Questions re: Schools & Culture of Minneapolis & near west subs (Eden Prairie: neighborhoods, school district)

[ertie]

Hi all --

Moving to MN in June . . . Husband's job will be in St. Louis Park, and we'd like to live within 10-15 min drive. Looking at Lakes area of Minneapolis and near west suburbs as places to hang our hat.

Housing Budget in 600-700K range.

Any feed back on St. Louis Park itself?

Lakes region? What is it like? I know it is in the Minneapolis school district -- how are the schools?

We are not looking to raise our kids in a "Keeping up with the Jonses" community. We're pretty laid back and down to earth.

Some friends have mentioned Wayzata . . .

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[golfgal]

With a housing budget like that you are going to end up in a keep up with the Jones neighborhood. Wayzata is a very affluent area as is Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and many of the western suburbs.

I would stay FAR away from the Minneapolis schools. Eden Prairie would be your best choice on that section of the twin cities for schools unless you want to go private schools at about $10,000 kid. Eden Prairie is probably the least wealthy of those areas but that isn't saying much. The schools are excellent though.

[Minnehahapolitan]

You'd be at the top of the Saint Louis Park market, its an older, stable city built mainly between the 20's and the 60's. OK schools. Wayzata would fit your price range, but its farther from the city and would be a "Jones" town (don't drink the punch) ditto for Edina. Minnetonka is relatively close to the city and retains a rural feeling with good schools. SW Minneapolis has what I think are the nicest neighborhoods. While most city schools are to be avoided, but there are options for city residents (some city schools are actually pretty good (Ramsey Jr. High, Southwest High)) or you choose to open enroll kids in suburban schools (Usually Edina for that part of town). Hope this helped, the best of luck

[DemonKittie]

If you go to Minneapolis and are in the southern area, DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN GO TO SOUTH HIGH. I skipped an entire trimester (this was 8 years ago) and never got in trouble. Also it is an overcrowded school where your kid truely is nothing much more that a number to many of the people that work there. It's an easy school to fall through the cracks in.

[Minnehahapolitan]

/\ South High is nowhere near the lakes. Kids in that area go to Southwest.