[krdpm]

We are planning a move to Connecticut in about 2 years, but I'm starting the whole research process now. The big picture: We have a 2 year old and my husband is a nurse and will probably be able to find a decent job at any area hospital. We're moving from West Springfield, MA for two main reasons--we want an excellent school system and would like to be a bit closer to my parents in Greenwich, especially as they are getting older. Also, my sister and her family live in Nyack, NY. The drive time to vist family now is about two hours, so I would like to cut that to maybe an hour or a little more. Our price range is probably going to be about 400K, although I can see we may have to stretch that a bit. (If we can) We actually drove through Cheshire last weekend and loved it, but then I found alarming comments here about issues with toxins in the water supply, high cancer rates, etc. We also thought Southbury seemed appealing, but I've started to question whether we should look for a town that perhaps still has really good schools but where we could actually move into a "really good" house as well. Basically, my head is spinnning and I could use some advice. Does anyone have any suggestions, maybe some towns I haven't considered? Again, I think schools is the main focus, family friendly, not crazy rural but certainly not urban. Any help would be appreciated.

[gomet]

Try Brookfield. Good schools and overall a nice suburban town.

[gomet]

I forgot to mention, two large hospitals in the area. Danbury hospital and New Milford Hospital which is affiliated with Columbia Presbyterian.

[jeremeyk482]

Originally Posted by krdpm

We are planning a move to Connecticut in about 2 years, but I'm starting the whole research process now. The big picture: We have a 2 year old and my husband is a nurse and will probably be able to find a decent job at any area hospital. We're moving from West Springfield, MA for two main reasons--we want an excellent school system and would like to be a bit closer to my parents in Greenwich, especially as they are getting older. Also, my sister and her family live in Nyack, NY. The drive time to vist family now is about two hours, so I would like to cut that to maybe an hour or a little more. Our price range is probably going to be about 400K, although I can see we may have to stretch that a bit. (If we can) We actually drove through Cheshire last weekend and loved it, but then I found alarming comments here about issues with toxins in the water supply, high cancer rates, etc. We also thought Southbury seemed appealing, but I've started to question whether we should look for a town that perhaps still has really good schools but where we could actually move into a "really good" house as well. Basically, my head is spinnning and I could use some advice. Does anyone have any suggestions, maybe some towns I haven't considered? Again, I think schools is the main focus, family friendly, not crazy rural but certainly not urban. Any help would be appreciated.

If the quality of schools is your main focus, Southbury and Middlebury's Region 15 School District is among the best in the state. Housing prices in these towns are a bit high but for $400-450k you can easily get a 2400 square foot home with 4 bedrooms in Southbury.

You should also check out Oxford, a rural town to the south of Southbury. It's a more direct route to Greenwich (Route 8 to the Merritt Pkwy or 95) and the town is peaceful and quaint. The population is about 11,000 and they just built their first high school, set to open in September. The cost of a home here is similar to Southbury.

[krdpm]

Thanks for your responses. I think we will drive through Brookfield on our next exploratory trip and check it out. Southbury still seems like a contender too. I lived in Willimantic a long time ago, and loved that whole part of the state, but I think affordable places like Coventry and Mansfield are actually farther from my parents than we are now. Does anyone know anything about South Windsor? It seems that the real estate isn't as pricey, and maybe the schools are good. I wonder what the general character of the town is like?

[johngol]

400k will go alot further in cheshire than southbury, you should look at middlebury and watertown you can buy a much bigger home with lower taxes both have excellent school systems i may be biased because i live in watertown but i have 4 kids all go to school here my 6 year old son is reading and writing out of kindergarden and they just pased a 84 million dollar upgrade to all there schools downfall is the school break down k-2 in one school 3-5 in another 6 by it self for now and 7-8 in swift (expanding to include 6th grade i sell alot in watertown middlebury and southbury all are great towns take some time and drive through them one weekend also i would like to suggest thomaston it is up and coming and you could buy a palace there and has a good school system

[ronson]

I don't think you will go wrong in Southbury. The school system is rated very good and it has that modern yet small town feel. I have friends that live there and rave about the schools there.

[CoolStrom]

Hi - Since you want to be closer to your folks in Greenwich and Nyck , i would also look at Milford - there are plenty of area hospitals to choose from for your hubby and Milford is also centerally located - school system is not the best but its above average - with shopping amenities on Route 1 its a real deal.Best of luck. CoolStrom.

[krdpm]

Thanks to everyone--lots to think about. Has anyone heard anything about the contaminated water issue in Cheshire?

[RiskReturn]

Originally Posted by krdpm

Thanks to everyone--lots to think about. Has anyone heard anything about the contaminated water issue in Cheshire?

yes, the town is trying to improve on cleaning up the water (cheshire town home page-links)

Also, here are some comps:

(sat)

CHESHIRE

Cheshire High School School State
Number Tested 389 27330
Estimated percentage of graduates tested 96.2% 75.4%
Total Critical Reasoning, Math & Writing 1594 1518
Total Critical Reasoning & Math Only 1073 1015
Mean Critical Reasoning
529 505
Percentage of Critical Reasoning at 600+ 23.1% 21.3%
Mean Math 544 510
Percentage of Math at 600+ 30.8% 23.9%
Number Tested In Writing 378 26361
Mean Writing 522 504
Percentage of Writing at 600+ 23.5% 20.3%


REGIONAL DIST 15

Pomperaug Regional High School School State
Number Tested 281 27330
Estimated percentage of graduates tested 99.4% 75.4%
Total Critical Reasoning, Math & Writing 1568 1518
Total Critical Reasoning & Math Only 1050 1015
Mean Critical Reasoning
522 505
Percentage of Critical Reasoning at 600+ 21.4% 21.3%
Mean Math 528 510
Percentage of Math at 600+ 25.3% 23.9%
Number Tested In Writing 266 26361
Mean Writing 525 504
Percentage of Writing at 600+ 21.4% 20.3%

SOUTH WINDSOR

South Windsor High School School State
Number Tested 324 27330
Estimated percentage of graduates tested 92.5% 75.4%
Total Critical Reasoning, Math & Writing 1574 1518
Total Critical Reasoning & Math Only 1060 1015
Mean Critical Reasoning
519 505
Percentage of Critical Reasoning at 600+ 23.8% 21.3%
Mean Math 541 510
Percentage of Math at 600+ 28.4% 23.9%
Number Tested In Writing 317 26361
Mean Writing 515 504
Percentage of Writing at 600+ 17% 20.3%

SOUTH WINDSOR

South Windsor High School School State
Number Tested 324 27330
Estimated percentage of graduates tested 92.5% 75.4%
Total Critical Reasoning, Math & Writing 1574 1518
Total Critical Reasoning & Math Only 1060 1015
Mean Critical Reasoning
519 505
Percentage of Critical Reasoning at 600+ 23.8% 21.3%
Mean Math 541 510
Percentage of Math at 600+ 28.4% 23.9%
Number Tested In Writing 317 26361
Mean Writing 515 504
Percentage of Writing at 600+ 17% 20.3%

(capt)

Created on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 4:43:29 PM

Summary Report
Selected Students: All
Search Criteria: None

District/School Year Math-N Tested Math-Mean SS Math-%Goal Range Math-%Proficient Math-%Level1 Math-%Level2 Math-%Level3 Math-%Level4 Math-%Level5 No.&Quant. Meas.&Geom. Stat. Prob. & Discrete Math Alg. & Funct. Science-N Tested Science-Mean SS Science-%Goal Range Science-%Proficient Science-%by Level1 Science-%by Level2 Science-%by Level3 Science-%by Level4 Science-%by Level5 Life Science Physical Science Earth Science Experimentation Reading-N Tested Reading-Mean SS Reading-%Goal Range Reading-%Proficient Reading-%Level1 Reading-%Level2 Reading-%Level3 Reading-%Level4 Reading-%Level5 Reading for Information-N Tested Reading for Information-Avg. Score Response to Literature-N Tested Response to Literature-Avg. Score Writing-N Tested Writing-Mean SS Writing-%Goal Range Writing-%Proficient Writing-%Level1 Writing-%Level2 Writing-%Level3 Writing-%Level4 Writing-%Level5 Interdisciplinary Writing1-N Tested Interdisciplinary Writing1-Avg. Score Interdisciplinary Writing2-N Tested Interdisciplinary Writing2-Avg. Score Editing&Revising-N Tested Editing&Revising-Avg. Score
Cheshire 2006 420 270.9 69.5 91.7 2.4 6 22.1 37.1 32.4 6.9 6.5 8.3 7.8 420 276.5 68.1 95.7 1.2 3.1 27.6 29.8 38.3 12.9 12 12.3 11.1 419 269.7 67.1 92.4 3.3 4.3 25.3 33.2 33.9 422 15.2 419 7.9 418 267.7 73.4 92.3 2.4 5.3 18.9 39.5 34 420 8.4 419 7.9 421 13.6
Cheshire High 2006 414 271.7 70.3 92.3 1.9 5.8 22 37.7 32.6 6.9 6.6 8.4 7.9 415 277.2 68.7 96.4 1 2.7 27.7 30.1 38.6 12.9 12 12.3 11.2 414 270.5 67.6 93 2.7 4.3 25.4 33.3 34.3 415 15.3 414 8 412 268.6 74 93.2 1.7 5.1 19.2 39.6 34.5 414 8.5 413 7.9 414 13.7
South Windsor 2006 415 270.2 68.4 89.4 3.6 7 21 29.9 38.6 7 7 7.9 7.6 416 264.9 57.9 90.1 4.6 5.3 32.2 28.6 29.3 12.3 10.9 11.3 10.6 415 270.2 66.3 92.8 3.4 3.9 26.5 32 34.2 419 15.5 415 7.8 413 258.2 63 92.3 3.6 4.1 29.3 39 24 416 7.6 414 8.1 419 13.2
South Windsor High 2006 411 270.8 68.9 89.5 3.4 7.1 20.7 29.9 38.9 7.1 7 7.9 7.6 412 265.3 58.3 90.3 4.4 5.3 32 28.6 29.6 12.4 11 11.3 10.6 411 270.7 66.9 92.9 3.2 3.9 26 32.4 34.5 414 15.5 411 7.9 408 259 63.2 92.6 3.2 4.2 29.4 39 24.3 411 7.7 409 8.1 414 13.2
Regional Sch Dist 15 2006 342 269.1 67.8 95.6 2.3 2 27.8 40.4 27.5 7.1 6.1 8.2 7.6 340 275.5 70 97.6 1.2 1.2 27.6 34.7 35.3 13.6 12.6 11.3 10.7 340 269.7 70.9 93.8 1.8 4.4 22.9 40.3 30.6 341 15.3 341 8 341 258.9 66 90.3 3.5 6.2 24.3 43.4 22.6 341 7.8 343 7.9 342 13.6
Pomperaug Regl High 2006 341 269.4 68 95.9 2.1 2.1 27.9 40.5 27.6 7.1 6.1 8.3 7.6 338 276.2 70.4 98.2 0.6 1.2 27.8 34.9 35.5 13.6 12.7 11.4 10.8 338 270.3 71.3 94.4 1.5 4.1 23.1 40.5 30.8 339 15.4 339 8 339 259.7 66.4 90.9 2.9 6.2 24.5 43.7 22.7 339 7.8 341 7.9 340 13.6
(confusing- higher # is better also check capt home page on google for clearer results)

(Cmt) via Cmt data interaction (public)

name rank (out of the 3)
15 2
cheshire 1
s. windsor 3


p.s.- check out bethany as well- awesome schools (regional 5 (amity) or choice of cheshire (area dependent)- little pricey but very close to greenwich)!