How do you go about looking at schools/new homes for Tampa area?

[The Mystery Machine]

DH is attempting to land a job in Tampa. Nothing official yet. (Fingers and toes are crossed for me)

So how do you look up schools and get those ratings? I have a 1st and a 7th grader.
We have been looking at the new housing on the net, wow so many! This is scary stuff moving from MO to FL. But hey I AM SO READY!

AP passes here we come (I hope!) Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Pop Daddy]

anit it allways the same, the more expensive the neighborhood the better the schools

 

[The Mystery Machine]

They must have alot of great schools then!

 

[Pop Daddy]

lol

 

[Poohnatic]

I'm planning on moving in that general vicinity, too.

I did a google of "Board of Education" "Florida" and the county I was looking at to get the local board of ed site. The county I'm planning on moving to is very proud of their ratings, so those are one of the first links on their home page!

As far as homes, I'm going from previous experiences. I will sell my house here, rent a house for a year in the school attendance area that we need to be in (son is in special ed, don't want him to have another 90 minute bus ride each way) and scope out the area.

I registered to look at homes for rent at a few sites that I googled, using the town, state and 'real estate'. The down side for me was that I got tons of email from a realtor in my community that wants to sell my home. I will not work with a realtor who puts "Call Board of Education" under Elementary, Middle and High school listings. For the amount of money he'd be getting for selling my house, he'd pick up the phone and call them!

The internet is a beautiful thing when you're moving to a different part of the country. I was flying blind 16 years ago when I moved from NY to MD. You can even scope out the Tampa papers online and get a feel for what's happening, look at real estate listings on there, too.

Good luck with your move. Any place warm is a good thing!

I know, Pop, long post...oh well!

Suzanne

 

[dizny4us]

Whe we moved to Florida last year, I found www.floridasmart.com helpful for finding out info. There's a possibility that we may be moving to the Clearwater area this summer...maybe we'll be neighbors!

Good luck with your search!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the info. It looks like Hillsborough County is HUGE! Any help is appreciative as we are flying blind and know zip about living in FL.

 

[tiggerlover]

I have a friend that just moved to the Tampa area and they found a house in Valrico and they are very excited to be moving in next week as they said it is one of the best school districts around. (Their daughter is in third grade). Wish I could be more helpful, just thought I would pass on what my friend told me. Good luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks! I will take a look.

 

[minniecarousel]

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