moving to Memphis area (Jackson, Bartlett: hotels, employment, transfer)

[SuburbSue]

My multi-cultural family and I are relocating to the Tennesse/Mississippi area from the east coast. My husband is an exec and my son is an incoming 9th grader who is extremely bright. So many questions...where do we live? what school should my son attend (Private/Public)?

[kimsk112]

Originally Posted by tigergal

There is no train station there. I live close to this apartment complex and the tracks that run through this area are no longer operational. There is no commuter rail in the Memphis area.

Originally Posted by adlrwill

My family and I lived in Houston Levee Apt's. When we first moved in the apt's were nice as far as apt living goes.

Thanks for the information. I have a list of my favorite apartment complex now, and I will drive around next week.

[Kabluey]

Originally Posted by SuburbSue

My multi-cultural family and I are relocating to the Tennesse/Mississippi area from the east coast. My husband is an exec and my son is an incoming 9th grader who is extremely bright. So many questions...where do we live? what school should my son attend (Private/Public)?

For schools, try out St. George's and Lausanne for smaller private schools, Memphis University School for small-medium size, Christian Brothers (CBHS) is larger. If he's bright, get him tested for schollies.

Areas depend. Suburbs are pretty good. The city is more hit-and-miss, but when you hit on something, it tends to be richer and more diverse both demographically and environmentally/architecturally than the burbs.

[pomartini]

Do you want to live in Tennessee or Mississippi?

[tennreb]

Originally Posted by SuburbSue

My multi-cultural family and I are relocating to the Tennesse/Mississippi area from the east coast. My husband is an exec and my son is an incoming 9th grader who is extremely bright. So many questions...where do we live? what school should my son attend (Private/Public)?

If you want your child to go to public, then you must get him into White Station. It is the only acceptable city school, but it is excellent. They have a large number of students go to ivy league every year. It is also a very multi-cultural place. MUS is a very good school, but it is extremely conservative as most private schools in Memphis are. However, a multi-cultural family should have no problem there (unfortunately, unless you are a black-white family). The Catholic schools tend to be a little more liberal. Christian Brothers High is very good, though probably not in the tier as MUS, but not snobby at all. The student body is 50% Catholic. It probably has the same number of students going to top universities as MUS, but a smaller percentage because it is a much larger high school. Germantown and Houston are also very good public schools where a large slate of AP classes are offered. However, you need to look at the percentage of students passing the AP exams because not all AP classes are taught at the same level. I would not live in Mississippi because the public schools there are only average and there are no decent private schools. The commute to a good private school in Memphis will be at least 30 minutes. I recommend looking at Germantown, Collierville, and East Memphis. In Memphis, you'll be looking at White Station (though he may have to apply to get in White Station depending on where you live). In Germantown and Collierville, he will go to either Houston or Germantown or possible Collierville (though it isn't quite as good as Houston or Germantown). You may also want to look at Midtown, which is a beautiful area of reasonably priced homes. Midtown is far more liberal/progressives than the suburbs. If you live in midtown, he'll have to apply to go to White Station or he'll have to go to a private school. But it has the most beautiful homes/neighborhoods and culturally aware people in Memphis. The reason it isn't more expensive is because there are ghetto areas intermixed in with wealthy areas in Midtown. This turns most suburban-minded home shoppers off.

[IncognitoBlue]

I grew up in Florida, went to college in Raleigh, grad school in Chicago, began my career in Memphis and have lived in Los Angeles, Charlotte, Atlanta since..Memphis is much like any other city. There is crime, traffic, city issues, Walmart, Target, etc..etc. etc..Memphis will be what you make it. You have to look within and discover who you are and from there, will you find a neighborhood that fits you like a glove.
If you're on a budget for a nice neighborhood, try Cordova or Bartlett..If you can spend excess 300K, try Germantown or Collierville. The more you pay, the better public schools and less crime. There are many private schools in the Memphis area but most folks put their kids in private school not because of the education but mainly they never got over integration..Most public schools are majority black but Memphis is a majority black city much like L.A. a majority Hispanic city. There are good public schools in Memphis but like any city with a large population, public schools have a poor reputation. The suburbs have pretty good public schools. Actually, this entire region is majority minority so there is no escaping diversity. To escape it is to pay 40% more for a house than necessary. The builders here are really getting over on the white community by building the same houses and charging folks extra to escape diversity. Its your call on whats important. Me, I'd rather learn to live next door to someone with the same income and education if it will save me 40K - 70K for a house. As for as schools, I would suggest a Catholic school. That was the route I took. Some of the private schools are costly and aren't that much better than the public schools here. The Catholic school has been a good investment for me. If your'e not into diversity, well, Mississippi may be a place for you. Its a good commute from the city, not a lot to do there (very medicore kinda place) meaning medicore shopping, dining, schools. They promote the schools but in reality weak when compared to other school systems. The homes are affordable. I admit, they have great golf courses down there but you aren't going to bump into many PhDs in Desoto County.
Quiet kept, most of the money is moving back to the city (Midtown, dowtown and Harbortown). There are a lot of young, well educated professionals. Good entertainment, restuarants..If you build it, they will come so expect even greater amenities in the near future. They are even building new schools downtown - midtown (hint)..Prices are sneaking up..
One thing about Memphis, its a big city that operates much like a small town. The average person here hasn't been more than 500 miles away for an extended period. Most are threatened by outsiders so it may be difficult finding new friends (unless you find another transplant).
The climate, cost of living, lack of major traffic(DC, Atlanta, LA), is a cut above. With that said, I would suggest (considering crime, schools, restuarants, shopping, entertainmet, city services and taxes) look at it this way:
100K or below: you can find a nice home in Memphis for less than 100K but it may be an older neighborhood (small house). Most of these neighborhoods are spotty meaning you may be on a good block but if you drive six blocks, its not very nice anymore.
150 - 200K: Cordova, Bartlett, East Memphis*
250K or below: Cordova, Bartlett, East Memphis (lots of lovely trees and sidewalks)
250K or above: Midtown, Harbortown*, Germantown, Collierville
300K or above: Lakeland, EADS, Fisherville, Collierville, Germantown
Mississippi is filled with folks escaping Memphis but who rely on Memphis for income. Hernando, Southaven, Olive Branch are a bit rough around the edges but there are nice homes there. Its the equalivent to living in a mansion stuck in the intellectual desert..
Places to stay away: southeast Memphis (although great homes-good prices), Hickory Hill, Frayser, North Memphis or South Memphis. These are older areas that lack any amenities plus there are crime issues and poor schools.
Whitehaven isn't too bad but lack amenities. There is nothing in Arkansas so don't think about it.

One last thing, Memphis is stuck in 1975 (honestly) so those issues that most cities have overcome, Memphis hasn't been able to bypass that barrier. Its a racially unhealthy city. Politically, power is held by the black community but economic power is held by whites in East Memphis and far east suburbs. Some white Memphians haven't gotten over the fact that the city is ran by black politicians which explains the exodus to Mississippi. Let them tell you, its the city taxes, schools and crime. There is a thriving minority community (blacks and Indians). Most Indians are in Collierville. Most hispanics live in southeast (Hickory Hill) or north Memphis. They are quiet but numbers are growing and adding a great deal of value to the city.

You won't see much diversity after 5PM or on weekends. There is a great deal of poverty here and the number of college educated residents is below the national average. Its not a fitness (healthy lifestyle) kinda place but I admit, there are good people here (both white, black and brown). You'll just have to find them.

Good luck, I hope this helps. Just go with what works for you..

[strumpeace]

Good post.

[kimsk112]

Originally Posted by IncognitoBlue

I grew up in Florida, went to college in Raleigh, grad school in Chicago, began my career in Memphis and have lived in Los Angeles, Charlotte...

This is a pretty good post and sum up everything that I have learned about Memphis so far.

[pomartini]

Great post. Can we sticky it? It sums up everything we all try to say in one post or another.

[defiepilex]

Originally Posted by pomartini

Great post. Can we sticky it? It sums up everything we all try to say in one post or another.

I cosign for this to be stickied. Great post.