Making the most of 1 day pre move trip to VB (Virginia Beach: oceanfront, for rent)

[lizkirtland]

I've been lurking this forum for about 2 weeks reading the first 5-8 pages of posts because we will likely be moving out to Virginia Beach. Seems a lot of people moving out to VB are young single professionals. We have 2 young children (almost 4 and 1). My hubby goes out there on the 2nd for the final trip and official offer. They want to give him a day to explore the city in hopes it'll give him an idea of where he might want to get us settled. I however feel like driving through a neighborhood doesn't give you much info. We moved to a very crappy neighborhood here because when you drive through it, it looks great! I'm not exactly sure what will be gained from his day of driving around so I came here to ask for advice on how he can best spend his time on that day. For info's sake:

1. We will be looking to rent and hoping to spend around $1700-2k for a 4bdr.
2. We need to be in an area assigned to an elementary school thats at least a 7.
3. Safety is very important although that doesn't seem to be an issue from everything I've read in the past 2 weeks of these and other forums.
4. His work will be near city center so it's important his commute not be more than 30-45mins.

I've researched so many of the "areas." I hear oceanfront is nice but don't live there because the tourist. I read dont live near Oceana because the noise, but how far around it is off limits? I know little neck and great neck are really nice but they seem to be above our price range and maybe not our type of people? All these areas with single, up and coming professionals. I'm overwhelmed. I'm hoping for suburban, lots of young families .

Any help is appreciated.

p.s. It is worth mentioning that we are willing to live in a place that mostly meets our criteria but isn't exactly ideal for a few years if its cheaper while we save to buy a house in our ideal location.

[randomlikeme]

My brother bought a home in Salem Woods, which I really like whenever I am there to dogsit because it is a great neighborhood to walk around in... I grew up around there in Glenwood and have some friends who currently live in Coventry. I liked it a lot and it is crazy that many of the folks I grew up with in that area are buying their homes in Salem Woods or Coventry. Not saying it's your only option, but that I liked when I lived there and had good experiences there. Quiet, family area. Less jet noise than where I am now (great neck). Central to everything we needed, especially since my mom worked in Haygood and my dad worked in Norfolk when we lived there.

Really the only areas I'd avoid are probably Green Run and Bayside zoned areas. Diamond Springs/Newtown/Baker in particular.

1616 Milldale Court, Virginia Beach VA - Trulia

2116 Spring Meadows Ct, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 is For Rent - Zillow

4865 Boxford Road, Virginia Beach VA - Trulia

[lizkirtland]

Thanks so much! I will definitely look into Salem woods/ Coventry area. Any reason in particular to avoid those areas that I can cite to the husband? All the HS's rate a 6 except for Ocean Lakes coming it at a 7.

[Spazkat9696]

Kellem would be the district I would recommend. I have a friend who teaches at GR and she says it's really a good school. I think there may just be a stigma attached to it from the past. The kids from twin canal don't even go to GR anymore. They are at Landstown now.

[randomlikeme]

Originally Posted by lizkirtland

Thanks so much! I will definitely look into Salem woods/ Coventry area. Any reason in particular to avoid those areas that I can cite to the husband? All the HS's rate a 6 except for Ocean Lakes coming it at a 7.

The areas I mentioned to avoid are due to pockets of crime located in those areas or places that I wouldn't want to necessarily walk around in at night.

[Spazkat9696]

Glenwood elementary is rated a 6 but is actually a very good school. I don't know how much weight I would allow great schools to play in my decision. A lot of schools took a hit on their test scores because the test was made harder/technology enhanced. Teachers were not sure how exactly to best provide instruction, and there was no way to allow the students to practice the new format online because there were no released questions. Those issues have since been resolved.

[randomlikeme]

Yes. It is weird. I had heard Salem was a bad school while I went there 10 years ago and I had nothing but a positive experience. I took about 8 or 9 AP courses while there, had faculty that truly cared about me, had a plethora of diverse activities where I could be involved within the school community. Many of my peers have gone on to great colleges including some ivy league schools and are now doctors, lawyers, engineers, have master's degrees in their fields, and are generally successful academically and professionally. I think a good school is great; however, a lot of it does boil down to parental involvement. I feel like a student can thrive in most educational environments if that is what their values are at home. The state SOL tests are a flawed system by which to rank schools and I do miss the days when teaching was more about fostering youth than it was about passing some test. SOLs were around when I was there, but they keep getting more and more weight over anything else.