Conrad Weiser School District-any thoughts? (Reading, Lancaster: sale, real estate, house)

[NYMD67]

I have posted looking for info on the Wyomissing/Reading area and received many great posts in reply about the area.
My family & I are relocating to the area for my husband's job.
I had posted in that thread looking for advice on school districts and after receiving info, we thought we would concentrate on the Wyomissing or Wilson school districts.
However, we can't seem to find a home that we both like , that is as close to the convenient shopping etc,,, that I am looking for.

So, we may expand our search somewhat to the Conrad Weiser school district areas. I have compared the schools online via schoolmatters and some other sites. Not much difference from what I see, except for the diversity issues and percentages given.

Thoughts from parents of elementary school children would be helpful to us at this point. We are having a difficult time and don't want to be in the same situation that we are in now,there has to be an area that offers convenience to things as well as a good school district. I find it hard to believe that it is one or the other everywhere.

Thank you so much in advance.

[kf70]

I've been following your Wyomissing thread and thought I'd chime in here as well.

I do not think that home in the Conrad Weiser SD will offer you the nearby conveniences you desire. Wyomissing or Wilson will. Weiser tends to be more rural, towns like Wernersville, Robesonia are "small town", along 422 between Reading and Lebanon, and aside from what lies along 422 the rest is housing and farmland. You would have to travel to Sinking Spring and Wyomissing areas (at least 10-15 minutes) to shop, get gas and groceries...well there is probably a convenience store chain in each town, but they can't fill all your needs.

[dj10]

I agree with the other post concerning Conrad Weiser area. If being close to stores, etc. is important to you going towards CW is taking you further away. I read your other posting and I'm not sure where you traveled in Wyomissing but I believe you missed some areas. Wyomissing/Spring Township is where there is just about everything - malls, many restaurants that serve all types of food, recreation, schools, doctor's offices, medical centers, churches, banks etc. I'm not sure what type of housing you were looking for but in my opinion there are all types in the area. There are smaller homes in older but still nice neighborhoods up to new developments with the more expensive homes. I think during your "mini tour" you just missed seeing some of the places which is understandable not knowing the area. If you wanted to post what kind of housing and price range you are looking for we might be able to get more specific as to what area you could look at. (now I'm sounding like a realtor but I'm not lol) I've lived in Spring Township my whole life and find the area really nice and convenient to so many things. Good luck in your search.

[NYMD67]

Thank you both so much for your help! Yes, I believe we most likely missed many areas -probably alot! We are going to be contacting the relo company this week and let them know specifically what we are looking for so they can let the realtor know a head of time as well. We will then have a few days to come out and do a more extensive search.
I think I am more concerned about the mileage vs. the actual time it may take to get to places and have done some mapquest (realizing of course they are not always accurate) and have found some home addresses that seem to be within an "acceptable" distance-for us.

As far as housing, we would perfer something no more than 10 years old, will look at new construction as well, hoping to stay within the 310-320K range. We have lived in MD for many years and the real estate is out of control here, we are looking forward to spending less on the same house! basic ,traditional homes with 4 bedrooms,etc...
We are extremely nervous about the sale of our home here, even though the homes are still selling at decent prices (for the most part), they are certainly not selling as quickly. Some homes in our neighborhood have been on the market for months and we are not in a situation to have that happen for a long period of time.

We look forward to coming to the area for our search. Thanks again for the info!

[Movin2Maine]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

I have posted looking for info on the Wyomissing/Reading area and received many great posts in reply about the area.
My family & I are relocating to the area for my husband's job.
I had posted in that thread looking for advice on school districts and after receiving info, we thought we would concentrate on the Wyomissing or Wilson school districts.
However, we can't seem to find a home that we both like , that is as close to the convenient shopping etc,,, that I am looking for.

So, we may expand our search somewhat to the Conrad Weiser school district areas. I have compared the schools online via schoolmatters and some other sites. Not much difference from what I see, except for the diversity issues and percentages given.

Thoughts from parents of elementary school children would be helpful to us at this point. We are having a difficult time and don't want to be in the same situation that we are in now,there has to be an area that offers convenience to things as well as a good school district. I find it hard to believe that it is one or the other everywhere.

Thank you so much in advance.

My wife and I just moved from the Robesonia/Womelsdorf area which is the conrad weiser school district. We moved in with my parents 2 years ago to save money, so we could buy our 1st home.

The area is not convenient at all. To get to any decent shopping will take about 25-30min. There is one grocery store in womelsdorf, a "boyers market", which looks like its from a horror movie set. I don't think they even have 1 organic item! The last time my wife was there she said that they had a whole isle for John deere fruit snacks! WTF.

Please, don't move there. You will so sorry that you did. I can tell you so many stories, from my wife being run off the road by some local idiot! to my wife getting out of her car and people looking at her car like its a "spaceship", its only a Acura TL!

For conveniences and the title of "7 minutes to anything".

Stick with: Wyomissing, Spring township, West Reading, Shillington, Cumru township and Muhlenberg.

Hope this helps!

[CWparent]

I have several children in the district. I am a former teacher myself from Philly. STAY AWAY from Conrad Weiser. There are some excellent teachers in the elem school, but the School Board and the Administration are clueless and only care about themselves. They lie, cover up, and don't give a 'd''a'''m' about the kids. Please trust me on this. Your tax dollars ($7000 a year) will be paying for the lazy administrators to get their doctoral degrees and do studies on the children (and gossip all day).

[NYMD67]

Originally Posted by CWparent

I have several children in the district. I am a former teacher myself from Philly. STAY AWAY from Conrad Weiser. There are some excellent teachers in the elem school, but the School Board and the Administration are clueless and only care about themselves. They lie, cover up, and don't give a 'd''a'''m' about the kids. Please trust me on this. Your tax dollars ($7000 a year) will be paying for the lazy administrators to get their doctoral degrees and do studies on the children (and gossip all day).

Thanks for this info as well...

any thoughts from anyone on the Governor Mifflin district? Still leaning towards Wilson sd though.........

[kf70]

Originally Posted by NYMD67

Thanks for this info as well...

any thoughts from anyone on the Governor Mifflin district? Still leaning towards Wilson sd though.........

My Alma Mater.

Shillington has Giant Food Store, Rite Aid, CVS, Goodwill and is home to the middle and high schools. There are some shops on Lancaster Ave, but not like there used to be. You will still be traveling to Wyomissing for many doctors' offices, restaurants, the mall, Target and Walmart. The center of town runs along business route 222, which takes you in to Reading.

Nearby Kenhorst has Redners Markets, a video store, Rite Aid, Dollar Tree, Fashion Bug, Dairy Queen, but not much else. It's situated around Rts. 725 and 625. 625 ends at 222 just north of Shillington, and runs south to Lancaster County (ever been to Shady Maple?)

Cumru Township (other side of Shillington from Kenhorst, and closer to Wilson SD) has KMart, Weis Market, Dollar Tree and the old shopping center that used to house Giant (relocated to larger location in Shillington and AC Moore (moved to Wyomissing, across from the mall). There is also an Arby's and KFC, but mostly nothing since the "new" 222 bypass has been completed from Lancaster County line to 724. There is a mix of housing, old and new subdivisions and some may even fall within the boundaries of Wilson SD (Montrose Manor, off Rt. 725/Shillington Rd. for instance).

These areas are all pretty convenient to Rts. 222, 422, 724, 625 and 10. Regardless, if you want to be closest to shopping and dining you will need to look around Spring Township and Wyomissing (Hills). I think that will be your best bet, based on your previous posts.

[KnightZeroOne]

Originally Posted by CWparent

I have several children in the district. I am a former teacher myself from Philly. STAY AWAY from Conrad Weiser. There are some excellent teachers in the elem school, but the School Board and the Administration are clueless and only care about themselves. They lie, cover up, and don't give a 'd''a'''m' about the kids. Please trust me on this. Your tax dollars ($7000 a year) will be paying for the lazy administrators to get their doctoral degrees and do studies on the children (and gossip all day).

Well at least im not the only one fed up with this district. But yes this District is bad

[Icy Tea]

I think if there were supermarkets on every corner and shopping malls every half mile people would complain that the area is too built up. Wyomissing and Spring Township has all of that. Be glad there are still areas that are rural with open farmland left in eastern Pa.