moving to Miami - Help please! what areas to look at for families?

Meazman

Hi, my husband is going to take a (non clinical) job at the Miami Children's Hospital. We have no idea where to begin looking for a family friendly neighborhood!  ANY suggestions would be so helpful. I won't have a job right away so we will have to think about budget to begin with.  We will have a kindergartener next school year and a 2 year old.  We would be interested in good schools of course.  I would also appreciate help on how to figure out school's ratings to compare them and also how the private school world functions there. By that I mean, do people live in certain neighborhoods but then everyone sends their kids to private school? thanks so much! 

diade86

i dont know much about miami since i live in the fort lauderdale area. in fort lauderdale the schools are rated by the fcat scores. im assumings its the same in miami. you might be able to find the school fcat grades by google.

Meazman

thanks! that seems to bring up a lot of information about schools....

lgrn22

Coral Gables

mrose10

for looking up grades on the schools.. I would look up the counties. They would most likely post all grades up there for each school. 

I as well cant assist too much with Miami locations, as I'm north of Ft Lauderdale. But I've heard good things about Kendall and Aventura. Not sure if thats south enough for you, dont recall where Miami Children's hospital is.

Best of luck though and welcome to the area! 

JoaPata

DH and I are moving to Miami too and have no kids but I found a great site called Miami411.com.  Specifically the http://forums.miamibeach411.com/living-relocating-here link is good.  There are other questions similar to this on here.  Schools in Miami I think are altogether not fabulous.  Many people do private schools.  Kendall is affordable suburb like area.  Because you are not working and price is a concern you may want to start there.  I have heard Palmetto Bay is nice but is more expensive.  Check out Miami411 and go on the forums.  It has helped me a bunch!  We will be moving to Miami this summer.  Look forward to chatting with you.

JoaPata

Check out this post on the forums..about a family of four that wants to live near Mercy hospital.

 http://forums.miamibeach411.com/living-relocating-here/10840-where-live-family-4-a.html

 

summer611

I know Weston is a good and safe area- family friendly. 

cmnoda

I have lived in Miami just a little over a yr. Im  From  San Diego , and living in Miami is really all about your budget and where your job will be. The traffic in Miami is insane. So although  you may see on a map your only " 9 miles away"  traffic is a huge factor in Miami and a trip that may only have to take you 10 min really becomes a 40 min car ride. Coral Gables is just beautiful but is very expensive,  Kendall  has nice homes , private streets , but also alot of access to what you need with you going anywhere else. Alot of spots in Doral are nice. If your looking a huge home for your family for a great price; Homestead is very south. They gated communities , its out of the BIG CITY, just off of the expressway - So your still in Miami but its more quiet but the drive is your sacrifice. Good Luck!

Meazman

thank you so much everyone!

ValAndRyan

Kendall like others posted, Coral Gables is expensive and nice. Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay are also wonderful areas. We are on the southern end of Palmetto Bay (almost into Cutler Bay) and it's more affordable, great family area and wonderful schools. Just make sure that you look for an area in "A" rated school districts.

haveyousetadate

West Kendall, Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay