communities in Boca

[Bette]

I left a message on a different site but personally, I do not live in a gated community and our neighborhood is totally fine.

Parkside - zip 33486 - gated
Estancia - zip 33433 - gated Estancia South, Estancia West is 33434
Camino Gardens - zip 33486 - not gated, very nice families there, some waterfront lots - I have a friend who just rented her $750K home for $3500 per month.
Palm Beach Farms - 33486 and 33432 - not gated
Charleston Place - 33433 - not gated
Boca Chica - 33433 - not gated
Boca Square - 33432 - not gated - mix of homes - great elem school
(Addison Mizner) - high school Boca High - wonderful now
Vista Verde - 33433 - not gated - close to elementary
Colonnade - 33434 - not gated
Timbercreek - 33431 - not gated
Millpond - 33431 - not gated
Boca Bath & Tennis - 33431 - gated - lots of families

Most of the above have lots of families. I probably forget some but that is off the top of my head. I know all the schools, public & private - been there, done that, still doing it.

Also went to school here myself - public, private, public so I know the deal.

[tallie]

Thanks!

What do you think of the Donna Klein school? How about American heritage? Everyone talks about Pine Crest and St Andrews but they seem a little snobby.

Originally Posted by Bette

I left a message on a different site but personally, I do not live in a gated community and our neighborhood is totally fine.

Parkside - zip 33486 - gated
Estancia - zip 33433 - gated Estancia South, Estancia West is 33434
Camino Gardens - zip 33486 - not gated, very nice families there, some waterfront lots - I have a friend who just rented her $750K home for $3500 per month.
Palm Beach Farms - 33486 and 33432 - not gated
Charleston Place - 33433 - not gated
Boca Chica - 33433 - not gated
Boca Square - 33432 - not gated - mix of homes - great elem school
(Addison Mizner) - high school Boca High - wonderful now
Vista Verde - 33433 - not gated - close to elementary
Colonnade - 33434 - not gated
Timbercreek - 33431 - not gated
Millpond - 33431 - not gated
Boca Bath & Tennis - 33431 - gated - lots of families

Most of the above have lots of families. I probably forget some but that is off the top of my head. I know all the schools, public & private - been there, done that, still doing it.

Also went to school here myself - public, private, public so I know the deal.

[tallie]

Originally Posted by bale002

At that range, you will have the embarrassment of the choice.

Do you prefer the beach and perhaps Mizner Park (east Boca), being near the mall and the university (central Boca) or perhaps a more family-oriented area (west Boca, not that the other areas aren't)? Or perhaps your place of employment, if any, will help determine your choice.

I am most likely working in West Palm Beach and my son will be at the JCC.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by tallie

I am most likely working in West Palm Beach and my son will be at the JCC.

That is not worth the commute unless you can't find another JCC. Wellington (which to my knowledge has a great JCC) is a way better commute to WPB and also a nice community. Boca is good if you work somewhere in South County or towards Broward. If you feel Boca is just "right", by all means go for it, but Wellington reminds me of PBC's take on Weston (that's a good thing) and with the way gas prices and oil supplies are going, it's not really a good idea to commute any further than necessary IMO. If school don't matter, it's also in my opinion that Palm Beach Gardens has a similar feeling to Boca but it's even "nicer", with just as much shopping but not as much traffic, but significantly closer to WPB.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by tallie

Thanks!

What do you think of the Donna Klein school? How about American heritage? Everyone talks about Pine Crest and St Andrews but they seem a little snobby.

There are so many schools! Some wonderful public ones too so I'll tell you about those first. Elementary - Del Prado - top A rated school, very safe.
Boca High and Spanish River High are excellent high schools.

Donna Klein is a good school. My daughter's best friend went there through 8th grade and then Spanish River High. Well adjusted young lady. American Heritage is also a good school, draws from several areas, is in Delray Beach, has good sports and music programs. Pine Crest in Boca Raton goes from PK to 8th, then it's down to Fort Lauderdale if you want to continue. My daughter went there until 8th grade, absolutely loved it. It was a good school and challenged her. St. Andrews is excellent from PK to 12th - very good parental involvement at all these schools.

We are not Jewish but I felt accepted at all events and so forth. My husband was in the Father's Club at Pine Crest for years.

Our daughter has turned out to be fine. She went to Vanderbilt in Nashville - got a degree in Neuroscience, planned to be a doctor, then decided to move to NYC - now she is working in the financial industry and BFF with the friend talked about in the 2nd paragraph! Inseparable! We are disappointed she is not pursuing the education but oh, well....

Good luck - you can send me a direct message if you need to. I will be glad to answer any questions. No pressure.

[tallie]

Originally Posted by Bette

There are so many schools! Some wonderful public ones too so I'll tell you about those first. Elementary - Del Prado - top A rated school, very safe.
Boca High and Spanish River High are excellent high schools.

Donna Klein is a good school. My daughter's best friend went there through 8th grade and then Spanish River High. Well adjusted young lady. American Heritage is also a good school, draws from several areas, is in Delray Beach, has good sports and music programs. Pine Crest in Boca Raton goes from PK to 8th, then it's down to Fort Lauderdale if you want to continue. My daughter went there until 8th grade, absolutely loved it. It was a good school and challenged her. St. Andrews is excellent from PK to 12th - very good parental involvement at all these schools.

We are not Jewish but I felt accepted at all events and so forth. My husband was in the Father's Club at Pine Crest for years.

Our daughter has turned out to be fine. She went to Vanderbilt in Nashville - got a degree in Neuroscience, planned to be a doctor, then decided to move to NYC - now she is working in the financial industry and BFF with the friend talked about in the 2nd paragraph! Inseparable! We are disappointed she is not pursuing the education but oh, well....

Good luck - you can send me a direct message if you need to. I will be glad to answer any questions. No pressure.

Would you recommend Pine Crest? I am just a little concerned about the snob factor. How does it differ from St Andrews? You must be prould of your daughter!

[tallie]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

That is not worth the commute unless you can't find another JCC. Wellington (which to my knowledge has a great JCC) is a way better commute to WPB and also a nice community. Boca is good if you work somewhere in South County or towards Broward. If you feel Boca is just "right", by all means go for it, but Wellington reminds me of PBC's take on Weston (that's a good thing) and with the way gas prices and oil supplies are going, it's not really a good idea to commute any further than necessary IMO. If school don't matter, it's also in my opinion that Palm Beach Gardens has a similar feeling to Boca but it's even "nicer", with just as much shopping but not as much traffic, but significantly closer to WPB.

My husband will be doing the pick up and drop off. We liked the JCC in Boca better than the one near Wellington. We visted Wellington and thought it was beautiful, but it did not feel quite right for us. Same with Palm Beach Gardens.

So it looks like Boca for us with me commuting to WPB!

[-ATLANTIC-]

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BLACK COMMUNITY TRY "PEARL CITY" WHICH BECAME A HISTORICAL DISTRICT IN BOCA RATON. HEAVY DRUG TRAFFIC TAKES PLACE BUT OTHER PARTS OF BOCA ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE BUT MOST OF BOCA IS WONDERFUL. NICE ENTERTAINMENT AND SUCH. GOOD LUCK!

PEARL CITY:Pearl City, Boca Raton, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia