Please compare Seneca Valley, Quaker Valley and North Allegheny school districts

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by PghREA

Have you considered Pine-Richland, it is one of the top school districts in PA.

And one of the top football stadiums costing 12 million!!! It's responsible for building the character of over 50 boys a year. What a bargain!

[Shmeggles345]

I realize that you probably already have moved to Pittsburgh, but I just wanted to say that I have been a student of Quaker Valley since first grade. I don't like the fact that there are "snobs", but they won't bother your kids. I know this from my experience. I also know that the brand names and designer clothes are big in QV, but really...it's a great school and your kids will get a good education. Also, I don't wear the designer brands and I'm doing fine. And you don't have to live in Sewickley to go to Quaker Valley. You could also live in Leetsdale, Edgeworth, Bell Acres, or Fair Oaks and still go to Quaker Valley, but it wouldn't be so expensive to afford a house.

[SewickleyPA]

Originally Posted by Shmeggles345

I realize that you probably already have moved to Pittsburgh, but I just wanted to say that I have been a student of Quaker Valley since first grade. I don't like the fact that there are "snobs", but they won't bother your kids. I know this from my experience. I also know that the brand names and designer clothes are big in QV, but really...it's a great school and your kids will get a good education. Also, I don't wear the designer brands and I'm doing fine. And you don't have to live in Sewickley to go to Quaker Valley. You could also live in Leetsdale, Edgeworth, Bell Acres, or Fair Oaks and still go to Quaker Valley, but it wouldn't be so expensive to afford a house.

Edgeworth would be by far the most expensive out of the places that you mentioned. Edgeworth has the 2nd highest median household income in Allegheny county next to Sewickley Heights and Fox Chapel.

Also, I wouldn't worry too much about the "snob" factor at QV, its not much different than any other suburban public school, besides the awesome Apple laptop grant.

And all of the snobs go to the Sewickley Academy, avoid that school like the plauge, LOL. If your kids go to QV they will have fun beating on them in sports every year in the cross-town rivalry.

[Nearwater]

Pine- Richland school district made US New and World Report this year for one of the top high schools in the country. We just moved here from Connecticut and from a town where the schools were top notch. We did a lot of research before we moved here and we looked at all the schools you mentioned. We love it here in Pine. I would strongly consider looking at Pine TWP.

[Hopes]

Pine Richland is a great school district. It's filled with more down to earth people even though there's a lot of upper-middle class wealth in the area.

[burghgirl]

Well, we ended up buying a house in the North Allegheny school district and could not be happier with our choice. The teachers are top notch, the curriculum is amazing, and there are so many opportunities for extracurricular activities. Despite being a large school district, there is somehow still a personal feel to it. We have been here almost nine months, and both my kids are finding their niche. Thanks for everybody's responses!

[Retiredcoach]

Originally Posted by burghgirl

Well, we ended up buying a house in the North Allegheny school district and could not be happier with our choice. The teachers are top notch, the curriculum is amazing, and there are so many opportunities for extracurricular activities. Despite being a large school district, there is somehow still a personal feel to it. We have been here almost nine months, and both my kids are finding their niche. Thanks for everybody's responses!

Congratulations, your family has made an excellent choice. The district is large, the opportunities extensive for your children, and the quality of the education is unsurpassed. The community is very family oriented.

[SoButCounty]

I lived in Franklin Park with NA school district for 15 years and your concerns about NA are well founded. Initially, all of my colleagues in the area insisted that NA was the best in the North Hills and that would be the place to go. Over the years, as I watched my property taxes rise and my kids struggle to find their "niche" in NA, I began to feel like it was a mistake.

After my kids had grown and gone, I moved to Cranberry 4 years ago. My property taxes are now less than half of what they would be with virtually any of the Allegheny districts. Had I known then what I know now, I would have moved to Cranberry and put my kids in SV schools from the start. I was working out by the airport at the time and had a 35-40 minute commute every day. No big deal.

My intention is not to bad mouth the Allegheny county communities, but recognize that if you live in Allegheny county, your property taxes will be higher.... much higher than any of the surrounding counties. Those savings can and do make a noticeable difference in your quality of life. I got a bigger house with lower long term costs because of the lower taxes. Do the school districts compare? I couldn't tell you that but generally speaking, in my 4 years in Cranberry, I've heard nothing but praise for SV schools.