Best suburbs for easy commute (via train) + great schools? (Philadelphia: appointed, daycare)

[FrancesRW]

Hi,
I'd like to know more information from area experts on where great school districts close to the city are located. We just want to give our kids the best education we have the means to give them.

From my research, all I can come up with is Main Line - Lower Merion School District. Checks off for good schools and proximity to the city. The kicker - my husband and I both work in Center City, so I'm pretty sure that we need to be within walking distance to a train station (since parking at train stations is very limited, and driving into the city every day is not an option for us. If we can't park, we can't get to work!). I know we have our work cut out for us there. Am I overlooking any critical areas? I hate being relegated to the Main Line. And it's so expensive!!!

I am overall disappointed/surprised to find that many of the schools just outside of central Philly (Wissahickon, Chestnut Hill) are not rated highly and that gap is made up with private school (which seems unaffordable with multiple kids). I would love to live in those areas if the public schools were better!

We live in Philly currently and I know there are several decent elementary-middle school catchments in Philly; regardless, we're still thinking the burbs are the best option for us. The thought of taking a "gamble" on my child's high-school education gives me too much anxiety (what if they don't test into a good magnet school, or what if there's just more applicants to the good schools than available spaces, which I'm sure happens? Scary thought!). And we don't want re-locate right before high-school, I think that transition will be tough on a kid. Major kudos to all the city parents who make it work and who don't have the same risk-averse anxieties that I do!

Curious what others might have to say on this topic - thanks!

[Flyers Girl]

Generally, I don't subscribe to the idea that kids will only do well in the very best of schools. Sure, you don't want one that's rated horribly or even poorly, but you don't need the #1 school either. If your kids are interested in school and participate, they will do well. Period.

Check out Haverford Township, which includes most of Havertown, some of Ardmore, and some of Bryn Mawr. Rose Tree-Media is decent, as is Marple-Newtown. All more affordable housing stock than most of the Main Line.

In terms of proximity to the trains, you can purchase a house close to the trolley (NHSL) in Havertown. The location of the train station in Ardmore is not the portion of Ardmore that is Haverford Township, nor is Bryn Mawr. No trains close enough that I know of in Marple-Newtown and I'm not sure about Rose Tree-Media unless you live right in downtown Media, which is more expensive.

[cpomp]

^ I'd argue that Rose Tree Media School District is more than "decent".

My father used to commute into CC everyday, he would park at Rose Valley Station, most spots were gone by ~8/830ish. I assume the story is the same for most suburban stations. But I wouldn't limit myself to walking distance to a train station.

[FrancesRW]

I agree we don't need to go to a #1 tippity top school, but when I see "C" or 5/10 ratings on school websites, I just feel like I can do better for them. I understand parental involvement makes a difference, but I don't want to take a gamble like that, neither of us have experience in teaching children. In Philly our local catchment is rated 1/10 even though we live in a nice area of the city (Fairmount). Haverford Township isn't out of the question, but it's a bit further out than we were hoping to be (we'd like a train ride of 30 mins or less, which I'm realizing has a price-tag associated with it).

As for parking - friends and colleagues of mine who live on the mainline have told me some stations fill up as early as 7/730!
With 2 kids and daycare/school drop-offs, I don't think that's realistic for us. 8 would even be tough. So I think it's going to be walking distance or bust for us

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by FrancesRW

I agree we don't need to go to a #1 tippity top school, but when I see "C" or 5/10 ratings on school websites, I just feel like I can do better for them. I understand parental involvement makes a difference, but I don't want to take a gamble like that, neither of us have experience in teaching children. In Philly our local catchment is rated 1/10 even though we live in a nice area of the city (Fairmount). Haverford Township isn't out of the question, but it's a bit further out than we were hoping to be (we'd like a train ride of 30 mins or less, which I'm realizing has a price-tag associated with it).

As for parking - friends and colleagues of mine who live on the mainline have told me some stations fill up as early as 7/730!
With 2 kids and daycare/school drop-offs, I don't think that's realistic for us. 8 would even be tough. So I think it's going to be walking distance or bust for us

Keep in mind each ranking website can vary, but most paint a general idea of what to expect...

See Rose Tree Media School District, highly regarded, not quite on the level of Lower Merion, Radnor, Tredyffrin-Easttown, but still excellent.

This below list is the best school districts in PA, most top districts are in the Philadelphia burbs (no surprise). Wallingford-Swarthmore is another excellent district bordering Rose Tree Media, and Swarthmore station has ample parking.
Also depends on your housing budget and type of house you want (new old, cheap, single, townhouse, etc.).

[FrancesRW]

Thanks for the info! We'll have to look into those areas. Ratings-wise, any of those would be fine with us! I guess for these areas, we need to open to longer commutes (but I think the parking situation will be the same anywhere, except for possibly Swarthmore as you mentioned).

The commutes just get me. I arrive at work by 9am and sometimes I am unable to leave until 6/630. Sometimes my husband has a similar schedule. With a 45-60 min commute I won't get home until 7/730, which is bedtime! Hence why we're trying to be closer to the city.

[FindingZen]

Abington and Jenkintown School District are both highly regarded. Abington has five Regional Rail stations in or adjacent to it while Jenkintown has two. Jenkintown is smaller than Abington which filters down to the size of school; that may or may not be a plus, depending on what you're looking for. The Jenkintown-Wyncote station as has many as four train routes running through it while Glenside has three. It's a 30-40 minute ride to Center City, depending on which stop you're stepping off.

The area is your typical bedroom suburb albeit a bit busier with Easton Road and Old York Road being major thoroughfares. Abington doesn't have a "downtown" per se but Jenkintown's is charming as is Glenside's Keswick Village. Willow Grove Mall has a lot of your typical retail needs and wants.

If you like the idea of having multiple options to train in and out of town and don't mind a little traffic as you make your way to and from home, Abington/Jenkintown/Glenside is a solid place to live.

[banjozac]

Please do consider Haddon Township and Haddonfield in Jersey. You won't find an easier commute than PATCO to Center City...it's better and more convenient than Regional Rail. Weirdly, this forum allows for posting about PA Philly suburbs in the Philly threads, but not the NJ Philly suburbs...

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by banjozac

Please do consider Haddon Township and Haddonfield in Jersey. You won't find an easier commute than PATCO to Center City...it's better and more convenient than Regional Rail. Weirdly, this forum allows for posting about PA Philly suburbs in the Philly threads, but not the NJ Philly suburbs...

That really isn't true. Regional rail is incredibly convenient and efficient; it's honestly very rare for the system to experience major issues. PATCO is a nice option but it's VERY limited compared to SEPTA in its coverage/accessibility in South Jersey, that's obvious.

And I don't think there's any set rule about discussing SJ Philly suburbs. They're often referenced on this forum.

[banjozac]

Originally Posted by Duderino

That really isn't true. Regional rail is incredibly convenient and efficient; it's honestly very rare for the system to experience major issues. PATCO is a nice option but it's VERY limited compared to SEPTA in its coverage/accessibility in South Jersey, that's obvious.

And I don't think there's any set rule about discussing SJ Philly suburbs. They're often referenced on this forum.

I didn't say that PATCO is a better overall system than SEPTA regional rail. For point A to B, town / suburb to Center City Philadelphia, it is hard to beat PATCO for an easier commute. I think that it is arguably better for commuters and visitors for that express purpose, given the 24 hour schedule. That is not to say that regional rail is a bad system or that I would ever discourage it -- that's far from true. The system connectivity and reach is great.

I do have a hard time believing that very many folks in the Main Line are using regional rail to get to anywhere other than Center City, except perhaps Manayunk, rather than simply driving. OP also mentioned the option of park and ride, which the Westmont PATCO station does well.

In regards to the SJ Philly suburbs point, the stickied thread "Questions For Future and Potential Residents" directs potential residents that may be interested in NJ suburbs to a fairly dead part of the forum. It doesn't really make sense to me to divide the PA + NJ suburbs in that fashion. Ardmore and Collingswood, for example, have a great deal of similarities.