Woodland Park HS and commute to COS (Colorado Springs: middle school, living in)

[AdiosDuluth]

We are hoping to make the move from Duluth Mn. to Colorado this summer. We are simply done living in this frozen tundra for 5 months of frigid winter. We have two kids (12 and 15) and want a good school. Looking for opinions about Woodlkand park high. I'm also interested in opinions on the work commute from Woodland park to the center of Colorado Springs. How long does it take on average? Is it a pain for one reason or another?

[otowi]

I have a friend who lives in Woodland Park and commutes to Fillmore/I-25 area. It takes around 35-40 minutes (that could vary 5-10 minutes depending on where you are in Woodland Park) and if weather is bad it might take much longer, but that isn't typical. The commute may occasionally, although not normally, be problematic - there is only one realistic route and if there is a rockslide, flooding, fire, etc., it can become blocked off and you are essentially trapped away from your job and the alternate routes literally take you hours out of your way - happened to some folks last year.

As for Woodland Park High School, I know a few teachers there and they are great teachers. But I also know that the said person who lives in WP is planning to probably bring his kids down to the Springs for middle and high school when they're of age - I think his issue may be more with the middle school, but I'm not sure.

[PokerMunkee]

WP is a good 10F cooler than COS and gets a lot more snow. There is 4" of snow from today in my yard as I type this and it's still coming down hard. Starting to stick to the roads now. It's snowing all across the front range right now, so it's not just WP.

I love WP but if you are tired of cold weather, I'd stay in the Springs. The 2500' of elevation makes a huge difference! But the summers are awesome up here! This year there were probably 15 days where the roads were snow packed, so it's not a big deal.

[Marcy1210]

The drive from Woodland Park to Colorado Springs is down "the pass" which is Highway 24. There's no realistic alternative. The drive from the high school to the western edge of the Springs is probably 20 minutes on average, but that's on a clear day with not much traffic. If there's snow (and today, May 1, it's snowing like crazy), it can be slick and slow going. If you're tired of snow, Woodland Park isn't the place to be. You're better off looking at the Springs, and one of the better districts down there which are D-20 or D-12.

[Arrby]

On the other hand, Woodland Park is not Minn. The snow does not linger on for weeks at a time. And the sun shines a great deal more. So a five inch snowfall may well be gone by the following afternoon. The snow yesterday made me think of a two foot snowfall the first week of May either four or five years ago. Five days later you could see traces only on the shaded slopes up in the trees.

Many days up here in January/February can be enjoyed with just a light jacket. It is a totally different experience from those seeming endless weeks of cold and damp and clouds you get in the upper midwest.

So I would not dismiss Woodland Park out of hand. Nevertheless, the points made above are worth thinking about. Colorado Springs does have a lot to offer, and the high country is still there weekends and vacation days.