Military Kids in South Tampa or Valrico? (Brandon, Plant City: house, buying)

[gregnwya]

We will move to Tampa for a three year assignment at MacDill. We are considering buying in South Tampa or Valrico. We have four daughters in all levels of school. Is South Tampa/ Plant High district hard to break in to if you are only going to be there a couple of years? Any other feedback related to the benefits or negatives of either place would be appreciated.

[It's Cin!]

We are moving to Florida this summer for a job on Macdill. After alot of research we have decided on the Brandon/Valrico area. Some of the factors that majored in our decision are 1. House size/cost/ammeneties 2. Commute. 3. Schools for our 7 yo and 17 yo. 4. Family Friendliness. 5. Military family friendliness. 6. Likelyhood of getting an enclosed pool with a home we can afford.

While I was quite impressed with Plant H.S. my 17 yo was horrified at the prospect. While she is quite bright here in an excellent school district in Virginia, the thought of moving to Plant H.S. which appears to excell in extremley bright students did not appeal to her. She did not like the idea of possibly dropping to the bottom or near the bottom of her graduating class her Senior year. Especially since alot of research we did online seems to indicate that those students that are not among the brightest at Plant HS seem to get left behind or looked over.

[gregnwya]

Did you consider Robinson High since your daughter did not like the idea of Plant HS?

[It's Cin!]

Yes, we did consider Robinson High. It did not seem to have as big an emphasis on the art programs that my daughter participates in. I suppose with such emphasis on the courses such as culinary, travel/hospitality and ROTC that something had to give. Plant was impressive in their arts dept. but I already posted her concerns about that school. Bloomington High's art dept looks to be pretty good though.

[ferret111]

Originally Posted by It's Cin!

We are moving to Florida this summer for a job on Macdill. After alot of research we have decided on the Brandon/Valrico area. Some of the factors that majored in our decision are 1. House size/cost/ammeneties 2. Commute. 3. Schools for our 7 yo and 17 yo. 4. Family Friendliness. 5. Military family friendliness. 6. Likelyhood of getting an enclosed pool with a home we can afford.

While I was quite impressed with Plant H.S. my 17 yo was horrified at the prospect. While she is quite bright here in an excellent school district in Virginia, the thought of moving to Plant H.S. which appears to excell in extremley bright students did not appeal to her. She did not like the idea of possibly dropping to the bottom or near the bottom of her graduating class her Senior year. Especially since alot of research we did online seems to indicate that those students that are not among the brightest at Plant HS seem to get left behind or looked over.

I can testify to the fact that not every kid at Plant is a scholar. Plant has its fair share of "normal" students that seem to do alright. If I was her, I really wouldn't worry about dropping academically.

[mquintana]

If you are moving to Valrico, or considering it, I would look into Riverview High. It's an A rating school and I know that when my sister-in-law graduated there were a lot of kids with a GPA of 6.0 and higher. There are a lot of military families in this area-Brandon/Riverview/Valrico. Plant City I wouldn't live there since it's out of the way and more of a "bo-dunk" kind of town. At least here in Brandon and the surrounding areas your kids would have more things to do and not have to travel as far.

[Spree]

Tons of military kids in Valrico and at Newsome High School. Look in Twin Lakes, River Hills or Fishhawk for homes.

Edited to add: Plant High School is an excellent high school. I'm not sure there will be many military kids though.

[sassyfragger1]

Originally Posted by It's Cin!

We are moving to Florida this summer for a job on Macdill. After alot of research we have decided on the Brandon/Valrico area. Some of the factors that majored in our decision are 1. House size/cost/ammeneties 2. Commute. 3. Schools for our 7 yo and 17 yo. 4. Family Friendliness. 5. Military family friendliness. 6. Likelyhood of getting an enclosed pool with a home we can afford.

ditto that! we are moving this summer & actually dh is flying down this weekend to find a house. From school reviews we are thinking Valrico is the better bet (we have 3 pre-grade schoolers).

Riverview grade schools have pretty mixed reviews & lower ratings per GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community so I'm on-the-fence about Riverview

[mquintana]

Actually, if you look online to Hillsborough County Schools, you will get a more reliable source since it is based off of the test ratings and so forth. Riverview has A rating schools. Riverview Elem. and Sessoms Elem. is A rated and Riverview High is A rated...these are just a few. Here is the website: http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/SelectSchool.asp

Originally Posted by sassyfragger1

ditto that! we are moving this summer & actually dh is flying down this weekend to find a house. From school reviews we are thinking Valrico is the better bet (we have 3 pre-grade schoolers).

Riverview grade schools have pretty mixed reviews & lower ratings per GreatSchools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community so I'm on-the-fence about Riverview

[Floridaobserver]

I live in Valrico - lots of military families. MacDill also has a service center for military families in Brandon, which is nice.