Moving to Raleigh

[mom2alix]

My friend is possibly moving to Raleigh, NC for a relocation. Anyone from there have advice regarding the best places to live, good schools, etc.? Her husband's new job will be on near the Raleigh farmer's market. They have 3 kids. one in middle school, one starting middle school next year, and one in 4th grade next year.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[cheerky]

I suggest the Clayton area in Johnston County. It would be about a 15 minute commute to the Farmer's Market. Wake County Schools (Raleigh) is a nightmare when it comes to school assignment. Many schools reassign year after year and are on year-round trackout schedules. In fact, the nightmare has been on national news for years!

The Riverwood schools and Cleveland schools in Johnston County are very good. There are really nice subdivisions in a variety of price ranges.

 

[Straitlover]

Have her read here: http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-cary/

Just about every relocation question has been covered here over and over.

I also work near the Farmer's Market. I'm guessing he will be either over on Centennial Campus or working for the State on Dix Campus? Tell him to stay away from the main restaurant at the Farmer's Market. Used to be good years ago, but it stinks now. The Seafood restaurant is OK, though.

 

[havaneselover]

Definitely go to citydata. Very active forum but people are very opinionated about where the best place to live is and when you start asking about schools people can get very heated.

My recommendation--West Cary. Schools are uniformly excellent, so even if there is a reassignment it is to another great school. Lots of exclusive Wake County neighborhoods have horrific schools. It isn't easy to navigate. But, there are some very good Wake County schools.

Chapel Hill is another option, but it is very expensive, a somewhat long commute from Raleigh, and very progressive (which isn't everyone's cup of tea).

 

[SettinSail]

Cary, Apex or Holly Springs would be my rec.

 

[North of Mouse]

My friend is possibly moving to Raleigh, NC for a relocation. Anyone from there have advice regarding the best places to live, good schools, etc.? Her husband's new job will be on near the Raleigh farmer's market. They have 3 kids. one in middle school, one starting middle school next year, and one in 4th grade next year.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Our son graduated from Wakefield High in N. Raleigh (between Raleigh & Wake Forest). It was an excellent school and the feeder schools to it (middle/elementary) were very good also. Would be very leery of some of the schools in S. Raleigh area, also not the best neighborhoods to live in either.

Friends of ours in Clayton (Johnston Co.) have a horrible commute with lots of traffic, but seem to like the schools ok.

Don't actually agree with a PP that says a lot of the nicer neighborhoods have horrible schools. We haven't found this to be true.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We live in holly springs and highly recommend. Our son is not in school yet but I keep an eye on all the reassignment issues, and it seems like we get less of that here. Also, holly springs was at the top of a list of best places to raise kids (Forbes maybe?). It's a small town feel but rut in the middle of everything.

I moved here from New York 12.5 years ago and have never regretted it. Just got my mom and dad to move here two months ago!

 

[HM]

Tell her to be careful in her choice. Living in Wake County and having kids in school is not something I'd get into now. I live in Durham county and my kids are now college age. In the 14 years they were in school, there was ONE reassignment. It's iffy with Wake county because whole area seems to be reassigned EACH year. I have a coworker who's granddaughter is in 7th grade and attended three different elementary schools on two different track-ins and has lived in the same house all her life.

 

[Serrina89]

The schools that my friends went to were Athens and Cary high. Those seem to be great schools. Cary is closer to the nc state area then most of raleigh so Cary would be a great choice

 

[NC State]

WOW, great to see all the Raleigh people on the board! I agree about the Wake County School system...it's a "soap opera" with lots of "drama"!

 

[chanson2]

I agree with a PP about West Cary. Lots of nice subdivisions, including new construction. We are actually walkers to our elementary school, so have not had the whole reassignment issues alot of neighborhoods do. Also, Western Cary schools seem to be just far enough outside of Raleigh that there are not as many busing issues. But I agree the Wake County school system is a disaster... That being said, we have been happy with Highcroft (elementary) and Panther Creek (high school). NC State is about a 25 minute drive, but not sure how the commute would be to near the Farmers Market, esp during rush hour.

 

[taylor3297]

I live in Morrisville, which is part of the western part of Wake (Cary almost surrounds us). The reassignment can be crazy, but when you have as much growth as this area does, well the kids have to go somewhere.

My kids go to Cedar Fork Elementary which is a great school. We also walk as it is extremely close to our house.

Also, I taught math at West Lake Middle and Apex Middle. Both were good middle schools.

With the new assignment plan for the next school year, your school assignment will be based on your address. So, if you find a house you like, you can punch in the address to see what your base school would be. Also, you have magnet options but you have to apply and the application process starts soon.

 

[Toots]

Lochmere subdivision in South Cary is a nice community and very convenient to the Farmer's Market. If they want land (maybe an acre) Dutchman Downs is also nice.

 

[kathyk2]

My sister's family moved from Massachusetts to Apex about five years ago and they really like it. The school my nephew and neice attend runs year round so they come for vacations at different times.

 

[MineMail]

Tell her to be careful in her choice. Living in Wake County and having kids in school is not something I'd get into now. I live in Durham county and my kids are now college age. In the 14 years they were in school, there was ONE reassignment. It's iffy with Wake county because whole area seems to be reassigned EACH year. I have a coworker who's granddaughter is in 7th grade and attended three different elementary schools on two different track-ins and has lived in the same house all her life.

Good timing - Durham just had a parents meeting last night about next year's reassignment plan for Jordan, hillside, githens, lowes grove and another middle school. The plans for Jordan make sense - they're assigning a development within walking distance of the school to Jordan. Not sure about the other school plans, but there's disagreement about the socioeconomic factors.

I had to laugh when i read that The governor said Tata was the right guy to appoint to transportation given his experience. Guess the gov's kid wasn't riding the Wake school buses last September.

 

[mom2carly]

Hi I am her friend this info is very helpful. I did call some schools and they were explaining your base school is now figured out by your address. Everyone seems so nice I can not wait to get to Raleigh on the18th for my husbands interview.

Do you all find it a great place for families?

 

[Madison'smommy]

I moved to the Raleigh area about 7 years ago from Maryland...we love it!! There is tons of family related activities....lots if nice parks.... We are in Fuquay Varina, almost right (literally) on the holly springs line. We are in wake county schools with no complaints. But it is true, with the growth of this area, they have to put the kids somewhere!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I lived in Raleigh for 10 years during the crazy growth spurt (86-96). I have lived and continue to be very close friends with folks who live all over including downtown, Cary, Clayton, Garner, Knightdale, Fuquay, Holly Springs, and Apex. My vote is for Cary. Very nice neighborhoods, I graduated from Cary High. I know a great Realtor there, PM me if you would like his info. His wife was my roommate for a long time and was in my wedding.

 

[taylor3297]

Hi I am her friend this info is very helpful. I did call some schools and they were explaining your base school is now figured out by your address. Everyone seems so nice I can not wait to get to Raleigh on the18th for my husbands interview.

Do you all find it a great place for families?

It is a great place for families. If you have any questions feel free to ask. You can send me a PM if you would like.

 

[NC State]

I had to laugh when i read that The governor said Tata was the right guy to appoint to transportation given his experience. Guess the gov's kid wasn't riding the Wake school buses last September.

Just keep in mind that Tata had a Transportation Director when he was in office. It was the Director of School Transportation that should had lost his job not Tata.