Relocating to Denver: Advice on best Denver areas for families? (Lakewood: real estate market, rent)

[Nickycoli]

We are relocating to Denver this winter/spring, my husband will be working downtown, and we would really appreciate some advice on the best areas in (actual) Denver to raise a family. We've done lots of school & 'hood research and have honed in on: Congress Park/East Cheesman, South Park Hill & Hilltop. We're also considering Stapleton, but prefer to be closer to DT & in a more established (grown trees) area. We'd love any advice/tips about the schools, lifestyle & vibe of these areas or re any areas/good schools we've overlooked. Our girls are ages 3 & 8. We grew up in Lakewood, and after 15 yrs. away, we're x-tra thrilled to return to Colorado!

[2bindenver]

Denver is a big place, you haven't given us much to go on. Budget or a price range, rent or buy, single family or condo/townhome....

http://www.denver.org/metro/neighborhoods

[Nickycoli]

More info: We're looking for a single family home for ~$450-630K. We might also consider a condo/townhome, but we'd need at least a small yard and we wouldn't want hefty addt'l fees. We've been searching the real estate market and are optimistic about finding something we like in the aforementioned areas.

[2bindenver]

There are some very neat Victorians in Park Hill/City Park.
There are some brand new houses in Berkeley/Highlands.
I love the Sloans Lake area, plus there is Wash Park, Cory Merrill, Belcaro, Cherry Creek, Congress Park...all within 5 miles of downtown.

[davebarnes]

Every location you named is in Denver.

My suggestion is: start by selecting the Elementary Schools you like.

District Summary Data (http://communications.dpsk12.org/initiatives/district-summary-data/school-performance-framework/ - broken link)
Tons of data.

Then, select your neighborhood.

Only one school (Bromwell) requires you to live in its district. Inside and not one inch outside.

http://www.dpsk12.org/pdf/DPS_Distri...2010_11x15.pdf

[Nickycoli]

Thanks for the link, Davebarnes. We'll definitely check it out! So far, we've mainly done our school research via greatschools.org and we've talked to administrators/asked questions at schools of interest. On a recent Denver visit, and in anticipation of our kids' future schooling, we toured East High and were quite impressed. We plan to get settled long-term and we're really interested in living in the Bromwell, Morey, East boundary. Re Congress park, if we can't get into Bromwell's boundary, we're also interested in Teller Elem, which also feeds into Morey & East H.

We're also interested in the Park Hill Elem, Smiley Middle & East H. boundary. I've read & heard that Smiley's Middle has a good IB program, but is overall still considered a questionable school, and that parents often choice their kids into another middle school, like Morey, Denver School of the Arts, DSST or even Hamilton.

We're also considering the Steck, Hill Campus Middle, & George Washington HS boundary found in Hilltop. We have reservations about GW as an overall school, but the IB program does seem really good.

East High just seems like a good all-around High School. Also, if we live in the East H. boundaries, we figure that we wouldn't be too far from Denver School of the Arts & DSST, if our kids wanted to audition or try to choice-in when they're later at that age .

We currently reside out of state and will try to tour other schools when we're in Denver next. We'd appreciate any further input re the above schools and their respective neighborhoods, particluarly from a family perspective. We'd also be grateful to hear about good preschools in the aforementioned areas. We're aiming to find a house within desireable school boundaries. Anyhow, we'll miss the opportunity for the next DPS choice process/deadline.

[Nickycoli]

I haven't receieved further feedback on the above Denver areas & schools, but thought I'd see about getting feedback about Stapleton. As of late, We've been giving Stapleton greater consideration. It's further from Lakewood (where our family lives) than we'd like, but we love that it has very good schools, new & energy efficient homes, and that it's uber-family friendly. I've scouted the area before, and liked it overall, but did find it to feel kind of like a separate (huge) island unto itself and also wished it had full-grown trees....With all the tree-plantings of Forest City, it'll surely be gorgeous years from now. Any thoughts on Stapleton to share? Also, any thoughts about benefits/detractions to living in the Central Park West area of Stapleton. Thanks!

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Nickycoli

Any thoughts on Stapleton to share?

White people with babies. Lots of babies.
I think this is useful The Stapletonion: Think Globally, Laugh Locally

[Nickycoli]

Thanks, I've done reserach, but hadn't seen the Stapletonian until now. Yes, it's kid-city, isn't it?! I did notice at least some diversity when scouting around Stapleton this past summer.....I think our kids would be thrilled about all of the kid-activity and it seems the schools are catching up with the kid-influx..?.. Also, we're social people, but we do also need some "alone-time" as well.

Any thoughts on Stapleton lifestyle etc.?

[Nickycoli]

I went to CU-Boulder...Fell in love with 'The Onion' there and have been reading it ever since...