School districts: best for students and best for teachers/counselors to work in (Pasadena: housing)

[DawnW]

We are most likely moving back to CA in about a year or so. We are from CA but have only ever lived up in the Pasadena area.

DH's job this time would be in Costa Mesa. I have 16 years vested in LAUSD but I am not sure we can find a place to live that would accomodate his job and me working in LAUSD.

So.....teachers/counselors......can you point me to a school district to work in that would take all my years of service and be good to work for? I worked in LA for 16 years so keep that in mind! I don't mind inner-city for working. I really just want comperable pay and benefits to LAUSD. Some seem to really be horrible for benefits.

But then living in and having my kids go to school is a different story.

What is a great school district for my kids to attend?

We can afford up to an 800K house.

Thanks for the input.

Dawn

[losercore]

If work is going to be in Costa Mesa i would look at Newport or Huntington. As for the schools they have all gone down hill in the past 20 years but Newport and HB unified have stayed pretty much on top.

The better school districts would be south OC like RSM and Los Flores but then you have the commute.

Most likely in your price range you are looking at Mission Viejo/lake Forest area. Good schools there as well. Again, you just got to deal with the commute. But you will be going the opposite way of most commuters.

[DawnW]

Thanks. I think we will really just need to take a long trip out there and look around. I need to see how far south I can get a job in LAUSD. If not, I guess I could consider moving to another district.

Dawn

[scubashawn]

Most of OC has really good schools.....Los Alimitos has always been a pretty good school. And the area is very nice a well.

[kota45]

Originally Posted by losercore

The better school districts would be south OC like RSM and Los Flores but then you have the commute.

I work (soon to be workED) in the Capistrano Unified School District which includes a Las Flores and much of RSM. They just laid off 270 of us teachers because of budget cuts. Whenever money returns we get our jobs back. Point being, not a great place to be looking for a job anytime soon.

[Axiom]

You might want to check out the thread I linked below.
It goes into more depth about the proposed budget cuts in several different districts. CUSD certainly isn't the only one being affected.

I agree that depending on how things go the next couple of years (personally I think the housing/tax base situation is going to get worse before it gets better) it may not be easy to find a district who will accept those 16 years and compensate you accordingly.


OC School Budget Cuts for Future OC Residents

[L-88]

I work at Trabuco Hills HS in Mission Viejo. I love the place. I think any of the Saddleback Valley USD schools are good.