Chester Park Section in Pelham

[nonny]

There a some people who very vocally object to the math curriculum in Pelham. I don't really agree with them. I have children in fourth and fifth grade who do multiplication and division every single night. (The group is claiming too much constructivist math, not enough drilling.) Yet, according to this vocal group, the fourth and fifth graders do no multiplication and division at all. Their facts are just wrong. But, any time parents are that involved, it's a good thing. That said, we have top scoring mathematicians in our district.
My take: we have a strong math program, and the parent involvement will make it even stronger.(By the way, the proximity of the Fairway part of Pelham Manor to the Bronx is a nonissue. That part of the Bronx seems to be mostly businesses, not gangs or anything like that. I've only been a few times ... to a body shop, or McDonalds.)

[GTDJ519]

Ian...
Thanks; your opinions of each town you mentioned are right along the lines of my feelings exactly. I feel like no matter wehre we end up in lower Westchester, it will be the same shopping for all. Unless we go past Plesantville, which we will not, it will be the same places to shop, eat etc.

I am on the fence about Eastchester. I can't get a good feel on the schools, as they do not alllow you to visit them all. I got into waverly and Greenvale ony. l The middle school and high school do not let you visit. Unfortunately right now, the most homes we are seeing coming on the market are in Eastchester.
The town and the little I was able to see of the schools seemed okay, but I can't decide if it is the right place for us or not.
I visited all of the Larchmont/M-neck schools. They were all very nice truthfully. The elementary and middle school was fine, the Hogh School was really beautiful. Visited Pelham Hutch, middle and high school. Hutch was as i described above, the middle school is beautiful;brand new building, and the high school was older, not outstanding in terms of the building itself, but not awful.
Ardsley elementary i thought was fantastic, visiting the middle and high next week. I have the same feeling about the town though.....doesn't seem to be much of one.
Tell me where did you end up?
Tell me, where did you end up

[lan3]

I live in Pleasantville but that might be too much of a commute for you. We looked in many of the same areas (except Pelham). Here were my thoughts.

Mamroneck/Larchmont- I love the area. I love the shopping and restaurants and spent so much time there when I was in the Northeast Bronx and I know many people there. It was very expensive and I find it a bit inconvenient in the county. You are near Stamford and White Plains but neither have great malls. You are far from Central ave, Stew Leonards anything West which I wasn't crazy about. I work in the West side of manhattan and that is an awful commute. You still have to deal with supermarkets, target, etc in not friendly areas. I spent tons of time there with triplet toddlers and there is a huge difference in Northern Westchester in terms of helpfulness, kindness and friendliness. People in Pleasantville have let me cut them in line when they see me with my three kids. They have helped me to my car. Other than that I love it there but it is too expensive for me. The people I know there do not work and have nannies. It is very different. I still miss those restaurants though!

Ardsley- I love Ardsley's location! I also loved the schools. Ardsley was a great commute for me and my husband. The schools were beautiful and offered a lot. I don't mind high taxes if I feel I am getting what I pay for. I just didn't like the area. The town is dumpy and there was a lot of confusion about who can use town amenities.

Eastchester- It was much more affordable. The schools were nice. The people were more Bronx transplants so we would fit in well. I was worried about the shopping because most of the doctors and many of the stores seem to be going to Ridge Hill so I don't know how it will be affected. They have an amazing town pool. My biggest concern was that it wasn't enough a change for me. It was 5 minutes from my old house!

Pleasantville- Commute is longer to GCT. For me (on the West Side of Manhattan) it is longer than Ardsley but much better than the East side of Westchester. The town is cute. I shop in Mt Kisco which is much nicer and friendlier than shopping in New Rochelle, Eastchester and Mt Vernon. The schools are good but not pressure cooker. The facilities are great and we have two nice town pools we can join. We are happy here but there are so many great towns and everybody has different wants and needs.

[GTDJ519]

So funny...you sound just like me word for word about each town-LOL.
My feeling exactly on each. I do love M-neck/Larcmont best for its proximity, very family oriented, great shopping/restaurants ,so many things for children to do; as it is, I am there three times a week with my two daughters doing activitites/classes etc. I am a stay at home mom, but do not have a nanny. I am the nannny Would be a great commute for husband as well.
Pleasantville is the furthest we will go. Haven't seen too many houses there that fit our needs yet. Loved the schools when we visited.
At the moment, we have seen potential homes for us in Pelham, Ardsley, and there are a bunch in Eastchester we will be seeing tomorrow. I guess time and fate will tell us where we shoudl end up. I am finding it so hard to decide.