Lincoln park relocation (Chicago: apartments, home, neighborhood)

[Jenabella]

We are family with 2 small kids and potentially relocating to Lincoln park from Florida. We found a great rental, but it is in the Mayer school zone. I am having a hard time finding information about this school. Is this a decent school? Greatschool.org has it a rating of 4.

[chet everett]

There are better performing schools. I would rely less on those sites where any joker can weigh in on how wonderful / crappy a school is a stick to the object data compiled for the Illinois Interactive Report Cards hosted by NIU.

If you are serious about relocating to Chicago with kids probably worth paying the fee to join the npn site for more current and serious discussions.

I'd not let the boosterism of some blind you to the fact that CPS are very odd -- a handful of really high performing schools for those who know how the Byzantine system of selective enrollment works, some decent neighborhood schools that still screen out the most able students for special treatment, loads of horribly underprepared students with near zero chance of success make some schools downright depressing...

Lincoln Pak is generally accepted to be THE most costly non-high rise part of Chicago and I would be more than a little skeptical about a "really great rental" seen only online. Even if it is not a scam there is a high probablabilty that it has some glaring flaws that anyone would notice in person -- over the hpharabage bin if a seafood resturant, surrounding by hospital ER with constant sirens, poor / no access to parking, and a whole host of very UN-family friendly apartments burn Internet apartment hunters...

If you have unlimited resources living in Chicago with kids can be wonderful, but for a huge percentage of those with school age children the costs are out of line with the benefits. The city government and CPS seem to care far less about this reality than extracting revenue from every source to keep its ancient patronage / pension plans limping along. Even a very comfortable salary in other parts of the region quickly gets swallowed by the high costs associated with city living.

[aragx6]

She said "great rental" and by no means mentioned the price -- perhaps she means great in that it looks gorgeous or exactly fits their requirements. Calm down.

OP, there is certainly some boosterism here, but as you'll also discover a lot of unecesssary Debbie Downers who don't even live in the city.

I'll leave the school help to those who know better, but be assured that LP is a great neighborhood. All the best!

[Aleking]

classic chet, why not just control-v a "move to DuPage County" post?

[It'sAutomatic]

Originally Posted by chet everett

There are better performing schools. I would rely less on those sites where any joker can weigh in on how wonderful / crappy a school is a stick to the object data compiled for the Illinois Interactive Report Cards hosted by NIU.

If you are serious about relocating to Chicago with kids probably worth paying the fee to join the npn site for more current and serious discussions.

I'd not let the boosterism of some blind you to the fact that CPS are very odd -- a handful of really high performing schools for those who know how the Byzantine system of selective enrollment works, some decent neighborhood schools that still screen out the most able students for special treatment, loads of horribly underprepared students with near zero chance of success make some schools downright depressing...

Lincoln Pak is generally accepted to be THE most costly non-high rise part of Chicago and I would be more than a little skeptical about a "really great rental" seen only online. Even if it is not a scam there is a high probablabilty that it has some glaring flaws that anyone would notice in person -- over the hpharabage bin if a seafood resturant, surrounding by hospital ER with constant sirens, poor / no access to parking, and a whole host of very UN-family friendly apartments burn Internet apartment hunters...

If you have unlimited resources living in Chicago with kids can be wonderful, but for a huge percentage of those with school age children the costs are out of line with the benefits. The city government and CPS seem to care far less about this reality than extracting revenue from every source to keep its ancient patronage / pension plans limping along. Even a very comfortable salary in other parts of the region quickly gets swallowed by the high costs associated with city living.

That's it? No more unrelated things to complain about this morning? You're going soft.

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by Aleking

classic chet, why not just control-v a "more to DuPage County" post?

Ah, this is so true; it elicited a chortle from me.

I award you two internet points, good sir.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by Jenabella

We are family with 2 small kids and potentially relocating to Lincoln park from Florida. We found a great rental, but it is in the Mayer school zone. I am having a hard time finding information about this school. Is this a decent school? Greatschool.org has it a rating of 4.

I live in lincoln Park. I cant say much about the School Districts because I am only 23 myself, but there seem to be quite a few families in the area and there a lot of 20 something as well. The area is amazing, very beautiful and safe. Sorry I cant help with the school district thing.

[tomcho]

Originally Posted by It'sAutomatic

That's it? No more unrelated things to complain about this morning? You're going soft.

[TrainingDay]

Originally Posted by Jenabella

We are family with 2 small kids and potentially relocating to Lincoln park from Florida. We found a great rental, but it is in the Mayer school zone. I am having a hard time finding information about this school. Is this a decent school? Greatschool.org has it a rating of 4.

why not move to englewood? its a nice neighborhood. it has its ups and downs. but what neighborhood doesnt? you can get a home at a fair price. your neighbors are pretty pleasant. very welcoming area!

[Larry Siegel]

For those who are not from around here, the above message is an unkind prank. Englewood is the worst slum in the city.