Which school district is better: Massapequa or Plainedge? (North Massapequa, Massapequa Park: houses, neighborhood)

[Curlin]

Which school district is better: Massapequa or Plainedge?

[OhBeeHave]

I attended Plainedge, which is a very small school district which has little commercial tax base. My fellow students and I were well prepared to go off to 4 year colleges. However, our wealthier friends in the large Massapequa school district had greater opportunities.

From what I have been noticing, Plainedge has been putting a significant amount of muscle into the curriculum and has been adding more AP courses as well as become involved in Intel.

If I were forced to move back to Massapequa, I wouldn't think twice about sending my children to Plainedge. Housewise, I would prefer something south of 27A which would land me in Massapequa schools.

[Joe1976]

Originally Posted by Curlin

Which school district is better: Massapequa or Plainedge?

Massapequa!

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by Joe1976

Massapequa!

Plainedge!

THBBPT!

[Kimber22]

I am looking at a house in the Plainedge school district. The taxes are identical to my parent's home in Massapequa, who are in the Massapequa school district. The houses are almost exactly the same size, and neither have a pool or anything requiring huge differences in taxes. Why are the taxes in Plainedge so high if the schools aren't up to par with Massapequa?

[Smash255]

Originally Posted by Kimber22

I am looking at a house in the Plainedge school district. The taxes are identical to my parent's home in Massapequa, who are in the Massapequa school district. The houses are almost exactly the same size, and neither have a pool or anything requiring huge differences in taxes. Why are the taxes in Plainedge so high if the schools aren't up to par with Massapequa?

Plainedge has a much smaller commercial tax base than Massapequa, and doesn't have the higher end homes Massapequa has in order to allieviate the taxes.

[PizzaPedro]

I would say slight nod to Plainedge, and even moreso if school size is important to you.

[vavrinl]

When I moved into this area 15 years ago, I looked at houses both in North Massapequa (which were a little more reasonable but lower taxes) and Massapequa and Massapequa Park (which were more expensive but slightly lower taxes). Friends in the area said to make sure to move in an area with Massapequa schools and I am glad I listened. There is more of a sense of community in Massapequa, and there are many more resources in Massapequa Schools for AP classes, special needs programs, sports etc. On the down side, the school district is enormous with 6 elementary schools emptying into the jr high and high school. Kids are a small fish in a big sea which is difficult especially if they are competing for limited slots on the sports teams (too many kids not enough positions - extremely political too). Plainedge was on austerity a couple years ago and the sports got cut which was pretty pathetic. I remember the parents etc were constantly doing fundraisers to keep the teams going. Don't know what the situation is now, think the budget did pass. I dont think Plainedge is bad, I just think that where theres more money, the schools will have more to offer.

[atypicalLIer]

I just think that where theres more money, the schools will have more to offer.

Which is why many working class parents buy in areas which are above their socioeconomic means. (Going back to the working class/middle class kid thread.)

[LT03]

I purchased a house one year ago in Massapequa but in the Plainedge school district. I have made a number of friends in my new neighborhood but also have many childhood friends who have children who attend Massapequa schools. From what I have learned this past year is that each district is good and your child will recieve an excellent education.in either district. I have no children so my information is totally unbiased and based upon information I have gathered from parents and students attending both districts.

Both of my groups of friends who have children attending each district agree on the following:

1. Planedge is smaller, the class sizes are smaller and your children will get more attention from thier teachers. The students, if having problems will not fall threw the cracks of an overcrowed classroom. They will also form bonds with the teachers and staff

2. there are not many places if any at all for the students to go to eat or socilize within walking distence of the Planedge schools. This is good since the kids stay in school on thier breaks and for lunch which leads to less cutting of classes. The Massapequa students leave the school grounds regularly and a number of my friends have had problems with thier children not returning to school or returning to class late

3. the taxes in the Massapequa school district are a little lower. However, the difference between the two districts is shrunk when you factor in the STAR and enhanced STAR rebate(if the state does this one again). The Plainegde houses get more back from STAR then the Massapequa houses.

4. if your child is a gifted athlete Massapequa has a better reputation for producing college scholorship awarded students. However, this also means that if your children enjoy sports but are not elite players they will never get picked for a Massapequa team.

I hope this helps. Again I do not have children, my statements are based upon information that has been passed along to me from parents and students in both districts.

As far as the taxes and STAR rebates, that I have personnaly seen. My regular STAR rebate is almost 1400 each year. I have not been in the house long enough to get advanced STAR