't go into here. You probably know what I'm talking about.