transferring family from chicago burbs to des moine area (Des Moines: houses, neighborhoods)

[jorstad]

whats the best time to move end of summer and let kids finish all their summer sports here or move in spring before all summer sports begin

what is the best school distict

looking at west des moine, urbandale, johnston areas

wish there were burbs like them on the east side of des moine to make the drive back home shorter

we have 2 kids 2 and 7

all our family and friends are here so i am not that excited to move

my dh went to drake so we are familiar with the area and have one set of friends in ankeny

we want an established subdivision with some trees, but access for fishing for my brother and brother n law to convince them to make the drive to visit

4-5 bedrooms at least 3000 sq feet

thanks

[Chicago60614]

first things first, it's Des Moines, not Des Moine

[jorstad]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

first things first, it's Des Moines, not Des Moine

so sorry that this is your only advice to me
i apologize but need support not criticism

e are coming from a burb just 30 min from downtown chicago and have always lived within an hour of the city and we live in district #203 i am pretty sure its #1 or in the top 5 in the state

[Luke9686]

Most of the suburban school districts here are good. West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, and Pleasant Hill are all nice. Beware of Pleasant Hill though, the homes on the west end of P. Hill are in the Des Moines School District (East High) and are not that great.

[tiki7]

Welcome to Iowa. If you are looking at West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston you will be in good hands in terms of schools with any of the 3. You may also want to look in Waukee but I know that puts you a tad further away from home and it is filled with newer neighborhoods and cookie cutter houses.

As far as similarity to Naperville and their schools, West Des Moines would probably be closest. It is the largest of the districts and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are 20-30+ years old. West Des Moines also seems to have more people moving in from out of state than the other 2 communities although I do not have stats to back that up. Johnston would put you closer to fishing and all things rural. Schools there are also very good. There are also some very nice wooded subdivision along the river but the majority of subdivisions are cookie-cutter, new neighborhoods. I live in Urbandale and like it here but the school district is smaller than what you'd be used to and it is more like a small town in that lots of the people living here (not me) grew up here and are known by their last name---i.e. mom, dad, grandma, grandpa all went to school here....if you have a certain last name, doors open more easily than they may otherwise....

Ankeny is another community you may want to look at. Similar to West Des Moines it would put you closer to the Chicago area by about 1/2 hour.

As far as Southeast Polk Schools, they too are very good but the district is very spread out and much more rural than any of the others mentioned. The Copper Creek subdivision in Pl. Hill is in that district and would have the square footage you'd want.

Bottom line, any of our suburban districts are really very good so it'll boil down to where you feel most comfortable. Spend a few days here. Walk around some neighborhoods to get their 'feel' and I think you'll know where you should be.

[tiki7]

Oh, and as far as when to move, it really doesn't make a lot of difference. Personally I'd come before school starts in the fall for your 7 year old. If you were moving from Florida I'd say wait 'til spring but your winters gonna stink in either of these 2 places!