Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Cranford is very comparable to Westfield, although at a lower price point. the schools rank very close to Westfield. Prices have not taken much of a hit here so be ready to pony up. Cranford is a seller's market.
Both towns have fantastic schools and have both weathered the market relatively well. As far as whether the bus or train is faster will depends on the time of day, but I think they're about the same.. The train has a transfer in Newark and the bus is obviously a one seat ride.
From personal experience, the inventory in Cranford is much smaller than in WF. I am having a hard time looking there! But I have a diva husband, so that may be the problem
Both towns have fantastic schools and have both weathered the market relatively well. As far as whether the bus or train is faster will depends on the time of day, but I think they're about the same.. The train has a transfer in Newark and the bus is obviously a one seat ride.
Cranford does in fact have good schools but they are good because parents care. The teachers are not any better then say Union but the parents care more and are more involved in their children's lives. This in turn produces a better school.
I wouldnt necessarily say its because the parents "care" more, but rather there is a correlation of socioeconomic factors and school performance. Does that mean that wealthier parents care more about their children than less well off parents? Of course not. It just means that they have the resources to be able to provide for their children.
Cranford does in fact have good schools but they are good because parents care. The teachers are not any better then say Union but the parents care more and are more involved in their children's lives. This in turn produces a better school.
I agree with this.
I used to sub in Cranford, and their teachers really are nothing special, but their PTA was unlike any other I have ever seen! It wasn't the wealth at all, but their level of involvement. (Though come to think of it, *stay at home moms* really do have much more time on their hands to invest in PTAs, so I guess wealth indirectly plays a factor...)
I agree with this.
I used to sub in Cranford, and their teachers really are nothing special, but their PTA was unlike any other I have ever seen! It wasn't the wealth at all, but their level of involvement. (Though come to think of it, *stay at home moms* really do have much more time on their hands to invest in PTAs, so I guess wealth indirectly plays a factor...)
This is exactly my point. With two working parents (sometimes multiple jobs each), there isnt as much time to spend with the children or have involvement in the schools. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying the wealthier the town, the more discretionary time (and money) to spend on the children which has a direct result on their school engagement.
This is exactly my point. With two working parents (sometimes multiple jobs each), there isnt as much time to spend with the children or have involvement in the schools. I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying the wealthier the town, the more discretionary time (and money) to spend on the children which has a direct result on their school engagement.
Yeah, you're definitely right in saying that... the wealth is absolutely an indirect factor.
Yeah, you're definitely right in saying that... the wealth is absolutely an indirect factor.
I would say its a pretty direct factor. Wealthy parents have resources besides time to help their kids. Have you all been reading about turoring and such that parents get for their kids? Even in top tier Manhattan private schools, which run 40K a year, parents are spending another 40K on specialized tutoring for SATs, AP exams and the rest. Look at Short Hills, Westfield and such, the more expensive towns have better schools. It is not a coincidence folks!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
