Dublin schools?? (Columbus, Delaware, Hilliard: fit in, for sale, how much)

[Corgie]

Hello everyone,
We are trying to figure out where we should settle down with our family. Currently, we live near Bethel Rd. and we are in the Columbus City school district, however we would prefer not to send our children to school there. We have heard great things about Hilliard, Dublin, and Olentangy schools. However, we are an average middle class family. We don't own a $500 home and we don't drive fancy cars. Where would we best fit in?? Is it true that if you don't have a lot of money, a big house and fancy cars that you will not fit in any of these areas?

Education is very important to us and we know that in any of these areas home prices and taxes will be higher due to the schools.

Any insight will help, and PLEASE, be brutally honest about the people/schools in these burbs. Thanks!!

[NewToCA]

Dublin currently has about 40 homes for sale for under $250K, with at least 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. You don't need $500K to afford Dublin.

Hilliard currently has almost 60 homes currently for sale with the same criteria listed above.

Bottom line, you can do either area. Hilliard is a bit more middle class, so you may feel somewhat more comfortable there. Dublin can be a little bit elite, and very golf oriented.

[VideoEngineerAJS]

It really depends on how far out of Columbus you want to live? The Olentangy School District is pretty expansive and pretty much covers Delaware County west of 71 from the Franklin County line up to the city of Delaware. So you may be able to find some place in the Olentangy District that isn't that expensive.

Also part of Union County goes to Dublin City Schools. I'm a little biased, but Marysville Schools are good as well if you want to live a little further out.

Marysville and Hilliard are both a bit more middle class than Dublin and Olentangy. You should be able find a place you can afford in the Dublin, Olentangy, Hilliard, or Marysville school districts. It's really just a matter of...

A) How far away you want to live from work

B) How worried you are about the wealth differences of the kids (which you really shouldn't be)

and

C) How much the taxes are.

[Corgie]

Thanks, this does help! We have actually looked at Marysville and it seems like a great town.

[bgfalcons86]

I agree with NewToCA's post. There is actually middle class housing in Dublin City School District, particularly in the portion that is inside the city limits of Columbus. Olentangy Local School District tends to be a bit more affordable on the Lewis Center side of the district. The Powell side of the district is very similar in culture, etc. to portion of Dublin CSD that is actually inside the city limits of Dublin.

Hilliard City School District is a good option for you, as well. Hilliard CSD does quite well on the State Report Card (standardized tests, graduation rates, etc.) and the vast majority of Hilliard CSD graduates go on to post-secondary education. I always still encourage people to look at both objective measures and get feedback from people who have had their children educated in the district in question. We currently live in Hilliard and have been very happy with the education that our children are receiving.