Morgan Hill High schools (San Jose, Santa Clara: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[janeh1313]

There are two High Schools in Morgan Hill: Live Oak and Ann Sobrato.
We are looking to buy a home in Morgan Hill and want our kids to go to a good High School. Any thoughs of which is better?

We are still looking for a house and much will depend on high schools.

[sonarrat]

I graduated from Live Oak before Sobrato was built. Basically, Sobrato serves the western side of the city, and Live Oak serves the eastern side. Both areas have really affluent neighborhoods, but Sobrato serves some of the traditionally lower income areas around Hale Ave and Old Monterey Road, as well as the trailer park on Burnett Ave. But the API scores are near identical, so it's basically a tossup.

[janeh1313]

In general, what do you think about the Morgan Hill area? We are moving for a job in Santa Clara and thought the commute wouldn't be too bad, the train could be a commuting possibility.
The High School for my kids and the commute are my two biggest concerns. I'm going out next week to look at neighborhoods.

[sonarrat]

The train runs three times per day in each direction. It's fine for day to day commuting, but just make sure you don't miss the last train or you have a very long bus ride ahead of you.

I love Morgan Hill. It has a kind of country flavor which is elusive in the Silicon Valley. The drive on 101 through Coyote Valley is a thing of beauty, which is a good thing because you'll be doing it a lot! Traffic is a little slow getting up to Cochrane, then usually at the limit until you get to Capitol Expressway in San Jose where it usually starts crawling. Same in reverse in the evening.

[janeh1313]

How is the crime in Morgan Hill? Are there areas to stay away from while looking for a home? Is there high gang activity?
I've looked online at the Freemont area and was thinking about looking for homes there but Morgan Hill seems to have a nicer atmosphere and less crime.

[sonarrat]

It does have less crime, and it's a safe town. The only gang presence I'm aware of is the area right around Britton Middle School (Monterey & Main) - I never saw anything myself when I went there, but my friends told me it was pretty easy to just buy pot during the lunch break on campus.

[Pat4]

Hi,
Sobrato is the better high school. They have much more possibilities.

About living there, I would love to live there, but the commute is too far. we live in the very south of san jose. It's still morgan hill school district, but the commute is 20 minutes less and my kids still go to the morgan hill schools.
if you look on the map everything south of bernal is MH school district

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Pat4

Hi,
Sobrato is the better high school. They have much more possibilities.

About living there, I would love to live there, but the commute is too far. we live in the very south of san jose. It's still morgan hill school district, but the commute is 20 minutes less and my kids still go to the morgan hill schools.
if you look on the map everything south of bernal is MH school district

Huh, always wondered why there was that special bus from Live Oak to the Santa Teresa LRT station.

[Pat4]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Huh, always wondered why there was that special bus from Live Oak to the Santa Teresa LRT station.

Hm, I don't know about that one.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Pat4

Hm, I don't know about that one.

I saw it a few times when I was picking up my little brother. It was a VTA bus. They don't advertise it on their website, but it's a special run of the 68 that runs from there up Monterey Highway to South San Jose. Might be worth calling them up and asking for more info.