what town is best for kids? (Franklin, Hendersonville: rental, houses, neighborhoods)

[mithreeboyz03]

Hi,My family of 5 is planning on moving to the Nashville area but not sure where to go. I am leaning more towards Hendersonville, but I need more info on the schools in the area and outdoor activities for the kids. Can anyone give me some info? that would be awesome. My boys are 8,6, and 3.

[Wmsn4Life]

Most people who move here with kids are steered to either Franklin or Hendersonville. Here is a recent thread that compares the two:

Relocating to Nashville Suburbs (really soon)

[DonCorleone]

I've asked a mod to correct the thread title. But yeah, Wmsn's thread link is a good one. I live in Hendersonville and love it. There are lots of kid-friendly activities. Youth soccer is big for all ages and many of the games are played at Drakes Creek Park. There are also little league games there when in season. There are actually several nice parks in the area in addition to Drakes Creek including Sanders Ferry (includes lake access), Kids Kingdom (nice playgrounds), Veteran's Park (with a skate park and inline hockey), Rockland Park (mostly fishing and picnicking), and nearby Goodlettsville has an awesome park at Moss-Wright Park with a little bit of everything. Hendersonville has lots of shoreline with Old Hickory Lake, so if boating/skiing/fishing is of interest that is a big attraction. The YMCA also has a pretty cool outdoor pool and a less interesting indoor pool for kids that you can access with a family Y membership.

What are your boys into? Hopefully a few of those options are appealing.

As for schools, Hendersonville/Sumner County schools are pretty well-regarded. Williamson County's is higher ranked, however. Still, you can find very good public schools in Sumner County...really probably the best public school system in the midstate behind Williamson. There are 3 main high schools: Beech, Hendersonville, and Station Camp. Beech and Hendersonville primarily pull most of Hendersonville. Station Camp is further north and pulls from both Gallatin and Hendersonville and is the newest of the three. All 3 are good high schools and the schools that feed into them are generally good. Still, there is some variety of experiences within the elementary schools in the area. Some are better than others. Nannie Berry, Station Camp, Jack Anderson and Indian Lake Elementaries are all well-regarded. Others aren't quite as well-regarded.

As you are looking for homes, I'd suggest you make sure and check out what schools the homes are zoned for and do some research on greatschools.com or on here as well. Finally, ask your realtor if you have one...or others who live in the area.

Hope that helps.

[vivelafrance]

I agree with what Don said. The parks and recreational opportunities are hard to beat in Hendersonville and Goodlettsville's Moss Wright Park (just across the city border from Hville) is probably the second best park in the area after Nashville's Centennial.

I would also recommend checking out some of Goodlettsville's neighborhoods. As long as you stay in the Sumner County part, the schools will be excellent. Madison Creek and Beech Elementary are two of the most highly rated schools in the county and you also would have access to the Merrol Hyde magnet school program.

A few areas near Moss Wright to check out would be...
Copper Creek, 12 Stones Crossing, Indian Hills, Wynridge, Mansker Farms

[geetars73]

thanks for the replies. i'm actually answering this for my wife. our main concern is things to do for us and our boys. our boys are 8, 6, and 4, they are very outdoorsy kids. they'd rather be riding bikes instead of playing video games. we are a family that likes fishing, hiking, camping, 4 wheeling/dirtbike. we'd rather be outdoors instead of indoors. we'd like to move somewhere with younger families with children. Our oldest just started peewee football last year and he'd like to continue playing football and baseball. our middle boy wants to do the same but maybe soccer also. our youngest is nuts, if there's a ball he wants to play!

my oldest struggles a little in school, so we'd like to find a school that will be able to give him a little more attention. be it after school programs or in school programs.

we're looking into donelson, hermitage, old hickory, and hendersonville areas. i think i have a job lined up at metro ready mix in downtown nashville. does anyone know how long of a commute those areas would be? i drive an hour to work now and i'd rather not do that anymore!

don...Can you tell me if there are any sidewalks in any of the neighborhoods of Hendersonville. We are so used to having sidewalks, that will def. be an adjustment.

[vivelafrance]

Originally Posted by geetars73

we're looking into donelson, hermitage, old hickory, and hendersonville areas. i think i have a job lined up at metro ready mix in downtown nashville. does anyone know how long of a commute those areas would be? i drive an hour to work now and i'd rather not do that anymore!

don...Can you tell me if there are any sidewalks in any of the neighborhoods of Hendersonville. We are so used to having sidewalks, that will def. be an adjustment.

Out of those areas, Hendersonville is by far your best choice. It's on the lake and has one of the area's best parks systems so recreational opportunities are easy to find. The schools are far better than davidson county as well.

Most if not all newer subdivisions have sidewalks and the city also has a greenway system.

[Wmsn4Life]

Hendersonville also has really good peewee football teams.

Hendersonville Civitan (Design, Hosting, Registration & Administration tools by esportsdeskpro.com)

[geetars73]

Can any one refer me to any rental agencies or realtors to find rental houses in Hendersonville?

[geetars73]

Originally Posted by vivelafrance

Out of those areas, Hendersonville is by far your best choice. It's on the lake and has one of the area's best parks systems so recreational opportunities are easy to find. The schools are far better than davidson county as well.

Most if not all newer subdivisions have sidewalks and the city also has a greenway system.

Can you tell me what a greenway system is?

[vivelafrance]

Originally Posted by geetars73

Can you tell me what a greenway system is?

A greenway is a path away from the roads, like a narrow park, that connects different parts of the city for cyclists and pedestrians.

Hendersonville Greenways Committee