Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Maui to Florida...hmmmmm, I don't ever know if I could justify leaving Maui to move here....
Awful schools, especially high school, along with being 5000 miles from family. Plus you can only go to the same places so many times. To go to a neighboring island costs as much as a NY-LA flight. If I were retired Maui would be 100% perfect, but I'm not there yet and have other things I want to do first...
Cost of Living is also astronomical. Everything is more expensive than even Florida/NY or California.
But it is a great place for the most part. But I've learned there is no perfect place.
Awful schools, especially high school, along with being 5000 miles from family. Plus you can only go to the same places so many times. To go to a neighboring island costs as much as a NY-LA flight. If I were retired Maui would be 100% perfect, but I'm not there yet and have other things I want to do first...
Cost of Living is also astronomical. Everything is more expensive than even Florida/NY or California.
But it is a great place for the most part. But I've learned there is no perfect place.
Mirrors what it feels like to be in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for the past 20years!!!
Again, I wish you luck with your search but there's just something quite magical about having an ocean view from the mountains that you can't get in Sarasota!!!
I too, am relocating to Sarasota from New Jersey (God, help New Jersey!). I am so grateful to be entering what I think is a phenomenal small city, with the cultural attributes of a larger one! My hair will just have to get used to frizz.
I have been a registered nurse for many years and do not anticipate having an issue finding work. Both my husband and I are looking to downsize our lives and we are looking at updated retro style ranches in Southgate. I have a 10 year old daughter and I am planning on sending her to either Southside or to one of the charters.
I am curious as to the current 'feel' of the Southgate area. I love the fact that it is close to downtown, shopping and interesting restaurants, yet suburban enough to not have extreme congestion.
Does anyone live in Southgate or is very familiar with it? I would love to hear some of your opinions, comments, etc.
I think you have a all around good plan. Southside School has had a consistently good reputation for many years.Good luck. enjoy your lives here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerzynurse
I too, am relocating to Sarasota from New Jersey (God, help New Jersey!). I am so grateful to be entering what I think is a phenomenal small city, with the cultural attributes of a larger one! My hair will just have to get used to frizz.
I have been a registered nurse for many years and do not anticipate having an issue finding work. Both my husband and I are looking to downsize our lives and we are looking at updated retro style ranches in Southgate. I have a 10 year old daughter and I am planning on sending her to either Southside or to one of the charters.
I am curious as to the current 'feel' of the Southgate area. I love the fact that it is close to downtown, shopping and interesting restaurants, yet suburban enough to not have extreme congestion.
Does anyone live in Southgate or is very familiar with it? I would love to hear some of your opinions, comments, etc.
We are thinking of moving to FL from NH. We have never left the stare of NH nor has anyone in our family. I am sick of snow and want to raise our 3 year old in a safe town there in FL. Schooling is very important to us. It has to be a place we can be in our yard and feel safe. Looking for what ever one is, safe place, low crime, (none would be best) best schools, on the gulf coast side of FL, home pricing under #300,000 and jobs. My husband is an accountant and I work in the insurance industry.
Thought I liked the Cape Coral area until I visited in May, 2014, heard some stories from local's while vacationing at the Westin Cape Coral, not a great place. Also drove around a saw a lot of un ]-developed land. I am looking for the "Florida Dream" Golf- gated community living, on a palm tree lined street, safe neighbor hood for my children and our "rest of our lives" home and state.
There are some Realtors on this board that can provide better specifics, but depending on the size and age of the home you are looking for your budget might be a little low for the Sarasota area. Remember, the older the home the more the insurance will cost.
Sarasota county has one of the best school systems in the state of Florida. It also has Pine View School for the Gifted, which was ranked the top school in Florida and one of the top schools in the Nation. It is a public school and the requirements are that you live in Sarasota county, have an IQ of 130 or more, pass the achievement tests required and have teacher recommendations. I have one child who graduated from PV and another who attended for many years. It's a great school but it's not for every kid. It services grades 2nd-12th. Here's some more info on that subject:
Welcome to Pine View School
Pine View School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pine View wraps up perfect Olympics | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader
America's Best High Schools: Gold Medal List - US News and World Report
There are many other fantastic schools in Sarasota and Manatee county's Here's a website where you can see how the schools are rated:
School Accountability Report...
or Greatschools.com
Southside services most of the downtown area south of Main St. North of Main would be mostly Booker school district. The Palmer Ranch area is mostly Ashton school district. There are other schools in the area but these are ones that I have either had personal experience with or I have friends that have kids in the schools.
Sarasota ranks as one of the top districts in the state by a number of measures, including test scores, graduation rates and teacher compensation.
It offers distinctive programs tailored to different student needs, including Florida's only school for the gifted, the state's largest special needs school and one of a handful of career-focused high schools.
Alright, if I were checking out schools other than Pine View these are the schools that I would look into, in order. This is also the order they fall in if you look at the stats on the state of FL.
I'll throw some zip codes in as well to use for a general guideline but make sure you double check them with the map provided and the local school board as the map/zip codes may change slightly if they add a new school.
I'm going to also include a few neighborhoods within each zip code. Keep in mind that there are many other communities in each zip code worth checking out. I'm just trying to give you a starting point. Also if the community is very large it might encompass two or three different schools.
For Elementary
Southside Elementary (34228, 34236, 34239, 34242)
Most of the downtown Sarasota condos, the condos/homes on the south end of Longboat Key, Bay Isles, Bird Key, Bungalow Hill, Cherokee Park, County Club Shores, Granada, Harbor Acres, Lido Key, McClellan Park, Poinsettia Park, St Armand's, some of Southgate.
Venice Elementary (34285, 34292, 34293)
The island of Venice, Bellagio on Venice Island, Lakes of Jacaranda, Pinebrook, South Venice, Venice Acres
Ashton Elementary (34233, 34238)-The Palmer Ranch communities(Arielle, Botanica, The Hamptons, Turtle Rock, Serenade, Stonebridge, Village Walk, Wellington Chase), Center Gate Estates, Colonial Oaks, Emerald Gardens, Grove Point, Three Oaks
Cranberry Elementary (North Port)
-(34286, a certain section)
Taylor Ranch (southern Sarasota county)-(34292, 34293)-Governors Green, Gulf View Estates, Blue Heron Pond, Lakes of Jacaranda, Myakka River Trails, Park Estates, Pelican Pointe Golf & County Club, The Plantation, Pennington Place, South Venice, Stoneybrook at Venice, Venice Golf & County Club, Southwood, Woodmere Lakes
Lakeview Elementary (34241)-Bent Tree, Country Creek, East Lake, Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, Founders Club, Foxfire, Gator Creek, Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club, Lake Sarasota, Misty Creek, Myakka Valley Ranches, Preserve at Heron Lake, Red Hawk Reserve, Saddle Creek, Secluded Oaks, Serenoa, Trillium, Tuscana
Gulf Gate Elementary (34231, 34238)-Palmer Ranch communities-(Country Club of Sarasota, Deer Creek, Prestancia,
Marabella, Mira Lago, Palisades), Beneva Oaks, Coral Cove, Gulf Gate, Southpointe Shores,
Laurel Nokomis Elementary (mid Sarasota county)-(34229, 34275)-Bay Point, Calusa Lakes, Casey Key, Huntington Pointe, Isles of Sarasota, Laurel Pines, Laurel Woodlands, Mission Valley Estates, The Oaks, Park Trace Estates, Rivendell, Sawgrass, Shakett Creek, Silver Oak, Sorrento East, Sorrento Shores, Sorrento South, Sorrento Woods, South Creek, Southbay Yacht & Racquet Club, Stoneybrook at Palmer Ranch, Venetian Golf & River Club, Waterfront Estates, Willow Chase, Willowbend, Willowbrook
Tatum Ridge Elementary (34240)
-Barton Farms, Colonial Oaks, Deer Hammock, Founders Club, The Hammocks, Laurel Lakes, Laurel Meadows, Laurel Oak Estates, Oak Ford Golf Club, The Paddocks, Palmer Farms, Palmer Glen, Sarasota Golf Club, Sarasota Polo Club, Shadow Oaks, Summerwood, Tatum Ridge, Villages at Pine Tree-(Marsh, Ponderosa, Spruce Pine)
Garden Elementary(34285, 34292, 34293)
Phillipi Shores(34231, 34242)-Aqualane Estates, Bay Island, Florence, Hansens, Harmony, Hidden Harbor, The Landings, Mira Mar, much of Siesta Key, Oyster Bay Estates, Phillipi Cove, Philipi Gardens, Pine Shores, Point Crisp, Princess Gate, Ridge Wood, Sanderling Club, Sandy Hook, Sarasota Beach, Siesta Cove, Siesta Estates, Siesta Isles, Siesta Bayside, Tortoise Estates
Fruitville Elementary(34232)-Hidden Oaks, Nottingham, Sherwood Estates, Sherwood Forest, Woodland Park
Englewood Elementary (southern Sarasota county)(34223)-Artist Acres, Bay Vista, Boca Royale, Deer Creek, Eden Harbor, Englewood Farm Acres, Englewood Gardens, Englewood Isles, Englewood Pines, Manasota Gardens, Manasota Key, Overbrook Gardens, Stillwater
For Middle
Sarasota Middle (34231-34242)
High School
Riverview(34231-34242)
Manatee county Schools
Elementary Schools
Robert Willis Elementary(34201, 34202)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch, Edgewater Village, Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch Country Club, Long Pond at Mote Ranch, Mote Ranch, Panther Ridge, Preserve at Panther Ridge, River Park at Mote Ranch, Riverwalk Ridge Cypress Banks, University Park
Gene Witt Elementary(34212)-Country Creek, Country Meadows, Foxbrook, Greyhawk Landing, Hidden Oaks, Mill Creek, Rye Wilderness,
Gilbert W McNeal Elementary(34202)-Concession, Greenbrook Village, Lakewood Ranch, Summerfield Village
Braden River Elementary(34202, 34211)-Braden Pines, Braden Woods, Oakbrooke at River Club, River Club North & South, Rosedale, Summerfield Village
BD Gullett Elementary(34211, 34212)-Central Park at Lakewood Ranch, Greyhawk Landing, Panther Ridge
Ida M Stewart Elementary(34209)-Perico Isles, Pinehurst, Riverview Landings, Shaws Point, Wisteria Park, Woodlands Park on Palma Sola Bay
Anna Maria Elementary(34216, 34217, 34228)-Anna Maria Island, Bay Palms, Bimini Bay Estates, Cortez, Emerald Harbor, Holmes Beach, Ilexhurst, Key Royale, Long Beach, Longboat Key, Shore Acres, Sleepy Lagoon, Wells Bay Harbor
Kinnan Elementary(34243)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Oaks, Desoto Lakes Country Club, Glenbrooke, Mote Ranch, Palm Aire, Palm Lakes, Quail Run, University Groves, Rio Mar, Trails, Treymore at Village of Palm Aire, Vintage Creek
Freedom Elementary(34212)-Gates Creek, Greenfield Plantation, Heritage Harbour, Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbor, Old Grove at Greenfield, Planters Manor at Greenfield, River Strand, Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbor, Waterlefe Golf & River Club
Tara Elementary(34212)-Barrington Ridge, Braden Crossing, Creekwood, Manatee Oaks, Mandalay, River Landings Bluffs, River Place, Rivers Edge, Silver Lake, Tailfeather Way at Tara, Tara, Tara Preserve, Wallingford, Water Oak
Middle School
Carlos E Halie Middle(34208-34212)
Braden River Middle(32401-34243)
Nolan Middle(34202, 34211, 34251)
King Middle(34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
High School
Lakewood Ranch High(34202, 34211, 34212, 34251)
Manatee High(34205-34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
Alternative School
Manatee School for Arts and Sciences
Location: Sarasota/ Bradenton - University Pkwy area
4,629 posts, read 7,565,163 times
Reputation: 6063
Quote:
Originally Posted by NH Girl
We are thinking of moving to FL from NH. We have never left the stare of NH nor has anyone in our family. I am sick of snow and want to raise our 3 year old in a safe town there in FL. Schooling is very important to us. It has to be a place we can be in our yard and feel safe. Looking for what ever one is, safe place, low crime, (none would be best) best schools, on the gulf coast side of FL, home pricing under #300,000 and jobs. My husband is an accountant and I work in the insurance industry.
Thought I liked the Cape Coral area until I visited in May, 2014, heard some stories from local's while vacationing at the Westin Cape Coral, not a great place. Also drove around a saw a lot of un ]-developed land. I am looking for the "Florida Dream" Golf- gated community living, on a palm tree lined street, safe neighbor hood for my children and our "rest of our lives" home and state.
Please help!! This NH girl is out of her element.
Hi,
If you do not already have jobs and have not visited the immediate area in the recent past, I suggest you look into the jobs situation first. If you wish to stay in your current professions, you would have an easier time finding work in Tampa vs Sarasota.
Please, please check out the pay scale as well as jobs here typically pay less (sometimes significantly less) than what you would find "up north." Also ask about benefits as often you will see less here, especially when it comes to insurance plans.
FL is a great place to live for many, but it is not without it's own issues. Yes we have palm trees, lots of sunshine filled days, great beaches and warm winters. We also have tropical storms & flooding streets, hot and very humid summers, palmetto bugs (cockroaches with wings), lower pay scales and lots of people competing for job openings who also want to leave colder climates. Although the Sarasota area has well rated schools for FL, I have been told by many that our schools do not compare with those found in most of New England. Streets generally aren't lined with palm trees (you'll see more live oak trees than palm), we have our share of strip malls, gas stations and other commerical/retail like any other metro area.
A sister-in-law lives in New Hampshire so I have some idea as to the kind of environment you live in now. Things are different here. Our area has a lot of people moving in and out of the state from all over the US and other countries. It brings people of all kinds and backgrounds. You said you have never left your state, nor has anyone in your family. The best advice I can give you is to plan several trips down here first, get to know the area a bit, see what's available in the way of jobs and then nearby housing -- and rent, don't buy, until you see how things go here. Moving 1400 miles away from your family and life long friends is a huge change. If things work out ok here after 6 - 12 months, then buy a home. Otherwise, if FL does not live up to your expectations, you may find yourselves stuck here until you can sell your house.
As to rentals in the Sarasota area, rates tend to be higher for those in the better rated school districts as parents, whether buying or renting, want their children to have the best schoool districts possible. Please check the school zone maps on the school web sites as district boundaries often change somewhat each year. Both the Sarasota county and Manatee county school boards have school locator functions on their sites that let you plug in a specific address to give you the 3 schools districts for that property. Do NOT rely on info provided to you on ads or by realtors with rental listings as the information can be incorrect - if school districts are a priority to you, verify the information yourself. This is especially true in zip codes 34243, 34203 as school districts are being shifted in the University Parkway area on a regular basis due to new subdivisions being added every year by builders. There are 5 new subdivisions being built within just 3 miles of my home in the 34203 zip code area.
NH Girl, I am not trying to scare you off, just pointing out some of the realities of making a major move from there to here. I too was a transplant 30+ years ago from the midwest. My first winter here I never even put on a coat. My neighbors laughed and said my blood would thin out by the following winter. They were right. I had an advantage though that my husband had lived in Sarasota from the early 60's who also had family here. Even though I loved the area it was still a difficult transition in some ways, especially missing my family. You can't just pack up and fly off to attend every family dinner, birthday, graduation or anniversary. You miss a lot of what's going on in their lives and they yours. You will be depriving your little one of those kind of family events and close relationships. Something to consider before undertaking a huge lifestyle change.
Whatever you decide is best for your family, whether it's moving to FL or staying in NH, I hope things work out for you.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
