Dorchester (Boston, Franklin, Norfolk: violent crime, homes, neighborhoods)

[kcov2005]

Hello,

Can someone give me the scoop on Dorchester?
I have heard different things about it; Some good, some bad.

Thanks for any help.

[DaveV]

You really need to be specific on what section of Dorchester..

[LovelyBoston]

Depends on what you're looking for, I think -- which is probably why there are so many different opinions about it.

The bad:
Terrible schools. A real problem with violent crime that makes raising children there a bit of a scary proposition.

The good:
More affordable than much of Boston, and within easy commuting distance to many parts of Boston.

So for families? Stay away. A single or childless couple? Could be a good option. But some areas are better than other.

[kcov2005]

It's that bad? I heard good things about Ashmont and Savin Hill Area. Any thoughts? I guess from what LovelyBoston said it's not a good place to live in with kids.. are all Boston public schools that bad?

Thx

[LovelyBoston]

Originally Posted by kcov2005

It's that bad? I heard good things about Ashmont and Savin Hill Area. Any thoughts? I guess from what LovelyBoston said it's not a good place to live in with kids.. are all Boston public schools that bad?

Thx

The regular public schools in Boston really are that bad. But to be fair there are a couple of really good public charter schools, and one top exam school. Just a matter of getting in to them: the exam school is of course extremely competitive (and the entrance exam and application period is already over for next year). The charter schools all have a waiting list (not all perform well, but some really do).

You can always call the school district to get more specifics about the waiting lists for whatever charter schools seem good to you. If you really want city living don't write it off (at least, not because of what I say!). And yes, Savin Hill can be good; there are two parts to it, really, and one is better than the other.

[teniweniwest]

I've lived in Dorchester most of my life between Savin Hill and Columbia Rd. and the area has been safe to live in. I wouldn't make a blanket statement that the public schools are good or bad. It's what your child makes it. My child went to the Dever and McCormack and is now graduating from Boston Arts Academy with high honors and is accepted at two universities in the fall so I'd be careful about painting all schools with the same brush. As with anyplace else, whether rural or suburban, kids are pretty much a product of their family and there is good and bad everywhere. So, Dorchester yes!!!!!

[HenryAlan]

The schools vary from campus to campus. Where I live, in the west zone, I'd say all of the elementary schools are quite good. I don't know about Dorchester as a whole, but I have a co-worker whose husband recently retired as principal at a Dot elementary school, and I would have happily sent my kids there. I'm sure there are some bad apples, but my impression (formed as a parent of three BPS children) is that much of the bad mouthing toward the schools is misplaced, perhaps reflecting an earlier reality, but no longer accurate.

[Vermolas]

I was born in Pisa, Italy but moved to Boston when I was 3. I lived most my life in southie where the schools are considered pretty Bad. I got into Boston Latin School, probably the exam school Boston is most famous for and the one loveleyboston was talking about. And its also the old public school in the US. Im now in my last year of high school and was accepted by Stanford, BU and the Stella Adler Acting School in LA. Southie is pretty much like Dorchester (except for the crime) and i love Boston! I would recomend Southie or North Dorchester or Roxbury. Lower Roxbury and fort hill to be exact. Most people think roxbury as the heart of the Boston ghetto but its getting alot better.

[juanjohnson]

Heres the deal---I've lived in the South End, and have had quite a few encounters with violent crime. Since Dorchester is so big, it's hard to say how safe it would be for you. Anywhere off of Blue Hill Ave or Geneva Ave isn't safe for the most part. But anywhere like Savin Hill, Neponset especially, some parts of Ashmont, places like that are great places to live. Don't move near Franklin Field, because there's a lot of shootings there and around there.

South Boston is quite safe nowadays, and is a good place to live. Roxbury however, despite Fort Hill, is still quite dangerous and ratty. Mattapan isn't terrible but i wouldn't recommend it.

Somewhere like Hyde Park or Roslindale is more desirable than Dorchester, Roxbury, or Mattapan.

[Urban Peasant]

The Ashmont, Port Norfolk, Neponset, Adams Village, and Lower Mills sections of Dorchester are good neighborhoods. I'd rather say that Dorchester is better for families to move to, my neighborhood (Adams Village) is full of families with children. Other than parts of Savin Hill, there aren't many young single people living in Dot. Its not an especially hip place for young people to live in I admit but great for families because of its array of parks, playgrounds, single family homes, and quiet streets.