Best schools around Lynchburg? (Jefferson, Timberlake: property taxes, rental, job)

[sand70]

Spouse got job in Lynchburg; we'll be moving there from PA this spring. We have an academically gifted 6th-grader and are looking for the best schools in the Lynchburg area. Don't want spouse's commute to be more than about 25 miles. Heard Lynchburg City schools aren't great. Heard the growth in Bedford Co.'s made it less affordable. What about Campbell Co., Amherst Co., and Appomattox Co. schools?

[KAPPA ALPHA PSI GUY]

Lynchburg City Schools are good its jus a few that have made ppl think that way. If you are moving into the city say in the Boonsboro (Bedford Hills Elementary, Linkhorne Middle, EC Glass HS), Wyndhurst (Heritage Elementary, Sandusky Middle, Heritage HS) or Timberlake area. I'm a graduate of Heritage HS and it is a great school along with the other HS and MS. Half of Timberlake is in Lynchburg City and the other half is in Campbell County. Not too familiar with the County schools except for Brookville HS it has a Lynchburg address but its directly on the Lynchburg City-Campbell County line. Check this website for further info and where your child will be attending school | www.lynchburg.org. If you need anymore info just let me kno!!!

GOD Bless

[hoosier2112]

Originally Posted by sand70

Spouse got job in Lynchburg; we'll be moving there from PA this spring. We have an academically gifted 6th-grader and are looking for the best schools in the Lynchburg area. Don't want spouse's commute to be more than about 25 miles. Heard Lynchburg City schools aren't great. Heard the growth in Bedford Co.'s made it less affordable. What about Campbell Co., Amherst Co., and Appomattox Co. schools?

I currently live in Bedford County and while housing prices have risen, they are no doubt still cheap compared to what you're used to in the NE (e.g., a 3,000 sq. ft. home for $275-350K; my 2,800 sq. ft. ranch w/ full basement was purchased for $123k and is now valued at $200k). However, if you choose to live outside Lynchburg, be prepared to send him/her to private schools because Bedford and Campbell County schools are underfunded and overcrowded (Bedford Co. had a referendum about 4 years ago to raise property taxes by 2% to build and new high school; it went down in flames). Forget Amherst Co.: it is red-neck central and the schools are consistently poor performers.

On the other hand, certain Lynchburg public schools are extremely good and there are very good private schools as well. My wife and I moved here 6 1/2 years ago and we researched the schools after our son was born. If you want to go private, I believe the best choice is the James River Day School, which goes up to 8th grade. It is the only secular private school in the area. There is a Catholic school, Holy Cross, which goes K-12, but we decided that James River was more innovative (e.g., language classes every year).

If you want public, I would strongly suggest getting a home in the Boonesboro Road area of Lynchburg. The middle schools there are very good). There are two public high schools, Heritage and E.C. Glass, which both have advanced placement programs and one (Heritage) has the VA Governor's School program in math and science.

My family and I are actually moving this summer but all in all, L-burg is not too bad, though very conservative (which for a liberal like myself was a bit of a problem). Be prepared for many people to open conversations with "So, what church do you go to?" Lots of old money here and if you're not originally from Lynchburg, you'll never be from Lynchburg to the natives.

Central Virginia is a curious animal. I haven't hated it but almost 7 years have made me appreciate my native Midwest even more.

Good luck!

[BilleeMc]

Originally Posted by sand70

Spouse got job in Lynchburg; we'll be moving there from PA this spring. We have an academically gifted 6th-grader and are looking for the best schools in the Lynchburg area. Don't want spouse's commute to be more than about 25 miles. Heard Lynchburg City schools aren't great. Heard the growth in Bedford Co.'s made it less affordable. What about Campbell Co., Amherst Co., and Appomattox Co. schools?

The Burg (Lynchburg) schools are ok. I agree Heritage is a good school to go to. Also Jefferson Forest, Liberty High (Bedford), LCA (private christian school AWESOME) in Lynchburg. I'm from Appomattox so I'm kind of partial to the country thing. The schools aren't bad, we've had a lot of really smart people graduate from county schools. Rustburg is a good school as well... great sports. I don't know much about Amherst, but Campbell county is huge it includes Concord, Rustburg, some of Lynchburg, and more.

[sand70]

Thanks for all the info, everyone! It is most helpful.

Are there racial problems in the schools down there? I was surprised to see one school system (I forget which one) has a Racial Complaint Coordinator.

[novanwbie]

My mom works in the schools in that area and I grew up there -- I'd avoid Campbell, Amherst and Appomattox, unless you really want rural. I'd look at Forest -- the schools are excellent, and as someone earlier pointed out, housing is only expensive compared to Lynchburg prices, if you come from another area they'll probably seem like a steal. And a lot of the developments are very family-oriented, with YMCAs and activities and pools. Many of the city schools are still good, some are not. Work closely with a realtor, they'll be an excellent source. I have several friends with young families in the Paul Munro area, and they love it, and rave about the school. (24503-Boonsboro area). Good luck -- Lynchburg is a great place to grow up! I moved there from PA as a kid, and it is a huge culture shock, so just hang in there and get your kids involved in activities so they acclimate quickly!

[sand70]

Thanks for the replies. Researching online I've figured out the "best" schools, as far as test scores, are the Forest and Brookville schools. But I know test scores don't tell the whole story. We're looking for schools where our child will feel welcome, schools that have a strong united identity (if that makes sense), and schools with lots of opportunities for gifted kids. Also, I ask again, is race an issue down there? We're white, but I don't want to put my kid in a school with racial tension, something she's never experienced. How about schools to avoid, and why?

[novanwbie]

sand70: Based on what you've said in your last post, I'd strongly recommend Forest over Brookville. It's a much more dynamic population, in a more affluent (engaged in education) part of the community. Race can be an issue in some areas, and I would expect more problems in Brookville, with a more rural population, than in Forest. That being said, please note I said "more" and certainly don't mean to imply there would be a lot of problems in either school. But the Campbell County population is very different from Bedford. And just based on your statements, I think you'd find living in Forest more to your liking. I also agree with BilleeMC, living in the Boonsboro area will put you into good schools and with a parental population that is committed to quality education. I grew up in that area, and it's still very strong.

[debpitt]

I have lived iin Lynchburg for 15 years and I am raising three kids in the Lynchburg City School system. They have all participated in the gifted program which includes a magnate school for gifted children in 3rd through
5th grade called the GO Center. I have a third grader in the gifted school now, and I have 2 sixth graders at Linkhorne Middle school in the Boonsboro area of Lynchburg. They are both in the advanced track for all their classes other than their elective. I have been very happy. They are grouped with all their peers and are doing well. The high school in our area, EC Glass, is considered very academically challenging if you are in the acclerated track and taking AP courses. This high school has an excellent reputation. We have many kids get into UVA and many top schools. As far as racial tension, my kids have not complained of any. In Lychburg city schools, there is diversity for sure. However, my kids feel that everyone as whole gets along. You will find that if your child is gifted they will mainly be in classes where there is no tension based on race. These are all smart kids eager to learn.

I do have a few friends who live in Forest and they say the schools are good there as well. If you are looking for less diversity, then that may be the way to go. However, I would still recommend Lynchburg City Schools over any other. I also live in the Boonsboro area and love it there. However, I think the whole area is beautiful. I think my second choice would be Forest and then maybe Bedford. Good luck!!

[novanwbie]

I have to agree with Deb Pitt, I went through Lynchburg City Schools (Glass) and was over-prepared for college, if you will, My AP coursework was harder than college-level work. Boonsboro is great for kids, too, as a lot of families with school-age children have moved in recently. I would visit the schools yourself, and don't really strictly on numbers and what you see online. Lynchburg is a really great place to grow up.