Where to go if we don't like Ridgewood? (Trenton, Fort Lee: transfer, middle schools)

[tallguylehigh]

Originally Posted by EEEPNJ

They are not after school tutoring groups - I'm talking personal tutors to make sure your kid is heads and shoulders above the rest. AND I'm talking about kids who are so scared of getting anything less than an A+, that they're willing to do anything to get it. Some considerd killing themselves if they don't live up.

Sorry, dude, but that's not the environment I would have wanted nor what I'd like for my child.

That environment seems more home grown than school grown, no?

What you described reminded me of 'Dead Poets Society.' Sad, but I am sure there are kids out there with that kind of pressure.

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by tallguylehigh

That environment seems more home grown than school grown, no?

What you described reminded me of 'Dead Poets Society.' Sad, but I am sure there are kids out there with that kind of pressure.

tallguylehigh - It's funny you should mention "Dead Poets Society". Robert Sean Leonard who plays the kid who kills himself in that movie, grew up in Ridgewood and played with his buddy, actor Casper Van Dien. Van Dien's great-grandfather is the person who they named Van Dien Ave in Ridgewood for! Trivia - but interesting nonetheless! Robert Sean Leonard now plays "Dr. Wilson" on "House MD" set in NJ!!

[NJ Chutzpah]

Originally Posted by EEEPNJ

They are not after school tutoring groups - I'm talking personal tutors to make sure your kid is heads and shoulders above the rest. AND I'm talking about kids who are so scared of getting anything less than an A+, that they're willing to do anything to get it. Some considerd killing themselves if they don't live up.

Sorry, dude, but that's not the environment I would have wanted nor what I'd like for my child.

If those kids are lashing out at other kids, i can understand

I would not want to be around kids like, and believe me I have been

and the sad thing is the School tries to protect, and pamper them too, because their folks are influential

Those kids get away with anything and everything, I have seen it, it is rampant in some towns

but it has nothing to do with wanting to excel, and be great

These kids are spoiled and pampered, and feel they are entitled, because of the parents but not from pressuring them to do good in school

just go to the NYC forum, and read some threads about gentrification

[EEEPNJ]

A friend of mine (who grew up in Emerson, incidentally) told me something that has really stuck with me. LOOK at the kids your child will go to school with. Look at them from day one. These will be your childs peers. These will be the kids you have to get together with, and their parents for the next 12 years. Among this group your child will probably find their "BFF" and their girl/boyfriends... make sure it is a group of children you WANT them to be among.

IF they are among a bunch of kids who are being forced to be uber-kids.... chances are you are not going to say "Yeah, this is where I want to be." to that statement.

[SWillow]

Yes Ridgewood is a very pressure-ridden town....my aunt lives there and has taken out a 2nd morgage because all of the newest clothes/toys she buys her kids to keep up with everyone else....not to mention the taxes are out of control....I grew up in Sussex County....beautiful area, lower taxes, cheaper living....but it is still nj, so not that cheap! The more north/west nj you go the friendlier/cheaper....good luck!

[JerseyGirl08]

I have made comments about the snobs of ridgewood in the past so I won't comment on it again. Living there you have seen it for yourself.

Some towns to look at that are a good balance of schools and community with a less snob factor are Wyckoff, Hillsdale and Mahwah.

[BalletMama]

Check out Nyack, NY. I live in Ridgewood for 15 years now and know what you are talking about. I miss NYC with its privacy, diversity, miss being myself and feeling ok. Nyack is a mini NYC. Too bad I did not know about it 15 years ago!..

[JohnVeenstra]

I was raised in Hawthorne, NJ since 1948, bordering Ridgewood and Wyckoff and Midland Park. I have always loved Ridgewood, however, I can readily understand your view of snobbishness. A friend with who I played basketball in high school (late 1960s) was the Ridgewood boys basketball coach for about 4 years. The snobs ran him out becassue their sons were not getting plying time. However, I still love Ridgewood, it's just not for everyone.
My absolute favorite town in New Jersey is Wyckoff. The town is beautiful and laid back. Sports at Ramapo High School are very competitive, however, the twon itself is beautiful and run well. Many other towns are great: Allendale (my father used to own Park Crest Cleaners, not anymore), Waldwick, Ramsey, Ordell, River Edge.
We could name quite a few. Midland Park is nice, older town. Used to be a very large Dutch Christian Reformed population (they run their own Eastern Christian Schools with high school in North Haledon). Still large Dutch population but not as large as ten and twenty years ago.
Being in the mortgage industry I travel all over northern New Jersey and having lived here for so many years, I can say my first choice would be Wyckoff. After that, many fine second choices.
Good luck!!

[JohnVeenstra]

I was raised in Hawthorne, bordering Ridgewood and Wyckoff. While I have alwys loved Ridgewood, it can understandably be snobby. My high school (late 60s) basketball teammate coached Ridgewood biys basketball for 4 years and the "snobbies" ran him out. The towns mentioned above are all nice towns. My father used to have cleaning store in Allendale and that is nice (my friend who was run out of Ridgewood basketball is now teacher at Northern Highlands). Midland Park in the 50s and 60s was large population of my Dutch friends (Eastern Christian Schools). Still many Dutch there but not as many as before. My absolute favorite town and my suggestion for you to look, is Wyckoff. Ramapo High School is sporst competitive but the twon is beautiful and quiet. Good luck.

[NJ Chutzpah]

go to bergen county's wiki page

see nice map of the towns

click each town, and find per capita income of each town

should be last paragraph of demographics section

if below 40K then not snobby

40K-45K is doable