Need Warwick area info for impending relocation (Providence, Cranston: real estate, houses)

[CBA]

Hi everyone. I’m looking for some local advice on, what else, schools and neighborhoods—but in the Warwick area rather than Providence. We’ll be temporarily relocating to RI for a 3-year job in Warwick this summer, and we have two young kids (oldest will complete grades 1-3 in RI). We’re interested in finding friendly family neighborhoods with super elementary schools. I’ve read on these threads that Barrington and E. Greenwich have good school districts, but we spent many years in Westchester County, NY (outside NYC) and definitely want to avoid the snob factor that I fear may be present in Barrington and E. Greenwich. To me, a “good” school is not defined by its test scores, but rather is one that funds its art and music programs, fosters creativity and problem-solving skills rather than rote memorization, and is one in which bullying is not tolerated. I don’t want to worry about “keeping up with the Joneses” either. In addition to good schools (charter would be okay—how does this work in RI?), we’re looking for a community with great recreational opportunities, room to roam, newer affordable (300k) houses, within a 30-minute commute to Warwick. Does it exist, and if so, where? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[traceyr13]

I lived for 2 years in the Greenwood section of Warwick. The elementary school (Greenwood elementary) was RAVED about by everyone that I spoke to. Honestly, I was taken aback by how my neighbors talked about this school. It was such a cute little neighborhood - in the evenings, everyone was out walking their dog or with strollers with the kids. For Halloween, they do a giant "boo" thing where you leave anonymous bags of goodies on the doorstep and then put a sign up on your door. I could go on and on - I really liked it.

BTW, you want "Greenwood proper" if you look it up - the area of Greenwood extends farther, but I thought the nicest part was considered the "proper" part.

[Apple Annie]

Go to www.riliving.com , register, and put in your search criteria for the areas you are interested in. You won't get much house for $300K in RI. More like $400K in the better school system areas. Word of caution: RI is not famous for having a good school system overall. You would be wise to look north of Rt. 295 in either Cumberland, Lincoln, Smithfield, Greenville, Western Cranston, etc. for great highway access to Warwick via Rt. 295 and good school systems with affordable properties in that price range. Anywhere in Warwick, including Greenwood, is wayyy to close to the airport.

[traceyr13]

Greenwood is close to the airport, but not in the flight pattern, so we didn't have the noise at all. Seriously - we asked about it! And I agree that Warwick is not great at the middle/high level at all, but they have some really strong elementary schools. The Apponaug area is another lovely area.

[CBA]

Thanks for the info. Whew--300k surely does not get you much! My husband has been looking at North Kingstown because we could use the services at the nearby Navy installation, and it seems like it is equidistant between the Navy base and Warwick. Do you have any insight on that town? Of course, it looks like we'd have to spend half a million to get a nice house....

[Apple Annie]

North Kingstown has some nice areas. RILiving.com can give you an idea of prices there. I have no info on the schools in NK.

Here is the link to the Warwick area, showing the layout of the runways at TF Green Airport. Runway expansion is planned; and plans are in development for a train coming in and out of the terminal. Hope this helps. (I still recommend everything north of Rt. 295 for price, location, lack of snob factors, and amenities.) "Cowesett" is a nicer area of Warwick also.

http://www.google.com/maps?q=Warwick...,0.167198&om=1

[CBA]

Thanks again. I've been surfing real estate sites this evening. The northern area does seem more reasonably priced and has some newer developments. It would be nice if riliving disclosed the school districts the listings were in, but no one seems to list them...not the public mls, not the individual realtors, and not even the new housing developments' own web sites!

Thanks so much for taking the time to provide info!

[Apple Annie]

Hi CBA,

There are links at the top of the page on RILiving.com Here is the one for information on the schools from the "About RI" link:

http://www.riliving.com/oceanstate/E...on/default.asp

With regard to northern RI, notice that, in most instances, you will get larger lots there also.

Hope this helps.

[traceyr13]

You can also post and ask if you have a question about a specific area and what school they go to - I know a lot about many areas of the state and their particular schools (definitely not all, but I can often figure it out.

North Kingstown is funny - some areas have really really good elementary schools, and some I wouldn't go near. The high school has come a long way - they are actually a leader in the state for the "personalized education" (ie advisories) mandate. I was the coordinator for a few years at BHS for advisories, so I went to several conferences on it and got to see what other districts were doing - NK was widely regarded as one of the best.

Stay away from the Davisville elementary. That is far and away the weakest elementary school in NK

Have you found this website yet? https://www.eride.ri.gov/reportcard/06/default.asp

I totally agree that the northern areas of the state are lovely and have some great schools (I particularly like Lincoln and Greenville - part of Smithfield) but I just wouldn't want to commute to Warwick from there, particularly since you are only worried about elementary schools and there are some great elementary schools MUCH closer to where you will be working. Just my opinion.

[CBA]

Thanks, guys, for the school links. I was just logging on to the computer this afternoon to find and print out school report cards, so you saved me a couple of steps! My husband is hung up on NK because of its proximity to the naval base. Is it more of an urban area there--NK, I mean? I was looking at Coventry...it seems to be more rural, but maybe that is only the western part of the town? Commute times (according to google maps or mapquest) from the eastern part of Coventry seemed to be okay, but not from the western part. The schools seem to be weaker there than in NK, yes? Thanks again for the info!!!! It sure is hard to move to a state you've never been to.