Best southwest or southern suburb for a young family (Chicago: rent, safe area)

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by allen2323

The main reason why affluent parents send there kids to private schools is the social stature that comes from it. Also, being able to socialize with other affluent parents at school events. Having your children around other affluent children. It's the same reason why affluent people join country clubs or any other private institution.

...that the OP, who works in Joilet, should given some thought to school situation, as it does make up pretty signficant portion of ones tax bill and will influence value even if you don't have kids / plan on using schools...

[Northwest Indiana]

Flossmoor is a very nice town...a very nice town...but quite frankly, I feel that the schools do not match the quality of the town itself...and when that happens, it is usually a sign that the town is starting to become less desirable...SO WHAT if "the ayp for African-Americans was higher in this town than others" or "the ayp for white students was higher in this town than others"...when I look for good schools, I look for comprehensive information/results...why? Because when I have children, they would be going to a public school with EVERYONE, not just the kids who made ayp. If I wanted to live in a town and the MOST important thing to me was living in an older mature, still safe, south suburban town, then yes, I would pick Homewood or Flossmoor. If the most important thing to me was schools and the FUTURE of the town/schools, I would pick Orland.

[ajolotl]

By the way I met one Lab family from NW Indiana. It never occurred to me that they lived in a bad school district just because they chose lab. As Allen points out people have other reasons for attending private schools (in addition to lab being top notch and convenient for U of C employees).

Originally Posted by Chuckity

The main reason why parents in the HF schools district send their kids to private schools is because the schools are failing.

[allen2323]

Originally Posted by Northwest Indiana

Flossmoor is a very nice town...a very nice town...but quite frankly, I feel that the schools do not match the quality of the town itself...and when that happens, it is usually a sign that the town is starting to become less desirable...SO WHAT if "the ayp for African-Americans was higher in this town than others" or "the ayp for white students was higher in this town than others"...when I look for good schools, I look for comprehensive information/results...why? Because when I have children, they would be going to a public school with EVERYONE, not just the kids who made ayp. If I wanted to live in a town and the MOST important thing to me was living in an older mature, still safe, south suburban town, then yes, I would pick Homewood or Flossmoor. If the most important thing to me was schools and the FUTURE of the town/schools, I would pick Orland.

Northwest indiana, If you were white your kids would be more likely to make AYP at HF than attending carl sandberg in orland park. If you were black, your kids would be more likely to make AYP being a student at HF than attending any other open enrollment public school in the entire chicagoland area.

[Northwest Indiana]

Originally Posted by allen2323

Northwest indiana, If you were white your kids would have a better chance of making AYP at HF than carl sandberg in orland park. If you were black, your kids would have a better chance of making AYP than any other open enrollment public school in the chicagoland area.

Actually, my kids would have a good chance of making ayp anywhere (regardless of their race) because in my CULTURE, we are raised to VALUE education and this is how I will raise my children as well. I do not believe that their race is going to play a role in whether they make ayp or not. If I adopt a black child and a white child, they both will make ayp regardless of where they go. If you think otherwise, then that means that you support the notion that there are innate differences between races. Do you believe in this allen?

[dacas1]

And this is why I visit this site so infrequently. Another legitimate question ends in a pissing match between posters. Pathetic.

Anyway, to answer your question, ablum, you can probably rule out Orland Park, Tinley Park, and definitely you can rule out Homer Glen for homes in your price range. There are plenty of homes that you can easily snatch up in Plainfield or Shorewood, however, and don't poo poo Joliet either. There are some nice, very family friendly neighborhoods on the west side of Joliet loaded with young, working class people folks with kids.

I would personally stay west if I were buying a home.

[SoxCub Fan]

Originally Posted by Northwest Indiana

Actually, my kids would have a good chance of making ayp anywhere (regardless of their race) because in my CULTURE, we are raised to VALUE education and this is how I will raise my children as well. I do not believe that their race is going to play a role in whether they make ayp or not. If I adopt a black child and a white child, they both will make ayp regardless of where they go. If you think otherwise, then that means that you support the notion that there are innate differences between races. Do you believe in this allen?

LMAO!!!!Allen Im sorry but you make yourself look ridoculous with every post.

[ajolotl]

This sounds also like an argument against basing school choice on differences in overall test scores -- your child is going to do well "anywhere" because of how you raise them, so who cares if 65% pass in one school and 75% in another?

Originally Posted by Northwest Indiana

Actually, my kids would have a good chance of making ayp anywhere (regardless of their race) because in my CULTURE, we are raised to VALUE education and this is how I will raise my children as well. I do not believe that their race is going to play a role in whether they make ayp or not. If I adopt a black child and a white child, they both will make ayp regardless of where they go. If you think otherwise, then that means that you support the notion that there are innate differences between races. Do you believe in this allen?

[ajolotl]

Originally Posted by Northwest Indiana

Flossmoor is a very nice town...a very nice town...but quite frankly, I feel that the schools do not match the quality of the town itself...and when that happens, it is usually a sign that the town is starting to become less desirable...SO WHAT if "the ayp for African-Americans was higher in this town than others" or "the ayp for white students was higher in this town than others"...when I look for good schools, I look for comprehensive information/results...why? Because when I have children, they would be going to a public school with EVERYONE, not just the kids who made ayp. If I wanted to live in a town and the MOST important thing to me was living in an older mature, still safe, south suburban town, then yes, I would pick Homewood or Flossmoor. If the most important thing to me was schools and the FUTURE of the town/schools, I would pick Orland.

I think this is probably the most balanced and useful statement of all. I'm honestly not sure what I would do if I were going to use the public schools -- would not want to live in Orland Park but would also need to really study H-F schools to see if there is a reality-perception gap and if I could be comfortable with it. If it were two-tier with a strong upper tier, I might do it and it might even be better than a more above-average-overall school. But very possibly I would take the safe route and do just as you suggest.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by ajolotl

I think this is probably the most balanced and useful statement of all. I'm honestly not sure what I would do if I were going to use the public schools -- would not want to live in Orland Park but would also need to really study H-F schools to see if there is a reality-perception gap and if I could be comfortable with it. If it were two-tier with a strong upper tier, I might do it and it might even be better than a more above-average-overall school. But very possibly I would take the safe route and do just as you suggest.

"Reality-perception gap," lol. I like that.

And yes, I'd say there is most definitely a reality-perception gap.