Vancouver--can we get a city feel and good schools? (Seattle: 2011, rentals)

[Cindy1971]

I know that a lot of questions have been asked about Vancouver but they all seem to have such a mixed response I am at a loss. We may be moving from Chicago (the city proper) to the area and we are trying to figure out where to live. Here is what we are looking for:

-a house with at least some yard that we can fence for our 2 dogs
-we don't want to have to buy a second car if we can manage it. Is there ANYWHERE in Vancouver with a decent public transport route or that is walkable? My husband would be working in the fisher's landing area.
-good public schools. Our daughter will start kindergarten in 2011 and we need something that has at least good elementary schools. We will worry about high schools in 2020.
-diversity, as much as possible
-we're not big fans of chain stores and we will not shop at Walmart (but Target etc are ok). So we don't care if we are near that, but we love funky restaurants and I want to be near a supermarket.
-good parks for kids to play in and with decent programs for little kids
-pricing isn't that important. Chicago is very expensive so we feel like we'd be getting a huge break on houses. Under $500K preferred. (Well, FREE preferred but you know . . .)
-we're not 'development' people. Is it possible to be in the Fisher's Landing school district but not live in a gated/Stepford wife community? We are not suburban people.
-relatively easy commute to Portland. We LOVE Portland but can't live there b/c of the whole no state income tax thing and also we're not impressed by the schools. Is there a Portland-like neighborhood in Vancouver?
-blue state area if possible

Any help you can offer is very much appreciated. We would probably rent for 6 months or so to get a feel of the area but I would like to know if the move would be right for us.

[RiftReaper]

I moved to Vancouver over a year ago, I'm not familiar with the k1-k12 schools, but the community colleges and universities in the area seem nice.

Theres pretty much a store every where you look ^_^

[StealthRabbit]

There is a transit mall at 164th and SE 34th st. The subdivision directly east of that (across 164th) is quite nice and within the $500k price range. It is also in the Fisher Landing Elementary School boundaries. (good school). I have 2 friends living there, and previously 2 others. They like it, and it is a nice neighborhood. Target is up the road (north) about 25 blocks, but there is a Fred Meyers between there (like a mini 'supercenter' local, but + hardware and some lumber.) Also an Albertson's, QFC, banks, 4 local mini malls, and restaurants, movies, bowling, pharmacies and exercise; all within walking distance. Only problem is that Library requires a drive, but they mail you books for free.

Don't know about your 'mixed' messages on Vancouver, unless it would refer to the 'rental' locations mentioned. You can get into a real can of worms in rentals, (anywhere, not just Vanc) but there are nice ones too. (just plenty of 'not-so-nice'.) If you can stomach suburbia you can't really go wrong in Fisher's Landing area. I personally would live in the 'older' areas (circa 1985-1990) The stuff built in the 'boom' (late 1990's to 2003) were pretty cheesy, and will likely have a few rentals and 'starter home' crowds. They are usually "Henderson" homes, and built on top of each other, typically between SE 15th and SE 34th st. The homes to the south of 34th street (same side as Fisher Landing School) tend to be nicer (some brick, and stone, and better finish work and bigger yards.). You will be able to tell the "tract' homes. Curvy (go in circle) streets, and TIGHT lots, and plenty of T-111 siding (grooved plywood) Sometimes Hardie Plank or Bevel siding on front, but t-111 on sides and backs. Usually std 3 tab (flat) shingle roof, rather than "Architectural" (textured). Trees are much smaller, and there are some 'green spaces' that are fairly sparse in comparison to std terrain. (hint... everything was bulldozed and replanted, not 'planned' into existing terrain).

For Middle School and HS you might want to move a few blocks east to get into Camas District, BUT... test for Running Start in Grade 10 (FREE college in lieu of HS for grades 11 & 12) Then kids can do either or both - HS and College. It really is a great program to transition students and avoid the harsh and often disruptive jump from public school (being told what to do) to College. (being expected to know what to do, and do it! - without being told / babysat). 80%+ of transfer students complete their university, while less than 50 % of direct HS > University complete. Plus your kids will end up with 2 less years of student loans for college. (or two less years for you to pay if your kids are on the infamous USA 'parent paid college entitlement program'.) hint... it is usually much cheaper for your kids to get loans, even if you decide to help pay them off later + you get the benefit of paying that in "future" dollars. Another very good option of college, is for parent or kids to get a job at one of the many very nice local private universities, many offer FREE tuition for employees and dependents !! My 'advisor' got her kids though a free private education, as well as 2 free degrees for herself, working PT as an Administrative assistant!! Both kids met their mates there too! (bonus), and they now all have good jobs, and homes, kids...

The most 'Portland' like neighborhoods in Vanc may be the SW area in "The Heights", basically SW of Tower Mall (off East Miil Plain), or down near Officer's Row (Ft Vancouver). With your criteria, I'd look to Fisher's Landing, or West Camas (these areas are next to each other) There are some more 'rural' areas available in Camas, and still within 5 min of Fisher's Landing. Having lived both in town (but on a 5 acre fruit farm), and in 'the boonie's... it depends on your kids interest, but I'd have a spot with a big yard, and get some chickens or rabbits and a big garden and put the kids in 4H. hint... build an 'elevated' hen house, and put a cover over their 'yard'. You can make it very clean, not smelly, and put little 'trap doors' in your hen house to collect eggs from the comfort of your yard / path. You can hinge the top of small house to clean it, and only enter the chicken pen once / week to top off the feeder. Our kids loved this, and made good money selling eggs and garden produce!

[Cindy1971]

Thanks for the info! It's all very helpful and we will definitely remember to check out the Running Start!

[beatnik28]

As a general rule of thumb, west Vancouver is older, and the further east you move the newer and more "housing development" it gets.

Downtown/Uptown is on the west side of Vancouver, Fisher's Landing is on the east side.

I'd check out houses in downtown Vancouver (zip 98660) and uptown (zip 98663).

They have more of Portland feel to me. Houses on city blocks, most built between 1900 and 1940, plenty of blue state, Subaru driving types, with a short walk or bike ride to the corner coffee shop or non-chain restaurant. As a bonus, you're only about 5 miles from downtown Portland.

Vancouver has 2 school districts, Vancouver School District covers the west side of the city, Evergreen School District covers the east. Both districts have a mix of high performing and low performing schools. Check out School Report Cards Data to view school report card data (once you select a school, you can compare it to all other districts/schools in WA).

Good luck. Feel free to post more questions or send a private message if you prefer.

[st33lcas3]

Originally Posted by Cindy1971

-good public schools. Our daughter will start kindergarten in 2011 and we need something that has at least good elementary schools. We will worry about high schools in 2020.

janb ~ For Middle School and HS you might want to move a few blocks east to get into Camas District

Evergreen School District has two highly rated schools in the Fisher's Landing area, Illahee elementary (Illahee Elementary School - Camas, Washington - WA - school overview) and Shahala (Shahala Middle School - Vancouver, Washington - WA - school overview) middle school. With the addition of the new Union high school (https://www.edline.net/pages/Union_HS) this fall, it will complete the area's school needs.

Don't let the Camas addresses fool you, these are part of Vancouver's Evergreen District, kids from Camas will not be going there.

[diggitydot]

One thing to take into consideration with the elementary schools in Fisher's Landing is that they occasionally close enrollment because they're so full. Some of our friends' kids have needed to attend schools further away from their home because of this. It's a good idea to call the school itself to double check before planning your move.

As for attending Camas schools, I absolutely agree with janb. They're an excellent choice and some of the best around. The nice thing about Canas schools is that they're small enough to still be accountable, (less is allowed to slip through the cracks), yet still well enough funded to have phenomenal resources for students and parents, including one of the best Autism programs in the area. While the schools in Fisher's Landing are also fantastic, being a part of the behemoth Evergreen SD is, at times, an interesting situation.

As for beatnik28's information about the downtown/uptown area, I agree. I love the feel of the neighborhoods and the older homes. I also like the proximity to indie shops/restaurants and easy access to Portland. However, the crime rate and schools in and surrounding the downtown area leave a bit to be desired. Suburbia is my own particular type of hell, but I'd endure it long enough for my kids to attend schools with more funding, better teacher to student ratios, lower crime, and increased resources.

For me, Camas is a good compromise. It has phenomenal schools, freakishly low crime rates, a real honest-to-goodness sense of community, and lots of older buildings even though there is also a lot of new construction and subdivisions, too. (What can I say? I'm a sucker for old houses.)

[beatnik28]

Here's a comparison of a couple of the elementary schools that have been mentioned in this thread.

- Lincoln (Uptown Vancouver)
- Illahee (Fisher's Landing)
- Prune Hill (Camas)

(Click on the image to see a larger version)



If you would like, you can do comparisons of other Washington schools via the link I provided yesterday.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by st33lcas3

janb ~ For Middle School and HS you might want to move a few blocks east to get into Camas District

yes do be cautious of such things as zip codes... You want to get far enough into a district to avoid risk of boundary changes.

I would recommend you also be cautious of the SPECIFIC taxing district of your proposed home.... they can vary significantly within a block, where different districts might border.

personally... I would not consider sending a kid to a suburbia middle school, but maybe Camas (with significant reservations and diligent followup / involvement).

I'm pretty 'old-school'... kids 12 > 18 do very well at a "Dairy Farm Boarding school". Up at 4:30AM and HAPPY to get to go to school @ 7:30AM, IF nothing goes wrong during milking, or chores or birthing. And no question about what they will be doing from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM (hint... it won't be after school sports or video games or such...). But then it's only 7 days a week / 52 weeks per year when you're milking cows/goats. We used to have some nice Dairies in Clark County that would gladly train your kids, but most of the WA dairies had to relocate to ID. (which is a good thing for your kids if they go to boarding school, less likely to be able to come home very easily. ) BTW - there are several farm and ranch boarding schools in eastern WA and OR. It is a good to know they're so close, in case your kids need an attitude adjustment.

Our kids were very envious of their UK ex-pat friends when we lived in Asia, as they got to play polo and such when they went back to boarding school. I'll admit it was pretty strange to see how delighted some of the elementary age kids were when they boarded an international flight to be gone from their parents for 6-10 months. (I can understand how a teenager is delighted; I'm not THAT old to forget those days. )

As far as test results, we ought to look at Fisher's Landing Elementary school, it might be interesting, since they get some pretty specialized tutoring, and have few transient students. (very important since the schools now spend 1/2 the year tutoring for the WASL, instead of teaching ). I surveyed the whole state when we were trying to find good schools. Seems Pullman (city) and Island County (San Juan's) were heads above all; except for a couple ritzy areas in Seattle.

[DaphneinMN]

We are relocating to the PC NW for my husband's job, for which he'll travel a lot. We can live anywhere from the Bay area ($$$!) up to Seattle($$). Right now we're focusing on the Portland area because it seems to be the most livable/affordable. We currently live in an old house (1924) in an urban neighborhood in St. Paul, MN, and love the charm and character and the little shops and restaurants all around. We're seriously thinking about Camas--I wouldn't mind living in a new house for once, but I am afraid of suburbia.
I am home during the day and want to have fun places to go with my toddler, as well as good schools for my older child, plus I don't want to live in a Stepford Wives community. Does Camas have a downtown area? Which is more blue state--Camas or Vancouver? Is it true that there is a mass exodus from Portland across the river? Is Camas charming or just big-box stores?
Thanks!