What is it like in Oakland TN? (Memphis, Bartlett: crime, new home)

[worried4kids]

On my house search, I'm finding brand new homes in Oakland for the price we can afford. I'm not as worried about schools now because I've found a private school for my autistic son. But is Oakland safe? What's it like? Does anyone know if their schools are comparable to Shelby county or better/worse?

Also, in general, in the Memphis vicinity, I'm hearing some say Shelby county schools are not good. But are the surrounding counties any better? or are they worse?

Thanks!

[Pearlbob]

Oakland is still very rural. It's safe, but there isn't much going on out there. Expect to drive into Memphis for any activities. I think Shelby County is supposed to be better, according to what I've heard people on here say.

I think overall, anywhere in the country, you'll find that rural schools tend to be a lower quality than suburban city schools. Probably less money has a lot to do with it.

Shelby County schools encompass a huge mix. Germantown and Collierville schools are great. Bartlett is okay. Cordova is of course almost all Memphis city now. What else is there? Millington, Arlington, Lakeland areas?

[worried4kids]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Oakland is still very rural. It's safe, but there isn't much going on out there. Expect to drive into Memphis for any activities. I think Shelby County is supposed to be better, according to what I've heard people on here say.

I think overall, anywhere in the country, you'll find that rural schools tend to be a lower quality than suburban city schools. Probably less money has a lot to do with it.

Shelby County schools encompass a huge mix. Germantown and Collierville schools are great. Bartlett is okay. Cordova is of course almost all Memphis city now. What else is there? Millington, Arlington, Lakeland areas?

Ok, so even though those schools that are in Germantown and Collierville are Shelby county they're still good? Wow. That's so surprising. Things are so different. Up here in Illinois, one county that is all one district is usually all bad or all good. I'm finding some in Millington and Lakeland too. Thanks for all the help. I guess it being rural is ok if we stick with private for my son. We'll see...

[UofMGrad92]

Oakland would be a safe area, but it is a long drive into Memphis from there. The schools (Fayette County) are generally considered inferior to Shelby County Schools, and most folks I know out that way put their children in private schools. I've heard Oakland Elementary is a good school, but that is no better than third hand information.

You would be hard pressed to find a high school in the Shelby County system that doesn't have some kids from areas that are higher poverty and higher crime than what is found in the suburban municipalities proper. This is also true of the middle schools and elementary schools to a lesser degree. Most of these children come from areas that are part of the Memphis annexation reserve but have not been annexed (east and north of Frayser and Raleigh between Millington and Bartlett and east of Hickory Hill south of Germantown and west of Collierville). But overall, you can still get a great education in the schools in those areas (at least by public school standards in the South). The Southwind area schools (the area east of Hickory Hill and South of Germantown) probably are the most troubled, and that is one area I would for sure avoid.

Are they better or worse than the surrounding county school systems? I would say that they are not all that different in general, but some schools are better than anything you would find in the surrounding counties and some schools are worse than what you might find in the surrounding counties. Excepting Fayette County, which I feel comfortable saying are not up to par with almost all of Shelby County and either Tipton or Desoto (MS) County.

[Pearlbob]

Germantown is oooooold money. Their kids go to good schools.
Of course, public is always "lower" than private for the wealthy, but it's still a great area to live and the schools are fine.

Millington would be on the low end of the schools...not that great. Memphis has not grown to the north like that.

Originally Posted by worried4kids

Ok, so even though those schools that are in Germantown and Collierville are Shelby county they're still good? Wow. That's so surprising. Things are so different. Up here in Illinois, one county that is all one district is usually all bad or all good. I'm finding some in Millington and Lakeland too. Thanks for all the help. I guess it being rural is ok if we stick with private for my son. We'll see...

[UofMGrad92]

Pearlbob is right. Collierville and Germantown have the best reputation for schools, with the Arlington area the hot place in the north part of Shelby County. Bartlett, Lakeland, and Arlington all have good schools, but the Bartlett areas has lost some luster on it's reputation (for living and for schools) with the push east into Lakeland and Arlington by folks moving into the suburbs. Millington is a decent enough town, but no one moves there for the good schools.

As a plug for my town, I live in Bartlett and find it to be clean, safe, diverse by suburban standards, a good provider of services, and convienent to getting into Memphis (with gas at $4.00/gallon, the convienence is getting more and more important). The public schools have worked well for us, but some are definitely better than others.

[Pearlbob]

Good point....with gas prices, who wants to drive in from Oakland everyday? As if the drive wouldn't be bad enough, you'd be hearing a faint "cha-ching" the entire time

Originally Posted by UofMGrad92

Pearlbob is right. Collierville and Germantown have the best reputation for schools, with the Arlington area the hot place in the north part of Shelby County. Bartlett, Lakeland, and Arlington all have good schools, but the Bartlett areas has lost some luster on it's reputation (for living and for schools) with the push east into Lakeland and Arlington by folks moving into the suburbs. Millington is a decent enough town, but no one moves there for the good schools.

As a plug for my town, I live in Bartlett and find it to be clean, safe, diverse by suburban standards, a good provider of services, and convienent to getting into Memphis (with gas at $4.00/gallon, the convienence is getting more and more important). The public schools have worked well for us, but some are definitely better than others.

[mzloolue]

Originally Posted by worried4kids

Ok, so even though those schools that are in Germantown and Collierville are Shelby county they're still good? Wow. That's so surprising. Things are so different. Up here in Illinois, one county that is all one district is usually all bad or all good. I'm finding some in Millington and Lakeland too. Thanks for all the help. I guess it being rural is ok if we stick with private for my son. We'll see...

Oakland has a lot of housing developments.
Some are much nicer than others.


As far as Shelby County schools go, all the high schools are good.
The only school I would really warn anyone away from is Woodstock Middle.
But before I bought a house in any district, I would contact the neighborhood school and go for a tour.
They will arrange to show you around and explain their programs if you call and ask.
They don't mind at all and they basically have to show you around.
Information on the racial and financial makeup of the students is available.

I have worked in some of the schools in Germantown and some in Millington and Bartlett and the truth is that there is not much difference in the students or the facilities or the staff.

This might help
Shelby County Schools (Tennessee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)