Considering the greater Seattle Area for relocation from Upstate NY (Bellevue: real estate, foreclosures)

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Boxkicker

Do you know how many schools are in Maple Valley and TSD?

And where are these terribly ranked schools you mention?

According to the website, there are 8 actual schools, 7 of which are ranked on Schooldigger. The low rated schools are in Kent/Covington- right next door. You can see them on the link YOU posted

People get too wrapped up in test scores. It's interesting that despite being highly rated overall, even the Tahoma elementary schools aren't any better than a lot of Seattle schools test wise. Glacier Park, if it were in the mediocre Seattle district would be ranked around #7 for elementary. None of the other Tahoma elementary schools would even be in the top 10 - they'd be down at #20 or lower. The main thing Tahoma offers is a small isolated system where kids are less likely to come in contact with any of "those people's kids". That's certainly your choice to make, but it's not without its drawbacks.

[CrazyDonkey]

The closest you're going to find to Auburn NY here is Bellingham and Olympia, but getting from either to Sea-Tac in a reasonable amount of time is a big stretch. Bellingham does have an international airport, however (with Alaska Air, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines flying out of it). They fly non-stop to Las Vegas and Hawaii, but most other flights are one-stop.

Actually, I'm going to chime back in with an earlier suggestion: Tacoma. Walkable, in-city living, easy to get around on transit or driving, burgeoning culture/art scene, shopping and dining, great parks, museums, a major zoo, lots of four-bedroom or larger houses in your price range, and easily within an hour of Sea-Tac. Sounder commuter rail and Sound Transit express buses connect you to downtown Seattle.

Tacoma Japanese Language Programs: Charles Wright Academy (private), Sheridan Elementary School, Stewart Middle School, Stadium High School, Lincoln High School.

Portland is also very much worth looking at. House prices are lower than in Seattle. They are ahead of Seattle in light-rail/streetcars. There are Japanese Magnet Programs at Richmond Elementary, Mt. Tabor Middle School, and Grant High School.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by mkarch

People get too wrapped up in test scores. It's interesting that despite being highly rated overall, even the Tahoma elementary schools aren't any better than a lot of Seattle schools test wise. Glacier Park, if it were in the mediocre Seattle district would be ranked around #7 for elementary. None of the other Tahoma elementary schools would even be in the top 10 - they'd be down at #20 or lower. The main thing Tahoma offers is a small isolated system where kids are less likely to come in contact with any of "those people's kids". That's certainly your choice to make, but it's not without its drawbacks.

School rankings are as much reflective of demographics as other factors. It makes a difference when students are ready to learn with academic support/encouragement at home.

[eolicom]

CrazyDonkey
Thanks a lot for a very insightful post. I will look into Tacoma with renewed vigor.
Another related question then is. Where are the asian and hispanic people clustered?

[Boxkicker]

Originally Posted by mkarch

According to the website, there are 8 actual schools, 7 of which are ranked on Schooldigger. The low rated schools are in Kent/Covington- right next door. You can see them on the link YOU posted

People get too wrapped up in test scores. It's interesting that despite being highly rated overall, even the Tahoma elementary schools aren't any better than a lot of Seattle schools test wise. Glacier Park, if it were in the mediocre Seattle district would be ranked around #7 for elementary. None of the other Tahoma elementary schools would even be in the top 10 - they'd be down at #20 or lower. The main thing Tahoma offers is a small isolated system where kids are less likely to come in contact with any of "those people's kids". That's certainly your choice to make, but it's not without its drawbacks.

And what school isn't listed? Do you know?

I will help you....it is the Tahoma Junior High School where ALL kids in 8th and 9th grade attend (until the new High School is built)

"Tahoma Junior High is not ranked due to insufficient test score data"

But with 7 of the 8 schools ranked and Tahoma High School ranked 13th among Washington High Schools and 919th out of more than 2,000 of the nation's high schools in the annual Washington Post Index of America's Most Challenging High Schools, it would be safe to say that the Junior High would be ranked pretty good.

Anyway, I am done debating....you are in your own little box. Nothing that an ignore edit can't fix.

Praise Seattle and cut down Tahoma & Maple Valley all you want if it tickles your fancy.

[beenhereandthere]

I would second Auburn or Puyallup (even though I think home prices there are even more expensive than Auburn).

Tacoma though, collectively, for sure has the housing prices you mentioned and plenty of safe parts.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by eolicom

CrazyDonkey
Thanks a lot for a very insightful post. I will look into Tacoma with renewed vigor.
Another related question then is. Where are the asian and hispanic people clustered?

For Hispanic, I'd guess Federal Way (north from Tacoma) - went to a Mexican-American wedding there once, which was a blast.

Sheridan Elementary School, Stewart Middle School, and Lincoln High School, which have the Japanese language programs, are in east Tacoma (east of I-5). Both Seattle and Tacoma had Japantowns. Bon Odori is actively celebrated in Seattle and Tacoma. These days, Asians are pretty dispersed.

Tacoma Then and Now: Japan Town...in Tacoma?

http://www.japanese-city.com/calenda....php?eID=32473

Bon Odori Festival | Seattle**Buddhist**Church

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

School rankings are as much reflective of demographics as other factors. It makes a difference when students are ready to learn with academic support/encouragement at home.

Which is always true, the thing that makes Maple Valley unique is it's a relatively new city (1997) most of which is less than 20 years old. They built it in a way that it either excluded or overran most of the ... uh... "people whose kids might bring down test scores".

It's definitely good for people to have choices like that, but there are trade offs to picking a remote insulated community. If you work from home or one of the few areas nearby it could be a great place to raise a family. Unfortunately it's also functioning like a bedroom community to the rest of Seattle and the Eastside. This results in one or more parents not spending a whole lot of time at home with the kids, negating some of the academic support and encouragement On the plus side, the houses are inexpensive so I'm sure it allows a lot more single income families with a stay at home spouse to live there.

It seems nice like the idealized version of a 1950's suburban anachronism.

[Boxkicker]

OP....

Just move to North Beach part of Seattle...evidently they have no foreclosures and they have the best schools..

Problem Solved!

[Boxkicker]

Originally Posted by mkarch

Unfortunately it's also functioning like a bedroom community to the rest of Seattle and the Eastside. This results in one or more parents not spending a whole lot of time at home with the kids, negating some of the academic support and encouragement

hmmm....okay....

“One of the 10 Best Towns for Families” 2011 - Family Circle Magazine
"The Best Places to Raise Kids 2013" - Businessweek Magazine
"The Best Towns in Washington for Raising Kids" 2013 - NerdWallet
"Top 10 Hottest Suburbs in the U.S." 2013 - CBS MoneyWatch
"Top Booming Suburbs In America" 2013 - Coldwell Banker
"The 50 Safest Cities in Washington" 2014 - SafeWise
"Maple Valley is the #4 place in Washington for homeownership" 2014 - NerdWallet
Maple Valley is in the "Top 10 Safest Places in Washington" 2014 MOVOTO Blog