Questions about Portland (Gorham: new home, neighborhoods, school districts)

[marmom]

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Portland from Albuquerque. We hope you all can help answer a few questions:

What are the best public school districts and/or private schools in the Portland area?

What are potential places for a child psychiatrist to work?

What are potential places for an occupational therapist to work (hospital, rehab hospital, or long term care facility type setting)?

If we were to spend 2-3 days visiting Portland, what would be the top places to visit both in terms of seeing the sights and neighborhoods/suburbs?

Thank you much for your help!

[elston]

Originally Posted by marmom

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Portland from Albuquerque. We hope you all can help answer a few questions:

What are the best public school districts and/or private schools in the Portland area?

What are potential places for a child psychiatrist to work?

What are potential places for an occupational therapist to work (hospital, rehab hospital, or long term care facility type setting)?

If we were to spend 2-3 days visiting Portland, what would be the top places to visit both in terms of seeing the sights and neighborhoods/suburbs?

Thank you much for your help!

I recently moved to Gorham Maine and I like it here very much. I am told it has a good school system....I don't have children of school age so really dont know. My grand daughter goes to a private school in Portland K thru middle school..Breakwater School. Breakwater School, Portland, Maine Her parents really like it very much. I went to some of the end of school year programs and was impressed with the kids and the atmosphere....which I would describe as individualized, nuturing and loving!

Since I am a new comer to the area....I will let others suggest the sights and other neighborhoods.

I love my new community. Good Luck

[marmom]

Thanks for the input, I'll start researching both Gorham and Breakwater. Our daughter is only 11 mos, but I don't want to have to move once she is school age. We would prefer to live somewhere w/ good public schools. We hear wonderful things about Maine and are very excited about the decision to move!

[WhoFanMe]

Originally Posted by marmom

My husband and I are thinking of moving to Portland from Albuquerque. We hope you all can help answer a few questions:

What are the best public school districts and/or private schools in the Portland area?

What are potential places for a child psychiatrist to work?

What are potential places for an occupational therapist to work (hospital, rehab hospital, or long term care facility type setting)?

If we were to spend 2-3 days visiting Portland, what would be the top places to visit both in terms of seeing the sights and neighborhoods/suburbs?

Thank you much for your help!

Welcome marmom,

Like elston, I also live in Gorham and have an 18 month old. We are excited about a new school to be built near us and ready in 2011 or so. I believe the Greater Portland area has plenty of opportunity for the fields that you specialize in, as there are many group practices in the area to explore. You might want to get a copy of the yellow pages for Greater Portland and look at all the ads. There are numerous areas in all the towns surrounding Greater Portland that might be right for you, depending upon your needs, wants and budgets.

[dmyankee]

Child Psych and OT's are in as much demand here, as anywhere. I would think that you may look into the Cape area with your dual income. Home prices and taxes will probably be your biggest surprise. Maybe not. Good luck!

[genmomto5]

From what I have heard about cost of living in NM you will be frowning at heating bills (no brainer there) but pleased with cooling costs. You may be surprised that there are days you will want to run an air conditioner and the humidity will be a huge change.

When we looked at Maine we had a list of places we thought we would like and ended up by chance in a place we had ruled out. My best advice is don't limit yourself. I do not know how schools are in Albuquerque but compared to the high rated "on paper" public schools my children and myself have attended in PA, NJ, and MD, the schools around here are the best I have seen. Not because of test scores in particular but because of an intangible, unmeasurable quality. People seem to truly care about children here collectively in a way I haven't seen elsewhere.

We are very happy with the Portland schools. The choice of an alternative HS has been nothing short of a godsend for us. But honestly I think you will find a good fit almost anywhere. And as Elston pointed out, there is Breakwater and a wealth of other private schools that would be able to fill in any gaps you run in to.

Figure out what your needs are in a house and neighborhood first. For us it was walkability due to a low vision family member and being in the city itself has been perfect for his needs. Write down a list of your dreams for a house and neighborhood. Make a list of the must haves. Then let us know the musts for a neighborhood and I bet we will be able to be even more helpful.

There really are so many different styles of places around here, even within the city itself. You could end up with almost anything you dream of. And with both of your job specialties you will have no problems finding work.

[marmom]

WhoFanMe, congrats on your 18 mo old!

This forum is so helpful, especially since we don't have any contacts in Maine. As for a neighborhood, genmomto5, aside from good schools, these are probably our top priorities (not necessarily in order):
-Safe
-Nice places to walk
-Beautiful views
-Not pretentious
As for a home, this is what we hope for:
-3/4 bedroom, 2/3 bath
-Quality built
-2 car garage
-Not too big

I am fairly certain that the taxes in Maine will be quite a bit higher than here. In terms of a house, I would say we could go up to 500K, but would much rather stay in the 300K or less bracket if feasible.

I have researched a lot of cities on city-data, and residents of Maine seem to be pervasively positive about living there. I would be interested to hear what people love most about living there. Also, what are the biggest drawbacks, if any? One thread described parts of Maine as quite conservative. Would you say this is generally true of Maine? Could one describe Maine as progressive? How would you describe the general attitude with respect to tolerance (e.g. race, sexual orientation, religion, etc)?

Thanks again to everyone for the input!

[marmom]

A couple more things (sorry!):
Genmomto5, what a lovely description of the schools:
"the schools around here are the best I have seen. Not because of test scores in particular but because of an intangible, unmeasurable quality. People seem to truly care about children here collectively in a way I haven't seen elsewhere."
As much as I love my hometown of Albuquerque, it is almost exactly the opposite here! (NM is 49th in the nation for education)

Another question about the general atmosphere of Maine is: how would you describe the people overall? Stoic? Friendly? Is there a strong sense of community pride? Thanks again!

[elston]

We moved here about 3 months ago from San Diego county.....we live in Gorham. I have found people in my neighborhood to be very friendly and welcoming. We are an older gay couple--and that has not been an issue.
All the neighbors wave or speak as they drive or jog or walk by our place and give encouragement about our attempt to get a lawn going etc. Our neighborhood is relatively new...so there are others who moved here "from away".....that is a non-issue by the way. We have been welcomed by both the old timers and newbies.

Gorham is a real community....sorta Norman Rockwell in appearance...with American flags hanging from the telephone poles and band concerts and lovely old colonial and victorian homes on the Main Steet and on the tree lined side streets. It also has some really nice upscale developments with beautiful new homes.

It is convenient to the mall and to Portland....but has enough in town that it really isnt necessary to go there very often. It is also a college town.....we were pleased that there was a concert series at the school of music.

We are going to start going into Portland to a UU church and will then spend time afternoons exploring Portland. (It is a beautiful old city). I can't say enough good about this part of Maine.

We just came back from a drive up to Lake Sebago State Park--and got a season pass to all the state parks in Maine. We intend to do a lot of exploring this summer.
Good Luck to you.....may you find just what your looking for.

[marmom]

Thank you, Elston. Your comments help to paint a picture in my mind of what the Portland area feels like. Much appreciated!