Carlsbad or Carmel Valley? (Solana Beach: teaching jobs, best schools, living in)

[texaslamar]

Which city is the most family friendly? Has the best schools? Is the easiest to get around in order to do daily errands? What is the diversity like?

I am a teacher and have gained my teaching credentials in CA (ms/hs English). How hard is it to get a teaching job (I've heard it's nearly impossible.)

Thank you.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by texaslamar

Which city is the most family friendly? Has the best schools? Is the easiest to get around in order to do daily errands? What is the diversity like?

I am a teacher and have gained my teaching credentials in CA (ms/hs English). How hard is it to get a teaching job (I've heard it's nearly impossible.)

Thank you.

1) Both cities are pretty family friendly, in terms of having plenty for kids to do. So that one's a tie.
2) Both have good schools, but Carmel Valley on the whole is probably better. The San Dieguito High School District includes Torrey Pines for that area but then portions of Carlsbad get into La Costa Canyon, which is another top HS in the same district. I'd say slight advantage overall (K-12) goes to Carmel Valley.
3) Easy to get around? Assuming you have a car, I'd say they are the same. Neither is particularly pedestrian friendly, but there are pockets where you could get by without a car. So that one's a tie.
4) Carlsbad is probably more diverse. Carmel Valley has a reputation for being sterile and non-descript, but there is a growing Asian and Indian (as in from India, not American Indian) population there. Carlsbad has a large Latino population which is pretty much centered near the village, straddling I5 near Carlsbad Village Drive. So advantage Carlsbad on diversity.
5) I have no idea about teaching jobs, but I can't imagine is a good shot of getting one with the budget cuts and all. But I don't know for sure. Maybe others can be of more help on that one.

[sumukru]

I'd say Encinitian's reply is top notch.

Taking all of that into consideration, I'd personally veer toward CV, simply due to it's proximity to things my family took advantage of while we were living in SoCal: Sea World, SD Zoo, Gaslamp, Torrey Pines Beach, the shopping area on Cedros in Solana Beach...

But what you should probably do first is apply in BOTH areas for a position, and then once the position is offered, then decide where to live.

Good luck!

[moved]

Forget about getting a teaching job in CA. All the pink slipped teachers have first priority on post and bid. Also, I heard from a friend who is a substitute teacher that some of the districts are using the pink slipped teachers as subs. You might be able to work as a sub, but it will depend on if the district is even hiring them at this point. A lot of the districts aren't even hiring substitute teachers or classified anymore because they have so many already. If you want to teach, consider another state.