I'm doing a military move to Newport this summer, need advice (North Kingstown: environment, for sale)

[JMM74]

Hi all! Since this is my first post, I'll introduce myself first. I'm Melissa, mom to Jared (5) and Molly (2) and wife to a Navy submarine officer. My hometown is Lake Placid, NY, if anyone ever needs to know about it (which also means I understand how crazy thigns get with tourists in a small town. Parking is impoosible!). We've lived in Newport News, VA (don't ever go there if you can help it, it's the stinking, unshaven armpit of the universe), Charleston, SC (we lived on base so I'm not much help to anyone there), Saratoga Springs, NY twice (I lived and we met there, then moved back there once) and now we're in Bremerton, WA. Beautiful area! That's me/us in a nutshell.

NOW, we're moving to Newport, RI and I'd love some advice.

My biggest concern is elementary schools. Of course, I want to find the best one and try and find a place (we rent since it's relatively short term) in that "right area". Only one school seemed OK, and that was the Carey School. ??? Is that right? Are there better schools in neighboring towns?

(A little backround) My son is in a Spanish Immersion kindergarten right now. (I'd love to keep him in it, but alas, we have to move!). He's not passing, but excelling in school, even with all their testing given to the immersion kids is Spanish only. He's reading and understanding Spanish and English. He's a smart little cookie and NEEDS to be in a stimulating educational environment. I'm so worried he'll end up bored in a "normal" classroom, nevermind a "not so great" school, kwim? I just want him to have the best public school can offer. (It's so frustrating sometime like this - having to move via the Navy. I know no one in Newport, how am I supposed to decide where to live!).

As I understand it, there's a few other towns close by (we would like to keep my husbands commute about 20 minutes if we went out of Newport) - Middletown, Jamestown and - I forget the other one. I've been looking at places for rent on NewportRents but pics are so hard to judge by. Is the area by the base nice?

If you folks could tell me ANYTHING, especially pertaining to the local elementary schools, it would be a HUGE help. When we move in July, we'll be moving into a place essentially sight unseen, just pictures. Normally I could get advice from other submarine wives but this is our shore tour and not a familiar place to any of them. I'd really appreciate any input!

Oh - since I'm asking about schools... if you know of any play based preschools (not daycare) too, that would be icing on the cake.

Thanks!

[nwc07]

Hi Melissa

We moved here last year and had many of the same questions. I had friends here so they gave me some good info. We chose to move to Portsmouth due to the "better" schools and we wanted to get into a community. Portsmouth is about 15 minutes from the base. Most military live in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth or Jamestown. Newport is not "family"friendly" in my opinion. There are many incidents in Newport schools reported in the paper. I have children in all 3 Portsmouth schools. They are just "ok". I dont know how long you will be here but you may want to look into private school. Rhode Island has alot of financial problems which are taken out on the schools. On the flip side, I have never lived in an area I felt more safe. Violent crime is nonexistant. We found our house the same way. I had friends who showed up and had better luck renting the homes that previously had been for sale. I dont know what your price range is but you dont get alot for your money here! I do advise getting a garage. It gets very cold during the winter!
Good luck!

[jakedog1]

I hate to be a downer but no, the area near the base is not nice. The schools in Newport are not good, and the houses are $$$.
The upside is that you are in Rhode Island and there are lots of other towns within 20 minutes. The schools in Jamestown, Portsmouth, Narragansett and North Kingstown range from good to excellent. I would recommend renting when you get here. The housing market is still chugging along in southern RI but if you take your time you may find a better deal in a place you feel most comfortable.

As was previously mentioned there are quite a few private schools in the area that offer some of the best education in the country. But they are $$$ (think on par with a private college tuition) There are also Catholic, Montessori and Waldorf schools if you look around. The best elementary on Aquidnick Island are
Saint Philomena School - Welcome
and
The Pennfield School | Home

The Jamestown public elementary is highly regarded as well.

You are coming in July which will make renting extremely difficult- most summer and year round rentals are already booked. Most yearly rentals will start in September. I don't know what to say about that... I guess try Portsmouth or North Kingstown- they are less beachy towns than Narragansett, Jamestown or Newport.
Good luck!

[nwc07]

I have to disagree about finding a rental in the summer. Having just been through this myself last summer, I can say there are many high-end rentals that come up in August due to homes not selling here. When I mean high end I am talking in the 500K-800K range. These can be rented at "bargain" prices--$2300-2800. I wish we had waited.

Regarding the schools be prepared for lots of overcrowding. I do not know where you are coming from but I surely did not expect my children to be in classes of 25 children. Also the grading here up until middle school is a series of checks instead of A,B,C, etc. All of my children are finding the curriculum a repeat of what they were doing in other states. Rhode Island is in a fiscal crisis and the first place they cut is the schools. If you can afford to go private or homeschool.

[Jenm1023]

hi there! I am not sure if you have already gotten enough info that you need on this, but I just wanted to tell you I am also a Navy wife and we just moved here in December. My husband is a LT (Nuke-SWO) and we are here for 6 months of school. We had to do the same, basically rent a house sight unseen so I know how frustrating and stressful it is! We have a 16 month old, so I did not have to deal with schools, but but I'd be happy to give you advice or any information I have on the area! I've seen some private schools around Newport, though I have no idea about them. You might want to look into them though if you do want to live in Newport. I'm glad we decided to live in Newport and not the burbs of Middletown or Portsmouth, but again, we don't have school age kids so I may have had a different desire if we did. I'd also encourage you to look into Jamestown and N. Kingstown (I just heard two navy moms talk about the high rated public schools there when I was at the commisary the other day).
Also, try craigslist and militarybyowner.com for rental listings.
And, let me know if you need anything, we are moving in July (headed to San Diego) but I'd be happy to help with info on the area for you if you want. I could even do a drive by if you give me the address of the property you are interested in, just to check it out, I could take photos of the outside for you, and tell you what the street/neighborhood is like. Seriously, I don't mind and I know what it is like to move and have to rent a house and decide on something sight unseen, and even more stressful I am sure it is when you have school age children!
Feel free to email me at: JenniferEdgerton@gmail.com

Best,
Jen

[Hollytree]

You'll be coming to a gorgeous beach resort area in the summer time!!
You'll love Newport & so will the kids!!

[Chris the Bigfoot]

I am Chris a new member raised in Newport, now a much older retired guy retired Military and other stuff and still call Newport my home town. We do go back there frequently. Newport schools are old. Most were there when I graduated in 57. Money for school in all of RI is a problem. Nothing wrong with Middletown or Portsmouth they are trying to keep their heads above water just like everyone else in the country. Problems with Jamestown and points West are the tolls for the Newport Bridge that are bound to go up so they can maintain the thing. Jamestown Bridge to the mainland is free...for now.

I would recommend that you try your best to get Gov't housing. You are going to a very expensive housing market. A great place with always something going on year round. Not quite as wet as where you are right now.The moss on your bodies will eventually dry up and fall off. There should be someone on the Base that can point at reasonable rental places if you go that way.

I hope that works out for you. My kids are older than you are so cannot speak for the education kids get today except that I was a graduate of Newport Public Schools and that education did me well from age 5 to now 68. You like many other military families will never forget Newport. Lots of history there.

[wxjay]

As a native Rhode Islander, I never saw the massive appeal of Newport. Good town, sure. But honestly, towns like Portsmouth, Little Compton, Jamestown, and North Kingstown are much nicer and have just as easy access to beaches as Newport. I think the city is overrated by tourists and locals.