Friendliest Chicago suburb? (Evanston, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect: transfer, best schools, living in)

[kittyhox]

Wow, thanks so much for all the input! I really appreciate it. I will definitely check out Forest Park, as well as the other inner ring suburbs that have been mentioned.

Also, I'm not extremely concerned about the high schools... My children are still so young and who knows if we'll still be living in exactly the same neighborhood in 15 years. Plus, there is always private school should that be a necessary option in the distant future. Thanks for mentioning the magnet school option, as well.

Thanks again!

[mas23]

Originally Posted by kittyhox

Hello,

We currently live in Seattle and are considering a move to Chicago. My husband is interviewing for a job that would be primarily based in the Gold Coast area and I'm starting to scope out the suburbs so that he can check out neighborhoods after his interview. Also, the information will be helpful in negotiating his salary, as we'll know how much we'll need for housing costs.

The most important things to me are safety and limiting his commute as much as possible (I'd love for him to have a 20 minute commute - or less! - by rail or car). Other than that, we just want to live in a nice, friendly neighborhood in a nice, friendly community. We don't care about prestigious zip codes or school test scores. And probably couldn't afford those anyway. We just want our kids (our oldest is three) to attend a safe little school with happy kids and happy parents. We'd love to find a community that doesn't feel like a freeway exit or part of the city, with lots of family-oriented community events and resources.

Based on the salary range we've been given we would be in the mid $300-low $400,000 range. Of course, I'd like to be at the bottom of the range, but the top of the range would be fine, if necessary.

Based on these parameters, what towns within commuting distance do you think of as friendly and safe?

Thanks!!

west mont
lagrange
brookfeild(nice place)

[chet everett]

I believe only one of those schools made the cut as far reported by US News. Best High Schools Search - US News and World Report

I really do not know how one could rate "friendliness" -- even in towns with lots of neighborly events there are lots of curmudgeonly folks that you could end up on next to / on your block...

[deechee]

I'm actually happy I didn't go to one of the best high schools. I didn't feel so muc pressure, and I was allowed to be around people I was familiar with. All this jazz about the best high school is crazy to me. As long as the child is safe and actually learning something, what's the big hoolah?

I mean, my gosh. Who cares if the school isn't number 2 in the nation, city or state?

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Best High Schools Search - US News and World Report

I stopped reading when I saw Thornton in Harvey on the list

[mas23]

Originally Posted by deechee

I'm actually happy I didn't go to one of the best high schools. I didn't feel so muc pressure, and I was allowed to be around people I was familiar with. All this jazz about the best high school is crazy to me. As long as the child is safe and actually learning something, what's the big hoolah?

I mean, my gosh. Who cares if the school isn't number 2 in the nation, city or state?

some parents do. cuase it means that they have a better chance at getting into college over the next person. thats why so many parents in the city fight to get their kids into schools like whitney young and lane tech. And if that dont work some might just let their kids live with an auntie in the suburbs or use a fake address. I've known many many people who have done this. sometimes its based on the school but most of the time its just grades really

-mas23-

[Careless]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

I stopped reading when I saw Thornton in Harvey on the list

"College Readiness Index Not Applicable" Yeah, that sounds like a bronze

[deechee]

Originally Posted by mas23

some parents do. cuase it means that they have a better chance at getting into college over the next person. thats why so many parents in the city fight to get their kids into schools like whitney young and lane tech. And if that dont work some might just let their kids live with an auntie in the suburbs or use a fake address. I've known many many people who have done this. sometimes its based on the school but most of the time its just grades really

-mas23-

I had absolutely no problem getting into my choice college. I went to one of the worst high schools in the entire city. What was my ACT score? Let's just say it was in the high 20s. I did have a problem with financial aid, which is why I did not attend the college of my choice.

It's not where you go, it's what you do while you are there. It's something my parents told me when I was very young, and I learned to get what I could from what I had.

[deechee]

Originally Posted by Careless

"College Readiness Index Not Applicable" Yeah, that sounds like a bronze

No, I wouldn't send my toenail there to get clipped.

[mas23]

Originally Posted by deechee

I had absolutely no problem getting into my choice college. I went to one of the worst high schools in the entire city. What was my ACT score? Let's just say it was in the high 20s. I did have a problem with financial aid, which is why I did not attend the college of my choice.

It's not where you go, it's what you do while you are there. It's something my parents told me when I was very young, and I learned to get what I could from what I had.

exactly, like i said its mostly just grades and test scores