You can choice into Poway schools as well and they accept intradistrict and interdistrict transfers. This includes people who only work in the area and there are quite a few big companies over there. Mine specifically!

I did this for my son, based on my employers location. I actually received a call with a spot available for him but we declined as we ended up moving to SR. I have quite a few coworkers with kids who have done the same.

Also the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA in 4S has an awesome summer program. I’ve utilized both for a week or two of summer camps/care and the kiddo is always excited to go back.

As far as commutes – 15 North bound is a parking lot after 4pm on most afternoons from about Scripps Poway until the 78! Same can be the same for Southbound in the mornings, as it seems to slow down around 56/Camino Del Norte on down south. Often times the express lanes are 3/1 to accommodate, but if you’re not driving into work with your spouse you’ll have to factor in the cost of the pass.

I do agree with who ever said SR is further inland. However access to 4S/Del Sur is much more limited. With SR you can go North or South to the 56/52 and then you also have Mira Mesa Blvd & Miramar Road and the sniper roads that feed into both, to get around.

Lastly, personal opinion and may not apply to your scenario in the least bit. As a single mom, with only one kid, finding adequate before and after school care has always been a chore. His current school allows for a 730 drop off which is the first time we’ve been able to avoid before school care. However, my company works a 9/80 schedule, thus my days are long and I never opt for a lunch! So sometimes, I even cut it close to a 6pm pick up. That’s a HUGE factor in where I decide live. I always assumed having a kid would get easier (and cheaper haha!!) once he was school age! Instead we’re busier and I have much less flexibility! Most school programs have wait lists and many programs do not offer coverage for the minimum days and holidays, and if do, also have a wait list! So for me, adding 15-30 minutes daily for a commute isn’t an option. May not be an issue if you’re electing for in home or family to assist. However, there’s always a class event or performance or “something”, that comes up every week or so that I don’t want to miss. Rarely do these occur at the start or the end of the school day, either. So I’m typically skipping in and back out of work to attend. Take a gander at the school calendar and you’ll see… there’s always something going on and most kids, especially in highly active and engaged schools, don’t want to miss a beat!

I really think you’ll find the two are comparable and you just need to go with what makes you and your family happier. I’m going to miss SR and would shank someone if it meant staying here was in the cards for us! Good luck!