Philly Private School to Suburb Public? (Chester, Springfield: condo, school district, place to live)

[PhillyIndy]

Posted on local board but thought I should try here as well......


I am curious if anyone out there has done the following....

Has anyone had their child or children in a private school downtown, but then decided to move to the suburbs?

TO get even more specific, what about Radnor School District? Took a look at Wayne and Rosemont and it seems nice enough with some walkable areas; Narberth also. (Parks, kids, place to eat and the housing seems to be about a push now)

I have heard stories of people doing this and loving it, doing this and hating it (then moving back), but I have never heard directly from someone who has done it.

Feel free to PM if you would rather not post for all to see.

Thanks.

[orrmobl]

You do not want Radnor SD. Too much pressure on the kids to get into the "right" school, there was a huge cheating scandal there, the kids are spoiled brats and the parents condone their behavior.

Definitely choose Lower Merion or Tredyffrin (Conestoga is one of the best high schools in the country)...

[PhillyIndy]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

You do not want Radnor SD. Too much pressure on the kids to get into the "right" school, there was a huge cheating scandal there, the kids are spoiled brats and the parents condone their behavior.

Definitely choose Lower Merion or Tredyffrin (Conestoga is one of the best high schools in the country)...

Thanks. Part of the challenge is we would like to maintain some of that city walkability and we have only found that in Wayne, Narberth, and Rosemont/Bryn Mawr.

I will certainly look into the issues you pointed out....

but I would still like to hear from parents that made that city private to suburb public move.....

[orrmobl]

Media and West Chester have walkable downtowns. Media is right next door to Nether Providence (Wallingford) a semi affluent but liberal and unaffected area. Great schools, great people, great place to raise kids...

[PhillyIndy]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

Media and West Chester have walkable downtowns. Media is right next door to Nether Providence (Wallingford) a semi affluent but liberal and unaffected area. Great schools, great people, great place to raise kids...

Thanks.

Again, looking for people who have made the move from city private to suburb public.

[JHG722]

Yeah, definitely avoid Radnor. For suburban schools: Conestoga, Lower Merion, Great Valley, Central Bucks, Springfield.

[sbhubbell]

No one has answered the question yet...but I don't think Radnor is any worse than Lower Merion or Conestoga as far as high pressure, spoiled kids, etc.

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

No one has answered the question yet...but I don't think Radnor is any worse than Lower Merion or Conestoga as far as high pressure, spoiled kids, etc.

Um I'm a Lower Merion graduate, so I'm pretty sure I have an idea. I know plenty of Radnor kids, and between them and Harriton kids, it would be a helluva race to figure out who's more spoiled.

Conestoga, though, definitely not in that conversation.

[PhillyIndy]

All of the schools mentioned seem very strong and given the housing prices I would assume any of those schools would have some degree "well-to-do snobery" with varying degrees.

I liike the Wayne area as well as Belmont; not as much as where I live now; but I like it well enough. Bucks county is out b/c of work; not sure I like Media as a place to live but need to look more.

Given that area (Wayne Belmont), can someone speak to the difference in academics, culture, experiences of a private school (like some of the downtown ones or others) vs these highly rated suburban public schools?

If you believe the Philly Magazine list from 2006, Conestoga, LM, and Radnor are among the best in the area, but many private schools are ranked ahead of them. I am trying to get a sense of how big that differences is.....

[JHG722]

Originally Posted by PhillyIndy

All of the schools mentioned seem very strong and given the housing prices I would assume any of those schools would have some degree "well-to-do snobery" with varying degrees.

I liike the Wayne area as well as Belmont; not as much as where I live now; but I like it well enough. Bucks county is out b/c of work; not sure I like Media as a place to live but need to look more.

Given that area (Wayne Belmont), can someone speak to the difference in academics, culture, experiences of a private school (like some of the downtown ones or others) vs these highly rated suburban public schools?

If you believe the Philly Magazine list from 2006, Conestoga, LM, and Radnor are among the best in the area, but many private schools are ranked ahead of them. I am trying to get a sense of how big that differences is.....

I don't know the downtown private schools--only the suburban ones, and I've said it before, but IMHO, the private schools are not worth it, because the public schools in SEPA are incredibly strong, and comparable to private schools in other states.