Which neighbors/schools for non-LDS Asian kids? (Salt Lake City, Sandy: home, neighborhood)

[CuriousSteveK]

My family is planning to relocate in SLC due to my new job. My wife and I are Asian and non-LDS (indeed Christian), and my kids are 6 yrs and 1yr old. I have heard wonderful things about SLC from many of my future colleagues out there. But, just like other parents, it is my major concern to find a good neighbors/schools in raising kids. For kids in these ages, playing with friends is the most exciting things in their daily activities. I know that as asian they will be always in minority; but, I really want to find better neighbors and schools where my kids are not going to be limited by not being an LDS nor by being an asian, and still can have lots of good friends. Any inputs would be much appreciated!

[markg91359]

It would help to get some idea what type of home you are looking for budget, medium, or luxury. I will say there are plenty of good places that fit your description in Salt Lake County.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Price range? Buy or own? Where is work and what commute time can you tolerate?

Generally speaking, the East side is the most diverse although there are a fair number of adopted Asian kids here - some are LDS, some not.

[voxclamantis]

Hiya!

Moving to SLC? I would definitely recommend an East Side neighborhood. Asian students are in the minority everywhere, but they tend to concentrate at the better public schools (for younger kids, these will be elementary schools clustered around High Schools with strong AP and IB programs). These are almost invariably found in the more affluent East Side areas like Foothill, the Avenues, Millcreek, Holladay, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, etc.

I graduated from Skyline High School in the Millcreek/Mount Olympus area a few years ago and am now studying out-of-state. The overwhelming majority of my classmates there were Caucasian and LDS. But Asians and non-Mormons were very disproportionately represented in the AP/IB programs there (which I would highly recommend--but this decision is way down the road for you guys), and since most of my classes were AP/IB fully half of my friends were of Asian descent. This held true in the gifted/talented programs I took part in in elementary and junior high school as well.

Almost all of my Asian friends from high school lived either in Sandy or Cottonwood Heights. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or if there are bigger Asian communities there, but it's definitely worth looking into. They're both safe, scenic places to live with good access to freeways and all the necessary amenities. The schools are also decent, but it's also easy to commute to other schools that might suit your preferences better. I attended school in my home Granite District, but I knew plenty of people who commuted from adjacent Jordan District and Salt Lake City District as well.

Best of luck!

WLM

[Warm2Wasatch]

If you're Catholic, check out Draper or South Sandy (somewhere between 114th south and 123rd south). People are generally polite and friendly so long as you extend the same courtesy.

[Katzpur]

We have a part-Asian family in my Cottonwood Heights neighborhood with young children, and there were Asian kids in my Sugarhouse/Highland Park neighborhood when I was in High School (about a hundred years ago). There is definitely not a high concentration of Asians anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley, but I expect you'd find a few most anywhere you were to move in the area. I have pretty much always got the feeling that if there was racial discrimination in Salt Lake that it was not against Asians. They seem to be very well-accepted here.

[hueimo]

Originally Posted by CuriousSteveK

My family is planning to relocate in SLC due to my new job. My wife and I are Asian and non-LDS (indeed Christian), and my kids are 6 yrs and 1yr old. I have heard wonderful things about SLC from many of my future colleagues out there. But, just like other parents, it is my major concern to find a good neighbors/schools in raising kids. For kids in these ages, playing with friends is the most exciting things in their daily activities. I know that as asian they will be always in minority; but, I really want to find better neighbors and schools where my kids are not going to be limited by not being an LDS nor by being an asian, and still can have lots of good friends. Any inputs would be much appreciated!

I moved here about a year ago from Hawaii where 70-80% were Asians, from the area I lived for 19 years, I’m Asian. I used to worry about what you’re worried about now before moving here. It has only been a year since we have moved here and my son is attending preschool, never one day did I feel discriminated against in terms of religion or race, my son and this other boy are the only 2 Asian boys in their class, I feel me and my son are being treated as nice as the rest. My son has a blast at the school and all the kids give him hugs and kisses when I pick my son up. Wonderful place to live, except for the overdue earthquake which I worry every now and then, something I never heard of before moving here. I live on the east side of SLC. Good luck!

[CuriousSteveK]

Thank you for all your comments!
I am still deciding, but would love to give it a try. A little relieved by your replies. Thanks a lot.

[CuriousSteveK]

Thank you very much!!

Originally Posted by voxclamantis

Hiya!

Moving to SLC? I would definitely recommend an East Side neighborhood. Asian students are in the minority everywhere, but they tend to concentrate at the better public schools (for younger kids, these will be elementary schools clustered around High Schools with strong AP and IB programs). These are almost invariably found in the more affluent East Side areas like Foothill, the Avenues, Millcreek, Holladay, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, etc.

I graduated from Skyline High School in the Millcreek/Mount Olympus area a few years ago and am now studying out-of-state. The overwhelming majority of my classmates there were Caucasian and LDS. But Asians and non-Mormons were very disproportionately represented in the AP/IB programs there (which I would highly recommend--but this decision is way down the road for you guys), and since most of my classes were AP/IB fully half of my friends were of Asian descent. This held true in the gifted/talented programs I took part in in elementary and junior high school as well.

Almost all of my Asian friends from high school lived either in Sandy or Cottonwood Heights. I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or if there are bigger Asian communities there, but it's definitely worth looking into. They're both safe, scenic places to live with good access to freeways and all the necessary amenities. The schools are also decent, but it's also easy to commute to other schools that might suit your preferences better. I attended school in my home Granite District, but I knew plenty of people who commuted from adjacent Jordan District and Salt Lake City District as well.

Best of luck!

WLM

[CuriousSteveK]

May I ask the name of your neighbors?

Originally Posted by hueimo

I moved here about a year ago from Hawaii where 70-80% were Asians, from the area I lived for 19 years, I’m Asian. I used to worry about what you’re worried about now before moving here. It has only been a year since we have moved here and my son is attending preschool, never one day did I feel discriminated against in terms of religion or race, my son and this other boy are the only 2 Asian boys in their class, I feel me and my son are being treated as nice as the rest. My son has a blast at the school and all the kids give him hugs and kisses when I pick my son up. Wonderful place to live, except for the overdue earthquake which I worry every now and then, something I never heard of before moving here. I live on the east side of SLC. Good luck!