Orange County, NY (Union, Monroe, Warwick: home, find a job, transfer)

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by LSLE

We belong to the Washingtonville school district, and are happy with our elementary school. Good academics that are getting better every year, very friendly environment. Nothing extraordinary, but good for now. Middle school is also decent, but we are not up to this point yet. Check the school digger web site, and you will see the ranking. Monroe-Woodbury schools are better (not all of them, though), but the school taxes are higher. The best school district IMHO is Warwick Valley, but we didn't find the area commutable to the city. Goshen school district is as good as Washingtonville but taxes are higher, and it's further away from the city.
Settlepa, I think we've been through this discussion before: no matter how good the school district is, there will always be a troublemaker. When we where house hunting our main concerns where the academics, school taxes and commutable distance to NYC, and Washingtonville seemed to be the best choice. I believe it still is.

Very clear and objective post. I also think Warwick schools are good..but its no a commutable to the bridge for us and its honestly rural. Our main issue is schools, taxes and commutable distance to the GWB. Just as an fyi, I wouldnt concentrate on the "town" per se, because many school districts over lap towns.

I.E. Chester school district...portions of the chester area fall in monroe schools....So you may be able to take advantage of living in one town and your boundaries fall within another district.

BTW- I have only heard scary things about Washingtonville HIGH SCHOOL from a fellow high school student...I cannot comment on lower grades.

But you know what see what is going to suit you. My oldest is only in 1 rst grade, so high school is years away....who knows what the high school where we buy is going to be like? Just food for thought in case high school is far away.

You may find the the lower schools are fine, and then if you need to, you can move again for high school.

[engsmom]

Thanks Mom2Gurls, I do have 2 young girls (ages 3 yrs. and a 9 month old). So I think highschool is a bit far away and I know we'd probably move to a bigger house by that time. However i am looking into Chester, Goshen, Minisink SD's....but I do know that the towns do overlap...I guess it is all relative. You will have "bad" apples everywhere - for students, but you'll also have some bad teachers even in the best of school districts. So I guess you have to find what is the right decision for you. I just want my girls to go to a high school where the % of seniors who go to college or jr. college is high and the SAT prep is good. Even though my 3 year old is only 3...she is sharp as a whip and I would not want to lose that by putting her in a district that would not foster her love for learning. Thanks for your advice....

And I also don't mind the "rural" feel. I did go to college and lived in Upstate NY (Cortland)..so I am used to it and actually prefer the slower pace...my husband may need some time to adjust, but he'll do it if it means providing a better atmosphere for the girls....

[settlepa]

Cant go wrong with Goshen or Minisink but both totally different areas.

[engsmom]

Settlepa - do you know both area's personally? Have you lived in either? What is your opinion on both if you have one? I know we are headed up that way in a month or so to "look" and drive around to see the area's.

[mom2gurls]

I am curious to...I hear wonderful things about minisink....goshen would be too boonies for us...I am the type that needs to live 10 minutes from everything...but I hear both areas are awesome. And for what its worth..I have heard that minisink in particular is great for families with little ones and more reasonable (if there is such a thing) for new homes.

[engsmom]

Thanks!!! We are just starting our search but hope to be relocated by the end of the year b/c our lease is up on LI and it is way too much down here to own and we are renting as much as we can pay a mortgage someplace else...rent is rediculous down here as well...my husband does not mind his commute to NYC by mass transit, he does it now and it is 2 hours on LI...so anything shorter would be a bonus for him!!! Thanks for all the input!!!

[jackiethestamper]

OK I will just poke my head in here. I was searching around because Washingtonville is currently under water and being evacuated. I lived in Town (the area currently being evacuated) for 12 years. My children went to Private schools until 8th grade. Three of my children Graduated from Washingonville High School and I was very pleased. Each of their individual needs were met and they all received Regents Diplomas. They all tried out the public schools and some were capable academicly and emotionally. It's not always about the school but the child and the class they are in. The turning point for most children is Middle School. All of my children ended up in Private school because I wanted to keep them together and the school district in the elementary grades was not a good fit for all of them. My children ranged from unclassified LD to # 43 in her class 0f 481. I can't speak for other districts but I was very pleased with the High school experience for my children in Washingtonville. Bottom line; middle school is a very hard experience for most children. If you have well behaved well adjusted children they will survive. Even then they will need a lot of support and supervision. I would not have sent them anywhere else and actually moved within the school district to keep my children there

[Jason_Els]

Take a look at the 2006 Orange County School Report Card if you want to see how the schools in the county compare with each other. It should give you an idea of what schools perform the best.

[oneswtwld]

I am about to finish my Masters program in School Counseling at The University of Georgia and will be moving back to NY to live with my fiance.

Most likely, she will have a job in Orange County (Probably Goshen, where she has lived since she was a few months old).

Can anyone help me out with my search for possible school counseling positions in the surrounding area?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

~BEn

[randye]

I came up to Orange County approximately 19 years ago so that my family could have a better quality of life. The schools in this area are generally good to excellent, and depending on your childrens needs, our school systems seem to be able to address anything from talent to special education. The best commuter locations Central Valley-Monroe , Goshen, and Middletown since each are close to the Metro though most other towns are not that far a distance to travel to one of those stations. The people here are generally friendly, and the malls and outlets are getting better everyday. We also have plenty of specialty shops throughout the area. There rarely is traffic (as you know it) here. Anywhere you might live, you'll find something negative but the positives out weigh the negatives.