Roanoke City Schools and general area information (Salem, Vinton: for sale, apartments)

[profesora]

Hello,

I'm looking for general info on Roanoke City schools (good/bad, which schools are worth considering teaching at for midlde and high school), as I recently interviewed for a position there to complete the school year and for fall as well. I also need info on where to consider living and which areas to avoid. Would be (potentially) relocating from eastern VA and am not that familiar with the Roanoke area or schools. Any/all info would be helpful, especially about housing and prices for both rentals for apartments and townhouses/condos, as well as available housing for sale around 140-155K.

Thank you for replying!

[cbl1]

You have to watch the schools you work for in Roanoke City. Patrick Henry High and its feeder schools are in general going to be above William Fleming and its feeders.

I would recommend Roanoke County, Salem City, or Botetourt County schools over even looking at city.

Housing - stick with Southwest County / Soutwest City (Raleigh Court or Crystal Spring), Botetourt or Salem. Avoid the north side of city (county is ok), Southeast, Vinton. There are some nice condos downtown in areas that have been revitalized.

[Watchful]

I understand why concerned parents steer away from low-performing schools.

It is sad when teachers are advised to do the same.

[roanoker 4]

Originally Posted by Watchful

I understand why concerned parents steer away from low-performing schools.

It is sad when teachers are advised to do the same.

I agree. It is almost like what is public education all about anyway? If you live in a more affluent area you get to send you kid to a better public school with better teachers. Aren't kids in less affluent areas entitled to the same public education since their parents pay taxes also? Isn't there a lot of racism in SW county, Salem?

[Life'sABeach]

I live in NW Roanoke City with my husband and toddler, and we love it. We're five minutes from downtown, the civic center, Valley View Mall, tons of restaurants with both American and ethnic foods, etc. Northern Roanoke seems to get a bad rap from everyone who DOESN'T live there. We're currently looking to sell our home and move to the SML area, but only because our commute to Moneta for work is 90 minutes a day. If work were closer to home, we'd be staying put.

[profesora]

Thanks for the information. The interview seemed to go well and I hope to come down to the area in person in about 2 weeks to see things more in person, including the schools, to get a better feel for things. I do know from having been on job boards previously that it seems Fleming HS has had turnover of Spanish teachers the last few years, which makes me wonder how stable it may be a bit. As far as housing I am open as long as it's somewhere safe and not an awful commute to work (half hour or less) ideally. Housing preference would be at least a 2 BR/2BA townhouse or house depending on price and location. At least I've seen some things online that are affordable but need more info on the area overall. Thanks again for replying!

[Kreutz]

Originally Posted by roanoker 4

Aren't kids in less affluent areas entitled to the same public education since their parents pay taxes also? Isn't there a lot of racism in SW county, Salem?

Their property is assessed less because its worth less thus they pay less taxes, why should they get the same? It would only be fair if you also cut the assessments in the affluent areas down to the less affluent levels.

[Life'sABeach]

Originally Posted by Kreutz

Their property is assessed less because its worth less thus they pay less taxes, why should they get the same? It would only be fair if you also cut the assessments in the affluent areas down to the less affluent levels.

The children can't help how much money their parents have. Why should they be "punished" with a crappy education?

[headnsouth]

I know two people who have worked for Roanoke city schools as Spanish teachers. Both loved/love it although they were/are at middle school level, not high school. One was a native English speaker and one a native Spanish speaker, two very different approaches but both excellent teachers. My own kids went to PH & took Spanish there and learned pretty much nothing. One of my kids took Spanish 3 during the summer at Virginia Western so that he would actually learn something. If you're a good teacher and don't have such a heavy native Spanish accent that people can actually understand what you are saying when you try to teach them, then please come to Roanoke and teach. The students deserve good teachers!

I wouldn't advise buying right away. You don't know what you want yet. With the price range you're looking in, you will have lots of options when you decide on your chosen 'hood. There are few areas in Roanoke that are awful, and most areas are quite nice. Roanoke is a small enough city that no matter which school you're working in, you'll have a short commute even if you live clear across town. So you should decide where to live based on your budget and the quality of life you're looking for (suburban feel, rural, walkable, etc.). So besides the school/job itself, what kind of living environment are you looking for?


Edited to say: Sorry, you didn't say you were a Spanish teacher, someone else talked about that & I made an assumption. So ignore that part but overall the point is the same -- if you are a good teacher, you are welcome here!

[Kreutz]

Originally Posted by Life'sABeach

The children can't help how much money their parents have. Why should they be "punished" with a crappy education?

Because their parents contribute less to the system?

Why should the affluent have their kids punished with a crappy education by having the higher dollars they contribute go to the poorer kids schools?

If you want better schools improve yourself to the point you can afford to live in areas with better schools; no one is entitled to a "good education", just a "basic one".