What Suburbs Are On The Rise? (Detroit, St. Clair Shores: fit in, real estate, buy)

[clawsondude]

I'm going to add something that, while not exactly the topic of this discussion, I think many will find interesting. Clawson schools are in financial trouble due to declining enrollment. There is a very real possibility that the district will be annexed to Troy schools. There is a public meeting on October 17 to discuss these issues. The benefit to Troy would be additional space in school buildings. What would likely happen, is that Troy's school maps would be redrawn, and some kids would be sent to schools in Clawson.

If this happened I would see it as a plus for Clawson. I anticipate that many Troy parents whose children would now go to school in Clawson would be unhappy with this if it came to pass.

[NOLA101]

The state needs to get rid of all these small school districts. I support merging Troy and Clawson.

Also, probably good for your property values. Clawson has good schools, but Troy's are ranked higher.

[clawsondude]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

The state needs to get rid of all these small school districts. I support merging Troy and Clawson.

Also, probably good for your property values. Clawson has good schools, but Troy's are ranked higher.

Oh yes, I absolutely support it. I'm a Clawson resident and have two young children. I bought my house in 2009, and at the time I wasn't really thinking much about school districts. I'm happy with the elementary school our 1st grader is in, but I have concerns about the middle and high school. I would be very happy to see us merge with Troy. My one concern is that were this to happen, Clawson might not have representation on the school board.

On a personal note, the Clawson Schools superintendent just so happens to be my next door neighbor. He's a nice man, and I would hate to see him lose his job.

[DTWflyer]

Oh I get it, I'm in my mid-30s and tons of people are buying these new build places. Right now this is mostly late Gen X, Xennials, and early millennials that are in the peak of the child-bearing years and wanting a bigger house.

My question is that will the people who are now in the early/mid/late-20s (late millenials & Gen Z) be of the same mindset in the next 5-10 years? Granted, its been like this essentially since post-WWII where people move up, out and for bigger & better, but at some point we reach a tipping point.

[DTWflyer]

Originally Posted by clawsondude

Oh yes, I absolutely support it. I'm a Clawson resident and have two young children. I bought my house in 2009, and at the time I wasn't really thinking much about school districts. I'm happy with the elementary school our 1st grader is in, but I have concerns about the middle and high school. I would be very happy to see us merge with Troy. My one concern is that were this to happen, Clawson might not have representation on the school board.

On a personal note, the Clawson Schools superintendent just so happens to be my next door neighbor. He's a nice man, and I would hate to see him lose his job.

I always thought Clawson School District should be folded into Royal Oak. Particularly since how close Royal Oak High School (Kimball) is to Clawson and that Royal Oak had for years been struggling with declining enrollment in the middle school and high school level.

Troy doesn't seem to make as much sense since the middle school and high schools are so much further away from Clawson.

[clawsondude]

Originally Posted by DTWflyer

I always thought Clawson School District should be folded into Royal Oak. Particularly since how close Royal Oak High School (Kimball) is to Clawson and that Royal Oak had for years been struggling with declining enrollment in the middle school and high school level.

Troy doesn't seem to make as much sense since the middle school and high schools are so much further away from Clawson.

Yeah, I always thought it would be Royal Oak if it happened, but Troy is what is on the table right now, and what is being talked about by the superintendent at public meetings. Also, Clawson kids wouldn't go into Troy itself, the way I understand it, all of our buildings would remain open, and some kids from Troy would be coming here.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by clawsondude

Oh yes, I absolutely support it. I'm a Clawson resident and have two young children. I bought my house in 2009, and at the time I wasn't really thinking much about school districts. I'm happy with the elementary school our 1st grader is in, but I have concerns about the middle and high school. I would be very happy to see us merge with Troy. My one concern is that were this to happen, Clawson might not have representation on the school board.

On a personal note, the Clawson Schools superintendent just so happens to be my next door neighbor. He's a nice man, and I would hate to see him lose his job.

OFF-TOPIC, but what concerns do you have with the middle and high school of Clawson? Thanks

[clawsondude]

Originally Posted by usroute10

OFF-TOPIC, but what concerns do you have with the middle and high school of Clawson? Thanks

Some of it is the test scores, which aren't great. Another issue is the funding. I'm afraid that if Clawson continues trying to go it alone, they will need to cut programs.

[infocyde]

As someone who has owned a very nice house in Plymouth concurrently along with rental properties in other states and now owns zero properties I'd advise people to not stretch too much when purchasing a home. I might move back to the area and in looking at properties and schools I kept upping the limit of my house search to get into the right school district until I realized I was getting into the possibility of being stuck in a rat race again. Where above 30% of the money you earn gets pissed away on property taxes and a mortgage. Yeah you live in a great neighborhood and your kids are going to good schools but now you are vulnerable to financial hits and money is more and more on your mind. Just because you have money in the bank today and your spouse is gainfully employed does not mean that will always be the case. Stretching too much could end up biting. In my opinion it isn't worth it.

Also sending your kids to a hyper competitive school might make them hyper competitive students which will lead them to good colleges and later hyper competitive careers. They might make bank but not be happy. I remember hearing rumors of high school kids in Northville taking ADD meds to help them study, probably heavier meds as well. That always seemed pretty extreme to me. Anyway, all this competitiveness is fine if it doesn't neglect teaching your kids how to be decent human beings along the way with balanced lives.

Maybe I'm preaching to myself a bit but I think the warning about stretching too much is wise to listen to.

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by infocyde

As someone who has owned a very nice house in Plymouth concurrently along with rental properties in other states and now owns zero properties I'd advise people to not stretch too much when purchasing a home. I might move back to the area and in looking at properties and schools I kept upping the limit of my house search to get into the right school district until I realized I was getting into the possibility of being stuck in a rat race again. Where above 30% of the money you earn gets pissed away on property taxes and a mortgage. Yeah you live in a great neighborhood and your kids are going to good schools but now you are vulnerable to financial hits and money is more and more on your mind. Just because you have money in the bank today and your spouse is gainfully employed does not mean that will always be the case. Stretching too much could end up biting. In my opinion it isn't worth it.

Also sending your kids to a hyper competitive school might make them hyper competitive students which will lead them to good colleges and later hyper competitive careers. They might make bank but not be happy. I remember hearing rumors of high school kids in Northville taking ADD meds to help them study, probably heavier meds as well. That always seemed pretty extreme to me. Anyway, all this competitiveness is fine if it doesn't neglect teaching your kids how to be decent human beings along the way with balanced lives.

Maybe I'm preaching to myself a bit but I think the warning about stretching too much is wise to listen to.

IN addition to mortgage and taxes, do not forget to include insurance, maintenance and desired repairs or upgrades.

You are spot on about schools. Sometimes your kids are better off in a less competitive school, or it may be more important for them to be in a small school and get personalized attention, or a schools with certain programs. The whole "best school possible" thing is an invention of realtors, not of child development specialists. Every child is different and needs different conditions in order to excel or at least reach for their full potential. It is not a one size fits all box and test scores tell you very little about the suitability of a school district for your particular child.

The ADD med thing is widespread and goes on at most schools and it appears all colleges. Regardless of what school they are in the pressure on kids to excel on tests is overwhelming. If a drug can give them an edge- you can rest assured that some of them will be using it.