Where are the best Elementary Schools in or near Cambridge, MA?

[danp]

Great info, thanks very much! I accepted their offer and must try my best to get up there by Feb 28. I will be up looking around on Monday.

[danp]

Thanks Wivenhoe!

[proudestmonkey]

I think your options will be limited in choice, but you might find something in the Porter area. As the OP mentioned, Cambridge is a lottery system, so you could live across the street from an elementary school and be assigned to one completely across town. This happens, so just be prepared for it. If you don't mind that and you're lucky enough to find a place in your price range, I say go for it. I like Cambridge.

[Beantown_mama]

I wouldn't move to Arlington or Belmont these days because both towns are having terrible budget problems and cutting a lot of the school budget in particular.

$1,500 is going to be tight for a rental budget close to Cambridge. I agree that Cambridgeport is a really nice area to live in, but also, I'd try and figure out the school lottery because the quality of the Cambridge schools really varies. Newton/Brookline are great choices but I doubt you can rent a suitable apt for that price.

You may want to look at some of the towns along the commuter rail lines into North Station because there is an EZ ride shuttle that leaves from North Station and travels to Cambridge. It makes for an easy commute. Two more affordable towns that have cute/walkable downtowns off the commuter rail are Melrose and Wakefield.

[nei]

Cambridge is quite doable without a car unless you plan on leaving to the surrounding suburbs frequently

[danp]

Thanks for all the information, I just got back from a trip to Cambridge and rented a beautiful, clean apartment near Danehy Park for 1450/mo. I think we are going to be very happy there. Plus we got into the first draft of the lottery where they say 90% of the people get their first choice. Coming from Florida the choices of elementary schools seemed unbelievable. I think as far as public school education we got out just in time.

[ogre]

Sounds good. Best of luck with the move.

[katesp]

My kids have been in the Brookline schools for 8 years. I would strongly suggest you take a look at north brookline. Most of the parents here commute to Cambridge ( a lot work at Harvard) and depending where you'll be working, it could be just a few bus stops across the river. Schools are super international, diverse and well rated. North Brookline has a lot of restaurants etc and is walkable (or quick T ride) to Back Bay and Downtown. Feel free to email if you have any questions,