New Yorkers: Advice on Family Life in NYC?

[lainiefig]

My husband and I live about 20 miles from the city in Rockland County, but we constantly think about moving to the city, specifically to Manhattan. (I've tried to get him to consider other boroughs but so far no luck.) He is surfing the web looking at real estate listings right now, in fact. However, we are intimidated by the idea of raising our kids there. It's not so much safety or that I think it's better in the country (I grew up way out in the country myself). It's more about getting them into decent schools. I've heard that it's really competitive even getting your kid into a good public school and the process is something I know nothing about. Where we live I got a letter from the local school before my DS started Kindergarten and it was all very easy to do. I have a 5-year old and a 2-year old.

Would the schooling in Manhattan be impossible to figure out for a couple of transplanted Texans or does anyone have advice? Right now it's still sort of a fantasy, but it's a pretty serious one.

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=purple]***Lainie***
My fitness blog: http://fitnessfig.blogspot.com/ http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/7.gif

 

[upperwests]

I live both in Rockland County and New York City (moved into the city when I got remarried 3 years ago, but still hanging on to my condo) and I teach in Rockland County, so I guess I am the perfect person to reply to your post. There are many good schools in the city, but I think most of Rockland County's schools are excellent and exceed most of New York's city's schools. Living in the city with little ones is tough, but if you can afford it, then there's no place on earth like it. I just think it can be a real "pain" getting around the city with kids. I think that children can attend their local zoned school, but they can "apply" to go to others as well. Call the New York City Board of Education to find out BEFORE you do anything. Also, every school in NYC was just given a Report Card. So you should do a "search" about that as well.
Paula

 

[lainiefig]

Thanks, Paula. I remember before we moved to Nyack I had done all kinds of research on NYC schools and had lots of links saved on my computer for the info, but I have a different computer now so I've got to do that research again.

We lived in central London for a couple years before moving here, so at least I have some experience with getting around a city with kids, though it's a very different city.

I think we'll have to think about it some more. We both feel like city people at heart but we also have to worry about what works for our boys.

[font face="comic sans ms" font color=purple]***Lainie***
My fitness blog: http://fitnessfig.blogspot.com/ http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/7.gif

 

[SuriTkd]

lainie,

i live in brooklyn and also work in the public school system. i agree, you have to weigh the pros and the cons and what is going to be the best thing for your children.

in a few weeks i will be getting married and moving out to long island. i will stay at my job here, as i happen to be in an excellent school. i love the kids and my coworkers.

rockland county is beautiful. was just visiting my cousin in suffern a few weeks ago. you wont get property like that in the city.

suri

 

[delfin]

Why not cross the river and come on over to Westchester! I'm right on the LI sound and the commute to the city is a snap. We've got tons of people who've moved up from the city for the good schools here... including a very good friend who got sick of forking over $ for Dalton.