Best place to live between Minnetonka and Little Canada (Plymouth: renting, daycare) - Twin Cities - City-Data Forum

MSP Hunting · 10-06-2010, 01:27 PM

We just recently moved to the area and my wife just accepted a new job in Minnetonka (near Carlson Pkwy and 494). I work in Little Canada (near 36 and Rice St.). Currently we are renting, but we are now debating the best place to live long-term that will provide us with the best schools while minimizing commute times. We were thinking about the Wayzata School District (in the Plymouth/Maple Grove area) and also contemplating Osseo Schools (also in Maple Grove) -- basically targeting the NW corner of I-494/694. We have three young children, our oldest is in 1st grade and we have two younger ones that would need daycare/preschool.

Thoughts?

golfgal · 10-06-2010, 01:33 PM

With 3 young children I would live near one parent's work and have the other parent commute. I would live near the parent's job with the most flexibility take time off if the kids are sick, need to get picked up from school, etc. Mounds View or Mahtomedi schools are both excellent if you want to be closer to Little Canada or Minnetonka or Wayzata schools for being on the other side of the cities are good choices.

BillWallace · 10-06-2010, 02:16 PM

Agree with golfgal but in general Minnetonka, Wayzata or Osseo school districts are all excellent.

Kebinminn · 10-06-2010, 09:12 PM

Maple Grove is a great family area, I love it there. The Wayzata schools are generally thought of as better than Osseo schools but I don't have personal experience with them.

laxster · 10-08-2010, 10:33 AM

If schools are important, you may want to just choose somewhere near one of those areas and have the other commute.

1. It's good to have a parent be fairly close to his or her child's school -- you never know what can happen and it's important that if you are needed you can be there for your child fairly quickly.
2. Mounds View and Eden Prairie schools both are neck-in-neck and consistently are ranked as the metro area's two best school districts. While the performance data comparing both schools is comparable, I give a slight advantage towards Mounds View Schools due to smaller school and class sizes.

Shoreview or Arden Hills may be one of your best bets for a city to live in. Less hectic, less over-developed, and more pleasant than either Maple Grove or Eden Prairie. I've spent quite a bit of time in all these cities. Plymouth isn't the best; I feel like it takes forever to get even a short distance -- too many 4 lane divided highways that the traffic is funneled towards.

olsonb · 10-09-2010, 10:10 AM

On behalf of the Osseo Area Schools, I invite you to tour our schools so you can learn more about the excellent opportunities ISD 279 can provide for your children (including preschool). You'll find information at www.district279.org, or you may contact me personally and I'll be happy to help you arrange a tour and answer any questions you might have. Barbara Olson, school/community relations director, 763-391-7002.

Radical_Car · 10-09-2010, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olsonb

On behalf of the Osseo Area Schools, I invite you to tour our schools so you can learn more about the excellent opportunities ISD 279 can provide for your children (including preschool). You'll find information at www.district279.org, or you may contact me personally and I'll be happy to help you arrange a tour and answer any questions you might have. Barbara Olson, school/community relations director, 763-391-7002.

Sad that someone from a school district would come on a forum like this and try to solicit someone.