4 ms·

A common fear I hear from young expecting couples is that kids cannot be raised in the city. We moved to SF 4 years ago from the suburbs and really enjoy the be

A common fear I hear from young expecting couples is that kids cannot be raised in the city. We moved to SF 4 years ago from the suburbs and really enjoy the benefits of being here with kids (in 1st & 3rd grade). It is definitely an adjustment from suburbia, but so far it has been worth it. Edit: Also happy to share my experiences in more detail if you are considering this path. My email is in my profile.

mrsharpoblunto 10y ago
I imagine the dealbreaker for most young couples expecting kids is the cost of renting a 3+ bedroom in SF more than any fear of raising kids in the city.
- mc32 10y ago
  Well, there is the dreaded PS lottery[1]. So unless you both are working and can put the kids in private school, the kids may well end up in one of the district's poorly run schools. [1]http://blog.sfishome.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-public-school-lottery-explained/ http://blog.sfishome.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-public-...
Spooky23 10y ago
I did too, until we drew the ghetto elementary school where the average 5th grader can't read. Fortunately, we're able to afford a catholic school.
- Brakenshire 10y ago
  It's a reflection of the societies we live in. More difficult to avoid that in the suburbs than it is in the city.
- digler999 10y ago
  Not judging you at all, but I can't help but chuckle at the irony that you pay a premium to educate your child at the Christian organization that worships a god who championed the value of the poor.
  - bpodgursky 10y ago
    > Not judging you at all You probably should have stopped your comment there, then.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - digler999 10y ago
      Why ? Is exposing an organization's hypocrisy judgemental?
      - serge2k 10y ago
        Phrasing. > I can't help but chuckle at the irony that you pay a premium... vs > I chuckle at the irony that Catholic schools charge a premium...
        Retra 10y ago
        Seems a marginal difference to me...
  - Spooky23 10y ago
    I don't pay them a premium, I pay them a very fair rate to provide an amazing service in addition to paying my taxes. Unfortunately, there's a lot of inequity. Most suburban districts get 30% more state funding to do things like build olympic swimming pools and buy iPads. The local taxpayers in urban districts like the one I live in get glorified daycare with classes of 30-35 kindergarteners, and we get to fund a parallel charter school system that enriches the bondholders who built the schools. I'm not the governor, don't serve in the legislature and have limited ability to influence our school board, whose hands are largely tied. My options are: go private, move, or have my child get an inferior education. I have the good fortune to make the choice that I made. If that makes me a poor christian, so be it.
    - 10y ago
- smileysteve 10y ago
  Not blaming you because that's a rational choice, but if parents who teach their kids to read before elementary school (or at least before 5th grade) never put their kids in that school, how can society expect the average to ever better?

mrsharpoblunto 10y ago

I imagine the dealbreaker for most young couples expecting kids is the cost of renting a 3+ bedroom in SF more than any fear of raising kids in the city.

mc32 10y ago
Well, there is the dreaded PS lottery[1]. So unless you both are working and can put the kids in private school, the kids may well end up in one of the district's poorly run schools. [1]http://blog.sfishome.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-public-school-lottery-explained/ http://blog.sfishome.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-public-...

Spooky23 10y ago

I did too, until we drew the ghetto elementary school where the average 5th grader can't read. Fortunately, we're able to afford a catholic school.

Brakenshire 10y ago
It's a reflection of the societies we live in. More difficult to avoid that in the suburbs than it is in the city.
digler999 10y ago
Not judging you at all, but I can't help but chuckle at the irony that you pay a premium to educate your child at the Christian organization that worships a god who championed the value of the poor.
- bpodgursky 10y ago
  > Not judging you at all You probably should have stopped your comment there, then.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - digler999 10y ago
    Why ? Is exposing an organization's hypocrisy judgemental?
    - serge2k 10y ago
      Phrasing. > I can't help but chuckle at the irony that you pay a premium... vs > I chuckle at the irony that Catholic schools charge a premium...
      - Retra 10y ago
        Seems a marginal difference to me...
- Spooky23 10y ago
  I don't pay them a premium, I pay them a very fair rate to provide an amazing service in addition to paying my taxes. Unfortunately, there's a lot of inequity. Most suburban districts get 30% more state funding to do things like build olympic swimming pools and buy iPads. The local taxpayers in urban districts like the one I live in get glorified daycare with classes of 30-35 kindergarteners, and we get to fund a parallel charter school system that enriches the bondholders who built the schools. I'm not the governor, don't serve in the legislature and have limited ability to influence our school board, whose hands are largely tied. My options are: go private, move, or have my child get an inferior education. I have the good fortune to make the choice that I made. If that makes me a poor christian, so be it.
  - 10y ago
smileysteve 10y ago
Not blaming you because that's a rational choice, but if parents who teach their kids to read before elementary school (or at least before 5th grade) never put their kids in that school, how can society expect the average to ever better?