Moving from PA to Nebraska (Lincoln, Seward: best neighborhoods, transporting, sex offenders)

[Payton in Pa]

We are moving to the Lincoln area and have no idea which areas in Lincoln have the best schools...best neighborhoods ( but not the most expensive) We are looking for an older neighborhood ( I love older homes with character) with mature tree lined streets and families. I saw a house on A street near the sunken garden. Is this one of the nicer areas in Lincoln?
Any Help is appreciated... We are also considering Hickman and surrounding areas

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by Payton in Pa

We are moving to the Lincoln area and have no idea which areas in Lincoln have the best schools...best neighborhoods ( but not the most expensive) We are looking for an older neighborhood ( I love older homes with character) with mature tree lined streets and families. I saw a house on A street near the sunken garden. Is this one of the nicer areas in Lincoln?
Any Help is appreciated... We are also considering Hickman and surrounding areas

Payton,
I live in Lincoln and I know the area around the Sunken Gardens well. It isn't one of the worst neighborhoods in Lincoln but there are issues. One thing is there are two group homes in the area; one is for sex offenders and the other is a halfway house for inmates transitioning from incarceration to the street. Elliot school is one of the problem schools in Lincoln and it may be where your kids would go (K thru 6th). This is a fringe area. If you go South and east a few blocks (closer to South Street and 40th) I think you will find it more to your liking. InterLinc has links to crime maps etc to help in your planning.

GL2

[justmiinNE]

If you are considering Hickman, it will be for the top notch school system. There is little left of nicer old homes, in tree lined neighborhoods. The old section is old, and the houses are a little shabby, you might find a few updated, but your choice is limited. What Hickman does have, is newer neighborhoods being built. The draw of the Norris School system, is bringing in new families. We love living here, and it's not far from Lincoln, in less than 10 minutes, you can be to all parts of south Lincoln, so it really isn't that bad.

[mb1547]

The best way to get a feel for the neighborhoods and schools is to do some basic research in advance, and then come out for another visit and set up meetings with administrators and school tours. If you're set on living in Lincoln, the Sheridan blvd. area is full of beautiful old homes, and Sheridan elementary is one of the top rated elementary schools in the state. Although I'm very familiar with Lincoln, my children don't attend school there, so I'm not an expert on the individual schools--I'm not sure which middle school and high school Sheridan elementary attends, or how good those schools are. There are lots of online resources for checking school rankings. If you're looking for more of a small town or surburban experience, the Waverly school district is one of the highest rated in the state, and they are just a short drive out of Lincoln--basically on the edge of the city. The Hickman district mentioned above is also just south of town. The Malcolm district is tiny (40 students per grade), but also a solid little school district just northwest of Lincoln--most families attending there live on acreages in the area or option in from Lincoln or Seward. Seward--about a thirty minute commute via interstate--is also a good school district set in a small town.

Another issue that you need to be aware of is that Nebraska offers extensive public school choice options--if you live in one district, you can often opt to send your children to a different school out of your area, free of charge, as long as certain criteria are met, and if there is space at the school you're interested in. In most cases you will be responsible for transporting your children to school if you live out of the district, although some small towns offer bus service that you pay for if you opt into that district, and if there are a number of other students living in your area who opt in as well. I'd check with schools that you're interested in to see what the criteria is--often there is an option enrollment deadline, and some schools won't accept option students who have an IEP (special education) or 504 plan (learning disabilities). If your children fall under either of those categories, you probably need to live in the district you want to attend, but I'd check it out with the school you're interested in. If they don't, I'd check on the possibility of optioning your children into a stronger school if you choose to live in an older, established neighborhood, and you find that the school isn't what you're looking for.

Good luck! Lincoln has a million things to offer young families. If you have more questions don't be afraid to ask.