preparing relocation from Europe (Pomona, Irvine: 2009, how much, private school)

[relocations'tress]

Hi, we are about to relocate to OC sometime during this academic year. Could be end of 2008 or begining 2009 - depends on visa arangements.
We have 3 kids. speaking French. Learning English. 2 in middle-school, 1 in 3ed. grade. My husband will work near Pomona. My question is about housing. We would like to stay the next 5-6 years at the same area, so the kids could follow with their friends to the same high-school. that's why my search goes by high-schools. I went through the "newsweek", "us news" and "great schools" lists. I found "Oxford academy" and "University HS of Irvine" in very high places,(9 and 152), rankedd on level 10 and with gold medals, but reading their sites, they seem to be VERY competitive, with very little "fun". "Troy" in Fullerton looks less competitive, and in same academic level, but I couldn't tell by it's site how much music and art they have there. I found some others that seem to have more artistic activity, some of them have no medal, some ranked as 9. (I admit I didn't quite understand the medals thing). We are very musicaly oriented so we thought about "northbrige", Irvin, but "Missiion viejo" and trabuco also seem good options.
The atmosphere in school is also very important for us. And safty of course.

Can any of you help us about this issue? If any of you knows those schools and can tell me if it was fun getting-up to school every morning, and why.
Thank you all in advance.

[BRinSM]

The only city that you mentioned that is anywhere near Pomona is Fullerton, which is where Troy High School is located. That is a very nice area and also next to a fairly large university. Oxford is a private school which is probably very expensive. Also, Irvine and Mission Viejo are a very long drive from Pomona, definitely over 30 miles each way. Traffic here as I'm sure you have heard is terrible. Your husband would probably be on the road over 2 hours everyday.

[relocations'tress]

Isn't driving 71 Fwy and then taking the tollroad to Irving making it easier?

[BRinSM]

yes, but that is even further out of the way. the quickest way from Irvine to Pomona would be the 5 freeway north to the 57 freeway north (and on to the 60 if necessary). you're still looking at a 60-70 mile roundtrip commute everyday. There are people in calironia who do this, but I would certainly not recommend this to someone who is not from the area and not used to the level of congestion here.

[missionhome]

Claremont, CA is near Pomona and is a nice place and so is Diamond Bar. Both are more reasonable commutes. Mission Viejo and Irvine are too far for a reasonable commute.

[oc2nyc]

I would definetly stick to looking at schools more inland, closer to Pomona. All the schools you mentioned are great but it is not realistic to think you could make that commute everyday, especially if your kids want to be involved in after school activities. I am not aware of any of the schools in the Pomona area but scratch those others off your list unless you plan on living more towards Orange County.

[relocations'tress]

assuming he will be on the carpoolin lane (many of his co-worker live ther and do it). He knows the area well from visits, and our MAIN interesse is school, unless you tell me we find same academic + extra-curucular in other high-schools. On top of it I need a VERY good music teachig center. So I guess we need a city with lots of after-school facilities in high level.

What really I would like you to tell me is what you know about those schools I mentioned above. Especialy the atmosphere, ans the clubs/ extra-curicular activity ( I believe agademicaly they are all good).

Thanks again.

[twnxn]

Like the previous posts, I would not recommend you live in Irvine or Mission Viejo and commute everyday to Pomona, even though Irvine is nice and has good schools (I live in Irvine). That is a long commute that will wear you down very quickly. You should live closer to Pomona. Fullerton has decent schools and is closer (if you must stay in Orange County). Diamond Bar is even closer, a nice family community and has decent schools. Claremont is also close, a nice family community and good schools (I grew up in the area and went to high school there). There is also Walnut.

[relocations'tress]

We know about the driving and used to it.
If any one has any info about tose schools - will apriciate.

[Unkllars]

I, among the many others, say Fullerton or Brea. Brea Olinda is a good high school, and it puts you a few miles closer off the 57 than Fullerton. Lots of carpools!