Moving from CT - ideas anyone? (schools, stats, education)

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by sliver203

Does anyone know how the OC public schools compare with those in Fairfield County, CT?

Thanks!

Orange County has many excellent public schools in it. On the other hand, there are many schools that aren't so good. It really depends on the district and community you move to. One district good be a stellar performer with top ranked schools and the one across the street could perform really low. Compared to CT, I think you won't notice a major difference. According to Newsweek, the highest performing high school in Fairfield County, Fairfield County High School, placed at number 300. Staples High School in Westport placed 402, and they continue going up.
Orange County has Troy High School of Fullerton (ranked #30), University High School of Irvine (ranked #182), Cerritos High School (ranked # 202), Corona del Mar High in Newport Beach (#251), and Sunny Hills High of Fullerton (#284) beating out Fairfield County's highest ranked high school. If you research which school serves the neighborhood you move to you'll be fine.

[wealthtrader]

As I promised, I just got back from Westport, CT. I had been to the area before, but this is the first time which I actually got to spend quite some time there. To start, there are many striking similarities between the two counties. The similarities are; mostly congestion-wise, education-wise, and salary-wise. There is a certain-type of person which is attracted to this type of environment; specifically someone who is career and family oriented. Perhaps, the only major difference that I can think of pertains to the environment and materials. Not only the weather, but Fairfield County seems more earthly and natural where OC seems more brushed-over, and dreamy. (I hope that makes sense.)

If given the chance, I could easily see myself living in Fairfield County. That means a lot, because I am a picky person. I am really attracted to the places where people strive.

[sliver203]

Originally Posted by wealthtrader

As I promised, I just got back from Westport, CT. I had been to the area before, but this is the first time which I actually got to spend quite some time there. To start, there are many striking similarities between the two counties. The similarities are; mostly congestion-wise, education-wise, and salary-wise. There is a certain-type of person which is attracted to this type of environment; specifically someone who is career and family oriented. Perhaps, the only major difference that I can think of pertains to the environment and materials. Not only the weather, but Fairfield County seems more earthly and natural where OC seems more brushed-over, and dreamy. (I hope that makes sense.)

If given the chance, I could easily see myself living in Fairfield County. That means a lot, because I am a picky person. I am really attracted to the places where people strive.

Thanks for getting back to me so soon - hope you had a nice trip east.

Towns in Fairfield County are huge on preservation and privacy. In many of the towns, residents vehemently oppose fast food, drive-thrus, big box stores and road widening. This is the reason for the 'no exit zone' along the Merritt near exit 42 (it's a stretch of about 5 miles) where residents fought the state so another exit wouldn't be constructed.

I saw that you posted regarding drivers on the Merritt - I know what you mean about going 75 and being passed on the right. Most people travel in upwards of 80 on the windy highway and the recent major accidents were caused by drivers going 50 (5 under the limit). I'm not saying they're to blame for driving slow - simply saying that it's more dangerous to drive slow. This can be said for most highways in southern CT.

Did you notice a difference in attitude at all? Pretentiousness?

[fipster]

alritee, you're obviously a match for irvine. safest city in the the OC, so it'll make your job as a police officer pretty easy. asides from that, it has the best school district in CA so all their schools are good. and there is an abundance of good rentals available. a warning though, only whites and asians live in irvine.

[wealthtrader]

Originally Posted by sliver203

Did you notice a difference in attitude at all? Pretentiousness?

I think Fairfield County is up to par with OC as far as a huge interest in having lavish MyMansions and '08 Bimmers. On a closer look, I think when you add in the influence of palm trees, weather, Hollywood and the beaches you would think that people become a bit more "image conscious." It's a close call. I'm really not sure that I can make an educated call on pretentiousness. The attitude seems quite more laid back in OC though.

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by fipster

alritee, you're obviously a match for irvine. safest city in the the OC, so it'll make your job as a police officer pretty easy. asides from that, it has the best school district in CA so all their schools are good. and there is an abundance of good rentals available. a warning though, only whites and asians live in irvine.

City of Irvine Website - Demographics Information

Primarily White and Asian, but it there's a peppering of others... 61% White, 29% Asian...

I also jokingly call Irvine the "City of Beige"--as most everything here is pretty neutral... it's so master-planned nothing sticks out, but it's safe, well-manicured, and has plenty of places to go eat, drink, and be active. ^_^

[sliver203]

Originally Posted by missionhome

Orange County has many excellent public schools in it. On the other hand, there are many schools that aren't so good. It really depends on the district and community you move to. One district good be a stellar performer with top ranked schools and the one across the street could perform really low. Compared to CT, I think you won't notice a major difference. According to Newsweek, the highest performing high school in Fairfield County, Fairfield County High School, placed at number 300. Staples High School in Westport placed 402, and they continue going up.
Orange County has Troy High School of Fullerton (ranked #30), University High School of Irvine (ranked #182), Cerritos High School (ranked # 202), Corona del Mar High in Newport Beach (#251), and Sunny Hills High of Fullerton (#284) beating out Fairfield County's highest ranked high school. If you research which school serves the neighborhood you move to you'll be fine.

Staples High, FC's highest ranking public school? Not by a long shot! Also, there is no high school called Fairfield County High which proves there is an error. Each town has its own district. These stats are incorrect (as far as CT goes) - but thank you for your post.

[YLresident]

2006 Fairfield County High Schools on the Newsweek Top 1300 National List:

439. Weston - Weston
514. Staples - Westport
529. Wilton - Wilton
558. Darien - Darien
620. Ridgefield - Ridgefield
765. Greenwich - Greenwich
772. New Fairfield - New Fairfield
911. New Canaan - New Canaan
945. Fairfield-Warde - Fairfield


Weston is the 3rd highest ranking school at #439 of all 14 CT schools that made the list, but 1st among the 9 FC schools that make up the 14-total CT list.

The two highest ranking CT high schools on the list were:

269. Farmington - Farmington
336. Conard West - Hartford


California had 211 schools on the 2006 list--31 of which were in Orange County (Troy ranked 46th out of the top 1300--WOW!).
Link to the list of OC schools that made it: http://www.city-data.com/forum/1956137-post15.html

[sliver203]

Originally Posted by YLresident

2006 Fairfield County High Schools on the Newsweek Top 1300 National List:

439. Weston - Weston
514. Staples - Westport
529. Wilton - Wilton
558. Darien - Darien
620. Ridgefield - Ridgefield
765. Greenwich - Greenwich
772. New Fairfield - New Fairfield
911. New Canaan - New Canaan
945. Fairfield-Warde - Fairfield


Weston is the 3rd highest ranking school at #439 of all 14 CT schools that made the list, but 1st among the 9 FC schools that make up the 14-total CT list.

The two highest ranking CT high schools on the list were:

269. Farmington - Farmington
336. Conard West - Hartford


California had 211 schools on the 2006 list--31 of which were in Orange County (Troy ranked 46th out of the top 1300--WOW!).
Link to the list of OC schools that made it: http://www.city-data.com/forum/1956137-post15.html

Thanks for the stats. Very much appreciated!

What is Fullerton like?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by sliver203

Staples High, FC's highest ranking public school? Not by a long shot! Also, there is no high school called Fairfield County High which proves there is an error. Each town has its own district. These stats are incorrect (as far as CT goes) - but thank you for your post.

I am very, very sorry I typed the stats out wrong. I put Fairfield when I ment to type Farmington and just plain messed up! Anyhow this time I will copy in the list so I don't type anything wrong This is the newer 2007 list so it will be a bit more updated than the 2006 list which YLresident kindly posted.

So the 2007 list of America's topic public high schools:
Number of AP, IB, Cambridge tests taken/ number of graduating seniors
**= school issued both AP and IB exams
Orange County only (top 12):
30 Troy ** Fullerton Calif. 4.766 5.5 70
182 University Irvine Calif. 2.767 6.8 67.3
251 Corona del Mar Newport Beach Calif. 2.475 1 28.4
284 Sunny Hills ** Fullerton Calif. 2.357 4 47
385 Northwood Irvine Calif. 2.142 2 53.4
409 Mission Viejo ** Mission Viejo Calif. 2.08 <1 25.6
471 San Clemente ** San Clemente Calif. 1.958 15 31.8
486 Fountain Valley Fountain Valley Calif. 1.932 9.4 33.1
498 Valencia ** Placentia Calif. 1.917 47 29.8
520 Laguna Beach Laguna Beach Calif. 1.878 4 47.9
536 Capistrano Valley ** Mission Viejo Calif. 1.854 17.8 31.6
556 Tesoro Rancho Santa Margarita Calif. 1.828 2 37.9

Top public high schools for 2007 in Fairfield County (all 8 on the list)
402 Staples Westport Conn. 2.107 1.9 -n/a-
448 Ridgefield Ridgefield Conn. 2.005 1.44 51.2
559 Wilton Wilton Conn. 1.824 0 -n/a-
615 Greenwich Greenwich Conn. 1.756 11 84
620 New Fairfield New Fairfield Conn. 1.745 5.1 33.2
648 Weston (tie) Weston Conn. 1.714 2 54.3
991 Fairfield Ludlowe Fairfield Conn. 1.341 4.1 27
1205 Fairfield-Warde Fairfield Conn. 1.129 4.46 22

That is the 2007 list of Newsweeks top public high schools. Orange County will not dissapoint you education if you choose your schools carefully. Education is highly valued here and I think you will find that in the hard working schools that are improving each year. Again, I am very sorry about the mix up with the first time I tried to compare the areas.