Mt View and Sunnyvale areas (San Jose, San Francisco: apartments, renting, condo)

[Momma_s]

So, it's official! We're movin' out west!!!

Are there any areas within Mt. View and Sunnyvale that we should look at and/or avoid?

We'll be renting (not an apartment/condo), and need to have a good elementary school.

Thank you kindly!

[humboldtrat]

Anyplace west of El Camino Real (Hwy 82) should be fine. Avoid areas near the freeway (Hwy 101) which is mostly commercial/industrial. I prefer Mountain View a little bit over Sunnyvale, but either way, both are fine west of Hwy 82.

[Momma_s]

That's good advice, humboldtrat. So I guess this means Santa Clara should be avoided since that's where 101 & 82 go through?

[humboldtrat]

Just about anything west of Hwy 82 in Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are pretty much nice suburban residential areas. From Hwy 82 east (and towards Hwy 101), it's apartments, commercial/retail and light industrial (silicon valley types of businesses - computers, etc.). There is also some residential pockets in this area, but they tend to be older houses.

El Camino Real (Hwy 82) was the main north/south highway between San Jose and San Francisco until they built freeways 50/60 years ago. Now it's a 6 lane wide street that is almost all retail (shopping centers, gas stations, motels, restaurants, etc.) and some apartments.

[gizmo980]

My sister & her husband bought a place in Sunnyvale (coming from Mtn View), mainly because there's an elementary school that is top-notch - and they have a 9 month-old baby. I'm not sure what the neighborhood is called, but it's off Hollenbeck between El Camino & Fremont St... you might want to look around there, since apparently it's a valued school district!

[LexusNexus]

Good comments above.

In MTV, there are three main segments. There's 101 to Central Exprwy, which is not too good, considered the most undesirable portion. There's Central to El Camino, which is so-so. Increasing Mexican gang activity in the Rengstorff Park area around Escuela and California and Rengstorff. This area has gotten worse over the years. From El Camino going West gets increasingly nicer and more expensive. It is in this region that you will find the best residential living, the best schools, and the more peace and tranquility. El Camino Hospital is also in an area of beautiful homes.

Sunnyvale has the same type of division. From 101 to Central is the least desirable portion. Central to El Camino is so-so. El Camino to Fremont Ave is desirable the closer to get to Fremont on Hollenbeck. There are some nice neighborhoods, namely Cherry Chase and the one by Las Palmas Park. From Fremont to Homestead is where the money is. These homes are more expensive because the neighborhood is more established and a large portion is in the Cupertino school district. Funny boundaries here. For instance, on Hollenbeck Ave, the homes west of Cheyenne are Cupertino District homes, meaning that you can send your kid to the elementary schools of Cupertino instead of Sunnyvale. Cupertino schools of course are considered better (there is argument as to whether the criteria used to determine "better" is accurate though). But if you live on one side of Hollenbeck, your kids go to Nimitz (a Cupertino school that is not highly regarded). If you live across the street though, your kids can go to West Valley (a highly regarded Cupertino school). Just be aware of the boundaries.

The nicer portions of MTV tend to be more expensive than Sunnyvale, but I've found that you get more house for the money in Sunnyvale.

[RLangben]

If you live in Sunnyvale you can have your child go to Montclaire elementary a top rated Los Altos school. Cupertino Middle school is great as well for the later years(despite the name it is actually located in sunnyvale ), it is one of the only middle schools with drafting , metal shop, and wood shop classes. Very nice schools, went there myself when I was a Kid. They also have excellent high schools such as homestead high(in sunnyvale) and Saint Francis a top rated private school (in mountain view 7 min drive from sunnyvale)

[Momma_s]

Thank you, all, for the great feedback! Now there just needs to be that "perfect" house available at the "perfect" time!!!
It sure would be great if there was a map compiled with all of this information... School boundaries, school locations with rankings, neighborhoods that are desirable/undesirable with public transportation spots... oh well...

[feskone]

California School Performance Maps maybe this will help? But of course no school boundaries. Im interested in MV and school boundaries myself. I would like to live as close as possible to downtown but at the same time to be enrolled in good public school. gotta do research on that.

[tennis368fan]

The maps haven't been updated for the latest reports, which is 2007. I would definitely check the state's website, or the California Board of Education, for the latest scores.

School performance in California can change VERY quickly.

On top of that, the State of California only posts scores of school one year after standardized testing takes place. So you will always be looking at last year's scores.

2007 Base API County List of Schools - ALAMEDA County