Germantown (Columbia, Collierville, Winchester: townhouses, employers, moving to)

[bags111]

We will be moving to Germantown from the UK some time month. We are coming out to look for houses and schooling next week. Are there any areas in Germantown that one should avoid? As we will only be staying there for a year I was wondering whether state schools would be an option for us - our kids are all in elementary school. Does each school have its own catchment area or do they take anyone in as long as they have place in the class?

[pushkinswife]

I don't have kids-so I can't help you in that department. However, from what I have seen there are no sketchy areas of G'town. I don't consider myself an expert but most of the area if nice and its a very desirable area.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by bags111

We will be moving to Germantown from the UK some time month. We are coming out to look for houses and schooling next week. Are there any areas in Germantown that one should avoid? As we will only be staying there for a year I was wondering whether state schools would be an option for us - our kids are all in elementary school. Does each school have its own catchment area or do they take anyone in as long as they have place in the class?

Germantown's fine. Also, each school has its own district and students are assigned to schools on that basis. School choice is not an option.

[bags111]

Thanks for that. Do I take it that I would need to find a school before a house?? Also would I have the same problem with the private schools? Any names of good private catholic schools in the Germantown area?

[strumpeace]

I'd probably stay away from the southern edge of Germantown that runs near Winchester. Otherwise, have at it. Very nice place to live.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by bags111

Thanks for that. Do I take it that I would need to find a school before a house?? Also would I have the same problem with the private schools? Any names of good private catholic schools in the Germantown area?

On the public school front, there's no guarantee of how the districts will be drawn once you're in a house. You could buy a house for a particular school and then have the districts moved, putting you in another school.

Good Catholic Schools in Germantown: Our Lady of Perpetual Help OLPHonline

Incarnation Catholic School in Collierville (town borders Germantown) Incarnation Elementary

[DragonFly757]

I lived in Germantown and my kids went to school there. All the schools are good, in my opinion....better than we've had elsewhere. We lived near the Department of Energy in a row of townhouses. Single family homes are pretty expensive in that area. Be prepared for sticker shock! We had a small (approx 1200 sq. ft.) townhouse that (two years ago) was valued at over a half million dollars.

Driving into DC is a bit hard. I-270 is literally locked up most of the day and certainly during rush hour. A 15-mile commute sometimes took 3 hours.

I really liked the area, the people, etc. but hated the driving.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by TailoredMaid

I lived in Germantown and my kids went to school there. All the schools are good, in my opinion....better than we've had elsewhere. We lived near the Department of Energy in a row of townhouses. Single family homes are pretty expensive in that area. Be prepared for sticker shock! We had a small (approx 1200 sq. ft.) townhouse that (two years ago) was valued at over a half million dollars.

Driving into DC is a bit hard. I-270 is literally locked up most of the day and certainly during rush hour. A 15-mile commute sometimes took 3 hours.

I really liked the area, the people, etc. but hated the driving.

I think you're thinking of a different Germantown. The poster is asking about Germantown, Tennessee which would be a very long drive from the District of Columbia.

[TheGhetto]

Stay away from the "SouthWind" side of Germantown. Any neighborhood close to winchester road is bound to fail or riddled with the bad. I mean there are some big houses there but the quality if tenants have diminished. Sorry to say it but its the truth. In a couple of years southwind will be the ghetto like my name.

Is there a reason you are looking into Germantown? There are some nice areas around there but stay away from southwind area. I grew up there and my parents still live in the area, i have noticed the decline and the so-called "w_flight)

[bags111]

No reason in particular. It was recommended to us by our employers on the basis that there is everything there to entertain the kids, good shopping etc, without us having to commute too much. Schools look good too. Have you any other recommendations? We were told that Germantown is the furthest from downtown that we can stay.