Possible Relocation to Roseville (Los Angeles, San Jose: 2009, crime, neighborhoods)

[sejinro]

Due to my job situation, I may be working in Roseville. I have a family with both kids entering or currently in elementary school. We are Asians, so we would like be in an area that has a diverse population. I really have minimal knowledge about the area. My priorities are schools and safety. We would probably rent, then purchase in a year or so.

What are some areas I should consider? Whether in Roseville or surrounding areas.

[Jimbo15]

This is a map of schools by test score.

California School Performance Maps

and research more information about schools here

Rankings, Scores, Stats, Stories - California Schools Guide - Los Angeles Times

You can look up crime information here.

Online feature - Crimemapper - sacbee.com

You might also want to look at the 2000 census tract maps here for information on income and ethnicity.

Social Explorer

There is a substantial Filipino presence in Antelope, but the schools are probably better and the neighborhood is probably a little safer in Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Granite Bay or Lincoln.

In terms of Asian stores, you will find the largest collection off Stockton Blvd in South Sacramento (mostly Chinese and Vietnamese owned), followed by another fairly large concentration off Folsom Blvd (more Korean owned stores) in Rancho Cordova with a much smaller set of Asian grocery stores in Antelope (Filipino). Generally what happens is once or twice month, you drive down to Stockton Blvd or Folsom Blvd to get what you can't find locally.

[NorCal Dude]

As a minority who spent half of my life living in Granite Bay I can tell you, there is not much of a significant population of Asians in Rosevile. Roseville is by and large white, with some mexicans, and very little of everything else.

The schools are decent in Roseville, a little bit better in Rocklin. The city is overall safe, though the older part of town does have a few seedy parts.

You might want to check Elk Grove as well as what jimbo has mentioned

[Exit143]

Schools and safety as priority... Rocklin 95765 or Roseville 95747 are good. Diversity in this area isn't too great. It's not bad. I'm from Connecticut and my graduating class didn't have any Asians... 2 African/American kids... 3 Puerto Rican.... and about 150 white people. Roseville is crazy diverse in comparison. If you're moving from the Bay, you will NOT find an Asian community like that. I don't know about south of Sacramento. From what I hear, Roseville, Granite Bay, Rocklin is the place to be in the area. I could be hearing what I want, though. Take it with a grain of salt.

[sejinro]

Thank you for the replies so far. We are currently living in Los Angeles and, for some reason, having that diversity is important for us. I would be willing to commute further, possibly up to 30 minutes, to have those three factors: schools, safety, and diversity (some Asians). The drive, however, from the Bay area would be about 80 miles to/from Roseville, so that doesn't really work.

[wburg]

Sacramento has about 15% Asian population, primarily in the southern portion of the city, dating back to the Gold Rush. I recommend looking at Land Park, Curtis Park, and the Pocket neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are around 30-40 minutes from Roseville in traffic, primarily in the reverse-commute direction.

[daddiesgirl]

You're not going to get the diversity of Los Angeles or San Jose here for sure. You'll get close to that in Sacramento, but far from that in Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Lincoln areas. These are predominantly Caucasian communities, but is quickly growing.

Are the schools better? Most definitely (unless you're living in an upscale neighborhood in LA or San Jose). It's certainly more safe for the simple reason that it's not as overcrowded in population. It's not as diverse for sure, but the people are certainly ALOT more friendlier. People seem to take things more slow and mellow here.

You should define "diverse" more clearly. What does that purpose serve? If it's Asian restaurants and grocery shopping you're looking for, there are plenty of it here and in the Sacramento area. If it's more Asians to befriend and make new friends and hang out with, there certainly are alot less. The drive from Roseville to Sacramento is about 15-20 minutes max.

[Jimbo15]

What is your budget? How Asian do you want the schools to be? In general, at a lot of the schools in Placer County, the student body is going to be somewhere around 10% combined Asian, Filipino and Pacific Islander. But if you look around you can find higher numbers. Its a combined 18% (12% Asian, 5% Filipino, 1% Pacific Islander) at the Rocklin Academy and a combined 16% at Rock Creek Elementary.

2009 Growth API School Report - Rocklin Academy

2009 API Growth School Report

If you are willing to drive further, you have better options. Out in Folsom, if your kids went to Gold Ridge Elementary they have a combined Asian/Filipino population of 27%. In Gold River, again the combined Asian/Filipino/Pacific Islander population is 27%.

2009 API Growth School Report

2009 API Growth School Report

What may be your best bet is to look at schools by test score here and then click on a school you are interested in and see the demographics of the schools you are interested in.

Here is a list of schools in Placer County by test score.

County List of Schools

and here is a similiar list for schools in Sacramento County by test score.

County List of Schools

Click on a school and then click on school demographics.

If you look at the Sacramento City Unified School numbers, realize that the better scoring schools in those districts tend to be magnet programs. So while you may move to the area hoping to send your kid to the local school that you think is diverse, you have no assurances that your child will actually attend it because most of the magnet programs in the district have long waiting lists.

[vischa]

Sejinro, You might want to check the area of GOLD RIVER as well.
They have a very good Elementary School, and a lot of ASIAN lives there too.
It's RANCHO CORDOVA, and it is easy to go anywhere....O well, it depends where your works going to be too.
I personally lives in RANCHO CORDOVA area, and have lot's of ASIAN neighbors/and friends too.

[sejinro]

Thanks for the info so far. I have my phone screen today for the job in Roseville. Will keep you all posted as things progress.