Spring Valley (San Diego, Vista, La Mesa: apartments, crime, buying a home)

[babyru]

i was thinking of moving there, but i want to know what the area is like. is there a lot of crime? Is it a good place to raise a family?

[tande1n5]

Well, from what I understand, it's kinda pockety, and I really doubt the schools are great. Some of the neighborhoods are fine, but I'd say that the eastern side towards Casa de Oro is probably better than the western side towards Lemon Grove, because Lemon Grove definately has some gang issues in places.

Someone else might be able to elaborate, because I don't know what is good in particular, just the the whole place is hit and miss.

[Sassberto]

There are some decent neighborhoods in the surrounding hills (Dictionary Hill, Casa De Oro, the eastern edge near Rancho San Diego) but in the flats there are a lot of crime and drug problems. As was mentioned there are particularly bad spots at the Lemon Grove border as that is the hotspot for gang activity in LG.

Overall I'd try to avoid Spring Valley. Look at La Mesa just to the North or the northwestern parts of Lemon Grove.

[jksouthbay88]

Hit and miss
more miss though
A lot more rough parts than nice ones.Funky streets and pockets of apartments really hurt that communty.My cousin lives on Echo Drive by the 94/125 interchange and that whole area is troublesome. I wouldn't think it is a great place to raise a family because there are sometimes racial problems at Mtount Miguel and Monte Vista.I remember in '05 they had 3 lockdowns in one month.

[babyru]

wow. sounds pretty bad. thx for advice

[AFTERSHOCK]

Originally Posted by jksouthbay88

Hit and miss
more miss though
A lot more rough parts than nice ones.Funky streets and pockets of apartments really hurt that communty.My cousin lives on Echo Drive by the 94/125 interchange and that whole area is troublesome. I wouldn't think it is a great place to raise a family because there are sometimes racial problems at Mtount Miguel and Monte Vista.I remember in '05 they had 3 lockdowns in one month.

Echo Drive is La Mesa not Spring Valley.
But u know, tomato/tomahto potato/potahto...

[vcbells]

Spring Valley is not known for good schools. If you are going to be buying a home try areas like Carmel Valley, Poway and Valley Center.

[Kidsfuture]

Originally Posted by tande1n5

Well, from what I understand, it's kinda pockety, and I really doubt the schools are great. Some of the neighborhoods are fine, but I'd say that the eastern side towards Casa de Oro is probably better than the western side towards Lemon Grove, because Lemon Grove definately has some gang issues in places.

Someone else might be able to elaborate, because I don't know what is good in particular, just the the whole place is hit and miss.

Your comment regarding Spring Valley Schools not being good is based on what? Have you ever visited one? Or is the comment based solely on test scores from a newspaper? I happen to teach in the heart of Spring Valley with some of the most amazing educators. We work tirelessly to ensure that our students are well educated. I have students who have test scores of 100% across the board. I have others who make incredible amounts of growth each year, but their progress is never recognized by the state or newspapers. Just because a school has less desirable test scores does not mean every child does. There are a lot of factors that play into why a schools test scores may be lower than another. For example, language. Some of the schools in Spring Valley with "low test scores" today are also educating a vast majority of bilingual students. And lets get real folks, these same kiddos will one day get the better jobs because they are bilingual. On the flip side, just because a school has "good" test scores doesn't mean every child does or that the "education" is better. I think that's where we as adults fail our own communities by making such comments about our local schools when we don't take the time to look outside of the "test scores."

[iskray917]

Stay close to Rancho San Diego and it's not bad at all, some homes are quite nice in fact. Schools are fine, although most aren't technically in Spring Valley (Hillsdale MS, Valhalla HS). Steele Canyon HS is a fine school as well.

Travel south down Jamacha (areas like La Presa) and you run in to less nice parts. Mount Miguel and Monte Vista HS are a little rough. I would not live down there.

[Carrie2979]

No, La Mesa/Spring Valley school district isn't on the map for "good schools". But that doesn't mean they don't have good teachers. I can say that at least Mt. Miguel and Mounte Vista HS have a better reputation than Helix HS right now and Helix used to be a very dignified school. But like most public schools all over the nation, there will be problems.