Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, etc...Public Schools (Lynn, Medford: new home, buying)

[momofnfson]

I live in Medford and I am planning on buying a bigger house in the next few months/year. My husband and I need a bigger home and would like to live someplace where we can spread out a little and have a little bit of land (1/2 acre or so). We have 4 children who are all in elementary school and 1 of our children has an IEP. He receives services for speech, OT, PT, Title 1 (reading) and has a paraprofessional assigned to his class to assist him and other children on and IEP. Before we narrow down our search for a new home I would love any insight on cities and towns that are known to have good public schools and offer excellent Special Ed services. We are thinking anywhere slightly North of Medford from Stoneham to Andover (reading, north reading, wakefield, wilmington, etc.) If you have any experience in any of these towns please let me know. I don't know how else to find out about the special ed programs.....the last thing I want is to move someplace and have to fight for services!

[gf2020]

Reading and North Reading would generally be considered to have better schools than Wakefield or Wilmington. Those towns are also more expensive. Lynnfield and Andover could figure in the mix as well. You'll have to decide what you value the most for your budget.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by momofnfson

I live in Medford and I am planning on buying a bigger house in the next few months/year. My husband and I need a bigger home and would like to live someplace where we can spread out a little and have a little bit of land (1/2 acre or so). We have 4 children who are all in elementary school and 1 of our children has an IEP. He receives services for speech, OT, PT, Title 1 (reading) and has a paraprofessional assigned to his class to assist him and other children on and IEP. Before we narrow down our search for a new home I would love any insight on cities and towns that are known to have good public schools and offer excellent Special Ed services. We are thinking anywhere slightly North of Medford from Stoneham to Andover (reading, north reading, wakefield, wilmington, etc.) If you have any experience in any of these towns please let me know. I don't know how else to find out about the special ed programs.....the last thing I want is to move someplace and have to fight for services!

For a larger lot size you will want to focus on the east side of I-93. Boxford, Lynnfield, Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton will provide the largest yards in or slightly beyond the area you are presently looking at. The lots get smaller the closer you get to route 128 or if you go west of I-93. The commercial development pressures along route 128 and route 3 have caused the cost of land to skyrocket in those areas leading developers to build subdivisions with much smaller lots. That is why for a large yard I would not waste time looking west of I-93 unless you desired to go way over to the route 2 corridor where larger lots become prevalent again (Carlisle, Concord, Bedford, Lincoln etc).

Based on the school needs, I would narrow it down to Reading, North Reading Andover or Lynnfield. I don't know any specifics on special ed.