Towns within 30 minutes or so from Janesville--Schools/Special Education (Milwaukee: rental, townhouse)

[photomama05]

Hello! My husband has an upcoming interview in the Janesville area. I have heard that the state of Wisconsin is an excellent state for Autism Resources. I am looking/researching areas around Janesville (including Janesville) that has good schools/autism/special needs resources as well as safe neighborhoods ( I favor the older/historical homes with charm)... I like to be near shopping/entertainment. I like to take my children to places like Children Museums/libraries/playcenters. We also need affordable housing (probably a rental at first--2 or 3 bedroom townhouse) or a home under 250k

Thank you.

Any suggestions?

[Megan1967]

I grew up in Janesville. I have recently heard from two different sources that Janesville schools are *not* good for students with special needs. That said, I know nothing about the surrounding school districts. I know Madison area school districts, but those are out of your 30 minute radius.

I would suggest you carefully check out Janesville before accepting any job offer. It is very insular and hard to make friends there. There aren't many of the enrichment opportunities for children you are looking for either.

It is a small city that has just been hit a major blow with the closing of the GM plant. Housing values are plummeting and will probably continue to do so over the next few years. Meaning you won't get your money out of a house in the near future.

Look for restaurants that might interest you. If you like chains, you are all set, but otherwise the offerings are slim. Check out the Metropolitan, the Armory, the Speak Easy, the Cozy Inn and a Mexican place (don't know the name or location of this). If they don't impress you, you need to realize that they are among the *best* Janesville has to offer.

I've heard that the programs at J-PAC are quite good. Check those out to see if they offer things of interest to you.

The library is very nice, a plus for a family with children. Check that out.

Go to the local grocery stores - Woodmans, Sentry, Aldi's (sp?) to see if you like them.

Check out the mall as there are little to no shopping options elsewhere in the city.

You might think, "Oh, Chicago is only 2 hours away, Milwaukee is only an hour, Madison is only 45 minutes away...." but having to go that far to shop on a regular basis is a real drag. Carting your kids those distances for an outing is also no fun.

Clearly, I wouldn't live there unless it was the last place I could find a job. I've tried to be objective though. Others don't have such a negative view of the place and will surely speak up.

Just a suggestions, but I would post your questions on the general Wisconsin forum in the future as Janesville really isn't part of the Madison Metro area.

[paddock_laker]

I've heard good things about Elkhorn and Delavan schools. They are both around 30 minutes away from Janesville, maybe a little more. Shopping and dining may be a little lacking, but you're 10-15 minutes to Lake Geneva, which is great for both of those things.

[jaycobflynn]

janesville has few autistic programs but if you want small town charm footville (pop. 850) orfordville(1300) evansville(3500) edgerton (2000) and broadhead (2000) are great towns footville and orfordville are 10 15 minutes away with a good gifted education program and small town old houses a great community and nice people but janesville madison and monrore are the closest shopping areas around i would recomend madison or janesville though evansville is 20 minutes away with a great new highschool and amazing victorian and other old houses it has a grocery store and some pizza places otherwise there isnt much to shop for but it is 18 minutes away from madison while edgerton is 6 to 7 minutes away it does not have a good special education program and broadhead is 25 minues away from janesville and 30 from madison and 25 from monroe with a good historical heritage including one of the most haunted places in wisconsin which happens to be a park also the sugar rive flows through this town creating many things to do

[MaseMan]

Originally Posted by paddock_laker

I've heard good things about Elkhorn and Delavan schools.

Delavan-Darien is a terrible school district. My wife used to work in it for several years. Supposedly things are improving there, but slowly. Elkhorn is supposed to be pretty good, though.