School District that's good, but not obnoxious in Philly 'burbs? (Philadelphia: lawyers, college)

[kleonard]

Hi, we are moving to the Philadelphia area with a 6 year old and an 4 year old. I went to college there, and worked and lived in the city for some time, but don't have a great sense of schools in the area. We'd really like a public school that has a well-rounded program and solid academics, but that's not in a place with --- forgive this next part --- over-priviledged, un-grounded kids. I'd really like to find a place that's reasonably down-to-earth and not so far outside the city. What do you think? Is it possible?

Thanks!!!

[PhillyViaBoston]

Check out the Wallingford-Swarthmore school district (though maybe lean a little more toward the Wallingford side than the more hippy/crunchy Swarthmore side) and the Rose Tree - Media school district. Neither is far outside the city and both are ranked near the top in the state.

My background is strikingly similar to yours (college/live/work in Center City for a while plus two kids age 6 & 4 which sent us to the suburbs). I like the area, its easy access to the city, community feel, and range of activities (for both adults & kids). There also seems to be diversity in household income in the area, which may be what keeps the privileged kids a bit more grounded than you might expect... blue collar (lots of trade employment), white collar (many lawyers, it turns out), everyone seems to get along just fine.

Good luck!

[JHG722]

I would say all of them won't be an issue. Radnor is probably the one that would be closest to what you don't want.

[bambiying]

Upper Moreland. Right next to Abington, but none of the sense of entitlement. It for some reason never hits the top of the test scores, but it's a great district and I'm glad my children go there.

[Angus215]

Just avoid the mainline in general, particularly Tredyffryn Easttown, Radnor, and Lower Merion.

[cpomp]

Your going to have trouble going to any top notch school distict in the philly area. They all have a very pretentious attitude toward them. Why dont you try Penn Delco School District it is a solid school district, without much of the snobbery.

[thesixth]

In western Delaware Co, I'd consider Springfield as a good school district that is not snobby or pretentious. They have a very good elementary program and the high school is very solid too.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by Angus215

Just avoid the mainline in general, particularly Tredyffryn Easttown, Radnor, and Lower Merion.

Originally Posted by cpomp

Your going to have trouble going to any top notch school distict in the philly area. They all have a very pretentious attitude toward them. Why dont you try Penn Delco School District it is a solid school district, without much of the snobbery.

These posts are both utterly absurd.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by JHG722

These posts are both utterly absurd.

How are those posts absurd? Lower Merion, Radnor Tredyffrin are very pretentious, and Penn Delco is, yes a solid school district?

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by cpomp

How are those posts absurd? Lower Merion, Radnor Tredyffrin are very pretentious, and Penn Delco is, yes a solid school district?

That's right, the OP stated that they were looking for a place that is "down to earth". If that's the case, they should not look at those three school areas. There are TONS of places to live in the philly suburbs that have excellent schools and are more grounded.