Moving to the Catskills from NH (Albany, Kingston: best schools, living in, prices)

[ynot67]

I have been looking at schools in the catskills somewhere between Hunter and Kingston. My hubby will be working in hunter. The great schools ratings for this area are dismal.

I want to live in a nice community with the best possible schools.
any info will be appreciated!

[new jersey mike]

I guess you can look at the school report card.

I don't have any kids so I've never did any of that work.

[ckhthankgod]

Check here: https://www.nystart.gov/publicweb/Home.do?year=2008

You should be able to find a district that fits what you are looking for.

[LINative]

To the east of Hunter are the villages (and towns) of Saugerties and further north, Catskill. Both are on the Hudson River and both are pretty rural if thats ok with you (it is with me!).

If you want something more developed you have to look further south to the areas around Kingston. Kingston itself has nice areas including the Kingston Stockade with over 40 colonial era buidlings.

Its a shame you do not want to go further south because then you can check out New Paltz but I guess it would be getting far for your husband's commute---and also more expensive.

[ss58yy]

I haven't done any checking on schools, but perhaps Woodstock would be one of the better areas?

[ynot67]

the web site was so helpful! I went to visit the area last week & I love tannersville & hunter, also went to saugerties, a little too city for me! really liked the area a lot!

[new jersey mike]

Don't forget once you find a district with a good score, the next thing to do is set up a tour with the principal and sit and discuss all your thoughts. Don't let it stop at the office though ask for a walk through. Use all your senses, although a school might look good how does it smell? some schools have mold and other issues.

Although the town maybe "cool" the school district may not be the best.

I would also ask to meet with the PTO president and speak to them. Then after you select a school think about being active with the PTO/PTA.

NJMike

[Griffis]

Originally Posted by ynot67

the web site was so helpful! I went to visit the area last week & I love tannersville & hunter, also went to saugerties, a little too city for me! really liked the area a lot!

I moved to the area about a year and a half ago. My family really loves it. Initially we lived in Tannersville, but I was working in Catskill and had a pretty dangerously rickety old car to be commuting up and down the mountain every day for work, so we moved to an area between Catskill and a town called Cairo before last Winter hit.

My daughters went to school in Hunter while we were there and loved it. They also really like Catskill schools and I have been pleased overall with the education they are receiving.

Ironically, Catskill is by far the smallest town we've ever lived in, but the elementary school has the largest population of students of any school my kids have ever attended. It's not overcrowded really, it's just the only game in town. Other cities I've lived in had several schools fr each grade levels.

Tannersville/Hunter is extremely beautiful and the people are the salt of the earth. The people all over Greene County I have been fortunate to meet and work with are all very nice and accomodating, including here in Catskill.

I'd say that in this town in particular the people are very conservative, perhaps getting a little more liberal in places like Saugerties. That's more or less irrelevant to me since I'm basically apolitical. Good, decent people--that means far more than any political affiliation or ideology.

I hear people complain about the area in which I live...too slow-paced, not enough going on, etc. and there is some truth to that. But the way I see it, I'm positioned 100 miles north of NYC and right in between the Hudson River and the mountains. Several major cities are within 3-4 hours, we are fairly close to the coast, not far from Montreal, right in between Kingston and Albany (about 1/2 hour from each) so we can hit a bigger place for shopping, entertainment, food, etc. quite easily.

In many ways, it's ideal. We are close to some of the greatest cities in North America, but far enough away to not have to deal with the crowds and high prices when we don't want to.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted.

[pburgess68]

Ah, how I love seeing the names of towns I used to visit being mentioned in threads. Brings tears to my eyes, quite literally...

NJMike has the best advice. Just because the town is cool doesn't mean the schools are. Most of the schools on that side of the river, quite honestly, stink. I have no clue why. More rural and less $$ per student spent? No idea! Check that website that other poster listed and look at the school report cards.

Don't have your heart set on one specific area just yet. Go where the best schools are, in your $$ range, and close to his work. Remember, you can always travel to those "cute" towns. Most of your time will be spent either in your house, at work, or with your kids doing homework anyway!

Definitely get involved in the PTA/PTO like Mike suggested. I did it for 6 years and it truly made a difference for me and my kids...and that's really what it's all about.

@Griffis: I remember living in a small town, thinking...wow it's slow here and not much to do. But you know what, how far are we from NYC? Not really that far, right?! How about from Boston?! Philly?! Exactly!! So much to do and see, and things aren't THAT FAR that you can't do them! Now...talk about slow...I live in the South now. Where they rarely use turn signals and you have to guess their intentions. Where they don't have enough farsight to see they should finish paving roads "just in case" there's an emergency...like a fire or hurricane. Where slow, slow and reverse are the 3 norm speeds of government. However, the weather rules so, I guess it's a toss up!!

[ynot67]

keep the advice coming guys!! I have been investigating the schoolds first and have found Greenville to have pretty good schools as well as Coxsackie/athens. Both are almost an hour for hubby's commmute. West Hurley also have decent schools. pburgess I agree w/ you about being involved in the pto . I am currently here in new hampshire and I am a substitute teacher as well. you get to really see what is going on.