Eagle Rock or Long Beach for a small family? (Glendale: fit in, apartment)

[BeadGal]

Hi! My husband, 4-year-old son and I have lived in LA for seven years, so we do know a bit about the city. One thing I've noticed since moving here is that every little neighborhood has its own character and nuances, which is something that makes the city an adventure. We currently live in a condo that is zoned to the Highland Park public schools area. Needless to say, we are looking to move before our son gets to Kindergarten.

I work in the La Crescenta area of Glendale, and as a last resort, I could bring my son with me when he hits school age. However, although the schools are excellent test-scores-wise in this area, my husband and I are less than excited about the blandness of the area.

We have been looking at two options: Eagle Rock and Long Beach. My questions are:
1. How are the schools, particularly the middle and high schools, in these areas? And I don't just mean test scores - are kids challenged artistically? Is the environment safe? Do kids have a sense of community? Are parents involved? Does the school have a sense of pride? Do most kids go on to university?

2. Would I be absolutely insane to drive from Long Beach to La Crescenta every day? Obviously, Eagle Rock is the best choice in this regard, but we prefer the weather near the beach, as well as the independent "city" vibe of LB.

Thanks for your input, and if there are similar areas we have overlooked, please feel free to comment! Areas we have already ruled out include Pasadena (we want our son to have a public education), South Pasadena (way too expensive), La Canada (too expensive/conservative), Westside (too crowded), and most of the Valley (too hot/too many gangs and ghetto neighborhoods).

That really narrows it down, huh? Thanks again.

[BRinSM]

what about glendale proper or burbank? eagle rock is still LAUSD and will have the associated problems and long beach is way too far IMHO.

[Lumerian Feast]

Can't speak to the quality of Eagle Rock schools, though you're right that the schools in La Crescenta are very good. But:

Originally Posted by BeadGal

2. Would I be absolutely insane to drive from Long Beach to La Crescenta every day?

Yes. Insane... and miserable.

[BeadGal]

We lived in Glendale when we first moved here, but we did not fit in culturally. (My husband is Latino, and I am a Euro-mutt/white girl. While we loved the food and met some nice people, neither one of us speaks Armenian, nor could we see the sense in buying a brand new BMW when you've got your entire family crammed into a rented 2-bedroom apartment. This seemed to be an acceptable train of thought in Glendale). Besides that, I would never, ever want my son to go to Glendale or Hoover High Schools. Both are chaotic places; I know because I worked there!

We did consider Burbank, but it just doesn't suit us. Not sure why. It has a cute downtown, but I'd actually choose La Crescenta over Burbank for the diversity.

Thanks for the input! We are picky and opinionated, I know

[Chowhound]

You've go to be joking with this post.... that kind of a commute, just for the "vibe" of LB.

I live in LB..... not a bad city, but the schools aren't all that much, and for that kind of crazy traffice filed commute, something that could be easily avoided...IDK........

Plenty of areas up that way that would fit the bill.... JMHO of course.

[somethingsomething]

I would choose La Crescenta too. Good (if not excellent) schools, safe, and somewhat diverse. IMHO.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by BeadGal

Hi! My husband, 4-year-old son and I have lived in LA for seven years, so we do know a bit about the city. One thing I've noticed since moving here is that every little neighborhood has its own character and nuances, which is something that makes the city an adventure. We currently live in a condo that is zoned to the Highland Park public schools area. Needless to say, we are looking to move before our son gets to Kindergarten.

I work in the La Crescenta area of Glendale, and as a last resort, I could bring my son with me when he hits school age. However, although the schools are excellent test-scores-wise in this area, my husband and I are less than excited about the blandness of the area.

We have been looking at two options: Eagle Rock and Long Beach. My questions are:
1. How are the schools, particularly the middle and high schools, in these areas? And I don't just mean test scores - are kids challenged artistically? Is the environment safe? Do kids have a sense of community? Are parents involved? Does the school have a sense of pride? Do most kids go on to university?

2. Would I be absolutely insane to drive from Long Beach to La Crescenta every day? Obviously, Eagle Rock is the best choice in this regard, but we prefer the weather near the beach, as well as the independent "city" vibe of LB.

Thanks for your input, and if there are similar areas we have overlooked, please feel free to comment! Areas we have already ruled out include Pasadena (we want our son to have a public education), South Pasadena (way too expensive), La Canada (too expensive/conservative), Westside (too crowded), and most of the Valley (too hot/too many gangs and ghetto neighborhoods).

That really narrows it down, huh? Thanks again.

I would never even consider the drive from Long Beach to La Cresenta. Glendale is a possible option, but the home prices might be higher. Even though Eagle Rock is part of the LASD they have always had schools that are rated higher than many parts of L.A, not to mention Eagle Rock has a wonderful personality all it's own like you said.

Nita

[BeadGal]

Thanks, everyone! You have pretty much confirmed what we were thinking already. I just had to throw it out there, as people often have secret surface street routes of getting places, but from Long Beach to the Foothills may just be geographically impossible on a daily basis! I also overheard some coworkers who were planning to go to a conference in Long Beach say they were getting a hotel room...uh, yeah...I think if one has to stay over night for a two-day conference, making the drive on a daily basis is pretty much out of the question!!

Thanks, all!

[David Aguilar]

La Crescenta, or Tujunga or Sunland for more "keeping it real".

[Manini2010]

You might also want to consider Silverlake/Los Feliz. A quick drive up the 5 will get you right to work, fairly safe areas, fairly decent schools.