Have jobs, need the right Portland neighborhood (South Portland, Yarmouth: rent, to buy)

[northbynorth]

Hi all,

My spouse and I are taking up jobs near Portland starting this summer, and we are leaning towards living in/near Portland proper. We already live in New England, so it's just a bit further north from where we already are...we are very prepared to embrace Maine winters!

We have an older-elementary school-age kid and are interested in learning more about the schools....but test scores matter little to us, so the conventional school ratings don't tell us much about the quality of the schools. We're much more concerned that the kids are getting recess, gym, and art than acing the state tests. That being said, even based on the Great Schools ratings (for example) Portland schools seem to be highly variable! Can anyone give advice on or share experiences of the public schools within Portland? We'd love to live near one with a nice community feeling!

If we did not have a kid, we'd probably rent for the first year and get a better feel for the place (although we've been spending a fair amount of time in the area already...), but since we do, we hope to buy and want to make sure we choose a neighborhood we like so that kiddo would not have to change schools twice. Our budget is around ~275-350k.

We're all very sociable people and have a small dog we like to take for walks. As of right now, we live near the center of a college town and we like having stuff (shops, cafes) within walking distance, though we are flexible about that. A short drive is okay too.

Along the same lines, we'll be looking for a good soccer club for our kid, and are open to recommendations there too! Right now kid plays in Northeast Soccer League (formerly MAPLE).

Thanks!

[Vance Mack]

Waynefleet.

[Vance Mack]

Woops, sorry. It's Waynflete


https://www.waynflete.org/

[dubthang]

King Middle and Casco Bay High offer a more hands on learning experience.

[northbynorth]

^ Thanks! Any thoughts about elementary schools?

[Vance Mack]

You will be hard pressed to meet all your criteria in the $250-$375 range. Possibly intown Portland with the idea of sending kid to one of the schools mentioned.
The area of South Portland near Willard Beach would probably be ideal for you except it's kind of like a cult there. People move in but never leave. As the realators on this board might say "inventory is quite limited". A lot of people consider it ideal. Quiet tree lined streets. Easy walk to the beach, stores, schools, bakerys, restaurants, library, ice cream, greenbelt path, etc.. And veeery doggy.
Other than that you could try Yarmouth, which has a very nice, walkable Old New England downtown with all the amenities you seek. Also Excellent schools and school sports so turbo expensive.


Have you considered S NH? Exeter, Portsmouth etc.?