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Old 12-08-2009, 10:15 AM
 
6 posts, read 13,937 times
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Hey everyone! So my husband has accepted a new job in Newark, DE but it seems like the schools aren't that good and most people go the private school route, or the charter school. Because of those reasons, we don't want to be in Newark, but close enough to not have a huge commute. Good public school and neighborhood are our top priority. We're leaning towards going south of Newark.....any thoughts and opinions on where to live????? Any help would be GREAT!!!!!
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Old 12-08-2009, 12:41 PM
 
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As far as the public schools go...

Red Clay school district is good, and very close to Newark. Appoquinimink is another good district, located below the C&D canal around Middletown, and Brandywine is also good, in north Wilmington.

Can be more specific if you start narrowing down areas.... what grades are you looking at?
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Old 12-08-2009, 01:03 PM
 
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My kids go to Appo and I love it. We live in Newark right above the canal. We only looked at houses in the school district. It was the only school district we considered. I cannot say enough good things about it.
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Old 12-09-2009, 07:04 AM
 
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I agree.

We lived in the brandywine school district and were happy with it. housing was just more expensive.

We moved down to middletown. main reason was the school district (appo), but also middletown itself, since it's a smaller town, but has a nice mainstreet, a couple of (no chain) restaurants and shops) and lots of social life. also tons of kids.

we know a couple of families, who live up north in bear and most of them regret they bought a home there, since there is no downtown and for highschool (maybe also middle ?) they have to drive down to middletown anyway.


there is lots of traffic to Newark. hope, they get route 896 done soon. good thing, you can take route 1 also.
It takes me, if there is no traffic, about 25 minutes to get to newark mainstreet (which we like a lot).

we live in a neighborhood, where the kids can walk to elementary school, which they enjoyed a lot. Now they are in charter school, which is even better.

good luck on your plans !
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Old 12-09-2009, 09:55 AM
 
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We could not live in Middletown, because it would have added even more time to my husband's commute. We did like Middletown though.

That being said my neighbors all say that we are lucky to live above the canal and be in Appo school district. Plus we have such a good elementary school near us. I would not pick any other elementary school. The middle school and kindergarten school takes exactly 12 minutes to get to. I am not sure about HS. I don't think it is that bad.
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Old 12-09-2009, 11:29 AM
 
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I know about Olive B. Loss up there. my friend's kids go there and they are quite happy. exceptions apply - like everywhere.
I am always not sure about what's better ..... living right or left of the canal. I am just happy I don't have to live in the MIDDLE of the canal
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Old 12-15-2009, 11:37 AM
 
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Wow, thanks everyone! This was very helpful! We're looking at houses in the Appoquinimink school district. (hoping that one day I'll be able to remember how to pronounce that!) We're hoping to find a property that has some decent land (1-2 acres) but isn't very old. It seems like most of the new builds have tiny tiny lots. Any thoughts?
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Old 12-15-2009, 11:40 AM
 
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Forgot to mention also, to answer your question, that we're looking at Kindergartens. We have 4 kids under 6 so we'll be with the elementary school for awhile. And yes, I'll be happy not to be in the middle of the canal. Middletown is looking good, just concerned about the traffic to Newark....
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Old 12-15-2009, 12:58 PM
 
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We bought new construction and you are right that there is not much land with new construction that we saw. We got 1/2 acre and were happy with that. I love my neighborhood and neighbors a lot though. If you want any info please let me know.

In Appo the preschool/kindergartners have their own school, then 1-5 go to a different school. The early childhood center where my daughter goes to is very good. My older daughter goes to the elementary school, which I am even happier with.

There is very little traffic for me to Newark, because I am already in Newark, above the canal. The early childhood center (kindergarten) is below the can and takes me less than 10 min to get there.

Please PM if you want any info. We just moved here in Aug from NJ.
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Old 12-16-2009, 06:45 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nickel34 View Post
We're looking at houses in the Appoquinimink school district. (hoping that one day I'll be able to remember how to pronounce that!)
haha, I hear you . and spelling is even harder - even after 5 years here

If you are planning to live here for quite a while, I would look more into the middle schools.
elementary schools within appo (common nickname, hope, that helps ) are all pretty good, it's getting tougher to find a really good one after 5th grade.

since your kids are smaller, you would have the best chances, to get them into MOT charter (levels road, middletown). kids from everywhere in the district go there so transportation is provided. you get in by lottery and the best chances are to get them into kindergarten. after that there is a siblings preference.
what I liked the most is that they start spanish in kindergarten and class size is limited to 25 students.
and the head of school stands in front of her school EVERY day, rain or shine, to greet the kids. she knows every name and this school just has a very personal touch (and I've seen a couple ...)
just keep in mind that it might be an option.


here is the hompage MOT Charter School


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