Will Roanoke be better for us than NC? (Cave Spring, Salem: fit in, brokers)

[RISKYBUSINEZZ]

Hello all... my family visited Roanoke last year, and I must say, we were impressed with the hospitality we received. It's funny when I read some thread, I hear abt racism in the city, but everyone was pretty nice
(and although racism exists everywhere), so that wasn't an issue for us. However, visiting someplace and actually living there are two different scenarios, which is why I need some honest opinions on relocating to the Roanoke area over the Charlotte area. Like I said, we liked the city when we visited, but I want to talk abt some concerns that I have first: First of all, I keep reading in the forums that the job economy in Roanoke is not all that good. I also read in the Sperling's Cities: Ranked & Rated book abt Roanoke, and it didn't have a good, future employment rate either. I am taking healthcare adm. so what are my chances once I graduate? I know abt the Carilon health center, so would I be ok? Another concern: It seems that the Roanoke Co. school system is better that the Roanoke City school system? Not higher ranked schools to me does not always mean better, so can someone explain the differences? Is Roanoke Co. higher because of their test scores or is it because they have more parent involvement and compassionate teachers? How diverse is Roanoke Co. schools? I have read in some forms how Cave Spring schools tend to be uppity? Please tell me that's not true because I met some Cave Springs students last year and they seemed very nice and polite. Does Roanoke Co. schools have that, "I live in Roanoke Co. and we are richer and better than you because you go to a Roanoke City school?" I'm only asking this because someone in this forum lived in Roanoke Co and went to the schools, left home and came back to a lot of snobbish and religious residents? Was she making this up? How diverse is Roanoke Co. schools and the residents that lie there? Is racism still abound? I know EVERY city has a decent side of town and not so decent? Which sides are decent besides Roanoke Co? What can you tell me abt Salem? Your honest opinions will be greatly appreciated! I don't want to relocate my children 8 hours away from 'home' and regret it a year later and I DEFINITELY don't want to deal with no racism (my son is dealing with this nonsense now) in the schools....God bless all

[happygal0000]

Originally Posted by RISKYBUSINEZZ

Hello all... my family visited Roanoke last year, and I must say, we were impressed with the hospitality we received. It's funny when I read some thread, I hear abt racism in the city, but everyone was pretty nice
(and although racism exists everywhere), so that wasn't an issue for us. However, visiting someplace and actually living there are two different scenarios, which is why I need some honest opinions on relocating to the Roanoke area over the Charlotte area. Like I said, we liked the city when we visited, but I want to talk abt some concerns that I have first: First of all, I keep reading in the forums that the job economy in Roanoke is not all that good. I also read in the Sperling's Cities: Ranked & Rated book abt Roanoke, and it didn't have a good, future employment rate either. I am taking healthcare adm. so what are my chances once I graduate? I know abt the Carilon health center, so would I be ok? Another concern: It seems that the Roanoke Co. school system is better that the Roanoke City school system? Not higher ranked schools to me does not always mean better, so can someone explain the differences? Is Roanoke Co. higher because of their test scores or is it because they have more parent involvement and compassionate teachers? How diverse is Roanoke Co. schools? I have read in some forms how Cave Spring schools tend to be uppity? Please tell me that's not true because I met some Cave Springs students last year and they seemed very nice and polite. Does Roanoke Co. schools have that, "I live in Roanoke Co. and we are richer and better than you because you go to a Roanoke City school?" I'm only asking this because someone in this forum lived in Roanoke Co and went to the schools, left home and came back to a lot of snobbish and religious residents? Was she making this up? How diverse is Roanoke Co. schools and the residents that lie there? Is racism still abound? I know EVERY city has a decent side of town and not so decent? Which sides are decent besides Roanoke Co? What can you tell me abt Salem? Your honest opinions will be greatly appreciated! I don't want to relocate my children 8 hours away from 'home' and regret it a year later and I DEFINITELY don't want to deal with no racism (my son is dealing with this nonsense now) in the schools....God bless all

Hi there,

Whew! So many questions! I'm going to try and answer as best I can, but you can check my other posts for more in-depth comparisons of Roanoke city vs Roanoke County schools. Just click on my name, above.

Ok, that said, I'm not sure where you live now, if you are in Charlotte or somewhere else and are weighing Charlotte vs Roanoke...? Also, I don't know how old your children are...? Our oldest was in middle school when we moved here and it was a hard move for her -- most of these kids have been going to school together since kindergarten and it can be difficult to make friends unless you have common ground (church, sports, after-school activites).

If you plan to move to Roanoke, YOU MUST HAVE A JOB BEFORE YOU COME HERE. It is very difficult to find employment here. Other people will try to sugar-coat it, but it's the truth, more times than not. And I would hate for you to relocate and then get stuck without any employment! There are two major hospitals here, Carilion and Lewis-Gale.

City schools are not as good, educationally or economically (although they are more ethnically diverse), as county schools, the best are in SW county. There is very little ethnic diversity in SW county, however. We do have some Asian students, some East Indian students, some black students, but it's mostly white.

I know that lots of people consider Cave Spring and Hidden Valley students to be clique-y, and I guess that's true, to an extent, since it's mostly an upper-middle class area, although we live a very modest life and fit in just fine. Nearly all the SW Co. HS students are college-bound. But we haven't found the students to be uppity, just not poor or trashy. SW Co students DO NOT go around bragging or anything snotty, that I have seen.

Oh, you were saying you had met some Cave Spring students and they were very polite. I need to tell you, that everyone is polite in the south (to your face, anyway). It's expected, required, necessary; and you will have a difficult time if your kids don't learn to say, "yes, ma'am" and "no, sir." Also, your kids need to play some kind of sport here. Sports are really important. If they play rec sports, dance, cheerleading, something athletic, they will have an easier time fitting in and making friends.

Honestly, in my opinion, Salem is too small and snobby for me.

NW County schools are more ethically diverse, but they also have more fights, racial problems, bullying. SW County schools have more parental involvement, more parental financial support.

As for religion, there's a lot of religion in Roanoke (think: Bible Belt). People joke that there's a church on every corner, and it's pretty much true. And most people use their religious community for their social outlet. So, if you don't plan to go to church, you better play bridge, bowl, or golf, or you won't have much of a social life.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
happygal0000

[thinkingofmoving...]

My Dad's family is from Roanoke but we moved with my Dad's job about every three years so in addition to living in Roanoke (and a few other places in Virginia), we lived in Maryland, New York State and Washington State. Unlike military kids I was often one of the only, if not the only, new kid in the school. I have been in public schools and private schools.

I attended 9th-12th grade in Roanoke City. My parents were repeatedly told it was a terrible school and they should move to the county. It was true that my school was not as economically affluent as the county schools but I think economic and ethnic diversity was an important component of my education and has helped me as an adult. Also, because a smaller percentage of my school's population attended college it meant my college-bound classes were smaller. My senior year I also attended a program downtown called CITY school which was comprised of students from both city high schools. We attended three classes at our home schools (which for me was Latin, yearbook and AP Biology) and three classes downtown (AP English, History/Government and Honors Seminar). Our history/government class was taught by lawyers, judges, politicians, the city manager who were guest lecturers. Honors seminar included an arranged internship in the field we were interested in (I worked at a law firm others worked for stock brokers, a magazine, the hospital and the newspaper). Part of our honors seminar class included a requirement that we visit three colleges either on our own or through field trips. Our trip to DC included campus tours of Georgetown, American and Howard University. I attended three college field trips. I think you are right that a higher rank is an indicator but it is only one. BTW, I think CITY school (which doesn't seem to have its own webpage) is available just Roanoke city school seniors but I believe students from other district's can attend governor's school. Welcome to RVGS

I have several friends with school-age children. Picking a good school district for their children was important to all of them. Interestingly they did not all pick the same school district. They are spread over Salem Salem City Schools in Salem, Virginia, Botetourt Botetourt County Public Schools Home, Roanoke City (mainly Crystal Spring Crystal Spring Elementary - Home, Fisburn elmentary Fishburn Park Elementary - Welcome to Fishburn Park Elementary School! and Raleigh Court Raleigh Court Elementary School - About Our School but a few at Highland Park elementary Highland Park Elementary - Home) and Cave Spring Cave Spring Elementary School - Roanoke, Virginia in Roanoke County. I also have friends who picked Roanoke Valley Christian School for religious reasons http://www.rvcs.info/pages/page.asp?page_id=15470, I know Catholics and non-Catholics whose children attend Catholic Roanoke Catholic School - Mission Statement, as well as friends who children attend North Cross Please wait... and Community School Welcome to Community School | Roanoke Virginia (which has the Strawvberry Festival, a tasty fundraiser held in Elmwood Park the first weekend in May).

I would also encourage having a job before you move. I have read that same comment on other city forums and it is most certainly true here. One strength of Roanoke is that is does not experience big economic depressions but the flipside is while there is growth there are not any huge booms. Unemployment is seldom high but we are never swimming with tons of jobs either.

I believe you said you were in health care so you should not have a problem obtaining a job before you move. In addition to Carilion (which I now remembered you said you'd looked at) there is also Lewis -Gale Hospital in Salem http://www.lewis-gale.com/as (broken link) well as the VA Hospital which is also in Salem Salem VA Medical Center - Facilities Locator & Directory. I know a PA who left private practice to work at the VA hospital and she is happy with her choice.

As for snobbiness, almost any area that is more affluent will some snobby people. Roanoke county, Salem and South Roanoke in the city have that reputation but I have met friendly people from those areas as well. Salem has a small college town vibe (a lot of the students are from the NE) with many residents having lived there for generations. The long-term are very proud of Salem and cannot imagine why anyone would want to live in Roanoke. I have a friend from Roanoke, who married someone from out-of-state. They have two small children and they moved to Salem a couple of years ago. They get teased about not being from Salem but they were able to make a large group of friends.

An area that is not usually considered snobby is the Grandin Village/greater Raleigh Court area which is populated with a lot of young couples with children. It is more of a "city" neighborhood with a movie theatre, ice cream shop, locally owned pizza place, a natural food store/co-op, etc. within walking distance. However, it is not a huge area. It is truly a village but families seem to really enjoy it. Grandin Village Business Association - About GVBA

Anyway, I hope this information helps.

Good luck in making your decision.