[quote=temeculaguy]BG, she is a single mom, she needs schools and streets that her kid can bike or walk to and whose playmates in the neighbrhood attend the same schools. What’s the Chula to HTH drive at 7 am, half an hour? I say more, I dated a woman in Pt. Loma, very near that school, there’s no quick way there. Every light is like 5 minutes, I bet it takes an hour. What are the odds that in a city of 1.3 million, her kid gets one of the 400 spots in one of the good schools if she doesn’t live there. That place can be harder than college to get into.[/quote]
TG, I never suggested Chula Vista to the OP. I only mentioned my two “friend families” because they actually rec’d interdistrict transfers to attend the HT schools. It was to illustrate these schools’ liberal application policy. The new students are picked from a lottery to replace the graduates. Not sure how a continuing-student application is handled.
These families actually reside in the Bonita Vista Middle/High attendance area. These are VERY good schools (the best in the district). HOWEVER, these parents wanted their kids to have a math/science education with an emphasis on creativity and innovation and BV Middle/High are “mainstream” (college prep) schools. That is why they are driving their kids over to Liberty Stn every day. And yes, I’m sure it is longer than 30 mins one way for them.
I disagree with you about the bike riding and walking to the corner store in urban neighborhoods. Is is done every day by six year olds. I see it myself walking my dog and I am an urban dweller in a very charming mid-century neighborhood. Observing many urban ‘hoods more than 60 years old in SD County could be compared to watching “Leave it to Beaver.” You are forgetting that these areas don’t turn over like the ‘burbs and exurbs. Often, the bulk of urban residents have resided in the same house for 50+ years. They know every nook, cranny, ditch, tree, utility easement and what is SUPPOSED to be behind all of them. They even know where the squirrel and skunk families are “nesting.” They have NOTHING TO DO but walk the streets with each other, visit each other and mind everyone’s business. These are the BEST areas to raise a young child, ESP one who may be a “latchkey” kid for a couple of hours per day, IMHO.
Since you mention it, if the OP has a reliable relative to help with her child in central Chula Vista (Hilltop), she should know that there are always good well-built (1000-1800 sf) houses for sale in that area for $200K to $450K. They are 50-70 years old and MANY have been completely remodeled. Lots are 6,000 to 20,000 sf. The elementary schools are Rosebank, Hilltop Drive and Helen Goes Cook. IIRC, Rosebank and Cook have DASH (a 6 to 6 program) for a nominal weekly fee where homework help is available. The Middle/High schools are Hilltop.
