ISO Diverse Suburb with Excellent Schools Near Plymouth Meeting (Philadelphia: middle-class, apartment)

[Starchgirl]

Hello all,

My family is relocating from Chicago to the Philly suburbs. We're hoping to find a community similar to Hyde Park in Chicago or Ft. Washington, Maryland in the 1980's (community was more balanced with African Americans, Filipinos and Whites then than it is now).

I know there was a previous poster looking for a similar Hyde Park community, I read her posts and the responses, but I think our needs are a little different.

When are you moving? Late Summer

Where are you coming from? Bronzeville, Chicago

Why are you moving? New Job

Where will you be working? Plymouth Meeting

Have you been here yet? Only for the interview - have a house hunting trip in a few weeks

Will you buy or rent? Rent - only anticipating living in PA for 2 years, then moving back to Chicago

If buying, are you looking for a house or a condo? How much can you spend?

If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a townhouse or loft? How much can you spend? Flexible, prefer a townhouse but we may be maintaining two househoulds, so need to stay under $1500 for a 2 or 3 BR

Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up? No preference

Are you married or single? Do you have children? Married with 2 children

Do you prefer public or private schools? Older son is in the 1st grade at a great private school now, but we're open to academically challenging public schools with diversity and good teacher/student ratios that have success in educating gifted children. We also need also to find a quality nursery school for my 1 year old son.

Do you have pets? No

Do you want or need a yard? Want a yard or proximity to great parks

Are you keeping a car? Yes

Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? We like calm and quiet with proximity to activity

What do you want to be closest to?
Work - Within 20-30 minutes
Shopping - Not so important
Basic services (supermarket, drugstore, etc.) - Very important
Nightlife - Clubs are not important; proximity to good restaurants is very important
Train or subway stations - Not importnat

Do you want to live with people of a similar age, race, religion or sexual preference or do you prefer a diverse neighborhood? We'd like to live in a diverse neighborhood with a critical mass of African American professionals (doctor's/lawyers/MBA's, etc.)

Coke or Pepsi? Coke!

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[Tone509]

The area that I like to call the "V" above NW/NE Philadelphia - which includes Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown and Upper Dublin - is one of the more diverse suburban areas in the area. (If someone is aware of other options closer to Plymouth Meeting, please share.) The commute is within your range, discounting occasional traffic tie-ups. The schools, while not holding the same reputation as many in the far western 'burbs, are certainly solid and challenging. These are older bedroom communities, which means that you'll find quiet streets tucked away from major thoroughfares with all the usual conveniences. Going by your DC experience, you may be reminded of Falls Church with perhaps a touch of Bethesda. Upper-middle/upper-class neighborhoods would be comfortable for all but you're most likely to find a concentration of black professionals in Cheltenham.

Edit: I just re-read your answers and saw that you were looking for a TH. Not sure you'll find too many around the "V". I'm also not sure what house rentals would go for. You could certainly get a 2-3 BR apt in your price range.

[Starchgirl]

Thanks, Tone509! The Falls Church / Bethesda analogy is perfect. From the forum we've heard that the Lower Merion School District is well regarded - are there any communities in that school district that are along those same lines? Thanks, again!

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by Starchgirl

Thanks, Tone509! The Falls Church / Bethesda analogy is perfect. From the forum we've heard that the Lower Merion School District is well regarded - are there any communities in that school district that are along those same lines? Thanks, again!

I'll have to defer to others on that as I'm not so knowledgeable about the areas covering that school district. My first thought is it may not be quite as diverse - and you may not necessarily find the critical mass you're looking for - but you should be welcomed there.

[Hillrunner]

You seem more like you would do better with what your looking for in the City. Alot of people move to the burbs to get away from the problems that come with the Diversity stigma attached to it

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by Hillrunner

You seem more like you would do better with what your looking for in the City. Alot of people move to the burbs to get away from the problems that come with the Diversity stigma attached to it

Hmm... well if you're talking economic diversity, then yes, there is an issue of middle-class flight from the city to the suburbs. On the other hand, if you're talking about ethnic diversity, I'm not sure I see what the "problem" is...

[orrmobl]

Lower Merion SD has a predominantly black section of town - in fact the SD is currently screwing the families living in that area by attempting to bus them across town to the other, some say better, high school. That they are trying to balance the load between the schools is clear; how they are going about it is suspect.

Most districts in this area represent many ethnic groups but the percentage of white kids will be in the 80-90+% range. You should check out schoolmatters.com or schooldigger.com and pick a district where the balance is to your liking.

Tredyffrin-Easttown is the best district in this area, relatively diverse, and excellent in all regards. I would suggest you check it out.

I've also read good things about Upper Merion SD but it is not on par with the Main Line Districts ie T-E, Radnor (super snobby), Lower Merion, Unionville Chadds Ford (ranked on par with Main Line), Central Bucks (also on par), Great Valley (Malvern). West Chester SD is pretty diverse as well, though a bit far from Plymouth Meeting.

[Tone509]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Lower Merion SD has a predominantly black section of town - in fact the SD is currently screwing the families living in that area by attempting to bus them across town to the other, some say better, high school. That they are trying to balance the load between the schools is clear; how they are going about it is suspect.

Most districts in this area represent many ethnic groups but the percentage of white kids will be in the 80-90+% range. You should check out schoolmatters.com or schooldigger.com and pick a district where the balance is to your liking.

Tredyffrin-Easttown is the best district in this area, relatively diverse, and excellent in all regards. I would suggest you check it out.

I've also read good things about Upper Merion SD but it is not on par with the Main Line Districts ie T-E, Radnor (super snobby), Lower Merion, Unionville Chadds Ford (ranked on par with Main Line), Central Bucks (also on par), Great Valley (Malvern). West Chester SD is pretty diverse as well, though a bit far from Plymouth Meeting.

Thanks for this!

That section within LMSD with the busing issue... would that be in Ardmore?

[orrmobl]

Your welcome!

According to this:School Redistricting Plan Passes To Outrage - cbs3.com

"The proposal will rebalance the district in order to even out the number of students at each school. While officials said the move will offer students more class options, opponents said the plan unfairly targets low-income and minority families in South Ardmore and North Narberth"

[Starchgirl]

Thanks for all of the advice!!