Personally, I’d stay in Scripps Ranch. No MR’s and amazing schools. Amazing community, climate is more ideal (if only marginally compared to 4S) and the location! CV would have a slightly cooler climate (and annoying Marine layer) although wins in location. Although the traffic and the split make it a headache…
When we first returned to San Diego, in early 2011, we settled in Carmel Valley. I did so based on the recommendations for schools and the proximity to an employer in Carlsbad. Hands down, the elementary school and neighborhood have been the least pleasant experiences so far. Full disclosure, we were a younger family (mid 20’s) and I was often mistaken for my sons nanny or babysitter… so I don’t really feel like we fit in with the demographics, so to say.
We moved two years later to University City. Enrolled our son in Curie Elementary, and no real complaints about the school and or area. However, this isn’t on your radar, so I won’t go into details here.
I now reside in SR with my son, and have for the past two years. I absolutely LOVE Scripps Ranch and the schools. Love the community and I really like that the small “city” feel that the area provides.
In regards to schools, my son tested into the GATE program, and Miramar Ranch Elementary, is one of the few SD schools which offers seminar. Awesome program if your child scores high enough on the GATE test. Your little won’t even test until 2nd Grade, so may not even be worth factoring in at the present moment. Overall though, the schools and the PTA are amazing.
Plus, if you really want to enrich the kiddo, Jing Institute, will pick up your kid and take them for after school care. The costs are almost identical to SAY and other after school programs (They were actually less when I initially did my analysis) and the child will learn Mandarin & Wushu, along the typical homework and play agenda.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find anything over the past two months in this area and are now in escrow for a place up in Carmel Mountain Ranch. My employer is over in Rancho Bernardo, boarding 4S. This was a huge perk as far as commute (although my current 10-15 minutes isn’t bad at all) and the ability for the kiddo to walk to HS/MS kind of sealed the deal. If I could have found something in SR, I wouldn’t be moving.
