raising a child in Floyd (Roanoke, Blue Ridge: homes, elementary schools, activities)

[bearbottom]

Can anyone give me any information about raising kids in Floyd? I have not been able to find much on the forum . I am very interested in their schools as well as opportunities for them in the community (bike paths ,parks,art) Do most folks home school ? I visited once and loved the land and the people we met were very open. It felt like a good spot but would like to know more regarding raising a little one-6yrs. old ( like are there many little ones?)

[cheerbear]

If you're interested in alternate, non-public school forms of education for your child, you can visit the Blue Mountain School website:

Welcome to Blue Mountain School

Also, if you want more info about Floyd in general, go to the Roanoke Times website (roanoke.com) and visit the community blogs page. Colleen Redman's blog has a lot of information about life and activities in Floyd. She also writes about local young people and their school activities. I hope this helps.

[spark240]

There are many children of all ages in Floyd County. Most kids go to public school. Floyd County public schools are not exactly academically rigorous, but there are very little of the the "issues" one finds in more populous districts. They do have good sports programs. There are some home schoolers, both religious and non. Blue Mountain is tiny, expensive, and also not academically rigorous, but no doubt very self-affirming. Regardless of your choice, the responsibility for real education will fall to you.

A good place to run into little ones is at the playgrounds on a nice day in summer or weekend. For playgrounds you have to go to one of the churches, elementary schools, or the park outside town (north on Rt. 8 from the stoplight). Sadly, there is no public park in town itself. I recommended one for the former grocery parking lot next to the Blue Ridge Diner, but they kept it a parking lot (in fact added even more parking on the other side of the building) and then called it, with unintended irony, the "Village Green."

Floyd is not particularly bicycle-friendly.

The library (which is a good one for a small town) has many activities for children. Stop by and get a schedule of the story hours and so forth. Also check out the June Bug Center.

[bearbottom]

Thank you for the insight. It was all great information. I would love to hear from anyone who might have a child in the public schools in Floyd. It seems like a lot of folks who have relocated to Floyd choose homeschooling. I wonder if that is a correct assumption. I also wonder how the schools fare compares to Roanoke? Thanks again for any help.

[Lopeses]

Originally Posted by bearbottom

It seems like a lot of folks who have relocated to Floyd choose homeschooling.

Actually, I think it's more that a lot of folks who have chosen homeschooling have relocated to Floyd

There are a lot in the area, and they supposedly have an unofficial playgroup/meeting area/support group at the Jacksonville Center.