Family of 5 with 3 kids relocating from Orlando area (Tampa, Palm Harbor: to rent, low crime)

[JasonMarc12]

Looking for good schools and athletics for family of 3 kids ages 9-15.

Good schools with a strong athletic department. Would rather suburbs of the Tampa area. Probably looking to rent first.

[FL_Expert]

What’s your budget like?

[JasonMarc12]

Just looking for info on the schools and areas for now. Budget will be fine.

[Arcenal813]

I lived in East Lake (North Pinellas) for a while up until recently. It's basically Markham Woods/Heathrow (since you're familiar with Orlando.) I'd move back there in a heartbeat. Great schools, very low crime, lots of sports programs, including some fairly high profile ones. If you're looking for suburbia, it's hard to beat.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by JasonMarc12

Just looking for info on the schools and areas for now. Budget will be fine.

You’ll probably want somewhere in the Plant High School District. It’s the top high school in Tampa Bay and I understand their athletics department is solid. South Tampa isn’t for everyone, but they do have the best schools if that’s your primary consideration.

[JasonMarc12]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

You’ll probably want somewhere in the Plant High School District. It’s the top high school in Tampa Bay and I understand their athletics department is solid. South Tampa isn’t for everyone, but they do have the best schools if that’s your primary consideration.

What would be the reasons that people generally wouldn’t like South Tampa?

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by JasonMarc12

What would be the reasons that people generally wouldn’t like South Tampa?

I'm not sure there is room here to address that, but...

No, really, South Tampa is one of the more expensive areas in Tampa, it's populated by a strange mix of knockdown/new builds and bungalows from the 40s and 50s. It will be underwater in a large hurricane and is an evacuation zone, I believe. Congested and traffic is difficult, but for that matter, you can say that about the Tampa area in general.

Athletics differs by school. For instance, Armwood HS has one of the best football programs in the county, but I'm not sure I would send my kids there for academics, or any other sport. This is common across the school district. I can think of a few exceptions, like maybe Newsome HS, which is excellent academically ("A"-rated school as is Plant HS) as well as has a very strong athletic program. However, it's an outlier.

RM

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

Yes, essentially it’s an affluent area but isn’t particularly nice with all the dated shopping centers, poor roadways, and run down 50s era homes. Anywhere else in Florida this wealthy would have a high standard of living.

Plus, you’d be neighbors with sinatras…

Plus, I hear the Electric goes out all the time in south Tampa.....

[kyle19125]

Check out Safety Harbor. It's very family-friendly with nice neighborhoods, overall friendly residents (block parties are a big thing) and convenient to Tampa minus a ton of traffic. Countryside HS is well-rated (A-/B+ depending on rating site), has a well-established sports program and a more racially diverse student body versus East Lake or Palm Harbor University which tend very white. Safety Harbor and neighboring Oldsmar have world class youth recreation programs which include ice hockey, figure skating and BMX bikes besides the usuals like football, baseball, swimming and soccer.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Check out Safety Harbor. It's very family-friendly with nice neighborhoods, overall friendly residents (block parties are a big thing) and convenient to Tampa minus a ton of traffic. Countryside HS is well-rated (A-/B+ depending on rating site), has a well-established sports program and a more racially diverse student body versus East Lake or Palm Harbor University which tend very white. Safety Harbor and neighboring Oldsmar have world class youth recreation programs which include ice hockey, figure skating and BMX bikes besides the usuals like football, baseball, swimming and soccer.

Vinny Prospal (Ex-NHL star) coaches at TBSA Oldsmar.

As for East Lake/Palm Harbor being very white, I agree with you fully there. That being said, I never felt out of place, or "unwanted" there. Didn't seem like anyone really paid that sort of stuff any mind. Most people living there aren't "from the South," if that makes any difference. But you're right nonetheless.