[NativeNevadan]

I'm a native Las Vegan and alot of what everyone is writing is incorrect. First of all, most elementary schools here are NOT 12 month. There are some, but most schools here are traditional 9 month programs. NLV has always had the reputation of being the "ghetto" and in fact they are considering changing the name NLV because of the stigma attached to it. There are nicer areas, but it also does have some really scary, government housing. Anything by Nellis is also kind of ghetto. The entire town is expensive, so there isn't anything affordable. Commuting to NAFB from anywhere other than that area will be alot more than a 10 min drive. This entire city has had a large Hispanic boom and if you look at the school demographics, it is simply fact (not prejudice) that it effects what is going on in the schools. When I was in jr high here in the 1970's, I went to a mostly-white school in an upper middle-class neighborhood. I checked today and that school is 84% Hispanic. My high school was largely Mormon, and is now almost all Hispanic. The whole metro city is becoming very diverse, with Summerlin being the least so. You can tell by the graffiti here what is happening. My husband was a police officer here for 23 years and there is no way we would ever live in NLV even though there are golf course communities, etc. The high schools in NLV are not especialy good, and eventually you would be faced with that.

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by NativeNevadan

I'm a native Las Vegan and alot of what everyone is writing is incorrect. First of all, most elementary schools here are NOT 12 month. There are some, but most schools here are traditional 9 month programs. NLV has always had the reputation of being the "ghetto" and in fact they are considering changing the name NLV because of the stigma attached to it. There are nicer areas, but it also does have some really scary, government housing. Anything by Nellis is also kind of ghetto. The entire town is expensive, so there isn't anything affordable. Commuting to NAFB from anywhere other than that area will be alot more than a 10 min drive. This entire city has had a large Hispanic boom and if you look at the school demographics, it is simply fact (not prejudice) that it effects what is going on in the schools. When I was in jr high here in the 1970's, I went to a mostly-white school in an upper middle-class neighborhood. I checked today and that school is 84% Hispanic. My high school was largely Mormon, and is now almost all Hispanic. The whole metro city is becoming very diverse, with Summerlin being the least so. You can tell by the graffiti here what is happening. My husband was a police officer here for 23 years and there is no way we would ever live in NLV even though there are golf course communities, etc. The high schools in NLV are not especialy good, and eventually you would be faced with that.

You are so correct! Thank you for our post. I couldn't agree with you more. I often write things like that which you wrote, but then I have realtors that come around behind me refuting everything I say....

[olecapt]

And we continue to circle. Of course there are poor socio-economic areas in North Las Vegas. With high crime rates. So are there in Henderson. Don't live there.

There are also reasonably upper crust communities..The Club at Aliante is going for $450K to $700K. I will agree that it does not quite get to the mansions of Lake Las Vegas or Seven Hills...but $700K ain't exactly slum dwelling. $700K there gets you a nicer house than a Million in GV.

Anyone with ready access to northern 215 can hit Nellis in under half an hour. That is effectively Centennial Town and east.

School demographics are easily available on the CCSD web site. There is no reason why the makeup of any school should come as a shock.

Shadow Ridge is relatively new but is doing fine. Its demographics are such that one would expect it to be even better as soon as it gets over the startup.

Note that the north is a continuum from Centennial through North Las Vegas. With the coming Great Mall of Las Vegas the whole northern tier including NLV will be positioned to be very competitive with Henderson and Summerlin albeit at a lower price point.

[RedWingsFan]

Originally Posted by olecapt

And we continue to circle. Of course there are poor socio-economic areas in North Las Vegas. With high crime rates. So are there in Henderson. Don't live there.

There are also reasonably upper crust communities..The Club at Aliante is going for $450K to $700K. I will agree that it does not quite get to the mansions of Lake Las Vegas or Seven Hills...but $700K ain't exactly slum dwelling. $700K there gets you a nicer house than a Million in GV.

Olecapt, you are missing the point once again. What we are saying is that North Las Vegas has always been considered the ghetto. You can argue home prices till the cows come home, but that doesn't change the fact that the area has a reputation of being a ghetto. We are not talking about home prices, we are talking about reputation. Being a realtor it appears you are more concerned with home prices than the reputation of an area. North Las Vegas has been known as the ghetto, regardless of home prices. And why do you think you can get a $700k house there that's nicer than a million dollar one in Green Valley as you mentioned??? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! Come on, you should know that.

Yes, I took you off my ignore list just for today to see what kind of garbage you are dishing out. Looks like you are still up to your old antics. Once again I warn anyone that reads olecapt's posts to remember that he's a realtor. It's in his best interest to sell the city and frost over any faults rather than talk about them. He depends on that. And right now with home prices up he has to work harder. Take everything he says with a grain of salt.

I'll have you back on that ignore list in a flash, you have not changed a bit!

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by RedWingsFan

Olecapt, you are missing the point once again. What we are saying is that North Las Vegas has always been considered the ghetto. You can argue home prices till the cows come home, but that doesn't change the fact that the area has a reputation of being a ghetto. We are not talking about home prices, we are talking about reputation. Being a realtor it appears you are more concerned with home prices than the reputation of an area. North Las Vegas has been known as the ghetto, regardless of home prices. And why do you think you can get a $700k house there that's nicer than a million dollar one in Green Valley as you mentioned??? LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! Come on, you should know that.

Yes, I took you off my ignore list just for today to see what kind of garbage you are dishing out. Looks like you are still up to your old antics. Once again I warn anyone that reads olecapt's posts to remember that he's a realtor. It's in his best interest to sell the city and frost over any faults rather than talk about them. He depends on that. And right now with home prices up he has to work harder. Take everything he says with a grain of salt.

I'll have you back on that ignore list in a flash, you have not changed a bit!

That is simply a southsider view. As I have remarked before long term residences in the NW like to claim that GV is really "Henderson" and is filled with low lives and hillbillies.

Neither view is remotely correct. Both are nice places...both have weak and crime ridden areas. Both have very nice places to live with fine schools.

Go with the correct local area and you will get what you desire..on the south or north.

As a practical matter I do very little real estate in either GV or NLV. If both did not exist it would not have changed my income a dime over the last three years. Four or five years ago I think I did two or three that involved one or the other but not in recent times. It is not an area where I advertise or practice much.

[Mrs. Mom]

Originally Posted by NativeNevadan

I'm a native Las Vegan and alot of what everyone is writing is incorrect. First of all, most elementary schools here are NOT 12 month. There are some, but most schools here are traditional 9 month programs. NLV has always had the reputation of being the "ghetto" and in fact they are considering changing the name NLV because of the stigma attached to it. There are nicer areas, but it also does have some really scary, government housing. Anything by Nellis is also kind of ghetto. The entire town is expensive, so there isn't anything affordable. Commuting to NAFB from anywhere other than that area will be alot more than a 10 min drive. This entire city has had a large Hispanic boom and if you look at the school demographics, it is simply fact (not prejudice) that it effects what is going on in the schools. When I was in jr high here in the 1970's, I went to a mostly-white school in an upper middle-class neighborhood. I checked today and that school is 84% Hispanic. My high school was largely Mormon, and is now almost all Hispanic. The whole metro city is becoming very diverse, with Summerlin being the least so. You can tell by the graffiti here what is happening. My husband was a police officer here for 23 years and there is no way we would ever live in NLV even though there are golf course communities, etc. The high schools in NLV are not especialy good, and eventually you would be faced with that.

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp...av=menu107_2_5

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mom

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp...av=menu107_2_5

Great link. Gonna paraphrase that one and use it and the link for new comers on that question.

[mooven]

Does anybody have any first hand experience with Hayden Elementary? I checked their scores at greatshools.net and it didn't fare too well. Just wondering if anybody here has personal experience with this school. Thanks in advance.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by mooven

Does anybody have any first hand experience with Hayden Elementary? I checked their scores at greatshools.net and it didn't fare too well. Just wondering if anybody here has personal experience with this school. Thanks in advance.

That school is in the middle of the pack but ought to be better. Also a 12 month school which says there are likely crowding problems. Go past the school and talk to them.

The demographics do not fit the local neighborhood.

[photobuff42]

I work for the school district at the region level. I work with schools in the Northwest Region, personally working with 23 of the elementary, middle and high schools in the area. After 20 years in the school busness, I can tell almost immediately how the well a school functions just walking through the door. I know these schools. My opinion of them comes from knowing the staff, visiting classrooms and seeing their day to day operation. I judge them on problem solving, repsonsiveness and what I see when I walk in unannounced. I see classroom management, work ethic and how the kids treat one another. I also see the discipline reports.

[quote=olecapt;271084]Goynes is a top 10% school. Hayden is brand new and likely good but no test scores yet. Heckethorne and Ward are top 1/3. Not bad but not the same level as Goynes.

The principal at Goynes is excellent. I don't know the staff but I know as principal, he sets the tone. In the district, Goynes has a good reputation. I visited Heckethorn just yesterday. It has a great staff (a great literacy specialist) and the kids care about each other and as a whole, it does well. It is transitioning from year round to nine month status. I think it is a good school, but am not as impressed with the middle school the kids transition into. Ward is currently a young school but has one of the best principals I have ever been priveledged to work with. She recruits the best teachers, has the most innovative ideas and cares about the kids like no one I've ever seen.

Another school I really like is Kay Carl. Most of the kids transition into Lied MS, which I think is one of the best middle schools around.

I also think Rhodes ES and Guy ES (great principals who know their students and staff) are top flight.

Arbor View HS is the best high school in that part of the district.

If you can, go with the NW Region. It is much better than the NE Region. The schools there have more stable staff. I would say go visit the school and ask to meet the principal. That will tell you more than anything.