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Old 11-16-2013, 07:29 AM
 
57 posts, read 150,790 times
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I am considering a job relocation to Palos Heights, IL area. I am overwhelmed as I look at areas to move my family. Where do I start? I am mostly concerned with 2 things.

1. We have a limited housing budget... up to 300K. We don't expect a big house.
2. We have 4 kids spanning elementary, middle and HS. Good schools are very important as my kids are on the high academic level at their schools which Greatschools rates as 9 and 10's. My freshman is already in all AP classes.
3. Bonus: Commute under 30 minutes and good community sense with family neighborhoods.

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
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Old 11-16-2013, 08:31 AM
 
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Honestly you may have to consider a townhouse if you really want to look at just schools that at the very top of the ratings. Even a step down it is extremely challenging to find homes under $300k and within 30 mins of Palos Heights.
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Old 11-16-2013, 09:02 AM
 
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What about areas with second tier schools instead of top tier? Any suggestions??? I was thinking about Orland Park, Homewood or Frankfort? Is that crazy thinking on my part? I am open to suggestions.
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Old 11-16-2013, 04:23 PM
 
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If you want to consider Homewood or Flossmoor you might find some extremely well priced homes but taxes are a really out of control and frankly when that combination is factored in the upsides are really tough to see -- 1726 Richards Ct, Flossmoor, IL 60422 | MLS# 08418410 | Redfin

In contrast for a home with a similar listing price in Orland Park the tax bill is about 1/3 --
15840 114th Ct, ORLAND PARK, IL 60467 | MLS# 08402219 | Redfin

Here is house in Palos Heights with a tax bill a little more than half of the one in Flossmoor --
12954 S Sycamore Ln, PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 | MLS# 08458444 | Redfin
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Old 11-16-2013, 04:30 PM
 
57 posts, read 150,790 times
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Wow...very helpful. Thank you for the comparisons. I had no idea about the tax situation in Homewood. Any thoughts about schools in these areas, particularly HS and middle? Are there other areas that we should be looking>
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Old 11-16-2013, 05:07 PM
 
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Rent. Then you can spend your spare time looking for the perfect place.
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Old 11-16-2013, 08:44 PM
 
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I have found the data on high schools presented by US News to be very helpful. In your case I would deselect any "magnet" schools" as those are only inside Chicago. It is true that the top ten or so high schools in IL rank among the top 500 nationally, extremely unlikely you would find anything in your price range for your family / acceptable commute. The next 20-30 schools are still in the top 600-800 nationally, the next 10-20 quickly decline and you drop out of the top 1000.

By the time you get HF the data start show disturbing trends of poor AP participation that makes one question how much of the school is actually well prepared for college...
Homewood-Flossmoor High School in FLOSSMOOR, IL | Best High Schools | US News

Stats for the schools that serve Orland Park / Palos Hills are statistically worse. Cons Hsd 230 | Illinois | Best High Schools | US News

You might consider areas served by Lincoln-Way high schools though I would caution that the various parts of Frankfort and New Lenox have some significant differences in performance -- Lincoln Way Chsd 210 | Illinois | Best High Schools | US News

Last edited by chet everett; 11-16-2013 at 08:55 PM..
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Old 11-16-2013, 11:03 PM
 
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Might be worth a look:

7459 Inverness Ln, Frankfort, IL 60423 | MLS# 08476241 | Redfin
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Old 11-18-2013, 09:16 AM
 
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What gives with Shepard HS in Palos Heights? It appears that the their feeders for middle and elementary are pretty good so what happens to those students in HS... where it seems to fall apart? I can't seem to figure it out. Thanks!
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Old 11-18-2013, 09:27 AM
 
28,455 posts, read 85,332,804 times
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Default Probably negative effect of dislocation...

Quote:
Originally Posted by robinegms View Post
What gives with Shepard HS in Palos Heights? It appears that the their feeders for middle and elementary are pretty good so what happens to those students in HS... where it seems to fall apart? I can't seem to figure it out. Thanks!

These patterns can often be traced to shifts that come from excessive amounts of Sec 8 rentals -- folks that move out of the worst areas often want a "safer" area in high school and unfortunately too often the negatives are not escaped but "imported". Often times the decline happens first with marginal students, truancy rates go up, rate of "mobility" goes up, minor skirmished between girls fighting over some perceived slight, better students telling their parents they are too scared to go to school...
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