Considering move to Acton -- are schools that bad? (Santa Clarita: short sale, real estate) - Los Angeles - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

lhoward914 · 03-26-2009, 11:50 AM

My family is trying to move from Ohio to Santa Clarita, but we are having huge problems getting someone to sell us a house! Everything we find that suits us is a foreclosure & the mortgage companies just will not move on getting anything sold. We have been making offers on houses for the past nine months and have gotten nowhere. My husband has been working & living in SC since last May and I am stuck here in Ohio with our 4 kids (ages 2-14).

We haven't been able to find a house in SC that is not a short sale. We did find some that were regular sales in Acton, and are seriously considering buying there. It's a bit more of a commute than we'd really like to SC and I understand the weather isn't as nice & that it can be really windy & dusty. I could probably live with all that if it's not too extreme, but the one big drawback I'm having trouble getting around is the schools. From what I've read, they are not very good in Acton. Is it true that there is no permanent high school building, but just trailers? And that they don't have a HS gym, library or indoor cafeteria? This seems hard to believe. Some of the posts I read were old, and I'm hoping someone can tell me if things have improved any school-wise in Acton? Do they have a HS boys' soccer team and marching band? Is it at all feasible to have your child transferred to the SC school district? Do they let you do that?

Also, is Acton so close to Palmdale that there is a problem with crime & violence there? I have spent some time in SC in the past year & I love it there, but I know nothing about Acton. We are desperate to move by the beginning of summer & any info anyone could provide would be so appreciated. Thanks!

Becky

missionhome · 03-26-2009, 11:09 PM

Acton has 2,390 residents. You will be lucky to find someone that lives here that is on this forum. Just some advice, but in general, schools with an API state rank of 8/10 are considered good. 7/10 schools can be good too, kind of a transition score. 6/10 or lower and I would be looking at a case by case basis as to why the test scores are low at the school. Call the school district serving Acton to ask about transfers and whether they allow it.

lhoward914 · 03-27-2009, 11:33 AM

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have been trying to check the Acton-Agua Dulce school district website, but it seems to be down or something. I can't get any of the links to work. I'll keep trying.

Charles · 03-27-2009, 11:34 AM

Try this in the meantime:

School Performance Maps

Flashbaak · 03-27-2009, 12:46 PM

We don't live in Acton, but the private school our kids attend in the Antelope Valley is where several families from Acton bring their kids each and every day, if that tells you anything.

adysmom · 04-06-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhoward914

My family is trying to move from Ohio to Santa Clarita, but we are having huge problems getting someone to sell us a house! Everything we find that suits us is a foreclosure & the mortgage companies just will not move on getting anything sold. We have been making offers on houses for the past nine months and have gotten nowhere. My husband has been working & living in SC since last May and I am stuck here in Ohio with our 4 kids (ages 2-14).

We haven't been able to find a house in SC that is not a short sale. We did find some that were regular sales in Acton, and are seriously considering buying there. It's a bit more of a commute than we'd really like to SC and I understand the weather isn't as nice & that it can be really windy & dusty. I could probably live with all that if it's not too extreme, but the one big drawback I'm having trouble getting around is the schools. From what I've read, they are not very good in Acton. Is it true that there is no permanent high school building, but just trailers? And that they don't have a HS gym, library or indoor cafeteria? This seems hard to believe. Some of the posts I read were old, and I'm hoping someone can tell me if things have improved any school-wise in Acton? Do they have a HS boys' soccer team and marching band? Is it at all feasible to have your child transferred to the SC school district? Do they let you do that?

Also, is Acton so close to Palmdale that there is a problem with crime & violence there? I have spent some time in SC in the past year & I love it there, but I know nothing about Acton. We are desperate to move by the beginning of summer & any info anyone could provide would be so appreciated. Thanks!

Becky

I think I can say for sure Acton schools are better then Palmdale/Lancaster schools. Acton is not full of gangs and the kind of people that belong too them. Yet

smegl79 · 04-25-2010, 10:49 PM

If you would like to talk to someone that has been in the area for a long time please feel free to call. 562-552-4151. We have been looking for a home here as well and we are running into the same problems as you. We have finally found an agent that acutually makes sure the propertys are available and at least in decent condition prior to looking. The short sale problem is still going to exist. Your not just dealing with the owner but the banks as well. At times you think your going to hit a home run and then you find out the bank has accepted another offer or there is 5 other offers on the table and then it is a bidding war. We are definatley considering acton, and have gone as far as considering Castaic. You will get mixed reviews on castaic. Santa clarita is going to be tough to find a home, unless you will consider a townhouse. Price will be tough as well. 280,000 will get you a a shack and a bidding war, 325,000 will get you a decent place but it will need work. above that, If your lucky you will find something in an old neighborhood and hopefully in somewhat good condition. I am sorry to sound not so optomistic but I come from a town of wide open spaces and I too, As I think you will. Is have a hard time having a yard you can barely fit two people in. Take a look at aquadolce as well. Good luck in your search. Oh if you would like to call the real estate agent that we are working with her name is cyle. her number is 661-607-8525. I have been through 4 agents because they have not even qualified the houses as to whether they are available or not. It sure gets annoying when you find something that you are intersted in and come to find out you never even had the chance to make an offer. The best advice I can offer is to make sure whoever you use you make them tow the line as respect to your time. By the way if you can rent for a while BofA is supposed to start taking back 45,000 more homes a month here shortly and the tax credit goes away. On top of that california is offering a 10,000 dollar credit. now. The BofA deal will probably open up the market on the buyers side. At least I hope. Anyway I am just rambling. Hope it helps

Guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhoward914

My family is trying to move from Ohio to Santa Clarita, but we are having huge problems getting someone to sell us a house! Everything we find that suits us is a foreclosure & the mortgage companies just will not move on getting anything sold. We have been making offers on houses for the past nine months and have gotten nowhere. My husband has been working & living in SC since last May and I am stuck here in Ohio with our 4 kids (ages 2-14).

We haven't been able to find a house in SC that is not a short sale. We did find some that were regular sales in Acton, and are seriously considering buying there. It's a bit more of a commute than we'd really like to SC and I understand the weather isn't as nice & that it can be really windy & dusty. I could probably live with all that if it's not too extreme, but the one big drawback I'm having trouble getting around is the schools. From what I've read, they are not very good in Acton. Is it true that there is no permanent high school building, but just trailers? And that they don't have a HS gym, library or indoor cafeteria? This seems hard to believe. Some of the posts I read were old, and I'm hoping someone can tell me if things have improved any school-wise in Acton? Do they have a HS boys' soccer team and marching band? Is it at all feasible to have your child transferred to the SC school district? Do they let you do that?

Also, is Acton so close to Palmdale that there is a problem with crime & violence there? I have spent some time in SC in the past year & I love it there, but I know nothing about Acton. We are desperate to move by the beginning of summer & any info anyone could provide would be so appreciated. Thanks!

Becky

smegl79 · 04-25-2010, 10:52 PM

I know the most important things is your kids. I have been looking at the schools as well. I do know that LA County schools are not good. I have always been a big fan of going to the school and interviewing the teachers. Each school is only as good as the Teacher and the Curriculum.

Guy

close the southern border · 04-25-2010, 11:59 PM

Home school your kids.

JohnG72 · 04-26-2010, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smegl79

I do know that LA County schools are not good.

Where did you get that idea from? LAUSD schools, with some exceptions, are not very good.

But other schools within LA County are extremely good and include the highest rated school in the state.