Looking for established Richmond area neighborhood (The Fan comes to mind) and top notch public schools (Chester: homes, landscaping)

[sbmcpartlin]

We are contemplating a move from NoVA to the Richmond area. I would love to find an established neighborhood (with older homes, trees, sidewalks, shops/cafes/markets etc) in a top notch school district.

My initial research shows that the Richmond suburbs have some great schools (Deep Run / Godwin), however most of the suburbs appear to be full of "cooke cutter" development type homes w/o much character.

Can anyone reccomend an area in Richmond proper or the surrounding Northern suburbs that might meet my criteria?

[jhrichmond]

I think you'll have the best luck finding what you're looking for in the Godwin HS district/ Area 22. Some subdivisions I would suggest would be Pine Run, Kingsley, or The Colonies. Welleskey might work for you also.
In Chesterfield County you may like Salisbury.

[RVA-Jsn20]

Try looking into Midlothian, you get more for your money as far as sq/ft and land goes, plus the schools are great. It's located just west of Richmond and south of the rivah. It's also less congested than the West End, which I just can't recommend living in (I just personally don't like the inhabitants).

The Fan/Museum District/Near West End might be good ideas as well, though if you're in the city limits you will want to send your child to a private school (but Richmond's private schools are fantabulous!).

[sls76]

The schools in the city are generally not great as I'm sure you've realized, so Richmond proper probably won't work unless you go the private school route. I doubt you'll find the shops/cafes/markets aspect that you're looking for feeding into Godwin, but I could be wrong. You definitely can find established neighborhoods with sidewalks, mature landscaping, larger lots, etc. Along with that may come a home with dreaded hardboard siding, wood windows that may need to be replaced, etc. Make sure you take that into consideration when you're looking.

[richmondpics]

You can live in the Fan, Museum District, Bellevue, or near Libbie & Grove, but after elementary school you'll need to think about private school.

[ric75]

Can someone answer the age old question as to why you have to live in boring, erstaz neighborhoods to have good schools? Is that a strictly Richmond phenomenon or is it an urban/suburban issue seen country-wide? If so what's the solution?

And to answer the OP's question I'd say richmondpics hit the nail on the head. There are some good primary public schools but you'll likely have to find alternatives once they reach highschool. Perhaps McDonnell can get the charter school thing going. RPS is fighting it tooth and nail (why I don't know) but perhaps some incentives from the State will make them change their tune.

[sls76]

Originally Posted by ric75

Can someone answer the age old question as to why you have to live in boring, erstaz neighborhoods to have good schools? Is that a strictly Richmond phenomenon or is it an urban/suburban issue seen country-wide? If so what's the solution?

And to answer the OP's question I'd say richmondpics hit the nail on the head. There are some good primary public schools but you'll likely have to find alternatives once they reach highschool. Perhaps McDonnell can get the charter school thing going. RPS is fighting it tooth and nail (why I don't know) but perhaps some incentives from the State will make them change their tune.

Because the suburbs cater to middle and upper middle class families. Good schools are generally made up of students from these demographics with involved parents. Teachers want to teach at these schools because it's easier/more pleasant environment. And, who says the suburbs are boring? I find them anything but boring.

I hope McDonnell does get more charter schools for VA. VA has some ridiculously low number of charter schools (maybe 4 in the entire state) which is a joke. I hope you're kidding that you don't know why RPS is fighting it--they don't want competition. They've got a monopoly on educating poor kids and they don't want someone else doing a better job and taking some of their funds. What a disservice this mentality does to the economically disadvantaged.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by ric75

Can someone answer the age old question as to why you have to live in boring, erstaz neighborhoods to have good schools? Is that a strictly Richmond phenomenon or is it an urban/suburban issue seen country-wide? If so what's the solution?

And to answer the OP's question I'd say richmondpics hit the nail on the head. There are some good primary public schools but you'll likely have to find alternatives once they reach highschool. Perhaps McDonnell can get the charter school thing going. RPS is fighting it tooth and nail (why I don't know) but perhaps some incentives from the State will make them change their tune.

You're not a parent yet, are you?

[ric75]

Originally Posted by sls76

Because the suburbs cater to middle and upper middle class families. Good schools are generally made up of students from these demographics with involved parents. Teachers want to teach at these schools because it's easier/more pleasant environment. And, who says the suburbs are boring? I find them anything but boring.

I hope McDonnell does get more charter schools for VA. VA has some ridiculously low number of charter schools (maybe 4 in the entire state) which is a joke. I hope you're kidding that you don't know why RPS is fighting it--they don't want competition. They've got a monopoly on educating poor kids and they don't want someone else doing a better job and taking some of their funds. What a disservice this mentality does to the economically disadvantaged.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I'd hate to think elected leaders are that selfish and short-sighted that they are willing to snuff the momentum of an energized community to make themselves look better.

Regarding suburbs we simply won't agree. There's a reason the words "cookie-cutter" are often used to describe these neighborhoods. Not walkable, no nearby locally owned cafes and restaurants, boring architecture... a life centered around commuting and chain stores and restaurants... oh and lawns. I feel like people must be sacrificing happiness in order to give their children a good education which I can appreciate but in an ideal world, families should be able to live in more interesting and engaged communities AND get a good education. Not one or the other.

[RVA-Jsn20]

Originally Posted by ric75

Perhaps I'm naive, but I'd hate to think elected leaders are that selfish and short-sighted that they are willing to snuff the momentum of an energized community to make themselves look better.

Of course they are, it's just business to them.