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Hi All,
My family and I will be moving to the Raleigh area from California this year, and want to rent first then buy later when we are settled and know more of the area. I am hoping that I can rent in the same area that I will buy for the sake of not moving my kids around to different schools again....unless anyone can tell me that I can keep them at the same school regardless of my move later on???
Also - my family is prob going to be more unique in NC than Cali, I'm assuming. I'm of Asian descent and my husband is African American. I want to look for a school/area more diverse. We have an 8 yr old and a 5 yr old. I would love to be around parks, shopping centers (not necessarily malls), and NOT be in a cookie cutter home. I am looking to just spend $1300-$1500/month renting....then about $300k buying our home.
Any advice on what areas I should tour? I fly down soon and will be driving around getting a feel for the area. Thanks so much in advance. I appreciate it!
If you move out of the "node"you are assigned to for schooling, you will have to switch schools. I do think there is a "grandfathering" provision, you would then have to provide your own transportation if I'm not mistaken. This is why we were pretty set on buying and not renting for awhile. We had the advantage of having family here already which helped decide where to buy.
I see WAY more inter-racial families down here than I did on Long Island, 20 miles from mid-town Manhattan. I don't think you need to worry about your family's racial/ethnic makeup here.
If you build a home and rent while awaiting completion, you can enroll your child in the school where you are building the home. I know that's not your specific question but I thought I'd add that bit of information.
Don't you only have to prove residency at the beginning of each year? So couldn't someone be renting and have them in the school for that area, then move during the school year but let them finish out that year in the original school with the parents providing transportation? If I'm suggesting something illegal/against the rules, disregard... I just know that's how it was done when I was younger. But if the OP is asking if the kids can remain at that same school even after that, I think the answer is a definite no.
Don't you only have to prove residency at the beginning of each year? So couldn't someone be renting and have them in the school for that area, then move during the school year but let them finish out that year in the original school with the parents providing transportation? If I'm suggesting something illegal/against the rules, disregard... I just know that's how it was done when I was younger. But if the OP is asking if the kids can remain at that same school even after that, I think the answer is a definite no.
You can apply for a transfer to remain at the school if you move during the school year. See #8 on WCPSS Board Policy 6203 on Transfer of School Assignments:
8.In the event of a change of domicile during the school year, the parent(s) may request that the student remain in the current school of enrollment for the remainder of the school year.
However, as sowk09 states above, the transfer will only be valid for that school year.
That's a great question--and I wonder how that will change given the new blue plan? I mean, if you rent a home, list your top 5 choices and get one of them, then move close by, do you have to apply all over again, even if pretty much the same 5 schools would be offered? how is THAT going to work? I bring this up b/c the OP is going to be facing just this issue--maybe it's a no brainer but I could use the information, too
I agonized over this while searching for a rental. I couldn't see the logic in a rental if I couldn't live in it for 4-7 years (my kids are in 9th and 6th grades) because I really didn't want them to have to change schools. I chose schools that were top notch with good magnet options.
So I bought a house. I know it goes against the advice of many who suggest I rent first to 'get to know the area'. I did exhaustive research over the course of two years, visited the area many times, etc.
To the OP - you stated "Raleigh area". You may consider neighboring Clayton (Johnston County Schools) or Durham (Durham Public Schools) since their school assignments don't change as much as Wake County Public Schools.
So I bought a house. I know it goes against the advice of many who suggest I rent first to 'get to know the area'. I did exhaustive research over the course of two years, visited the area many times, etc.
Yup, that was our thought. Like I mentioned, we had family in the area, but with some research you can certainly get in an area that you will like with good schools. From the time my sister decided to move here to the date she actually did move was less than a year, but she's extremely happy with where she is. It's a combo of lots of research, good RE agent....and my sister met a lot of people at job fairs and picked their brains.
We've been here almost a year and if I had to think about moving again I think I'd go crazy! We wanted the kids settled in to a neighborhood, making friends and having the knowledge they were secure where they are. All kids are different but if we had moved down here and told them it was temporary that would not have gone over very well.
Don't you only have to prove residency at the beginning of each year? So couldn't someone be renting and have them in the school for that area, then move during the school year but let them finish out that year in the original school with the parents providing transportation? If I'm suggesting something illegal/against the rules, disregard... I just know that's how it was done when I was younger. But if the OP is asking if the kids can remain at that same school even after that, I think the answer is a definite no.
We have friends who moved within the same node but didn't notify the school district--and they quite quickly got a nasty letter from WCPSS. It was easily resolved, but Big Brother really is watching you.
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