Talk to me about Golden Valley, please (Minneapolis, Minnetonka: custom home, neighborhoods)

[Piglet99645]

I like the looks of the Hopkins school district, as well as the houses I'm seeing in my price range (under $300,000) in Golden Valley. The proximity to working downtown Minneapolis seems ok.

What's the area like? We're a family with elementary children and big dogs. So parks, and kid things-to-do are high on the list of things we want nearby, as well as relatively lower crime.

All input welcome. Thanks!

[Kebinminn]

Golden Valley is a nice area and I've been thrilled with Hopkins schools. Downtown is a quick and easy trip. I'm not super familiar with their parks, especially the neighborhood ones, but Brookview is a nice sized park. My sons friend lives there and they're quite happy and Golden Valley seems to have plenty for kids.

[Piglet99645]

Thanks! Please tell me more about what you love about the HOpkins schools, if you have time. I've got kids going into 1st and 6th grades. The older one very VERY smart (labeled "gifted" here, I think accurately).

[StilltheSame]

Golden Valley is a great area - close to downtown Minneapolis, the lakes, Uptown; really good schools and nice homes that are well priced and a bit larger than some of the other inner ring suburbs and Minneapolis. My only issue with GV is that areas are not very walkable other than to parks. But - absent that - Good choice.

[Kebinminn]

Hopkins elementary schools go through sixth grade and the challenge program is one reason I chose this district. They have a full-time challenge coordinator at each school and they do a pull out program. I've found the teachers more than willing to adapt to kids who need more challenge. I will add the caveat that it's a lot easier for kids who are comfortable with writing and math to get the challenge. I do wish they had more science at the elementary level, but they may in the upper grades. From what I've seen there's some very cool programs at the junior high level, one that comes to mind is forensics. You can go to their site and get a breakdown on the goals for each grade at the school.

If your oldest is profoundly gifted you may want to talk to them first as, like most gifted programs, they are geared toward the moderate kids. If your kid is in the profound area you may want to look at Minnetonka schools Navigator program. It's geared toward gifted achievers with an IQ of 145+.

[uptown_urbanist]

Golden Valley is great if you want easy access to both downtown and to lots of parks. My impressions are about the same as StilltheSame's. Wirth Park is right there, it seems to be popular with families, and has some very nice, affordable neighborhoods. They have a nice farmer's market in the summer by the water tower. It's also near Medicine Lake, which is nice in both summer AND winter.

[ferr0052]

If I could go on a tangent....

I know somebody who recently "lied" to me about living in Hopkins. He technically lives in Golden Valley...I was always under the impression that Golden valley has a better "reputation" than Hopkins. Would anybody disagree with my impression?

P.S When I think of Golden Valley (not that familiar) I think of pretty areas around Wirth Parkway.

[bbr1973]

Golden Valley has multiple personalities. You have the tony custom homes of Tyrol Hills and Hidden Lakes, the ubiquitous tract homes of postwar suburbs, and the Minneapolis-like areas (such as the homes adjacent to Wirth Park). It's most definitely suburban in feel overall, though - strip malls are the primary retail, chain restaurants abound and major highways are the primary ways to get around.