dc2002

My husband is being offered a job this week in Warrendale and we are trying to research places to live. So far we are thinking Warrendale or Fox Chapel (he will have to go into Pittsburgh once in a while to the main office as well). We have 2 girls (and 1 more on the way!) so good schools is a must for us (we are moving from Charlotte NC where schools are terrible..my kindergartener has to be at school at 7:30 am!!) We are originaly from Rochester NY so the weather there isn't an issue ;-) We are looking for a nice family community with things to do with the kids, places to shop, eat etc.. with also easy access to museums, and of course safe. We are also looking at Mt Lebanon even though it would be a commute for him (he commuted 45 minutes in CT so not a huge deal) by the map there seems to be a route to take to avoid going through the city to get to Warrendale.

Any suggestions (positive of course) would be great!!!!

TIA!

flinn

You should look at Upper St. Clair before you make your final decision. It has the highest rated schools in the area with most recently extensively renovated. Much easier commute than Mt Lebanon since you have easy access to I-79 which is a direct route to Warrendale.

GoTravel

dc, I don't know where in Charlotte you are but Charlotte-Mecklenburg County has some of the highest rated schools in the United States.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/

dc2002

I wouldn't go by those rankings..that hs is the one my daughter would go to any there is no way in H*LL she would go there(all of my friends feel the same)...they are always tazering kids and arresting kids..it is not a good scene (which is why I won't look at those kind of ratings when looking at schools even though when I graduated my HS was #1 ranked) The schools are ranked higher because they drill these kids starting in kindergarten (all day kindergarten) My daughter has 30 minutes of homework per night in kindergarten! Sorry off the subject I know but I could go on and on..I have never lived anywhere in the US where parents constantly complain about the schools (in all areas of Charlotte and we are in the best ones up here in Lake Norman!)

I'll look into Upper St Clair..thanks!

mikeshamokin

Upper St. Clair schools are terrific, but probably a long commute for your husband as well. The schools and the homes in Fox Chapel are very good from what I hear. As a matter of fact, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher's 2 daughters graduated from Fox Chapel and are now at Princeton.

GeoNit

You also might want to consider communities within the Quaker Valley School District, such as Sewickley, which is about 14 miles (20 miunutes) south of Warrendale via I-79.


http://www.qvsd.org/QVSD/site/default.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Valley_High_School

GeoNit

Quaker Valley is rate #532 on the Newsweek list:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/

erdockac

Hi:

I hope this isn't too late to help you.
Warrendale is pretty far North to live in the South Hills, especially since there are good school districts North of the city as well. You would take I-79, instead of 279 to avoid the city, but it is still at least a 45 minute commute and 79 gets dicey in the winter. Doable, but not desireable. I am a South Hills girl. I grew up in Mt. Lebanon and now that we are married we bought a house in Peters Township. I work in Mt. Lebanon, so I don't have to commute to the city. In the South Hills Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair and Peters TWP all have excellent schools with AP classes, etc. and get kids to top notch colleges.
We have similar priorities to yours and it seems that you are looking into the more affluent communities so I would consider the following. Fox Chappel has a great school district, however the commute into the city on Rt 28 can be a pain (your husband wouldn't have to take this to get to Warendale necessarily). There is also Shadyside Academy (in Fox Chappel, not Shadyside)if you wanted a private school. Sewickely has a really quaint village feel and Quaker Valley is a good district, but many kids in Sewickely go to a private school called Sewickely Acadamey.(Both of these are expensive places to live by Pittsburgh standards) Closer to Warrendale are North Hills and North Allegheny-also good districts. Look in Wexford, there are many new developments and older housing as well. We really liked a neighborhood called Bradford Woods in the North Hills. Cranberry is the latest mecca of suburbia and in Seneca Valley School District, I don't know much about it. Pine Richland is North and a steadily improving school district thanks to a the high end housing being built in the area.

Good luck in your house search.
Kristen

lmhornet

Whatever you do, check out the property taxes first. They are astonomical in Allegheny county. Mt. Lebanon is a nice place and fits your requirements but has very high property taxes even by Allegheny county standards. Sewickly might be another choice.

Forget Upper St. Clair if you are looking for an area that is somewhat urban rather than pure suburbia.

short_eliz

I'd take a look the southern communities of Butler County if the Allegheny County taxes scare you off. Cranberry Twp and Adams spring to mind first. That would put you VERY close to your husband's job in Warrendale, but save you the high Allegheny County taxes.

You may come to a different conclusion, but Mt Lebo and Upper Saint Clair seem so *far* to me, with so many other great communities closer. I second erdockac in that the commute from Fox Chapel to Warrendale will be horrendous, at least by Pittsburgh standards. Rt 28 is terrible!

Good luck!