Queens, NY - anybody from that area can answer q's about schools and housing?

[FiguringItOut]

If anybody is familiar with Queens, NY and can help, please do.

I am trying to research housing and schools info in Queens on a different forum, and I am getting very discouraging and conflicting information.  I will be doing my own research, but I want some info before I start calling up school all over the borough asking questions.

I am currently living in the suburbs of NYC and I am contemplating moving to Queens over the summer.  However, with two kids going into 6th and 8th grades, my concern has to do with schools - middle school and high school.

The second concern I have with picking the area of the Queens to live.  I need to be near the subway in order for me to commute to work in Manhattan.  And I will need a 3-bedroom apartment to rent.

Regarding schools, I've been told that all good middle and highschools require for kids to take a test to get in.  And that there are no such thing as your "local" school attached to the address.  Is this true?

What areas of Queens would you recommend I concentrate on as far as looking for apartment rental and school? 

A bit of a background: I will be moving myself and kids out of family house next summer.  I can stay local to where we are right now, but I thought that moving to Queens may be advantageous.  Right now I commute by the commuter rail into the NYC and it is a 1h45m each way commute.  By switching to the subway, I will save a ton of time and money on my commute.  Plus, the utilities should be a lot lower living in apartment, as compared to living in a house.

Staying locally to where we are now, I can reasonably expect to pay around $2800/mo for a rental (+/- $150).  I thought that if I can get an apartment for similar amount (or hopefully lower, but I doubt that), it will be cheaper overall.

Any thoughts?  Anybody from this area who can give some ideas or pointers?

Thank you

[MoneyCat]

I used to teach in NYC, so I'm really familiar with how the school system works in the five boroughs.  Basically, if you want your child to go to a good high school, they have to get a high score on a citywide exam and they have to be selected.  If they don't make it in, then they have to go to one of the other schools, which are all terrible.  Honestly, you would be much better off just sending your child to a private school or homeschooling them.  I only worked in NY for one year before leaving for much greener pastures in NJ.  NYC schools are basically being used as laboratories for the corporate reform movement whose ultimate goal is the complete privatization of public schools for profit.

[viper155]

I grew up in Queens. Graduated from Francis Lewis High in Fresh Meadows. Now considered a great school along with Cardozo and Bayside. I believe they are all in District 25. Look it up. The very best areas are, in my opinion, Bayside Gables, Jamaica Estates, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, Howard Beach and Forrest Hills. If diversity is your bag, Queens is tops. As far as best school districts, stick to the aforementioned garden variety white neighborhoods. Expect VERY high prices on homes. Good luck!

[2Birds1Stone]

Grew up in Douglaston.  Louis Pasteur middle school is incredible. I went to Benjamin Cardozo highschool.  Another very good school. That part of queens has great schools.

[sheepstache]

You might PM serpentstooth if she doesn't see this. She lives in Queens and seems pretty knowledgeable. With a kid on the way I wouldn't be surprised if she's already thoroughly researched the school situation.

[Dr. A]

I lived in Forest Hills for 4 years, but moved out of the region before my son was school-age.

I'm not totally sure about middle school, I guess you still have priority for your home district and/or neighborhood. However, high school is essentially city-wide open enrollment, so where you live has (I think) zero impact on which school your kid goes to. Of course, like everything else in that damned city, admission to the high schools that are perceived to be the best are super competitive.

I don't have much more to add, other than Forest Hills was great. Nice, but not ritzy. Dense enough to be city, but a lot greener and more laid back than Manhattan. Lots of transportation options, between LIRR, Express Busses, and 4 subway lines including the E.

I would take a good hard look at this statement, though:

And I will need a 3-bedroom apartment to rent.

Really? Maybe you do, but maybe moving into the city should make you consider being creative with space. 3 bedrooms is a big lift, and I suspect the price difference between 2 and 3 bedrooms is big due to the low supply.

[FiguringItOut]

I would take a good hard look at this statement, though:

And I will need a 3-bedroom apartment to rent.

Really? Maybe you do, but maybe moving into the city should make you consider being creative with space. 3 bedrooms is a big lift, and I suspect the price difference between 2 and 3 bedrooms is big due to the low supply.

Thank you for the feedback about the area.  As for the 3-bedrooms - if I get 2-bedrooms, I will be camping out in the living room for the duration our stay in the apartment. And although I can do that short term, I am not likely to be moving my kids again before they finish highschool. I don't think I can make it in the living room for 8 years.  I doesn't have to a fancy-shmancy apartment, but we all need our rooms, even if small ones.

[Dr. A]

Thank you for the feedback about the area.  As for the 3-bedrooms - if I get 2-bedrooms, I will be camping out in the living room for the duration our stay in the apartment. And although I can do that short term, I am not likely to be moving my kids again before they finish highschool. I don't think I can make it in the living room for 8 years.  I doesn't have to a fancy-shmancy apartment, but we all need our rooms, even if small ones.

Fair enough. Keep in mind that if you're going to be there for a while, and you find the right place, you can potentially put up a wall and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms. I've known several renters that have done this.

[viper155]

Thank you for the feedback about the area.  As for the 3-bedrooms - if I get 2-bedrooms, I will be camping out in the living room for the duration our stay in the apartment. And although I can do that short term, I am not likely to be moving my kids again before they finish highschool. I don't think I can make it in the living room for 8 years.  I doesn't have to a fancy-shmancy apartment, but we all need our rooms, even if small ones.

Fair enough. Keep in mind that if you're going to be there for a while, and you find the right place, you can potentially put up a wall and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms. I've known several renters that have done this.

Dr A, With all due respect this is TERRIBLE advice! Please google "black sunday fire in the Bronx". Breaks my heart. Some of these men were personal friends.

[Dr. A]

Thank you for the feedback about the area.  As for the 3-bedrooms - if I get 2-bedrooms, I will be camping out in the living room for the duration our stay in the apartment. And although I can do that short term, I am not likely to be moving my kids again before they finish highschool. I don't think I can make it in the living room for 8 years.  I doesn't have to a fancy-shmancy apartment, but we all need our rooms, even if small ones.

Fair enough. Keep in mind that if you're going to be there for a while, and you find the right place, you can potentially put up a wall and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms. I've known several renters that have done this.

Dr A, With all due respect this is TERRIBLE advice! Please google "black sunday fire in the Bronx". Breaks my heart. Some of these men were personal friends.

Let me edit that:

"put up a code-comliant wall after obtaining a building permit and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms."

Apologies. As an engineer, codes are usually an unspoken assumption.

[Distshore]

Hi,

I live in Bayside (school district 26) and districts 25 and 26 are "known" to be the best public school districts in NYC.  I personally don't know yet as LO#1 is still 2 weeks away from arriving in the real world, but that's what "everyone" says ;).  Nevertheless, that reputation also supports the insanely high housing prices here.  You can rent 3br for $2500-$3000/month.  No subway but 20-25 minutes on the LIRR into Penn Station.  We definitely plan to do public school.

Quite a number of supposedly excellent selective schools around eg. Francis Lewis, Townsend Harris.  I wish I could tell you more about the school system, but I just don't have the experience yet.  I plan to start learning about it during my maternity leave. 

If you have questions about the other issues related with moving to Queens, feel free to PM me. 

[randomstring]

for NYC public schools, http://insideschools.org/ has very comprehensive info.

[electriceagle]

Thank you for the feedback about the area.  As for the 3-bedrooms - if I get 2-bedrooms, I will be camping out in the living room for the duration our stay in the apartment. And although I can do that short term, I am not likely to be moving my kids again before they finish highschool. I don't think I can make it in the living room for 8 years.  I doesn't have to a fancy-shmancy apartment, but we all need our rooms, even if small ones.

Fair enough. Keep in mind that if you're going to be there for a while, and you find the right place, you can potentially put up a wall and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms. I've known several renters that have done this.

Dr A, With all due respect this is TERRIBLE advice! Please google "black sunday fire in the Bronx". Breaks my heart. Some of these men were personal friends.

Let me edit that:

"put up a code-comliant wall after obtaining a building permit and turn one decent sized room into 2 small rooms."

Apologies. As an engineer, codes are usually an unspoken assumption.

What landlord will let you get a permit to put a wall in one of their apartments? Theres a reason these things are never permitted.

[Yankuba]

Have you considered renting a two bedroom apartment in Great Neck? That may put you under $2800 and you get guaranteed access to elite schools. There are dozens of buildings within walking distance of the LIRR. The LIRR is only 25 minutes to Penn Station if you catch an express train - about $242 per month. 3 bedroom apartments are very rare (and expensive) everywhere.

[barker]

I was going to suggest the same thing that Neil04 did....move to Nassau County. I live in South Nassau and take the Far Rockaway line to the city...takes 45 minutes ($242 for unlimited monthly). Western side of Nassau County is going to give you the shortest commute...but I know people in West Suffolk who get to the city in about an hour on the Babylon line.

I've also worked in some of the "higher needs" schools in Nassau...and compared to what I hear about NYC schools...you're kids are better off at a school in Nassau county.

[FiguringItOut]

Have you considered renting a two bedroom apartment in Great Neck? That may put you under $2800 and you get guaranteed access to elite schools. There are dozens of buildings within walking distance of the LIRR. The LIRR is only 25 minutes to Penn Station if you catch an express train - about $242 per month. 3 bedroom apartments are very rare (and expensive) everywhere.

I was going to suggest the same thing that Neil04 did....move to Nassau County. I live in South Nassau and take the Far Rockaway line to the city...takes 45 minutes ($242 for unlimited monthly). Western side of Nassau County is going to give you the shortest commute...but I know people in West Suffolk who get to the city in about an hour on the Babylon line.

I've also worked in some of the "higher needs" schools in Nassau...and compared to what I hear about NYC schools...you're kids are better off at a school in Nassau county.

barker and Neil04, I live in Nassau right now and commute by LIRR.  Further in than Great Neck, closer to Nassau/Suffolk border. 

Although I haven't thought about moving to Great Neck, I agree that it would solve my school problem.

What it will not solve is my commute problem.  My commute right now is 1h45m door to door.  My office is half hour from Penn station, either walking or taking subway.  Subway saves me only about 5 minutes because of transfers.  However, when the weather is crappy I choose subway over walking almost 2 miles from Penn to office. 

So commute will go from 1h45m to 1h25m and save me $34 off my monthly ticket.  It will not reduce my subway fare.  In addition, as the move will be due to divorce, I am concerned with my accessibility and availability for kids during the day if I have to come home quick for whatever reason.  I won't have a spouse to help juggle these things.  It will be all on me.

As for 2-bedrooms vs 3-bedrooms, I have to admit that I am at a loss here.  I know 3-bedroom apartments are rare, but I seriously don't know how we will manage in 2-bedrooms as my kids don't share a room (please do not comment on this as it will not change and I don't need righteous comments here).  So in a 2-bedroom place, I will have to camp out in the living room.  As I commented above on this, I am fine with doing that temporary.  However, it is not likely that I will move my kids again before they are done with High School.  And sleeping in the living room for 5-8 years (older one will graduate HS in 5 yrs, younger in 8 yrs) is not going to be a good thing for any one of us.  So I am really sort of stuck with the whole apartment thing. 

I thought of renting a house, but I am not good with taking care of the house and utility costs a lot higher in the house then in the apartment.  Plus snow clean up, lawn care, etc for which I don't have any time what so ever - see my commute time and add my somewhat insane work hours.

So yes, I am feeling stuck.  Doing my research for now, but will need to start seriously looking starting in April.

[FiguringItOut]

Could you use the Citibike program to get from Penn Station to your office?  Might not be practical in bad weather, but could cut some time off compared to the subway/walking options.

I don't bike :(  Actually, I bike, but on empty wide bike trails out of the way of people.  I only learned to bike last year and am not comfortable on bike at all.  Even on my suburban practically empty roads I panic if I see a car at the other end of the block.  Plus I wear skirted business suits to work and travel to clients through out the day quiet often.