HELP!!Caroll County vs. Severna Park/Arnold (Baltimore, Columbia: homes, job market)

[bevmarb]

Hi.

We are really having a hard time picking a high school for my daughter and thus where we will have to live. We move in 2 weeks!

We thought we would pick Westminster for Winters Mill district and then we tried my husband's commute from Jessup - it was well over an hour in the morning bumper to bumper. Is that normal?

We focused on areas around Sykesville/Eldersburg for Century High School, but when we read reviews it was rated poorly by parents regarding Admin and Teachers.

We thought perhaps Liberty High school - seem to be more choice of newer homes than those that fell under Century High. But not sure about this HS?
Anyone know of experience with Liberty?

Our other choice if we sacrific less lot size was Severna Park/Arnold/Edgewater areas. We did hear great things about the Severna Park High school and OK things about Broadneck High?

My daughter's first impression of course is the outside of the school building and she went YUCK to the older schools like Liberty, Severna Park and liked the outside of Century (newer school) I think because her school now is new.
Obviously the inside can tell a very different tale.

So..... I know everyone has different experiences -we liked the rural idea of Eldersburg (my daughter likes to ride horses)and the -water-oriented idea of the other areas (we own a boat).

We also have a toddler that needs activities and playareas.

We have a budget in the 500-600K range for a 4 bdrm home - and it looks like Anne Arundule areas would have to go older home and Eldersburg perhaps have more choice of newer (10 yrs of less).

We looked at Howard County, Columbia, Ellicott city - wasn't impresed with the congestion, traffic and closeness of the homes etc.

I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks. HELP!

[emsgoof]

How are you trying to get from Westminster to Jessup that's bumper to bumper? Granted, it would probably be about 45-60 minutes, but it shouldn't be in traffic, just the distance.
Liberty High is a good school. Try some areas out in western Howard County also (Lisbon, etc). You may find something there, with Glenelg HS (always a good school too).

[mmemk]

Severna Park, Broadneck, and South River tend to be considered the best schools in AA Co (although others are good, too). Severna Park would be the best commute-wise from within AA Co -- you'd probably take 175 over. If you lived closer to Annapolis, your husband would have to deal with 97, which can get backed up at times and of course is a longer drive regardless of the traffic.

[JaBradshaw]

Severna Park. Severna Park High School is widely considered one of the best in Maryland, the best in Anne Arundel, for sure. I believe it is a blue ribbon school with a great athletic program, and good facilities. Carrol County is good, but the county has less money than say Anne Arundel and the schools are thus not as well funded. Severna Park is also closer to Baltimore, D.C., Annapolis, Ft. Meade, and a very large job market.

[purple1]

Severna Park in AA County. If you live in Severna Park it is more congested but it's still a nice area and close to a lot of places. I lived in Westminster and loved it. It is getting more congested but they have good schools too and it's just a nice clean rural (but growing) area.

Good luck.