Schools Category
Well one way or another you have found your way to this blog.As advertised I try to write about news and views of living here in Darien,CT. Yes,I am a Realtor and yes I do want your business. But I could go about prospecting for business by advertising on say Facebook,Trulia,Zillow etc which, from time to time, I do indeed tinker with.
But what I hope to really accomplish here is to fill in a much needed gap between information and insight…Information is everywhere.You know how it goes…3 bedrooms, two baths, dead end street… misleading photos.If you ask me its dead end information.
What is it like to live on that “dead end” street? Does it lead to the town dump? Or a nice little park? And what about those three bedrooms? Does the master bedroom face train tracks. You get the idea. I’ve posted about this before and its all about context baby. When you’ve gotten your Zestimate or whatever they are calling it these days come to www.TheGoldCoastStandard.com to find out what the neighborhood is like,how long your kid will have to ride on the bus and whether the highway is expanding into your backyard.I also provide links to Darien Patch and local newspapers to increase your feel for the place. After all you cant live in a Zestimate. And that’s what I hope to accomplish in 2012. If I sell you a home in the process, well, win-win. Call me. 203-554-0951 or just keep tuning in here. There is much to learn grasshoppers.
There are five elementary schools in Darien, Tokeneke,Royle,Ox Ridge,Hindley and Holmes.Those schools all feed into the Middlesex Middle School and ultimately to Darien High School.Almost everyone I know who has looked for a home,knows someone already here in town.Invariably, they tell me they want to buy in oneschool district or another because they were told it was the best one. Mind you I’ve heard this about every one of the five elementary schools. . Come to Darien but don’t worry about the schools districts. They are largely the same….excellent.
I have written in the past about the excellence of the Darien, Ct school system. The town of Darien boasts one of the highest average SAT scores and percentages of grads going to 4 year colleges. in the state.Those numbers are the result of an annual rite known as “school budget season”. For as long as I’ve lived here the issues have been the same.
Half day kindergarten or whole day. (right now its whole day). Then there is enrollment projections and facilities.(we’ve got all new schools now,although we are outgrowing them-again),teachers aides (can we afford them?), teacher salaries and benefits (always going up,never down) and special education funding.
This year is no exception and I want to recommend reading Darien Patch and their coverage of events in order to get a real flavor of what’s in the offing this year.
I could write about it endlessly but Patch and its reader blog do a much better job.
In the end, first ,a budget is proposed,then people gnash their teeth,parents cry foul and finally the budget gets approved with a modest increase over last year.In between,great drama and wringing of hands. Dont take my word for it. Follow the goings on and decide for yourself.
Ultimately, the kids and the town of Darien win out, but its always a tussle.
This is a brand new town video produced by my office at William Pitt Sothebys International Realty in Darien.I helped with the production and personally I think it turned out well. It gives a good feeling of what Darien, Ct is all about . Im even in the video a couple of times.See if you can spot me.
One of the first things people ask me about when searching for real estate in Darien is the schools. How are they? How big are the classes? Are all the Darien Elementary schools equal? etc.
Well,I am a mother of three children all of whom have gone through the Darien Public School system.In fact, my youngest, Andy graduates from the High School next week.
All of my children were very different students with different interests ranging from basketball and rugby to musical theatre and a capella singing.In addition to excellent academics,they all had great after school and social experiences.
This week the Darien Times published the results of a report given to The Darien Board of Education.
It showed that 85% of Darien High Schools graduating class will be attending a four year college. Just over 5% will be attending a 2 year school and three students will be attending a college prep school.The remainder of students will take a job after graduating and the remainder of 13 students are undecided.
Within,the group attending four year colleges,72 will attend “the most competitive”, 80 will attend highly competitive schools and 39 will attend very competitive institutions.The ratings are based on Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges.
You can find more specific school information at http:www.schooldigger.com.
For those of you with little ones,I have written a comprehensive article on Nursery schools in town.Click here to read it.
I can’t say enough about the amount and quality of kids activities in town.If you buy a home in Darien your children will never be bored.
In addition to a full program for kids at the fabulous Darien Library,organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA and Darien Parks and Recreation and Darien Arts Center offer a full plate of activities for kids.
This years Spring catalog from Darien Parks and Rec just ca
me out and there is something for every kid in town.Little League,Soccer,Lacrosse Hockey,Sailing Golf,Softball,Tennis,Swimming,Music lessons,Karate and even Fly Fishing for kids.
Some of the more unusual activities include….. Read the rest of this entry »
Below is a link to a 2010, CNN Money Report showing New Canaan,Darien and Westport as the Top Earnings towns is their Best Places to Live report.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/moneymag/0807/gallery.bplive_topearners.moneymag/2.html
South of Interstate 95,the area known as Tokeneke is an exclusive enclave within the town of Darien.The homes are prized for their privacy and access to the inlets and bays around Long Island Sound.Most of the oldest homes were built as part of the original Tokeneke Park development, which took its name from a Native American sachem who is said to have led a tribe that hunted and fished in the area. An Indian’s silhouette is used to mark the park boundaries.
Prospective Tokeneke Park buyers were invited to stay at Eagle Rock, a colonial-style inn constructed by the development company. The inn, which overlooks picturesque lagoons at the bridge crossing to Contentment Island, has been extensively renovated for use as a private residence. .
More modest Darien properties can be found farther inland, though prices rarely dip much below $1 million.Homes in the Tokeneke area can sell for as much as $7million. Read the rest of this entry »
This article was written several years ago and published in The New York Times Real Estate section . With minor adjustments to number of pupils enrolled in the schools and the median price of a home,this is a very accurate picture of the area. It was also where I lived when I first came to town!
If You’re Thinking of Living In/Noroton and Noroton Heights; A Haven for Both Sailors and Commuters
By LISA PREVOST
Published: December 14, 2003
The Noroton section of Darien is defined by two peninsulas that reach into Long Island Sound. They provide many inlets and coves to create lovely areas for sailors and beachgoers alike.From there Noroton spreads inland across the Boston Post Road,past I95 and into the inland neighborhoods of Noroton Heights.
The shorter of the peninsulas, Noroton Neck, is divided into shore communities like Noroton Bay and Pratt Island, both notable for their multimillion-dollar properties. A new four-bedroom colonial on the Pratt Island waterfront was recently listed at $5.69 million. The peninsula is also home to the world-renowned Noroton Yacht Club, whose former members have included two America’s Cup skippers. The club currently runs the largest junior sailing program in Fairfield County. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ll try to select specific properties each week that for one reason or another strike me as worth noting. This weeks’ pick is located on Sunset Road,in Darien,CT. I’ve chosen it because of its’ location which is on a much sought after street in town. Read the rest of this entry »
