Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools and neighborhoods (Durham: apartment, houses, new construction)

[seattle72]

We are most interested in Chapel Hill/Carrboro area but am wondering how the 'assigned' schools work and the bussing system for public schools? Also does anyone have any recommendations on neighborhoods or areas to check out in Chapel Hill/Carrboro with homes in our 350K price range? Thanks!

[CHTransplant]

Go here for an interactive map that will show attendance zones for schools.

CHCCS

CHCCS is more stable than Wake County, so there are fewer changes in attendance zones. But that does not mean there are none. There is growth, so new schools are added every few years and that results in a shift of attendance zones. Obviously there are more changes to elementary schools than there are for middle and high - since there are more of them.

[poppydog]

You pretty much just have to go to your assigned school unless you (or really your child) is in the magnet program at the elementary school level. It's a very rare situation where a student is granted an exception to attend a school other than the assigned school. But, they're pretty much all good schools. Bus will come to your neighborhood and pick up your kid in the morning and bring 'em home in the afternoon for either assigned or magnet schools.

350K is low for new construction, but very doable for an older home. Most neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro are good too. If I was moving I'd look around Spring Valley in Carrboro. I like that it is somewhat walkable to downtown Carrboro. There are lots of nice neighborhoods, though. I'm just interested in walkability. What are you looking for in a house and neighborhood?

[mpheels]

The CHCSS website have the school assignment information on their website at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools - School Assignment Maps, Transitions, Walk Zones & Resources (sorry, original URL is super long, you can also google "chapel hill carrboro school assignment map").

The CHCSS community is much, much smaller than Wake or Durham counties, and is not growing as quickly, which means assignments are relatively stable. They just redistricted, so assignments shouldn't change much over the next few years. The system does use busing for socio-economic diversity, but the district is relatively small, so long bus rides are pretty rare. The community as a whole is also committed to public education, and pays for it through very high property taxes. The bottom line is that all of the schools in the district are good, and the difference in "better" schools is pretty minimal in the grand scheme. Most kids do well, and kids of parents who are engaged do very well.

I don't know as much about single family homes (lived there for 13 years, but only as an apartment renter). I have a former colleague who lives in Lake Forest and loves it. She and her husband are both on faculty at UNC, and have three kids (ages 4, 8, and 9), if that gives a sense of the neighborhood environment. The only advice I can give is that the market in Chapelboro moves very quickly. The good houses do not stay on the market for long.

[poppydog]

I don't think Lake Forest is 350K material, especially not near the lake. I have friends who live there, too.

I think you could do Spring Valley for 350K, though.

You do need to keep the CHCCS boundaries in mind while shopping. There are some homes outside of Orange county, in Durham and Chatham counties, particularly Briar Chapel, that have Chapel Hill or Carrboro addresses, but kids there would go to their respective county schools. Orange County Schools are a separate school system from CHCCS, also, so you need to make sure you're looking at homes w/in the CHCCS district if that's what you want. Refer to the maps that mpheels and CHTransplant posted or make sure the listing for the house specifies Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. If it doesn't say anything it's probably not because the realtors usually like to play up CHCCS.

[seattle72]

Thanks for all the replies. Walkability is always a plus. I would love to be able to walk our kids to school, grocery store etc. We like midcentury modern homes (one story ranch like homes built in the 50's). Are there any neighborhoods that have those types of homes?

[no kudzu]

You will never have to worry about redistricting if you live in a Walk to School neighborhood. They do not offer bus service so nothing needs to change. It is fun to see all the walkers every morning and afternoon. Our kids walk a bit over 1 mile every morning and afternoon and they love it. Since they aren't involved in any sports I feel they are still in good shape from all the walking.

[poppydog]

There are a lot of ranch homes. Kinda ubiquitous, really. I'd look in Carrboro for optimum walkability. Homes do go fast, though, often in just a day or two.

If you're wanting more of a snazzy mid-century mod house those are popular and in demand so 350K might be low. If you're just wanting a more modest brick ranch you can refurb you could do that easily.

Estes Hills in Chapel Hill has a several architect-designed "Mad Men" type homes. Your standard 50s/60s brick ranch is all over the place in older neighborhoods which are the neighborhoods that are closer in and therefore more walkable. I have a friend that lives in an older neighborhood in Carrboro, Webbwood, and it's really flat (great for kids learning to ride bikes, unlike my neighborhood) and super walkable. Most of the homes are modest brick ranches with a few split levels thrown in. They aren't large homes (most 3 bedroom, 2 baths), but lots are pretty good size. If that sounds like what you want you might look there. I've seen a lot of renovation projects going on in the neighborhood recently.

[seattle72]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

You will never have to worry about redistricting if you live in a Walk to School neighborhood. They do not offer bus service so nothing needs to change. It is fun to see all the walkers every morning and afternoon. Our kids walk a bit over 1 mile every morning and afternoon and they love it. Since they aren't involved in any sports I feel they are still in good shape from all the walking.

Yes, walking is great exercise for the kids. What neighborhood do you live in?

[seattle72]

Originally Posted by poppydog

There are a lot of ranch homes. Kinda ubiquitous, really. I'd look in Carrboro for optimum walkability. Homes do go fast, though, often in just a day or two.

If you're wanting more of a snazzy mid-century mod house those are popular and in demand so 350K might be low. If you're just wanting a more modest brick ranch you can refurb you could do that easily.

Estes Hills in Chapel Hill has a several architect-designed "Mad Men" type homes. Your standard 50s/60s brick ranch is all over the place in older neighborhoods which are the neighborhoods that are closer in and therefore more walkable. I have a friend that lives in an older neighborhood in Carrboro, Webbwood, and it's really flat (great for kids learning to ride bikes, unlike my neighborhood) and super walkable. Most of the homes are modest brick ranches with a few split levels thrown in. They aren't large homes (most 3 bedroom, 2 baths), but lots are pretty good size. If that sounds like what you want you might look there. I've seen a lot of renovation projects going on in the neighborhood recently.

Thanks for the suggestions! We'll check it out.