Moving from UK to Syracuse

[RollsRoyce]

In addition to F-M and Cazenovia, I would also recommend Jamesville-DeWitt schools. Some J-D elementary schools have received higher standardized test scores in some grade levels than a couple of elementary schools in Fayetteville-Manlius. According to the latest New York state math and english exams, J-D schools have posted significant improvements including a 100% passage rate at Moses DeWitt Elementary School which is inarguably the most diverse school in the district and has some students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Based on sheer academic performance as displayed by test scores, F-M does rank higher, however there are plenty of highly mobile affluent, and upper middle class professionals, including a sizable amount that relocated to Greater Syracuse from elsewhere that have selected Jamesville-DeWitt over other local schools. Newly developed subdivisions including Boulder Heights and the more opulent Steinway Heights and AppleCross Woods are located within the district and are home to many physicians, attorneys, business executives, and college professors. Other neighborhoods including Waterford Woods, the Woodchuck Hill Road corridor and Lymestone Hill have properties that lie in both districts and boast significant wealth relative to upstate New York.

Either way both Fayetteville-Manlius and Jamesville-DeWitt are excellent school districts each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses.

[ckhthankgod]

Some other school districts to consider are: Westhill-Very good school district and that's where I went to school at. So, if you have specifics, just send me a private message. West Genesee is another good district in the Western suburbs as well. Liverpool-it has improved it's graduation rate to around 90% for it's High School. It is a bigger district, but it is still one of high quality. Same with Baldwinsville too.

[cheekyerica]

Originally Posted by SammyT

Hi there.
I am worried about the cold winters! I thought British winters were cold and long but I think I haven't seen anything yet! I think I am going to have to embrace the snow and enjoy your winter wonderland!

Hi Sammy! First, congrats on the planned move! My husband and I are planning on making the move ourselves (from Coventry) so I can understand some of your worries

With regard to the cold...speaking from experience of living in upstate NY for more than a decade--and then moving here to the west midlands, I can say that the cold isn't too bad.
It's not a sodden, damp cold (like here) and that can make a big difference (IMO). Yea, there's a goodly amount of snow, but it can be fun. Especially if you're dressed appropriately for it. (dress in layers).

Anyway best of luck with the move! (and if you'd like feel free to PM me)

[SammyT]

Just a quick update on our progress. All the info has been really helpful and we are coming over soon for a week to look at schools, towns, houses and so forth.With your help we have been able to narrow down the areas we should visit.

How is the weather at the moment? Do you get much hot weather in the summer?

Thanks again for your help and good wishes to you all.

[proulxfamily]

Well, our weather can be very different at any given time. It's been fairly cool this week... low 60's as a high. A month ago, we were regularly in the mid to upper 80's. It could be in the 50's or 90's when you're here. LOL

I'd shoot for wearing short sleeves with a light jacket or button up sweater and a few light-ish long sleeve shirts. Even if it's warm, it shouldn't be so hot that you couldn't wear long sleeves, pushed up, comfortably. I never wear shorts, even in the worst heat... so just bringing pants should be fine.

Here's where I go to check the local weather forecast. Weather - NewsChannel 9 WSYR Look at it again before you leave and good luck on your trip!

[phaelon56]

Proulxfamily is on the money with this. We have some summers where it rarely if ever exceeds 90 degrees even in July or August. Other summers may have a few weeks of high 80's and low or even mid 90's weather but it usually cools off at night, humidity rarely hits the mid or high 90's (unlike the mid-Atlantic) and we have more days with as breeze than without.

Another easy metric... if you happen to be familiar with what the weather is usally like sumemrs in NYC? As a general rule Syracuse is 10 degrees cooler and about 10% to 15% less humid. In other words... nice!

[bville2]

What part of the UK are you from? My hubby is from Essex. You have picked a good time to come over and check things out. My husband says the things he misses most are beer, bread and bacon (no back bacon here) and english sausages. Whilst the winter is beautiful it will be hard on you until you adjust. Just buy a nice warm coat, gloves and boots. Also, unlike in the UK, when we get a 6++++ of inches of snow, we don't shut down. My husband had the hardest time with that. He used to get all excited thinking he didn't have to go to work, until after a few time he realized the roads were clear, so off to work he had to go.

When you are over you will have to pick up some Mars bars and Milky Ways. Here they are switched meaning what's in the Mars bar packaging is really a UK Milkyway and vice versa, your kids will have fun with their friends.

[howard everett]

As a Brit currently visiting Cazenovia can only support other views. It is a very pleasant place. Our daughter was at Manlius Pebble Hill school when she was 16. It was a good school then but that was 17 years ago. Skaneateles is more expensive and possibly less down to earth.

[phaelon56]

MPH is still small but still an excellent school. CBA (Christian Brothers Academy) has now been co-ed for years, is academically rigorous and is larger than MPH (which can be quite beneficial in terms of certain course offerings). Both of them are in Dewitt at the Eastern edge of the city and attract students from the Eastern suburbs and the city of Syracuse ( I live in Bradford Hills - neighbors of mine here and friends in othehr parts of the city tend to send their kids to CBA). There is tuition and it's not cheap at about $10K per year but there is often scholarship money available of may types and it's not all based on academic need. Both schools have placement/admission tests and at least some tuition money is available on the basis of academic merit rather than financial need.