Moving to the PNW - need help to find the best schools! (Seattle: house)

[Jill S]

We will be moving from the midwest to Oregon or Washington in the next few months. Trying to find the best area for education for our children. We can choose Portland or Seattle - not sure yet which one we will like more. Looking for ideas for housing and good education for our little kids. Moving from a great school district sets the bar pretty high. Our housing budget is $300,000-$550,000.

[Seattle2012]

Seattle has few good schools. I think you want to get your foot in Wallingford area of Seattle. It might be a bit more then 500000, if you want big 4 bed, 4 bath but, if you settle for less, you can get some good house. JOhn Stanford is very good school. Just make sure you are really close to it. They keep pushing the boundaries, so living far may get you to B.F> Day school instead, and yes, city does not care you spend 1000000 on a house.

[slan490]

Not sure what your flexibility is when you say "Seattle"....Olympia School district is very good.

[StealthRabbit]

What Age are the KIDS...? For HS, you need to consider Running Start (free college instead of High School) (hint: get yourselves CLOSE to a GOOD College). Running Start

Camas and Hockinson are 15 min from PDX and the best schools in SW WA. (any very high by WA Stds)

Many housing choices in your price range. Do you want rural, urban, or suburban?

Living in WA and having immediate access to Portland (especially the GREAT airport, and MANY colleges) is not bad if you have to live 'We_tside'.
If you can work from WA, you will get a 10% raise.

[Jill S]

We will have a 1st grader and a 3 year old when we move. We are moving from Iowa and education is a huge priority in our community. Kindergarten blew my mind - my 5 year old was reading chapter books before she was done with her 1st year of school!

We are more suburban people - lived around the midwest and the south in the suburbs. Like living close to the city, but love the small town feel and smaller schools for our children.

I appreciate all feedback! We need to be close to an airport so that is why we are looking between Seattle and Portland. Will have to visit to make a decision!

[Jill S]

Thanks - don't think I have looked at Wallingford yet.

[BellevueNative]

This is probably the most commonly asked question on this board. If you do a search, you'll find all the information you need. That said, the best schools in the Seattle area are in the Eastside suburbs, plus Shoreline and Mukilteo school districts. Seattle (city) has a handful of good schools, but you may have trouble finding a nice home in your budget in the neighborhoods those schools serve.

[StealthRabbit]

Hockinson and Camas will fit your needs / desires and most closely replicate Iowa. (I was NE and CO in school, but we homeschooled our own (in WA).

Can't beat PDX airport and available culture, w/o the HUGENESS, traffic / congestion / costs of SEA (tho there are some nice places. It is definately BIG.) SEA is also very nice to have marine water front. BUT... I have preferred to visit frequently and enjoy my rural atmosphere / view / EZ access Portland. Airport is SO MUCH quicker, it is worth it. SEA is very nice to visit on weekends (light traffic) Bus, Train, Plane or drive (3 hrs).

The Quality of Life can be quite good in SW WA. (I could do w/o the drizzle in either place), BUT I can be from my house to CA in less than 2 hrs via PDX ~$39-$89.

I never get tired of my view and the changing weather patterns. (sorry about the Chinese... I'm not home at the moment...)

http://www.google.com.hk/search?q=ca...A&ved=0CC0QsAQ

http://www.google.com.hk/search?q=ca...LsS1rQGF6oDQDw

[xcalgal]

Bainbridge Island has great schools too.