Best neighborhood (Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach: best neighborhoods, apartments, rent)

[rubydoo70]

We are moving to California from Utah. We are looking into Orange County, but my husband will be working out of an office in Long Beach. What are the best neighborhoods for schools and a 1st grader in LA county?? I know nothing about this state so any help would be appreciated. i did get input in the OC forum, but I would like info on this area as well.

Thanks

[Charles]

"Best" can be interpreted in many ways. "What a first grader is supposed to learn" is vague - also could be student dependent as much as school dependent. Some people place diversity (whatever that really means) over quantified assessment results.

Here's a tool that may provide some ideas:

School Performance Maps

[rubydoo70]

That map doesn't help me with neighborhoods. I moved to Utah a few months ago from Maryland, who has the best schools in the nation and this is what I am comparing my son's learning experience too.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by rubydoo70

That map doesn't help me with neighborhoods. I moved to Utah a few months ago from Maryland, who has the best schools in the nation and this is what I am comparing my son's learning experience too.

Did you zoom in a look at the individual scores?

Like this:

http://www.schoolperformancemaps.com...3%2C12%2C1%2C2

[rubydoo70]

Yeah I did, but i don't understand the neighborhoods. I have only been to San Diego and no place else in California. My husband is from Garden Grove originally so he wants to come back. This is all new to me. I just want an idea of a neighborhood with exceptional schools is all. Like where do all the families reside?? lol. I am not LDS so don't recommend any of those if possible. I have had enough of that culture to last me 1000 years being in Utah.

[timelesschild]

Here is another tool: LA Life - Find Your Place in Los Angeles. It shows schools, safety, and pricepoint for all of Los Angeles County.

Generally, I would say that if your husband is going to be in Long Beach and is FROM Garden Grove, then Long Beach would be good. I have heard good things about La Mirada schools, although their scores are not spectacular. Very family-oriented area.

What sort of area do you like? Urban or suburban? Shiny new; older with character; or whatever is affordable? What is your budget? Is your first grader your only child?

[rubydoo70]

yep my 1st grader is my only child. I have heard bad things about long beach. What neighborhoods in LB? I checked out the other site that people have provided and I wasn't impressed with the safety or the school score. our budget is 1900 for a rental. We aren't going to buy just yet. I don't really care if it's an older neighborhood, I just want safe.

[BennyPhoenix]

Good luck finding a good and safe school in an area where you can rent for 1900 unless you want a 1 bedroom apt.

[timelesschild]

OK, how about Cerritos? That has good safety and schools, is close to LB and GG (and your child will be glad to hear that it is close to Disneyland!), and it has a really VERY good public library with a phenomenal children's section.

You shouldn't have any trouble finding things in your price range. I did a quick check on Craigslist, and found apartments WELL within your range, as well as a few single-family homes. Rents seem to be coming down. Here is a sample from Cerritos:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/apa/1009824860.html (broken link)

Back to Long Beach:
If this were any other state, Long Beach would have its own forum. It's a large city of 500,000 with good and bad areas. There are several regular posters on this forum who talk about Long Beach, and it seems that they always say that the Bixby Knolls area is good, as well as Belmont Shore and a few others. Seriously if you search, you'll find lots of threads on this topic.

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by rubydoo70

yep my 1st grader is my only child. I have heard bad things about long beach. What neighborhoods in LB? I checked out the other site that people have provided and I wasn't impressed with the safety or the school score. our budget is 1900 for a rental. We aren't going to buy just yet. I don't really care if it's an older neighborhood, I just want safe.

You have heard bad things because Long Beach is a huge city and some people don't know enough about the city but they draw conclusions anyway based on one part they may have seen or heard about. There are some bad parts of Long Beach. But if you live in the good parts (and there are vastly more good parts than bad), you'd never experience the bad parts. There are a lot of distinct neighborhoods.

Go look at Naples, Lowell, Kettering, etc. and you'll see some of the best elementary schools in southern california and you'll see some of the nicest neighborhoods as well.

Long Beach is great because it has all the amenities of a big city but feels small because of all the distinct neighborhoods. It has something for everyone. There are beach, suburban, urban and estate neighborhoods. It is older which means the houses don't all look exactly alike which I think gives the neighborhoods some great character.

It's a city of 500k people but you'll feel like you're in a small town. It's a great dynamic.

As for specific neighborhoods I like:

Naples, Belmont Shore, Belmont Park, Belmont Heights, Park Estates, El Dorado Park Estates, Bixby Knolls, Virginia Country Club, the Peninsula, and University Park Estates to name a few.

And unlike a lot of people on this board, I'm not a realtor and I have no vested interest in people moving here. I just like the place.