Good schools Las Olas/Ft. Lauderdale (Davie, Oakland Park: house, neighborhood, middle school)

[azriverfan.]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. We have narrowed our search to the Las Olas/Ft. Lauderdale area oddly enough. It's not ideal for our needs, but no place was. However, it meets most of our criteria. Can anyone provide any advice about schools in this region?

[ruski]

public or private?

[ZonaZoo]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. We have narrowed our search to the Las Olas/Ft. Lauderdale area oddly enough. It's not ideal for our needs, but no place was. However, it meets most of our criteria. Can anyone provide any advice about schools in this region?

I wouldn't raise a puppy in that neighborhood, let alone children.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by ruski

public or private?

private

Not looking for a world class school but just something nice near the area.

[butercup]

It's a problem. Honestly, if I were to live there I'd get a house zoned for Virginia Shuman Young (montessori magnet that also takes all kids within a small zone) - although it has the funding problems of public, it's an excellent school with very active parents and very dedicated faculty. Harbordale is also pretty good, but the middle school options are pretty awful. A lot of parents in that area choose St. Anthony's Catholic but I don't think it's stellar, just decent and a very strong neighborhood community - that goes through 8th grade. There are other small Christian schools like Bethany nearby, don't know a ton about those. And a lot drive 20 minutes to either University School in Davie or Pine Crest (both are 20,000 a year plus and excellent) or up to St. Mark's Episcopal on Oakland Park Blvd (meh) or Christ Church school (Methodist, very good) on Commercial.

[ruski]

If I could, I would go to the Pine Crest school. But it is not exactly around the corner.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by butercup

It's a problem. Honestly, if I were to live there I'd get a house zoned for Virginia Shuman Young (montessori magnet that also takes all kids within a small zone) - although it has the funding problems of public, it's an excellent school with very active parents and very dedicated faculty. Harbordale is also pretty good, but the middle school options are pretty awful. A lot of parents in that area choose St. Anthony's Catholic but I don't think it's stellar, just decent and a very strong neighborhood community - that goes through 8th grade. There are other small Christian schools like Bethany nearby, don't know a ton about those. And a lot drive 20 minutes to either University School in Davie or Pine Crest (both are 20,000 a year plus and excellent) or up to St. Mark's Episcopal on Oakland Park Blvd (meh) or Christ Church school (Methodist, very good) on Commercial.

Virginia Shuman Young is one we are looking at for our youngest. I've heard amazing things about it.

[Thor88]

Bayview Elementary is also very good. I'm not sure what areas are zoned for it besides Coral Ridge.

[azriverfan.]

Overall, I'm impressed with the number of good schools in this area. Many of which are walking distance. People made it seem like you are only privy to bad schools if you live in this area and it's the complete. If you go to Greatschools.org, there are many in this area. And in my experience, greatschools tends to be fairly accurate.