Living in the city of Lexington less than 200K? (mortgage, new house)

[Tory]

Hope you don't mind if I join in this discussion! We are seriously thinking about relocating to either Lexington or Louisville later this year. We visited Lexington last November and liked the 40515 zip code area near Veterans Park. After reading earlier posts on this thread about Southern Middle School having gang issues, and crime incidents in the Waterford and Belleau Wood areas, I am hoping some of you who live in Lexington can give me some info about the areas around Veterans Park - subdivisions like "Fairhaven", "Woodfield", "Hartland", etc. We subscribed to the Lexington newspaper for a few months, and I read that Veterans Park Elementary had some of the highest test scores in Lexington. Does Tates Creek High have gang problems? Any info about this area would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[ic-epi]

Originally Posted by Tory

Hope you don't mind if I join in this discussion! We are seriously thinking about relocating to either Lexington or Louisville later this year. We visited Lexington last November and liked the 40515 zip code area near Veterans Park. After reading earlier posts on this thread about Southern Middle School having gang issues, and crime incidents in the Waterford and Belleau Wood areas, I am hoping some of you who live in Lexington can give me some info about the areas around Veterans Park - subdivisions like "Fairhaven", "Woodfield", "Hartland", etc. We subscribed to the Lexington newspaper for a few months, and I read that Veterans Park Elementary had some of the highest test scores in Lexington. Does Tates Creek High have gang problems? Any info about this area would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I'm not from Lexington but am moving there soon (as you probably know from reading this thread) and just got back from a 3 day trip there. I too liked the Tates Creek high school area, particularly Landsdowne (although that isn't Veterans Park). Pinnacle is Veteran's Park, Southern, and Tates Creek schools.

I haven't heard any huge problem about gangs in Southern middle school. (I'm responding to this because I'm the one who initially mentioned it). My comment came from something I saw on the school website, which was written by a student there, which may or may not have been an exaggeration. I've heard mixed reviews about the school -- some very good things, also. I personally have not heard anything about gangs in Tates Creek High School (in fact, I've heard the opposite) and I think with the new IB program starting this fall, the school will really be up and coming.

Veteran's Park elementary has excellent test scores and a great reputation.

I do know that Waterford seems to have a lot of houses for sale, that aren't moving very quickly right now. However Waterford is not VP elementary area so that might be part of it. I do recall some people said there might have been a few crime instances, but also I have heard that about other "nice", newer subdivisions -- just because they are newer and therefore a target.

Hope this helps a little. My visit to Lexington was a great experience and we really learned a lot! (thanks in large part to the help of people on this forum!)

[Tory]

To ic-epi - Thanks so much for your response! Glad you enjoyed your visit! We will be going back in late June or early July for another "look" - won't be moving until later this year. This forum is a wealth of great info - we will probably cross paths on here again! Good luck with your move!

[6kiddiez]

Pinnacle is Veteran's Park, Southern, and Tates Creek schools.

Southern middle school

not heard anything about gangs in Tates Creek High School

We actually live in Pinnacle. We're not originally from Lexington so I'll through in my two cents.

Just a couple of notes.....one thing I really learned is NEVER bet on what school district any particular neighborhood is in. When we first moved in to Pinnacle, we were NOT districted into Veteran's Park--one of three streets in the neighborhood that wasn't. That has since changed but my kids are older now.

About Southern Middle School: Southern Middle School is probably the number one reason that we decided to start homeschooling our children. The first year we lived here, I had one, the second, I had two there. Before the end of the second year, we knew we were homeschooling the next year. I would have had 3 in SMS that third year. I started to see behavioral problems that we never had to deal with, my daughter was bullied, and there was an instance with a friend's child having his life threatened and an actual weapon being brought to school. I now homeschool until our kids go to high school.

Tates Creek High School: While I would say that TCHS does have its faults, my children have enjoyed being there. I've had one graduate, and another will graduate next month. I then have two more at TCHS and another will be there in 2 years. My son is entering the IB program in the fall. I find that on the whole, teachers are very cooperative with parents and genuinely have the children's education as their top priority. We have had only one teacher that I can say did not have that philosophy--I removed my daughter from her class.

I know that Belleau Woods has had some problems with burglaries in recent months. However, the neighborhood is rally in a different "area." Lexington is odd that way that you could be in a really great area and then two streets over it is not the best of neighborhoods.

I would agree with you that some of the nicer neighborhoods like Waterford, etc., may be targeted because they are nicer. We've lived in Pinnacle for almost 7 years now adn we really like it. In the summer there is the pool and also the neighborhood swim team that the kids can join.

Let me know if you have more questions specific to the neighborhood, or the general area.

[nlschr0]

Originally Posted by 6kiddiez

eI know that Belleau Woods has had some problems with burglaries in recent months. However, the neighborhood is rally in a different "area." Lexington is odd that way that you could be in a really great area and then two streets over it is not the best of neighborhoods.

Yes, I agree completely. This was one of the hardest things to figure out when we first moved to the Lexington area, and one of the hardest things to explain to people relocating to the area.

Since you live in the south area, what neighborhoods and schools would you recommend there? I am only familiar with a few of the neighborhoods where we have good friends, like Pinnacle.

[Tory]

to 6kiddiez - Thanks so much for your very informative post! We were looking at real estate listings in the computer for the 40515 zip code areas on the map to the right of the actual park called Veterans Park and the Veterans Park E.S. Some of the subdivisions were "Fairhaven", "Woodfield", "Hartland", etc. Do you know anything - pro or con - about these areas? ( After reading various posts here, we are now also looking at listings in the 40513 zip code - the Dunbar H.S. area)) Our son will be attending college when we move, so we won't have children in the public schools. But, usually, high test score rankings, etc., for local public schools are a prized factor in real estate, which is why we were looking near Veterans Park E.S. That is interesting that the areas can change so quickly. Is that true throughout Lexington? Is there much crime in these 40515 subdivisions? (or the 40513 ones?) Are there many break-ins? Car thefts? Or worse? I don't want to come across as a "nervous Nellie" - but we have always lived in neighborhoods that were, for the most part, free of any serious crime. Thanks in advance for any info!!

[ic-epi]

6kiddiez -- thank you for your post! I really appreciate that information. You validated some of the things I had been wondering about.

Tory -- it seems to be really hard to find a neighborhood that has the "best" schools at every level (the elementary, middle, and high school levels). Several people have talked about the Ashland Park and Chevy Chase areas as being in great school neighborhoods all around, and those areas have a very nice real estate appreciation rate. As for the other neighborhoods, it seems to me that people view neighborhoods that are in the Dunbar high school district as being valuable. Because of the elementary "alternate" school issue (overcrowding), you can't even count on the fact that your child will go to their neighborhood school.

There are a lot of houses for sale in Hartland I've noticed. Very nice neighborhood but someone here commented that lots of people who live in that neighborhood send their kids to private schools.

[Tory]

to ic-epi - Thanks for your reply. We will probably consider both 40515 and 40513 homes. And we will also be checking out Louisville - although, I think I'm leaning more Lexington's way! Good luck in your home search! Keep us posted - I've learned so very much wonderful info from reading your entries! Thanks!

[gimme it]

It seems that Harrods Hill and Beaumont have good schools all the way through as long as they don't bus your children to other schools.

[Tory]

to gimme it - Thanks for your reply! I thought the same thing about those areas in 40513. Just found a great site called "schooldigger.com" that verified that those schools are highly ranked. Also wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading your posts about Kentucky! Best wishes in your home search! (My husband will be retiring from the Federal Govt. later this year and we have decided to leave the suburban Washington D.C. area. Have "narrowed" our relocation prospects to Kentucky - Lexington or Louisville - or to Oregon - Eugene or Portland. But we're leaning very heavily toward Kentucky!)