Nice Neighborhoods in Camas (Vancouver: low crime, homes, buying)

[Topaz]

Caffreys, I live near Parker Estates and it seems nice to me. Also, in my Mom's Club, there are several moms whose children attend Fox Elementary and they rave about it. It doesn't look pretty but apparently there are a lot of good things about it.

[diggitydot]

Even the least popular elementary school in Camas is better than most districts' super-star schools. As for Dorothy Fox Elementary, it really is spectacular. Yes, it may not look like much, but it has some wonderful and effective personnel who are extremely dedicated.

[Caffreys]

What Felida, Lakeshore elementary schools...
Also Columbia River HS is highly regarded
with better scores than Camas HS and
Mountain View HS.
What is your take on teh Felida area Topaz and diggitydot?
Thank you both once again...

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Caffreys

What Felida, Lakeshore elementary schools...
Also Columbia River HS is highly regarded
with better scores than Camas HS and
Mountain View HS.
What is your take on teh Felida area Topaz and diggitydot?
Thank you both once again...

Both the Felida and the Lakeshore areas are nice and have some great schools, too. The only things I don't like about the area is the nearness to Hazel Dell (which has some fairly serious crime issues), and the insane amount of traffic congestion at the I-5 and I-205 interchange in nearby Salmon Creek. That's the main way to get into that area and is difficult to avoid the traffic mess. I used to work near that interchange and it's ridiculously planned and executed for the sheer number of cars either commuting into or out of that area. (That's the main way to get to the new hospital and the WSU-Vancouver campus.)

Yes, Camas has some traffic issues, too, I think most places do. But with a significantly lower population than that surrounding the Lakeshore and Felida areas, its traffic issues are less noticeable and easier to navigate around.

I'm partial to Camas, I'll admit that. I was raised near there and to me, no matter where I live it will always feel like my "home".

I would highly recommend trying to talk with parents of students in both high schools. I can only give information off of what I know of each school and that is a admittedly limited with Columbia River. I fully believe that test scores are only a small part of the bigger picture when it comes to comprehensively comparing schools. I've seen some schools with horrible test scores that had some of the most dedicated education professionals around and where kids can still get great educations. I'm a firm believer that you get out of an education what you put into it. It isn't a passive type of thing where it just happens to you. To achieve it, you have to (or should have to) work for it.

One thing that always sways me back towards Camas versus other larger districts/schools is that Camas really has a community feeling to it. Kids get that nagging little "oh, crap...I'm toast if my mom finds out about this," because everyone seems to know everyone else in town. (Maybe not EVERYONE, but it can sure feel that way.) As a kid, I detested this. As a parent, I absolutely LOVE it.

Being a smaller district, fewer kids tend to slip through the inevitable cracks. Not that it can't happen, it's just far less likely in a smaller district with the type of resources available in Camas.

[Topaz]

I only go to the Felida area when I visit my allergist and I can't wait to leave every time I go there. The traffic is HORRENDOUS. But that's the extent of my knowledge of the area...my husband commutes to Portland and since Felida seemed like an even worse commute than Camas, we didn't explore it at all.

[Caffreys]

Thank you for the great info Topaz and diggitydot...

[woodguy00]

I've not heard of Hillshire. As others have said, Dorothy Fox is a good school. All of the Camas schools are solid.

Lacamas Meadows is the large master planned community which will contain the new Grass Valley Elementary. Postage stamp lots, a few bigger lots next to Sunningdale but then they get small fast, lots of row houses going up too. It looks like they have about three house models repeated ad naseum. We live next to that subdivision and aren't impressed. In Sunningdale, which has about 200 homes no plan could be built more than 3 times. I much prefer that.

You should get on a plane and come look around. Meet the people at the schools, tour with a good realtor. It ill give you a good feel before moving.

[Caffreys]

Thanks, i am not into cookie cutter homes period.
I have 3 Labs and need some space, but doesn't really matter as long as there are good offlesh parks and clean lakes for them to swim in. After all dogs need exercise and fun....

[hml1976]

How about Larkspur Estates? Same cookie cutter problem?

And can I ask a real newbie question? Is ice a problem in the winter? If so does that make areas like Prune Hill difficult to deal with in the winter?

Thanks everyone, I really would love to get on a plane and have a look and if it weren't for the two small children at home I definitely would. As it is now we're waiting for a contract on our house (its not as bad here as a lot of places so we're hopeful) and then I'll have just a few days to find something so the more info I have going in the better.

[woodguy00]

Every few years we get an ice storm with cold winds coming from the Gorge. Four years ago it shut down the entire metro area for about four days until warm air came in. Doesn't happen often, fortunately.