Any families in Shockhoe Bottom/Carytown/Museum District? (Richmond, Jefferson: apartment, rent)

[sarchivist98]

My husband is thinking of applying for a job in Richmond. One of our top priorities is living someplace with a high walk score. My kids - ages 10 and 15 - are used to getting around on their own. If we move, it will be difficult for them no matter what. I want to make sure they are not stuck in a subdivision in the middle of nowhere. Probably most important is that they can walk to a public library. It looks like Shockhoe Bottom, Carytown, Museum District and the Fan are the most walkable, but it sounds like those areas might cater to 20-somethings. We don't need to have lots of families around - we live in a mixed neighborhood now - but I don't want it to be too transient of a neighborhood. I would like some stability in the residents.

Although we will definitely consider schools, it is not a top priority that the schools be the most highly ranked. My kids go to the bottom ranked school district in our region now and are used to metal detectors, etc., but are also holding their own academically and getting a good education, so we will look beyond the numbers and ranking when considering schools.

Thanks for any input you may have.

[ettagrl]

I would not live in the Bottom with children, but there are lots of families in the Fan and Museum District. Also may want to check out the area just west of there (called the near West End or Westhampton). There is a shopping district at Libbie and Grove, and some places on Patterson, including a public library, wonderful small grocery, specialty food & seafood market, Starbucks, restaurants, shops, bakery, ice cream shop. Zip code is 23226 and there are houses located within the City of Richmond and Henrico County that are within walking distance.

[JD984]

There is a pretty substantial difference between the public high schools in the City of Richmond and those in Henrico County. You might want to take a good luck before you leap. Certainly many people with kids in places like the Fan, Carytown or the West End will be sending them to private schools.

[Octa]

Given your children's age( a soon to be teenage and a teenage), there's nothing wrong with Shockoe as it's highly walkable though I would be worried about high school. The neighbourhood between the fan and shockoe, monroe ward, contains the main library and some of the more popular public parks in the city. Besides that, I think the Museum District and Fan west of lombardy st. are ideal as well. The Museum district contains the Belmont library along with museums and other amenities. I don't know if I would move to the old West End without first checking it out. There's nothing wrong with it crime wise, but it's the start of the burbs as they're old style suburbs. It's not very walkable and there isn't a lot to walk to. It also isn't very diverse when it comes to socioeconomics as everyone is upper class.

[ettagrl]

Completely agree with JEB77 about the high school concerns -- check that out carefully. As for octa's comments on Westhampton, don't count that area out. It does feed from some upper-crust neighborhoods but to say that everyone in that area is upper class is an over-generalization. I think I already mentioned many things to walk to, and it's not just upper class Windsor Farms -- there are lots of lovely modest homes and families living in the area, esp off of Patterson. Despite what I feel is an over-generalization, it does have a bit of a privileged, old-Richmond feel in certain neighborhoods, so yes, do look before you leap!

[AJNEOA]

I'm not sure about the high school situation, but don't forget to check-out Bellevue. Not the highest walkscore, but it's walkable to ~8 restaurants, a local coffee shop, a couple of local markets, CVS, art studio, yoga studio etc. It also has a few bus routes that service the area if you'd prefer not to drive into downtown, the Fan or Museum District.

[sarchivist98]

Wow, thanks everyone, this is very helpful! I checked out the 23226 zip code and Freeman High looks more than fine. Most of the lots on the houses I saw on realtor.com are a quarter acre or more, though. Are there parts of this area that are more densely populated? We would probably rent at first, and are fine with an apartment or town house.

Does anyone know about Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond? It looks similar to our high school here. I wouldn't mind being in a school with a few less problems than the one we are in now, but, as strange as it sounds, I don't want to move to a wealthy, high pressure school. I think the transition would be too alienating for my kids. We are white and professional middle class, but our high school is 20% white, 60% black and 20% everything else and 50% free lunch. Are there any schools that are really mixed like that in the Richmond area? The ones I have looked at seem to be heavily skewed to one race and socioeconomic group. Freeman is over 75% white and only 15% free lunch, but most of the Richmond schools seem even more skewed in the opposite direction.

[ettagrl]

Richmond city, sadly, and as you have already gathered, is very much a city of haves and have nots. We are zoned for TJ, but do not have HS-aged children. I do have neighbors and friends who have sent their children to Munford and Albert Hill, but the general consensus is that TJ is not a viable option. Again, since I don't have children that old, I haven't looked at high schools and can't provide further insight. Most city residents in 23226, however, either go private for HS or hope their children get accepted to Maggie Walker. Hope that helps.

[Octa]

Originally Posted by sarchivist98

Wow, thanks everyone, this is very helpful! I checked out the 23226 zip code and Freeman High looks more than fine. Most of the lots on the houses I saw on realtor.com are a quarter acre or more, though. Are there parts of this area that are more densely populated? We would probably rent at first, and are fine with an apartment or town house.

Does anyone know about Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond? It looks similar to our high school here. I wouldn't mind being in a school with a few less problems than the one we are in now, but, as strange as it sounds, I don't want to move to a wealthy, high pressure school. I think the transition would be too alienating for my kids. We are white and professional middle class, but our high school is 20% white, 60% black and 20% everything else and 50% free lunch. Are there any schools that are really mixed like that in the Richmond area? The ones I have looked at seem to be heavily skewed to one race and socioeconomic group. Freeman is over 75% white and only 15% free lunch, but most of the Richmond schools seem even more skewed in the opposite direction.

The city schools are very segregated so the answer would be no. They just happened to do a redistricting not too long ago and it the city came under fire for it since a lot of residents thought the cities redistricting was furthering it. Thankfully there are residents who are very progressive in wanting to see the schools integrated racially and economically, but that's a long ways off.

I mentioned earlier in my last response that you should be weary about the old west end so you're children aren't around just one socioeconomic group for the simple reason that a lot of city residents come off as if they're afraid of less fortunate people or automatically stereotype them. I'm glad you want to see your children growing up around a diverse group of individuals. I've been looking at the profiles of several schools in northern Virginia and they happen to be a lot more integrated than the schools in Richmond and encompass students of different backgrounds. You're husband should also check out that area as well.

[sarchivist98]

Thanks, everyone. It sounds like Richmond would be great if we were already empty nesters! My kids currently go to schools that are considered rough - low graduation rates, gang members (although no fear of activity inside the school because of good security), but there are very strong AP and IB program too, which provide an excellent academic experience for those with support at home or from mentors. I was hoping maybe Thomas Jefferson would be like this since it looks like there is an IB program there.

I understand what you are saying, Octa - my kids encounter suburban kids who are shocked that my kids live in the city and have lived to tell about it. My kids have come to disdain those kids, which is another reason why it might be less of a culture shock for them to stay away from the wealthier and more car-oriented suburbs.

I briefly checked out the Bellevue neighborhood AJNEO suggested, and it looks like a real community, on regular bus lines and slightly more affordable than Fan/Museum District. However, it is zoned for a different high school that doesn't seem as good as Thomas Jefferson. Is there anywhere in near Henrico County that is on a bus line that runs regularly?

Thanks for the info about Northern Virginia, Octa. Right now we are only looking at Richmond because my husband is being recruited for his dream job there. We both have fairly stable jobs in Upstate New York, so we would never think of moving our kids at this vulnerable time in their lives if it this opportunity hadn't fallen in his lap.