Moving to McAdenville, Belmont? (Gastonia, Cramerton: loan, how much, magnet school)

[Carolina-in-my-mind]

We've lived in Fort Mill for 10+ years, but we'd like our kids to goto North Carolina colleges and get in-state tuition. We know that Ardrey Kell and Marvin Ridge have the best public schools, but we want to live in a place that has a small town / hometown feel to it. Waxhaw is a possibility but would be a killer commute as I work in south-west CLT.

I've seen plenty of comments on Gaston / Gastonia / Mt. Holly /Belmont etc that are mixed. From my experience Gaston county in general is just a mix-mash of good and bad...kinda average. I like McAdenville and heard that the local police have passes for the residents during the Christmas light tour so that the locals can get in and out. Is this true? How much of a pain is the Christmasville thing? What are the best elementary and middle schools for the area. Belmont seems like a reasonable choice?

I don't care about perception or reputation, just the facts. Seems like Gaston Co. got a bad rap from being the outsider mill town? What areas do you have to avoid? Sorry for the rambling!

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Carolina-in-my-mind

We've lived in Fort Mill for 10+ years, but we'd like our kids to goto North Carolina colleges and get in-state tuition. We know that Ardrey Kell and Marvin Ridge have the best public schools, but we want to live in a place that has a small town / hometown feel to it. Waxhaw is a possibility but would be a killer commute as I work in south-west CLT.

I've seen plenty of comments on Gaston / Gastonia / Mt. Holly /Belmont etc that are mixed. From my experience Gaston county in general is just a mix-mash of good and bad...kinda average. I like McAdenville and heard that the local police have passes for the residents during the Christmas light tour so that the locals can get in and out. Is this true? How much of a pain is the Christmasville thing? What are the best elementary and middle schools for the area. Belmont seems like a reasonable choice?

I don't care about perception or reputation, just the facts. Seems like Gaston Co. got a bad rap from being the outsider mill town? What areas do you have to avoid? Sorry for the rambling!

The best middle school is Cramerton Middle. It feeds to the new high school, Stuart Cramer HS. The magnet school for the county is Highland. Honestly, I'm not up on the elementary schools.

[Sloante74]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

The best middle school is Cramerton Middle. It feeds to the new high school, Stuart Cramer HS. The magnet school for the county is Highland. Honestly, I'm not up on the elementary schools.

Elem schools for the Cramerton Middle district are all 9/10, 10/10


My kids are at New Hope, which will feed to Cramerton Middle

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by Sloante74

Elem schools for the Cramerton Middle district are all 9/10, 10/10


My kids are at New Hope, which will feed to Cramerton Middle

Thanks. I was hoping that you'd post.

Is one of the Gastonia elementary schools still feeding to Cramerton Middle?

[Sloante74]

Off the top of my head I know New Hope, W.A. Bess and McAdenville Elementary all feed to Cramerton Middle. That might be it. New Hope has 3 classes of 5th, Bess has 2-3 (Bess might have more I am not sure). And McAdenville only has 1. So that's 6+- classes right there.

All 3 elems schools are 9 and 10s. And the middleschool is a 10.

So yeah, your kids grades 1-8 are pretty much covered in goodness

Lets keep this our little secret though. New Hope elem is top secret