Looking for good areas with a decent commute time into downtown Seattle. (Bellevue: homes, school district)

[mysterymom]

We are considering a move to Seattle this spring and I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on what sort of area's would be best with a 7 and 12 yr old. I am looking for good schools - I was hoping for something in a new development mabe?? We have been up to Seattle once and looked in the Kirkland, Redmond and Bellevue areas - but I found them to be VERY overpriced.
Any suggestions??????

TIA
Mystery Mom

[the dufferz]

First thing we need to know is what you consider a "decent" commute time is. you are correct about the housing prices in the area you looked, but farther outward will impact the commute time, so knowing that you can invest timewise for a commute is the best starting point.

[mysterymom]

Thanks for the reply - I would say no more than about 30 - 45 mins each way.

[the dufferz]

Originally Posted by mysterymom

Thanks for the reply - I would say no more than about 30 - 45 mins each way.

Focus North: Bothell, Mill Creek. The commute will be 45 minutes, can be longer on bad days. Best if you can get flexible hours. The homes are a lot less expensive than Bellevue, Redmond, and it is a good area to raise kids.

[scubashawn]

Pretty much all area's are great for kids in Seattle.
The area's you mentioned are pretty expensive.
Actually all area's in Seattle are expensive now a days.

[washinton native]

Originally Posted by mysterymom

Any suggestions??????

TIA
Mystery Mom

don't move to seattle.

[noplacelikeWA]

Seattle is great but the schools are not and the commute is horrible. North Seattle is nice and cheaper than Bellevue and Redmond. Try Edmonds, Lynnwood area, but don't expect good schools anywhere in WA, unless you go private or home school.

[Seattletony]

Originally Posted by noplacelikeWA

Seattle is great but the schools are not and the commute is horrible. North Seattle is nice and cheaper than Bellevue and Redmond. Try Edmonds, Lynnwood area, but don't expect good schools anywhere in WA, unless you go private or home school.

Huh???? I will admit most public schools in Seattle proper are lacking resources but no schools are good in wa??? thats inaccurrate and completely false. My father works at the UW and does research on the local highschools in the immediate area. The Eastside schools are some of the best Edmonds school district is decent and the shoreline schools are good too. Now, the schools in south king county are so-so and the schools in south Snohomish Co. are decent. This person doesn't have a clue???

[seattle sunhine]

Take a look at the morning commute site like Komo.com traffic to see your commute might be in to work. Really no matter the I5 or the 405, 520 or the I 90 bridges are all bad each way and to live close to the city be prepared to dish out some big bucks. Good schools district is the Puyallup. Their test scores have been good. mostly middle class area. Had my Daughter going there for seven years and she did great. But unless your willing to dish out some bucks for a short commute and with all the bad weather we had lately tested our patients and driving skills you might also want to invest in some snow shoes . Most of the time it's not to bad. But we had a really bad fall and first part to our winter. But really look at the local traffic flow maps to what time your working hours are then you kind get the idea of what your going to deal with and what area might look good.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by noplacelikeWA

Seattle is great but the schools are not and the commute is horrible. .. but don't expect good schools anywhere in WA, unless you go private or home school.

I like the boldness of this poster That will raise some trouble !!! There are lots of educators who will flame to the end (their jobs depend on it !!) and parents too, pride... but in all reality it is a tad too general. I think the Island School district and Pullman are pretty good, and a few in Seattle and elsewhere that are public schools 'awash' in private funding... Ed. foundations taking donated $$ that used to go to help the needy...

We were just having a discussion today about the time spent tutoring for the WASL in WA public schools (so they appear good on the rankings...). The educational professionals were thinking maybe 30-40%, it is now the 'educational program'... We had to quit volunteering in the schools as a family, cuz... they didn't have time for individual reading and math help, - they needed to get the kids trained (conditioned) to take the achievement tests... Very sad, but there is a whole industry in Olympia who depends on this type of inefficiency, too bad it has to translate to our kid's education. But it will be the same with the new CARB emission standards. It will create and entire bureaucracy with hopes to achieve something in 20 yrs that we could have done in 2, with alternative fuels and conservation. tragic....