Middletown-advice Needed Please (Monroe, Wallkill, Hudson: job transfer, neighbourhood, school districts)

[Bellmes]

I recently purchased a new construction in Middletown. I am reading all of this negative talk about the schools in Middletown. Im a little worried now that I am seeing this as I have 2 young children . One is 8 and the other is 3.
I dont know if any one is familiar with the development called Presidential Ridge? I believe the area is part of Walkill . Im not too familiar with it.
Does anyone know the names of the schools I should look out for? I was told my children would be going to a J.W.Chorely and Mechanics town Elementary.?
We are moving up from the bronx and i will be commuting to Midtown.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

[grovenewyork]

I want to relocate to Tillson,NY

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by Bellmes

I recently purchased a new construction in Middletown. I am reading all of this negative talk about the schools in Middletown. Im a little worried now that I am seeing this as I have 2 young children . One is 8 and the other is 3.
I dont know if any one is familiar with the development called Presidential Ridge? I believe the area is part of Walkill . Im not too familiar with it.
Does anyone know the names of the schools I should look out for? I was told my children would be going to a J.W.Chorely and Mechanics town Elementary.?
We are moving up from the bronx and i will be commuting to Midtown.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

WOW....well since you have already put the money into the home....I would highly suggest you look into private schools.

There is a reason why middletown is more affordable...the schools....and the crime rate. The schools in middltown are sub-par at best...this is based on looking at test scores from leading sources on the internet.

schoolmatters "dot" com, Great schools "dot net". Resale values are usually lower in the district...a couple of years ago we were looking to upgrade and asked of middletown...every realtor said the same thing...WHY? They donnt reccomend the area for families.

The schools reading rate at mechanicstown is 65% and 76% and the remainder of the schools are in the 44% ratio. Which is basically a 'D' on the grading scale. Compared to the other orange county districts, this doesnt fair well when compared to monroe, warwick, central valley.

Its also below the states average.

The good news is now that you know you can plan accordingly..and be even more proactive in your childs education.

http://www.schoolmatters.com/app/dat...d=771/site=pes

http://www.greatschools.net/school/r...=1652&state=NY

[Bellmes]

This is a little disappointing. As its too late to turn bk... I have to move foward with my purchase. Crime rate and schools...two very important things I was trying to get away from in the bronx. I really appreciate the advice on the schools.
how long have you lived in Middletown?

[mom2gurls]

I dont...its not commutable....but slighty considering orange..only will consider monroe, central valley schools as they are the only commutable areas. Right now live over the bridge..in arlington schools....and the districts that compare to arlingtons are monroes. Actually certain schools in rockland compare to arlingtons.

On thing (and hindsight is 20/20) is that people expect buyers to do their own due diligence when it comes to school and crime before entering into a contract.

Private school is an option though. But yeah, middletown and newburgh are honestly not the best choices....sorry....just getting it from the test scores...
and other posters.

[YouungNOCNY]

Originally Posted by Bellmes

This is a little disappointing. As its too late to turn bk... I have to move foward with my purchase. Crime rate and schools...two very important things I was trying to get away from in the bronx. I really appreciate the advice on the schools.
how long have you lived in Middletown?

First of, what part of middletown did you buy this house in? Did you buy it in the City of Middletown or the Town of Wallkill. Because the town of wallkill has five possible school didsticts your kids could go to. Middletown, Pine Bush, Minisink, Goshen or Valley Central.

I can give you a different perspective on Middletown since I've lived in this area most of my life. (unlike most of the people who are posting responses) I've lived in orange county since 1988 (i'm 22 now) I've seen the rise and fall and it's recent boom during the past few years. Personally to say in you're situation with your kids the Middletown School district would be ok for them. The only schools that I have a problem with are the the two middle schools and the high school. They have been bad due to improper management. When I went to the high school four years ago it had been run excellently. The principal did an excellent job in turning the school around from previous years where it had been bad. Unfortunely since my principal blew the whistle during the whole Scandal with the superintendent he was fired the following year due to retailliation. Since his dismissal the school had unfortunely fallen back into its poor ways. Also due to the anger of the community many of the school officals who were under the adminstartion of the previous superintendent resigned. A lot of the people who wer leading the school distirct were addressing the needs of the school district but now have been replaced by officers who have their own agendas.
Another reason why the school district/area isn't doing so well are the realators themselves. If the realators sell homes in higher priced areas to people they get a higher commissions. So why would they want to you to move to the middletown area anyway. The realators systematically put wealthier peoople in wealthier communities and poorer people are forced into poorer ones. Also the Middletown area has attracted a large hispanic immigrant community to the area who don't speak english and . Since there is a large population of children who go to the school district who don't speak english. The school district has been forced to shift a lot of their resources to pay for ESL (English as a Second Language) programs in the schools. This has had an adverse effect on the educational performance of the school district. Since the children need to be in classes that teach them how to speak english it takes away from their reading and math performance. My younger sister who attends Mechanicstown told me that half of the kids in here school are of hispanic desent. That vastly diffent from surrounding schools ditricts.
Another reason for the increase crime in Middletown is because of State tax cutts under the Pataki adminstration. He cuts funding to mental health facitlities across the state. The mental health facility that is in the City of Middletown was force to close. Many people who were being helped are now forced to room the streets without any help. Another reason for the increased crimes is the big influx of people from the city, Rockland and Westchester county. Most of the people committing crimes in Middletown are not even from around here.
I happen to live in the Town of Wallkill in the Fair Oaks section which is one of the safer sections of the Town. I attended the Middletown School distict and I have two younger sisters who attend the school now.
I hope that I was able to give you a more detailed reason for Middletown's problems instead of people just saying its bad for no real reason.
Also compared to the city Middletown is a million times better.

[danielquinn]

Where are you getting your crime data?

Because NYTimes says that Middletown has a great crime index rating...

Just curious because we're thinking of moving there.

DQ

[settlepa]

Perhaps your edition is an old one...LOL There is crime in Middletown and dont get in their schools if you have kids (or even if you dont). Take a look at Scotchtown which is the outskirts of Middletown (still has Middletown P.O.) but Pine Bush Schools.

[citychik]

I have visited acquaintances in Middletown several times, and know people who live in the Catskills, so I've been to Middletown. It is a pretty sleazy place (not as bad as Newburgh, though). It has a lousy schools, a depressed economy, a criminal element, and lots of people on welfare. Not much pride of ownership evident. Seems that all the teenage girls are pregnant and the boys are cutting school and getting into trouble. Low graduation rate. I know someone who lives in New York City and has owned a business in Middletown for 20 years, and she told me how depressing it is there -- in all those years she never let her daughter go up there, for her own protection. Lots of "trashy" people with attitudes. Not much to do there for empty nesters, unless you always want to drive out of the area. Really - don't move there if you can back out of the deal. Sorry to be so harsh but I was very surprised the first few times I was there -- it is a country town with a ghetto feel.

[mom2gurls]

Originally Posted by Bellmes

This is a little disappointing. As its too late to turn bk... I have to move foward with my purchase. Crime rate and schools...two very important things I was trying to get away from in the bronx. I really appreciate the advice on the schools.
how long have you lived in Middletown?

Is there anyway you can get out of contract? Perhaps consult with a lawyer on this one....job transfer, too much commute time...there is ALWAYS a loop hole...

A friend of mine was in contract the house was 90% built and the husbands job told him there was a "possibility" of a job transfer....they told the builder and they were VERY accomodating because the area was desirable anyway...and they ended up selling the home within 2 weeks to someone else.

It would just be a shame to go from one place to another with the same issues....and it doesnt help you as now you have an even worse commute.

Just a thought..its isnt over till its over. Or perhaps if you can find something in your career field closer to get a private school.