commute to Shakopee (Minnetonka, Apple Valley, Lakeville: house, to buy, school districts)

[Joestoes]

My husband is probably going to be working in Shakopee near 169 and Canterbury. I have no experience myself but have been advised to look in other suburbs for better school districts. We'd like to spend around 320,000 on a house , like mature trees, and would prefer a commute of around 20 minutes. Lakeville looks like more than 30 minutes, Minnetonka looks nice but will we find a house in our range? Any advice from those who have kids in school would be appreciated. I'll take any advice about what way the traffic moves to shorten the commte, etc.
Thanks

[Kebinminn]

You would be commutiing against the rush so that will be helpful to you. My BIL lives in Shakopee and feels the same about the schools, OK but not superb. They open enrolled into Minnetonka where he works. Minnetonka is very expensive to buy in but since prices are down you may be able to do 320k if you want a smaller home or one that needs work, check themlsonline, I'm not sure exactly what prices are like there.

I've hard good things about Apple Valley schools and I don't think the commute would be bad, not sure what rush is like but I think you'd stil be going against traffic.

[Oildog]

I have a few friends that live in Prior Lake and kids have done well in the schools.