Tampa Anyone?

[Dsnymouse]

Posted this on family board as well...

Wondering if anyone can tell me about the Tampa area? Considering a move there. Can you give me idea's on family friendly area's and good school's?

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

[ckay87]

Just back from visiting my sister in the Tampa area (Seffner). She has lived many places but says that Tampa area feels the most like home. I love to visit her there also. I don't know, it's just a neat area.

 

[kbmag1]

We moved here three years ago, here are some of the schools we considered. North Tampa the Citrus Park area, I think the school is Sickels and there is another in the area, I don't recall the name. New Tampa the Wharton school area its close to Hunters Green. South Tampa the Fishhawk area. Pinellas County the Palm Harbor area, when we looked here they still bussed kids to different schools because of school of choice. So even though my kids were one year apart, they may each attend a different school. Pasco County, the Trinity area, the High Schools there are Mitchell and River Ridge. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Thanks Kbmag1 and Ckay -

Gives me new area's to research and check out schools!

 

[zalansky]

I live in Tampa, have for 16 years. We have considered moving to every known area here and in Pasco county. The property taxes have gotten so high, so has homeowners insurance, we're holding tight to see what happens with those two things (they're lobbying right now, with little hope, to reduce these things) before we move. Bear in mind if you move into a planned community, you'll have HOA fees and CDD fees to pay as well and just because you move into a community, it does not guarantee that your kids will go to a good school or even the school you think they will go to. For instance, there is a nicer community called Westchase. Really nice, we've always wanted to live there because the majority of families who live there have children. Lots of kids playing in the street, community pools, elementary and middle school in the community. But some people who live in this community had their kids re-zoned a year or so ago to another less than desirable school and the people were furious. I'd be too if I paid all that money to live in there and then my kids got moved.
A friend of ours is a high school teacher at Wharton High School in New Tampa and says she'll never send her kids to public schools there or anywhere else in this area. She sees what goes on. The Florida school system doesn't have such a good reputation. They have been so desperate for teachers in our district, they hire peopple with 4 year degrees and put them through a certification program to become teachers because they don't have enough teachers! Our kids, luckily, will be going to a charter school until 8th grade and who knows how good that will be....then we'll send them to private high school.
Where will you be working? That will help in making a choice of what area to look for. Tampa is huge and without knowing how long of a commute you'll have its hard to say where for you to look.
New Tampa is very popular and has grown alot.
Here is a link to a realtors website that lists houses for sale with the names of the communities, which really helps. http://www.tampa4u.com/
I don't know the realtor, but use the site to look for homes all the time.
Good luck!

 

[Tropicana]

The best public schools in Tampa IMO are in South Tampa. That's where the older neighborhoods are (Palma Ceia, Virginia Park, Hyde Park and Beach Park) and houses are expensive. Elementary schools are Gorry and Roosevelt. High School is Plant. These are Blue Ribbon and A schools. There are also excellent private schools in the area (Academy of Holy names and Tampa Prep). Check out the Hillsborough County school district Web site with links to all the schools.
For newer houses (<10 years old) I like the Westchase area. They have nice amenities like community pool, playground. Houses are more affordable here. Public schools in Westchase area are very crowded though bc of the population growth.
The Carrollwood neighborhood off North Dale Mabry is an older suburb of Tampa (about 25 yo). THe houses are a bit dated, but there is more property between houses. Check out the Lake Magdalene area here. I have heard good things about Carrollwood Day School.
Hope this helps!

 

[zalansky]

Agree with everything Tropicana says. See - told you Westchase is popular! We love Carrollwood ourselves. Its older but I am from up North and love older homes and old trees. There are no HOA fees there. But you'll more than likely get a smaller home and need to remodel. If you live in an area near Lake Caroll, you get access to the lake and can use it year round. Thats another place we're seriously considering.
More good private schools: Independant Day School, Berkely Prep, Tampa Catholic High School, Jesuit. All $$$.
Agree South Tampa's Plant High is the best high school in all of Tampa. But it costs big bucks to live around there.

 

[Dsnymouse]

Thanks disers! I knew I would get the information I was looking for.
Now I think my head is swimming. Lots of great information.

Love the DISboards and it's members!

 

[jcriket]

Thanks disers! I knew I would get the information I was looking for.
Now I think my head is swimming. Lots of great information.

Love the DISboards and it's members!

If your head is swimming you might consider closer to the beaches in Pinellas county. I like Tampa there's lots of things to do there, but the living seems a bit more laid back over here. Traffic doesn't seem as bad. Maybe it's because I know my way around. If I had to live in Tampa, I like north Tampa.

 

[Dsnymouse]

jcriket,

Tell me about Clearwater. Closer to beaches, how about schools and friendly family communities. I want to consider all area's. Any help would be great.
Thanks!