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We chose a large totally updated house in the Longwood School District over smaller fixer-uppers in upscale surrounding districts. Our kids LOVE their schools and we love our neighborhood and the all the "Longwood Pride" the community has. We decided to buy a house in large district where our children would be exposed to all walks of life and have every opportunity they could take advantage of in sports, theater, AP classes, special ed, Boces programs, ect.
School districts are definitely overrated on Long Island. Our kids have gone to both wealthy, middle and lower middle class districts and you would be so surprised at what goes on in some of the highly recommended districts here on cd.
You should buy a house you can afford in a neighborhood you will feel comfortable in financially and emotionally.
If you could live in a brand new 3 br 2 bath custom built colonial with a detached 2 car garage and 100sqft shed in a decent school district. Would you consider selling for an upgrade in schools? Housing in the better district would be a small fixer upper with much higher taxes. Which would you choose?
I didn't have as nice of a house but I had a 4BR, 2.5 bath fully done basement Colonial in Halesite on .19 acres and a hill. We loved it there but the school district (Huntington) left a lot to be desired and we ended up sending my daughter to Catholic School. We moved as she was going into first grade to Harborfields into a slightly smaller house although totally done primarily because even though the taxes are higher the increase is less than 2 Catholic school tuitions.
I would do it if you think you will be there for a long time. We plan on being here probably 20 years and then my kids will be out of college and I will be retired. If you think it may be a 5-7 year deal, then I wouldn't do it.
What don't you like about Huntington schools? I just bought a house in the bay hills area and we're excited to send our kids there.
There would be more factors for me than just the type/quality of the house and the the SD, like type of community, commute time, proximity to a good private school, etc.
Back in the 80s my wife and I basically lived this scenario. We moved from a small 3 bed 2.0 bath cape on Lloyd Neck to a beautiful 4 bed 4.1 bath red brick center hall colonial in Cold Spring Hills (moving from CSH SD to South Huntington SD). Definitely a trade-up in house, but a move from "sterling" CSH SD to a "decent" district. We didn't care though, because we had already decided to send our kids to a private school, and the new house was closer. It was also closer to the LIRR, NSP, stores, our golf club, and about the same distance to Huntington Village (where we both wanted to live near). All these factors impacted our decision.
If given the choice between living in 3 bedroom in Hailsite (or another great neighborhood near Huntington Village) or a McMansion in the middle-of-nowhere Dix Hills (the "better" SD), I'd go with the Hailsite house. The surrounding community and "real" town feel is very important to me.
What don't you like about Huntington schools? I just bought a house in the bay hills area and we're excited to send our kids there.
Since Abrams closed, aren't the primary schools overcrowded now since Woodhull couldn't hold all the intermediate students, so each primary school has an extra grade level. Thats what I heard from someone with kids in the primary school.
There would be more factors for me than just the type/quality of the house and the the SD, like type of community, commute time, proximity to a good private school, etc.
Back in the 80s my wife and I basically lived this scenario. We moved from a small 3 bed 2.0 bath cape on Lloyd Neck to a beautiful 4 bed 4.1 bath red brick center hall colonial in Cold Spring Hills (moving from CSH SD to South Huntington SD). Definitely a trade-up in house, but a move from "sterling" CSH SD to a "decent" district. We didn't care though, because we had already decided to send our kids to a private school, and the new house was closer. It was also closer to the LIRR, NSP, stores, our golf club, and about the same distance to Huntington Village (where we both wanted to live near). All these factors impacted our decision.
If given the choice between living in 3 bedroom in Hailsite (or another great neighborhood near Huntington Village) or a McMansion in the middle-of-nowhere Dix Hills (the "better" SD), I'd go with the Hailsite house. The surrounding community and "real" town feel is very important to me.
Ha, funny scenario... I grew up in a McMansion in Dix Hills and I've moved to Halesite. I LOVE my house in Halesite, over the McMansion. Close to the village, close to the beaches, picturesque landscapes... its a great place.
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