Looking for some suggestions please... (Bellevue, Bellingham: apartment, to rent, credit)

[nerdygirly]

Hello, I hope someone here could help me out. I am currently researching places to move to! This is probably going to be a bit long because I am long winded so if you bear with me I will appreciate it.

My husband works on the west coast, he travels to various cities (Anacortes, LA, Oakland, SLC, and Honolulu). I am looking into moving somewhere on the west coast. I am not tied to the job market at all so it is not an issue. Being within driving distance of an airport is essential due to my husband’s job, but right now I drive 2.5 hours to Houston Airport so as long as it is not farther than that I am fine. I live in a very rural and small place right now and I hate it. I am not saying I want a big city, but I would like some options of things to do besides going to the movies or chuck e cheese. I am looking to rent, I tried home ownership and I hate it, I prefer renting for several reasons I won’t get into.

The most important factor for me is schools. I want a place with really good public schools, not necessarily the best test scores, but the best opportunities and things offered with teachers and parents who care about kids learning things. I am moderately content with my kids school it has it's positive and negatives like any school, but some stuff really bothers.

PROS (in my opinion): Great parental involvement, Pretty great Gifted and Talented program; they offer G/T classes from elementary school up for the whole day my 7 year old is in a G/T class and my daughter will be in one next year for 1st grade. The school is also very safe; there is not a lot of violence or bullying. Senior year you can co-enroll and get college credits for some senior classes.

CONS (i.m.o.): The school district is pretty closed minded, rigid, and strict. They still have corporal punishment as an option and use it, coaches are very keen to give “licks” (even though I say no my kids are exposed to this as a method), kids have to remain totally silent during lunch, limited recess, diversity of thought is not encouraged. The science curriculum is not very good at all. They do not encourage community involvement, recycling, anything like that. Also, there is a very strong religious atmosphere that I don’t think is appropriate for public schools (not trying to offend).

Those are just a few examples and some may seem minor, but they still bother me and if I could find something that is a better fit that would be great. Also are any schools year-round or just 9 months? I prefer year-round if it is an option.

I have three kids ranging from 6 - 15, two in elementary one in high school. My oldest is in high school band, so a great music program is also essential, with a marching band. AP class options is another important factor. All of my children are very active in gymnastics as well so having somewhere they could continue doing that is pretty important (gymnastics isn't offered at school it is at a separate place and that is fine). I know every school has a different way of doing things and all schools have downsides and aren't going to be perfect, but I want to make sure my kids will be challenged and since I have a lot of freedom in where I move I can be choosy.

Any information is appreciated greatly. I have looked up statistics about some different towns, school districts and schools, but I am kind of just looking up aimlessly and there are so many options I thought getting first hand feedback from residents would be more beneficial. Thanks for any help and thanks for bearing with me and my long post!

[Hemlock140]

I would say that you have two good options based on my own experience and that of my kids growing up:

East side, 45 minutes from Seatac airport, the best places for schools in this order:
Mercer Island
Bellevue
Sammamish

Easy Bay California, 45 minutes from Oakland airport:
Lafayette
Orinda
Walnut Creek

What you will find, though, is that the best schools are always in the most expensive places to live. You would get a lot more for the money here in WA than in CA. The parents care about their kids education, and are a lot more involved both with time and money.

Here's an example:

Home | Mercer Island Schools Foundation

[abentley]

I live in Mount Vernon and I from what I've heard in this area is that Anacortes has the best schools in Skagit County. From your post though I feel like you would like Bellingham - it is a college town with more to do and has a cool vibe but I don't know anything about the schools there. Anacortes is cute and quaint but kind of a snooze...

Good luck!

[NW Crow]

If you want to rent, live near a big city & airport but not be right in it, with good schools and some diversity maybe look into Issaquah.

Lots of middle & upper-middle income and some higher income families but not as high income or as exclusive as some other eastside communities. Tons of big apartment and townhome complexes at different price points, some with various degrees of their own community amenities and activities and then there is some pretty good community infrastructure from the city too. If you want to rent a single family home I'd think you'd have plenty of options for that too. I believe they have some good sports and music programs but that is just remembered hearsay, not firsthand experience. As for diversity, almost 1 in 5 are identified with an ethnic minority (mostly asian and hispanic). Puget Sound and the mountains are of course nearby.


If you want more sun & some of your family close, I would think you might find something acceptable in the Medford Oregon area.