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For what it is worth, I posted the question on the Lakewood Ranch forum and had someone respond that they live in Lake Club with younger kids and there are other families in the same boat there. No numbers but still a bit better than just hearing from the info center.
I'm still not sure Lake Club would be my first choice for families and the kind of interaction among neighbors that you seem to want, and other locations won't cost you nearly as much. As I mentioned, Riverwalk Village, Greenbrook, Central Park all come to mind first but the truth is that you never know who you will have for neighbors with any location. Even River Club might be another possible location to consider. None are as uppercrust as Lake Club. Lake Club is meant to be an upper echelon location...and it is.
In answer to your other questions, this area doesn't have many large companies but there are some. There are career opportunities in many different paths but the suitability for you and your kids will depend on their interests and their education. Maybe if you are more specific, it might help. We aren't "close" to the beach here but we are close enough, obviously, for the 1000s of people who live here. If you want to be on or near the beach (might want to define that, too), then LWR is probably not your best bet but I would caution you to consider everything before deciding that. Many times, people coming down here from colder places think "Florida=Beach" and never consider other factors. There are other, good, reasons for not being out at the beaches.
Thanks for all your help I did talk with info center and they did tell me their is a lot of kids in the neighborhood. I just didn't see any kids when I wen to visit last year.
If one of you had a choice to live anywhere in Florida would it be lakewood ranch? I really didn't like Bradenton that seemed really run down and it looked like a bad neighborhood. Basically I want for my family is other young families to play with and a nice safe area close to the ocean. Is this something I can find in Florida?
Yea you can find that in Florida you should also check out Nocatee which is one fastest growing communities in the country and tons of families are moving there as well. Lol Florida is booming with kids. It is on the east coast in St. Johns County which is rated the top school district in the state and only a couple minutes from the beach like basically it is on the coast. Post in the Jacksonville forum and people can help you if your not sure. Speaking of Jax there are plenty of opportunities with it being a city.
We are also from MN and moved here about a year ago. I would recommend renting when you get here. There are not many rental options but it takes a little while to learn the area, find the school you want, learn the roads/driving distances etc. School options are very different here than MN and there is a learning curve! There are magnet schools that are great! Charter schools, IB, Private, etc. What ages are your kids? Are they coming straight into school or will they be home for a little bit while you learn the ropes here?
And, I would talk to a Realtor about all of these concerns. Ours was great! Her name is Paula Keegan-Bock with Michael Saunders Real Estate. She is honest and friendly. She can help with builders too...if you go straight to the builder they will obviously want to sell you their services only. It's best to get with someone who doesn't "side" with anyone but YOU!
Welcome to FL. We absolutely love it! We live in East Bradenton on the Manatee River. It's amazing.
Thanks Fl1150 - I do like the gulf side a little better though and I did hear more midwest people move down to the gulf side which might be nice. Looking at the homes on Nocatee the starting prices seem a little low with what I am going to spend I have a fairly decent budget.
kbertel - How did you like moving from MN? I am not going to rent when I get there that is way too much hassle for me I just want to stay somewhere for a couple of weeks and decide. I was down in Florida last year for 2 months so I did get the feel of it. My kids are young only 3 and 1 year old but I either want a good public school or I might send them to private school.
We built in Central Park and we looked at all the different communities, i came down by myself, staked out communities to see if their were kids around, i have a 9 yr old... We ultimately went with CP, green brook was really nice too but we wanted new construction. Tons of kids around here, we are in Longview lake section, my daughter is outside and they bounce from house to house all weekend long. it is awesome. in total there are 8 kids from 7-10 running around together and all the parents are very friendly, the wives go out to dinner once a month and we do happy hour every tuesday !!!! in summertime they bounce from pool to pool and the sprinkler park, constantly on bikes... this is what we always wanted and for now it seems we have found it...
Whatever you do make sure you buy in Sarasota County -
Umm, as of now, no part of LWR is in Sarasota County.
And, given the horrific state of politics in Sarasota city and county, particularly regarding development issues, I'm perfectly happy to be in Manatee.
I was born in Bradenton and have raised kids in most of the communities you are discussing. I've lived from Bradenton down to the Punta Gorda area. I certainly would not limit yourself to just looking at the Lakewood Ranch area. There are many, many other communities worth exploring.
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.
Please use this website when searching for properties: www.myfloridahomesmls.com It's the most up to date website.
Sarasota County 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
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more MN headed down!
