If school district doesn't matter... (Malverne: homes, best schools, property taxes)

[Mantaray14]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

The only officially statistically (performance-wise) "questionable" SD in your list would be Elmont (and even that opinion is questionable by some).

What school district do you live in?

You are correct in that was a poor way for me to categorize it. I just moved to Oceanside, but grew up in 5 Towns and lived in Long Beach for the last 8 years. I don't think people go for statistics as much as community involvement and word of mouth when it comes to a schools districts perception.

[twingles]

I'd still pick the very expensive town I live in because the town is very kid-centric (I'd never live here if I didn't have kids) - there are a bunch of parks, they run programs free of charge over the summer for the kids, the rec dept has stuff all year long, the pool is great, etc; it has a nice "downtown/village" which is an atmostphere we like, and it's close to everything we want to be close to. So school district was important to us, but there were many other draws as well.

[Mantaray14]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

The only officially statistically (performance-wise) "questionable" SD in your list might be Elmont in SOME rankings (and even that opinion is questionable by others).

What school district do you live in?

Here's a reputable ranking of LI high schools:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/1805859-post33.html

For instance, you will see that both Long Beach and West Hempstead, where your beloved Island Park sends its students to high school, ranks lower than all the districts you consider "questionable" with the exception of it being 1 notch above Sewanhaka. Island Park therefore is the one associated with the most "questionable" high schools compared to the ones you mentioned. Is your opinion more about, shall we say "demographics," or actual performance? Because if you are basing it on performance you are sadly mistaken.

I only suggested Isand Park because I found the taxes lowers on comparable houses than nieghboring towns. You can find an oceanfront house there and pay 30% less the taxes than in Rockville Centre or Oceanside. That is what poster asked about! Balwin, Valley Stream and Elmont have high taxes and fall near the middle of your 2 year old list. I don't know of a single person looking at thoses towns for school districts.

BTW - I am a minority.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

I don't know of a single person looking at thoses towns for school districts.

I don't know anything about Baldwin and Elmont personally, but in Valley Stream they are because the schools actually offer a lot to the kids in terms of extras and are performing academically. Some people are wising up to the fact that the world, even LI, is changing and is more globalized and mixed than ever and it is doing a disservice to raise your kids in a bubble (only going to school and mixing with mainly your own kind) because when they are adults they will need to be more sophisticated than ever and be able to get along with and cooperate with all kinds.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

I only suggested Isand Park because I found the taxes lowers on comparable houses than nieghboring towns. You can find an oceanfront house there and pay 30% less the taxes than in Rockville Centre or Oceanside.

Island Park is not on the ocean.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

BTW - I am a minority.

Of what kind since you thought it was pertinent to bring up.

[Mantaray14]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Island Park is not on the ocean.

I meant Water-front -the Harbor Isle section is nice.

I'm part hispanic and I also feel diversity is important. I know race can be a touchy issue, but I don't want you to think I formed my opinion of districts with that criteria. I go by other people's experiences who have already put their kids through the district and also get the inside scoop from my teacher friends.

But you are correct in that a lot of districts get a worse perception than they deserve. know lots of people who are in districts not percieved as "one of the better ones" and they say it's working out fine for them and their children - but they are involved.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

But you are correct in that a lot of districts get a worse perception than they deserve. know lots of people who are in districts not percieved as "one of the better ones" and they say it's working out fine for them and their children - but they are involved.

On Long Island actually almost ALL of the school districts are a lot better than public schools in most parts of the country. What we consider an "average" public school on LI can be head and shoulders above public schools in a lot of other places.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Mantaray14

I meant Water-front -the Harbor Isle section is nice.

While the 3 communities share a ZIP Code postal zone ("Island Park, NY 11558" mailing address), the Hamlet of Harbor Isle, on the west, and the Hamlet of Barnum Island, on the east, are not a part, or a section, of the Village of Island Park, in the middle.

[jimlisa1020]

I'd have to say Farmingdale. It's where I currently live and I really like living here. I'd love to move to the Lenox Hills section but we're moving out of F'Dale because of the schools. You pay the same amt in taxes as in Massapequa, Wantagh etc but get a lesser school district.