unsure of relocating to Dedham, MA (Boston, Needham: for sale, homes, elementary schools)

[bean1965]

There is a chance that my family (husband, 8yrs old & 14 yrs old) could be relocating to Dedham. I first thought the area was great but after reading comments on another thread it seems not so much. I'm particularly worried about the schools, they seem to be barely average. We will be coming from tennessee and I am also a bit concerned about the kids adjusting. Also there were comments that Dedham was dirty- any thoughts? What about the Charles River, does parts of Dedham set on the river? Are there good/bad areas to live? Where are they... I would appreciate any information you could give.

[CaseyB]

Okay, as far as Dedham goes the nicer sections (in general) are on the areas that border Needham - along rte. 135, and on the section of Dedham bordering on the town of Westwood. Needham and Westwood are upscale. The areas in Dedham that you would want to avoid is around rte 1 and towards the east - Boston side.

The schools are considered to be only so-so, at least the upper grades, but maybe one or 2 of the elementary schools might be good, I don't know.

Do you have a job offer in Dedham?

[pjscdn]

Originally Posted by bean1965

There is a chance that my family (husband, 8yrs old & 14 yrs old) could be relocating to Dedham. I first thought the area was great but after reading comments on another thread it seems not so much. I'm particularly worried about the schools, they seem to be barely average. We will be coming from tennessee and I am also a bit concerned about the kids adjusting. Also there were comments that Dedham was dirty- any thoughts? What about the Charles River, does parts of Dedham set on the river? Are there good/bad areas to live? Where are they... I would appreciate any information you could give.

The town is much more dense than the other surrounding towns, and you'll find much more commercial property in Dedham than the other nearby towns. Route 1, which splits through the town, is lined with the usual chain stores and restaurants. So, you need to take that into consideration if you like that type of setting.

The areas nearest the highway are considered wealthier, and the areas closest to Boston on the other end of the spectrum. There are homes for sale in some areas that can approach seven figures, and others that will be priced on average lower than surrounding towns. The town seems to have a wide variance in comparision to other surrounding towns.

About 15-20% of the students go to private schools. There are both pricey private schools and more moderately priced parochial schools in the area. The town has a large Catholic population, so the parochial schools are popular. The population is mostly white, with about 5% of population considered minority.

Your best bet for elementary school is to be in the Greenlodge district. Their students usually rank as one of the best in the state.

Is your 14 year old a good student? If so, then make sure he gets into the top level & honors classes at the high school. The motivated students at the high school get into good colleges. From what I have heard, if you end up in the lower level classes, you can fall through the cracks. I suggest contacting the school administration for detailed information.

The Charles River runs through Dedham, and also is part of the town boundary on the northern side. Parts of the bank of the river abut commercial property, and some is protected wetlands. The town owns parkland on the river for recreational use.

Hope this helps...