During this simulation, I was given an annual income of $30,000 which breaks down to $2,500 a month as income. For a downpayment, I had saved $5,000 dollars but had a debt of $100 a month to pay for a car that I own. Because of the income I have, the downpayment I can put down, and the debt I owe, my price range for buying a house was $79,856 – $105,266 (using an online mortgage calculator). Moreover, the possible rent I would pay for an apartment if a house were not possible would be approximately $833.33 (a third of my monthly income). Judging by my price range for houses, there was a small possibility that I could find a house in either West Hartford or Wethersfield. However in my decision to buying a house, I wanted to make sure that there were district schools near by because the lottery system for magnet schools did not guarantee a spot for both my 3rd and 6th graders. Furthermore, I wanted to make sure that the schools were fairly close to the house so that commute would not be an issue. During my search (using Zillow), I was given a lot of results with condominiums for sale two of which I considered: 100 Oakwood Ave. in West Hartford and 60 Mountain Laurel Dr. in Wethersfield. All of the houses I researched were within my price range; however, I narrowed my choices down to two houses each in pretty great and different school districts: 6 Fenwood Ave. in West Hartford and 18 Marguerite Ave. in Bloomfield.
Both houses were within the price range I had. However 6 Fenwood Ave. in West Hartford seemed to offer more than the house in Bloomfield. The house is priced at $99,900 which lies right in between my price range for houses. There is only 2 bedrooms which means the children would have to share. However, the schools for each of my children each are really great schools and perform really well. The 3rd grader would attend Bugbee Elementary located at 1943 Asylum Ave with grades K – 5th. The school is about 4.1 miles away meaning I would have to drive him/her to school or they would be provided with bus transportation. Bugbee Elementary has 95% of its students meeting the testing goal for Connecticut, and they are showing +4 growth in its testing which is above the average for Connecticut. Similarly, the school for my 6th grader has similar results. The 6th grader would attend Bristow Middle School located at 34 Highland St. approximately 2.8 miles with grades 6th – 8th. Since the school is a little far to walk, I would also drive the 6th grader to school or they would also have bus transportation provided. Bristow Middle School has 85% of its students meeting the test goals for Connecticut which is also higher than the average for Connecticut. Although the school seems to have dropped a bit (-3) this past year, their achievement on meeting the test goals are high. The children would be in great schools earning a quality education in the West Hartford School District.
Finding the different places to live along with really great schools for a family is really difficult. There’s a lot to consider when buying a house in a specific district and considering the quality of education your children will receive. I learned that the process become a double edged sword. There’s the possibility of living somewhere really amazing in a really great school district. However, the downfall is the amount you have to pay for it. I found a lot of places that were really nice, but didn’t have great school districts. I also had other places in which were really tight living quarters and not the best but remained somewhere that had a quality education. With living somewhere not so great with the quality of education being average or below, the price maybe much more affordable and easier to deal with.