Richmond Area with Top School - not the city however (Hampton: low crime, homes)

[outofCT]

I am looking to relocate to Richmond area. Commute is not an issue: work out of home. I have 3 kids, 2 in elemantary and 1 in pre-school. My wife is a professor and I am a CPA with 2 masters. We are educated oriented and want top public schools [I am not paying for it if three towns over the public schools are great]. My wife wants a cutsey town: not strip malls and box stores (ok if shoved in a section of town). I would like something not far from the world: close to gym, shopping, etc. Need things for kids and low crime area. I know Richmond is high but coming from Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven (CT is small they are all only a 1/2 hour away) you have seen nothing. We are looking in the $575,000 to $650,000 range. Is the Episcopal Church in existence around there?

[mondayem]

I have always lived in richmond. I can tell you where you need to look.

Southside
If you want to send your kids to public school, midlothian is a great option. There are some upscale homes in the salisbury area. Rosemont is the nicest section of salisbury. I lived there for a while. Specifically, you want to be in the midlothian high school area. It is the only school in that county with the bacaloreate (sp?) program. Basically, it is a specialized program for highly intelligent, successful kids. they get small classes, special teachers, and normally go on to attend ivy league schools. It is about a 20 minute commute to richmond from there. I would also ask a realtor to show you the new developments next to salisbury off robious road. they are very nice, however I do not think they are in the midlothian area, but rather the james river area. However, the bacaloreate program accepts kids from all schools in the county.

West end area
Henrico county is also nice, but you would need to be in western henrico in the glen allen area for the best schools in that county. I personally don't like glen allen, aka the short pump area. it is very crowded and I always get overwhelmed just going to the mall out there. It's kinda funny because the "westenders" look down on people from the "southside." They tend to think they are better, or better off, when the statistics actually show that income per capita is actually the highest in the midlothian area over short pump and typically there is less crime. not to mention, there was a news article in the paper saying that the salisbury area contained more professionals with families then glen allen. This is also about a 20 minute commute to downtown.

Only areas in richmond that are very nice are the windsor farms area (richmond city), and the neighborhoods off river road (henrico). Beware: Very Snobby. However, richmond city has awful schools. Everyone sends their kids to private if they live in the city. Top by far are Collegiate (where I attended) or St. Christophers and St. Catherines. Smaller and less expensive, although very nice is Saint Michaels.

Overall, midlothian has the best public schools in chesterfield county (just as good as any in henrico) and wide range of professionals with families. the one thing it doesn't has that short pump does and the river road/windsor farm are is a sense of entitlement among the inhabitants.

Good Luck!

[outofCT]

thanks for your help. If you need tourist info up here most obliged too. I lived in NYC suburbs more than half my life and now I am in the coastal woods of oblivion for the past 6

[outofCT]

Would you be able to get a 3,200 sq ft 4+bed/3+ bath home on a 1/2 acre for the $600k range in Midlothian Glen Allen etc. or is it like Westchester County, NY/Fairfield County, CT which gets you a garage?

[VaGrl]

There are many good choices in Chesterfield. However, the best kept secret in Chesterfield is Woodland Pond subdivision. I would suggest checking it out. Prices start at $400,000 and go to over $1 million.

I'd like to address the high school programs. Each high school in Chesterfield County has a different specialty center. Any student may apply to any of the programs. You do not have to live in that high school district to apply to its program. Students fill out an application and also have an interview, audition and/or submitting required work. Each program has a predetermined number of children it will accept for that year. There are also 2 Governor's schools that pull from Chesterfield as well as surrounding counties.

Hope this info. is helpful.

[outofCT]

Originally Posted by VaGrl

There are many good choices in Chesterfield. However, the best kept secret in Chesterfield is Woodland Pond subdivision. I would suggest checking it out. Prices start at $400,000 and go to over $1 million.

I'd like to address the high school programs. Each high school in Chesterfield County has a different specialty center. Any student may apply to any of the programs. You do not have to live in that high school district to apply to its program. Students fill out an application and also have an interview, audition and/or submitting required work. Each program has a predetermined number of children it will accept for that year. There are also 2 Governor's schools that pull from Chesterfield as well as surrounding counties.

Hope this info. is helpful.

May I ask what is a Governor's School?

[richmondpics]

Links to both Richmond area Governor's Schools:

Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts & Technology
Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies

They are basically advanced regional public schools where the most advanced students can excel in specific areas, such as the arts or international studies, etc... Students must go through a very competitive application process in order to attend.

[ClarkStreetKid]

Originally Posted by mondayem

the one thing it doesn't has that short pump does and the river road/windsor farm are is a sense of entitlement among the inhabitants.

Thanks for the insult.

[Howe2]

Hi,
I just wanted to add another area with excellent schools for your consideration. The 360 corridor near the Swift Creek reservoir has beautiful waterfront properties and is in the top-rated Clover Hill high school district. This is among the best in the entire metro Richmond area and one of the best kept secrets. I researced extensively before selecting this area based primarily on the schools and amenties. Newsweek rated Clover Hill High the best high school in the metro Richmond area with Midlothian next then James River. Yes, each school has it's "specialty" and can be attended depending on the area of expertise the student is trying to achieve. Also, Cover Hill and Woolridge elementary are rated highly while still maintaining a caring environment for those little ones going to school for the first time. Also, Winterpock elementary is opening this November which will aleviate some overcrowding issues at Spring Run elem. which is otherwise also excellent. I am providing the link to the Virginia Reports Cards where you can compare some of the stats.
youhttps://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/

There are sveral neighborhood that feed into these schools such as Foxcroft, Foxfire, Foxcreek, Woodlake, Hampton Park, Summerlake, Summerdford and the soon to be Harper's Mill. All of these neighborhood have amenties galore!!! Hampton Park is amazing with a Hockey rink and 2 pools, numerous playgrounds, etc. I could go on and on about the activities at Woodlake as well but just ask your realtor to have you take a look before making your final decision. Your kids will love having all these things just steps away One more thing, Woodlake Child Development Center, ie. preschool, is where my daughter attends and loves it!

You can't go wrong though with selecting Chesterfield schools. Good luck!

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by Howe2

Hi,
I just wanted to add another area with excellent schools for your consideration. The 360 corridor near the Swift Creek reservoir has beautiful waterfront properties and is in the top-rated Clover Hill high school district. This is among the best in the entire metro Richmond area and one of the best kept secrets. I researced extensively before selecting this area based primarily on the schools and amenties. Newsweek rated Clover Hill High the best high school in the metro Richmond area with Midlothian next then James River. Yes, each school has it's "specialty" and can be attended depending on the area of expertise the student is trying to achieve. Also, Cover Hill and Woolridge elementary are rated highly while still maintaining a caring environment for those little ones going to school for the first time. Also, Winterpock elementary is opening this November which will aleviate some overcrowding issues at Spring Run elem. which is otherwise also excellent. I am providing the link to the Virginia Reports Cards where you can compare some of the stats.
youhttps://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/

There are sveral neighborhood that feed into these schools such as Foxcroft, Foxfire, Foxcreek, Woodlake, Hampton Park, Summerlake, Summerdford and the soon to be Harper's Mill. All of these neighborhood have amenties galore!!! Hampton Park is amazing with a Hockey rink and 2 pools, numerous playgrounds, etc. I could go on and on about the activities at Woodlake as well but just ask your realtor to have you take a look before making your final decision. Your kids will love having all these things just steps away One more thing, Woodlake Child Development Center, ie. preschool, is where my daughter attends and loves it!

You can't go wrong though with selecting Chesterfield schools. Good luck!

They are right, Chesterfield County has excellent schools, but Hampton Park, Foxcroft, Foxfire,and Summer Lake are all zoned Cosby High School and Summer Lake is zoned Manchester.
Someone else mentioned Woodland Pond. This is a nice neighborhood, but too far out for many people. It is zoned Matoaca High School, not the best in the area.