Moderate conservative immigrant family moving from Fairfax VA to Mountain View CA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to make this move? What are the benefits to you?

Thank you for asking, yes I guess I didn't clarify that. The job is basically an entry-level position with an established tech company in SV, which has potential for growth in the future. Our current jobs here in NoVA are decent and our income is around $140K which is ok but not great, and there is no room for growth.

So all the extra money you’ll make will be eaten up by private school tuition, you’ll have a hellish commute at least 2x week and you’ll have to live in a smaller house. Doesn’t seem worth it to me but clearly our priorities are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to make this move? What are the benefits to you?

Thank you for asking, yes I guess I didn't clarify that. The job is basically an entry-level position with an established tech company in SV, which has potential for growth in the future. Our current jobs here in NoVA are decent and our income is around $140K which is ok but not great, and there is no room for growth.

So all the extra money you’ll make will be eaten up by private school tuition, you’ll have a hellish commute at least 2x week and you’ll have to live in a smaller house. Doesn’t seem worth it to me but clearly our priorities are different.

Again as I posted before I'm considering this because the opportunity for growth, which does not exist in my current job here in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to make this move? What are the benefits to you?

Thank you for asking, yes I guess I didn't clarify that. The job is basically an entry-level position with an established tech company in SV, which has potential for growth in the future. Our current jobs here in NoVA are decent and our income is around $140K which is ok but not great, and there is no room for growth.

So all the extra money you’ll make will be eaten up by private school tuition, you’ll have a hellish commute at least 2x week and you’ll have to live in a smaller house. Doesn’t seem worth it to me but clearly our priorities are different.

Again as I posted before I'm considering this because the opportunity for growth, which does not exist in my current job here in Virginia.

There are 9 pages of responses telling you this won’t work. Suggest you look for alternative positions elsewhere that have growth opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to make this move? What are the benefits to you?

Thank you for asking, yes I guess I didn't clarify that. The job is basically an entry-level position with an established tech company in SV, which has potential for growth in the future. Our current jobs here in NoVA are decent and our income is around $140K which is ok but not great, and there is no room for growth.

So all the extra money you’ll make will be eaten up by private school tuition, you’ll have a hellish commute at least 2x week and you’ll have to live in a smaller house. Doesn’t seem worth it to me but clearly our priorities are different.

Again as I posted before I'm considering this because the opportunity for growth, which does not exist in my current job here in Virginia.

I don't mean to sound discouraging, but if you have kids and are older and taking an entry level job in tech, there is a lot stacked against you actually getting those opportunities for growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to make this move? What are the benefits to you?

Thank you for asking, yes I guess I didn't clarify that. The job is basically an entry-level position with an established tech company in SV, which has potential for growth in the future. Our current jobs here in NoVA are decent and our income is around $140K which is ok but not great, and there is no room for growth.

So all the extra money you’ll make will be eaten up by private school tuition, you’ll have a hellish commute at least 2x week and you’ll have to live in a smaller house. Doesn’t seem worth it to me but clearly our priorities are different.

Again as I posted before I'm considering this because the opportunity for growth, which does not exist in my current job here in Virginia.

I don't mean to sound discouraging, but if you have kids and are older and taking an entry level job in tech, there is a lot stacked against you actually getting those opportunities for growth.

Yep, someone who has no family, no long commute and is younger is going to beat you out for promotion opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to work for Google? I have to believe there are forums for Google employees that talk about housing in the SV area -- and I bet they address issues you're concerned about.

I'm sure the "I hate gays and am looking for a location where that's ok, but where immigrants aren't hated" will go over real well there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to work for Google? I have to believe there are forums for Google employees that talk about housing in the SV area -- and I bet they address issues you're concerned about.

I'm sure the "I hate gays and am looking for a location where that's ok, but where immigrants aren't hated" will go over real well there

I don't think OP said they hated gays, but just didn't want "indoctrination" in the schools.

Honestly, IMO, this is the least of OP's issue.

Housing costs, commute, and the lack of resources/services for high achieving kids in the public schools are bigger issues. Most of the school districts are very small, and don't have the resources to provide magnet/gifted education like AAP and TJ.

When I lived on the Peninsula, the "gifted" education was a few days of pullout a few times a year to work on "projects". This was one of the reasons why we left. You would think SV, home of super smart people, would have terrific STEM public education, but they don't because they still have to follow CA public education guidelines, and there is no funding. There are very few magnet schools in the area, and a couple of charter schools.

[Anonymous]

What I don’t understand is why someone who believes his children are so weak that they can be “indoctrinated” by rainbow flags and BLM slideshows cares about dumbed down math.

I am an atheist but I wouldn’t hesitate to send my kids to Catholic school if it was the best option because they are capable of being respectful while still forming their own opinions.

If you want your kids to share your values, you should be INTENTIONALLY exposing them to things you disagree with. Beliefs that aren’t challenged are weak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to work for Google? I have to believe there are forums for Google employees that talk about housing in the SV area -- and I bet they address issues you're concerned about.

I'm sure the "I hate gays and am looking for a location where that's ok, but where immigrants aren't hated" will go over real well there

I don't think OP said they hated gays, but just didn't want "indoctrination" in the schools.

Honestly, IMO, this is the least of OP's issue.

Housing costs, commute, and the lack of resources/services for high achieving kids in the public schools are bigger issues. Most of the school districts are very small, and don't have the resources to provide magnet/gifted education like AAP and TJ.

When I lived on the Peninsula, the "gifted" education was a few days of pullout a few times a year to work on "projects". This was one of the reasons why we left. You would think SV, home of super smart people, would have terrific STEM public education, but they don't because they still have to follow CA public education guidelines, and there is no funding. There are very few magnet schools in the area, and a couple of charter schools.

If you want public schools, you move to Marin. The schools there are every bit as good as anywhere else in the country especially at the ES level

[Anonymous]

Sf poster chiming in here. Bay Area public schools really vary, not all are underfunded or particularly progressive. Some public school districts have stopped offering Algebra in 8th grade and dialed back availability of AP classes, the biggest problem last year was not going back in person til April. Private school kids were back October 2 and would have been earlier except for the bad air from the fires. If you are set on trying out the Bay Area come visit w your family, see what towns you feel comfortable in. There are several parent fb forums you could join to ask about schools and neighborhoods. I only recommended the east bay LaMorinda/WC area bc it’s what I know well, many of our friends have fled the city to Marin or down to Palo Alto and are super happy as renters w their kids in public elementary. They are active committed parents and their kids are thriving. Is it academic scores that matter the most to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
There are 9 pages of responses telling you this won’t work. Suggest you look for alternative positions elsewhere that have growth opportunities.

I can't tell if there is really a consensus for this because of the anonymity of the posts, but there were still a few suggesting otherwise in those 9 pages. But yes based on the majority of the replies, I'm not feeling very optimistic either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't mean to sound discouraging, but if you have kids and are older and taking an entry level job in tech, there is a lot stacked against you actually getting those opportunities for growth.

Yep, someone who has no family, no long commute and is younger is going to beat you out for promotion opportunities.

Yes its hard, but I will try to do my best!

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think OP said they hated gays, but just didn't want "indoctrination" in the schools.

Honestly, IMO, this is the least of OP's issue.

Housing costs, commute, and the lack of resources/services for high achieving kids in the public schools are bigger issues. Most of the school districts are very small, and don't have the resources to provide magnet/gifted education like AAP and TJ.

When I lived on the Peninsula, the "gifted" education was a few days of pullout a few times a year to work on "projects". This was one of the reasons why we left. You would think SV, home of super smart people, would have terrific STEM public education, but they don't because they still have to follow CA public education guidelines, and there is no funding. There are very few magnet schools in the area, and a couple of charter schools.

Yes some people here just want this to devolve my question into a political discussion, but what you say regarding "indoctrination" is spot on.
I am entirely convinced about the vast gap of educational quality between VA and CA public schools, so I am only considering an appropriate private school.

Anonymous wrote:Sf poster chiming in here. Bay Area public schools really vary, not all are underfunded or particularly progressive. Some public school districts have stopped offering Algebra in 8th grade and dialed back availability of AP classes, the biggest problem last year was not going back in person til April. Private school kids were back October 2 and would have been earlier except for the bad air from the fires. If you are set on trying out the Bay Area come visit w your family, see what towns you feel comfortable in. There are several parent fb forums you could join to ask about schools and neighborhoods. I only recommended the east bay LaMorinda/WC area bc it’s what I know well, many of our friends have fled the city to Marin or down to Palo Alto and are super happy as renters w their kids in public elementary. They are active committed parents and their kids are thriving. Is it academic scores that matter the most to you?

I don't know, trying to find those "acceptable" public schools seems to me like a needle in a haystack. What it matters to me is quality of education, not scores per se, i.e. the school help them build good foundation for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to work for Google? I have to believe there are forums for Google employees that talk about housing in the SV area -- and I bet they address issues you're concerned about.

I'm sure the "I hate gays and am looking for a location where that's ok, but where immigrants aren't hated" will go over real well there

I don't think OP said they hated gays, but just didn't want "indoctrination" in the schools.

Honestly, IMO, this is the least of OP's issue.

Housing costs, commute, and the lack of resources/services for high achieving kids in the public schools are bigger issues. Most of the school districts are very small, and don't have the resources to provide magnet/gifted education like AAP and TJ.

When I lived on the Peninsula, the "gifted" education was a few days of pullout a few times a year to work on "projects". This was one of the reasons why we left. You would think SV, home of super smart people, would have terrific STEM public education, but they don't because they still have to follow CA public education guidelines, and there is no funding. There are very few magnet schools in the area, and a couple of charter schools.

If you want public schools, you move to Marin. The schools there are every bit as good as anywhere else in the country especially at the ES level

Do Marin schools have gifted/magnet programs?

[Anonymous]

Well most of us don't believe that a curriculum that respects the inherent worth and dignity of all people AND that is honest about how the history of systemic racism in the US is "indoctrination" but you do you.

[Anonymous]

VA and CA have identical average 8th grade math scores for public school students above the FRPL cutoff (which is an imperfect way to get apples to apples but helps a little).

[Anonymous]

Op, you should read this: One home, 1,200 potential buyers: The Bay Area’s daunting real estate math https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/1-home-1-206-potential-buyers-The-daunting-math-16833334.php

This is what we have been trying to tell you about housing costs.

There isn’t a “commutable” area that is “affordable” that everyone else hasn’t already found.