Considering moving to Ithaca

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my biggest concerns would be the lack of diversity. I have family there so visit fairly frequently. My kids are mixed race.

The fact that there are colleges (including an Ivy) should mitigate that. If I retired to a college town, it would be Ithaca.

Eh, 5% Black doesn’t do it for me (both Cornell and Ithaca). I need my kids to not be “onlies” all the time and to not see people like them/their family represented in different careers, etc. But different strokes.

Are you OP?

[Anonymous]

I love Ithaca and have visited a lot over the years, though it’s probably been close to 10 years since I was last there. At the last visit I was struck by the decline in the downtown, and I recall reading that there was a big opioid problem. That may have changed.

Since your kids are older I think it would matter to me if they loved the outdoors/outdoor sports or something else that is part of the culture there that they can really embrace. Ideally that you as a family can really embrace. Otherwise I’d be worried about the dark corners they can slip into there.

[Anonymous]

Reach out to the Ithaca High School PTA - I am sure they can connect you to someone who has students currently enrolled.

I would take a look at the high school news paper to see what the students write about. (and take a look at your local high school paper for comparison)

One thing that you did not mention was what is it that you are leaving in DC for schools. My DCPS Middle School (and High School) students missed a bunch of core content the last 2 years - and I am not confident that DCPS has a plan to actually fully staff the schools next year. This year, 1 child had a sub for a core content class since Feb. and 2nd child had a 2 separate classes without teachers since Feb.

[Anonymous]

From what I remember, Ithaca is gorges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope some posters can report on the middle and high school options in Ithaca. My faculty friends there with little kids are very happy with Fall Creek Elementary, but I don't have any intel on other schools or the upper levels. Do faculty kids usually stay in the local public schools?

There are lots of threads about Ithaca weather on DCUM, but none on other aspects of life there, so I hope others will weigh in.

My BIL and SIL are on the Cornell faculty and have raised their kids in Ithaca. My nephews are now in college and HS and they've had a good experience growing up in Ithaca and attending public schools. My own kids -- in the same age range -- love to visit Ithaca for the outdoor activities as well as the general vibe.

[Anonymous]

I grew up there, went to grad school there, and then continued to live in other nearby areas of Upstate NY for a while afterwards. Now I live in DC.

Public Schools - All the elementary schools are really quite good, but in different ways. Cayuga Heights Elementary is the "rich kid" school and has a lot of Cornell faculty kids. Fall Creek is down the Hill and also has a lot of Cornell faculty kids, but also some grad student kids and other kids of families in some way (past or present) associated with Cornell. The elementary schools on the south side of town are more associated with Ithaca College faculty and also very good. Beverly J Martin Elementary is in "downtown" Ithaca, and if Ithaca were to have a "poor kids" school, that would be the one, but it is still a great school. The elementaries on the west side of town are probably a little less well regarded, because historically they have attracted less of the faculty children, but still great schools. They also tend to pick up more of the rural side of town, and are more white.

There are two middle schools - Boynton and Dewitt. Both are great. One major high school - Ithaca High. I got a great education there. There is also the Alternative High School which is also public, but you have to get on the waiting list. It is a very progressive place with a very different approach to education, which may work for you. Read up on it.

Private schools - there are a couple small private schools in town like Montessori, but really not many. The Catholic school closed down a few years ago after decades of declining enrollment. People use the public schools.

Diversity - Growing up there I met kids very every corner of the globe because their families were in town for one reason or another associated with the universities. Now a lot of those kids were only there for a 1-3 years while their parents did sabbaticals or grad school, but others were from families of permanent faculty/staff. Not all of them were wealthy, but not dirt poor either. There are a couple areas of low-income/subsidized housing downtown off rt 13, that house what most people would consider poor families.

Culture - Super liberal. In the 1980s we had a Socialist mayor. Republicans just don't generally make it into office, and while I am a liberal person, I do think Ithaca could be helped by having some different perspectives in the mix. The areas outside of Ithaca are more conservative the further you get from Ithaca. There are a lot of people associated with the universities that live in the immediate surrounding towns to have more of that rural or hobby farming kind of life - Trumansburg, Caroline, and Dryden come to mind.

Lifestyle - Great! Its a small town but has lots of restaurants and other amenities. The geography is really GORGES. Cayuga Lake offers so many opportunities.

Weather - the gray winters are real and long. It is fine if you get out in it and do outdoor sports or other recreation. Don't huddle in your house. Summer and Fall are amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of my biggest concerns would be the lack of diversity. I have family there so visit fairly frequently. My kids are mixed race.

The fact that there are colleges (including an Ivy) should mitigate that. If I retired to a college town, it would be Ithaca.

Eh, 5% Black doesn’t do it for me (both Cornell and Ithaca). I need my kids to not be “onlies” all the time and to not see people like them/their family represented in different careers, etc. But different strokes.

Are you OP?

No
It is a beautiful area!

[Anonymous]

Kids in middle school and high school - are they happy and thriving here? Then stay put. I have way too many friends whose kids have serious issues that I refuse to move until they are done. My parents did it to me and it was awful.

But yes - if you really want to move and the job is a dream job - then go. Kids will probably be fine. Ithaca though...cold!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up there, went to grad school there, and then continued to live in other nearby areas of Upstate NY for a while afterwards. Now I live in DC.

Public Schools - All the elementary schools are really quite good, but in different ways. Cayuga Heights Elementary is the "rich kid" school and has a lot of Cornell faculty kids. Fall Creek is down the Hill and also has a lot of Cornell faculty kids, but also some grad student kids and other kids of families in some way (past or present) associated with Cornell. The elementary schools on the south side of town are more associated with Ithaca College faculty and also very good. Beverly J Martin Elementary is in "downtown" Ithaca, and if Ithaca were to have a "poor kids" school, that would be the one, but it is still a great school. The elementaries on the west side of town are probably a little less well regarded, because historically they have attracted less of the faculty children, but still great schools. They also tend to pick up more of the rural side of town, and are more white.

There are two middle schools - Boynton and Dewitt. Both are great. One major high school - Ithaca High. I got a great education there. There is also the Alternative High School which is also public, but you have to get on the waiting list. It is a very progressive place with a very different approach to education, which may work for you. Read up on it.

Private schools - there are a couple small private schools in town like Montessori, but really not many. The Catholic school closed down a few years ago after decades of declining enrollment. People use the public schools.

Diversity - Growing up there I met kids very every corner of the globe because their families were in town for one reason or another associated with the universities. Now a lot of those kids were only there for a 1-3 years while their parents did sabbaticals or grad school, but others were from families of permanent faculty/staff. Not all of them were wealthy, but not dirt poor either. There are a couple areas of low-income/subsidized housing downtown off rt 13, that house what most people would consider poor families.

Culture - Super liberal. In the 1980s we had a Socialist mayor. Republicans just don't generally make it into office, and while I am a liberal person, I do think Ithaca could be helped by having some different perspectives in the mix. The areas outside of Ithaca are more conservative the further you get from Ithaca. There are a lot of people associated with the universities that live in the immediate surrounding towns to have more of that rural or hobby farming kind of life - Trumansburg, Caroline, and Dryden come to mind.

Lifestyle - Great! Its a small town but has lots of restaurants and other amenities. The geography is really GORGES. Cayuga Lake offers so many opportunities.

Weather - the gray winters are real and long. It is fine if you get out in it and do outdoor sports or other recreation. Don't huddle in your house. Summer and Fall are amazing.

Very helpful post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Ithaca and have visited a lot over the years, though it’s probably been close to 10 years since I was last there. At the last visit I was struck by the decline in the downtown, and I recall reading that there was a big opioid problem. That may have changed.

Since your kids are older I think it would matter to me if they loved the outdoors/outdoor sports or something else that is part of the culture there that they can really embrace. Ideally that you as a family can really embrace. Otherwise I’d be worried about the dark corners they can slip into there.

Good advice.

[Anonymous]

If the move means more money for you, more money for their college/less loans- they will thank you later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids in middle school and high school - are they happy and thriving here? Then stay put. I have way too many friends whose kids have serious issues that I refuse to move until they are done. My parents did it to me and it was awful.

But yes - if you really want to move and the job is a dream job - then go. Kids will probably be fine. Ithaca though...cold!

This. That's late in kids' lives to uproot them entirely, especially when they're not used to moving around frequently. Unless they're miserable where you are and eager for a change, I'd stay put.

[Anonymous]

OP: For 9th and 6th grade next year, my kids will be in new DC schools. Cohort of friends splitting off because of different school acceptance. That seems to be part of DC culture. So there is already change happening and new social beginnings. So, the uprooting would be separating from some neighborhood kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: For 9th and 6th grade next year, my kids will be in new DC schools. Cohort of friends splitting off because of different school acceptance. That seems to be part of DC culture. So there is already change happening and new social beginnings. So, the uprooting would be separating from some neighborhood kids.

And also moving to an entirely new part of the country, living in a small-ish town instead of a large-ish city, adapting to different climate and political leanings, etc. I mean, I get that there will be some upheaval anyway with the transitions to 9th and 6th, but don't downplay what a massive change it will be.

It may still be the best decision for your family. Just don't lie about the magnitude of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: For 9th and 6th grade next year, my kids will be in new DC schools. Cohort of friends splitting off because of different school acceptance. That seems to be part of DC culture. So there is already change happening and new social beginnings. So, the uprooting would be separating from some neighborhood kids.

Hard decision op it's so hard to predict! Some of it is your kid's personalities. Some kids will do well and end up loving it, some it could be very hard. Generally for most kids, especially at these ages, moving is pretty tough. So you should go in with your eyes wide open to that. It doesn't mean don't do it, but don't expect even though they are about to have a lot of transitions doesn't mean that it wouldn't still potentially be very hard. And it's so hard to predict - if 9th grader finds a great new group and feels like she fits in there then maybe things go well. If the kids there have a different vibe than she's used to and she feels a little out it could take longer.

That being said, moving somewhere with a slower pace can be great for kids so I think it's worth thinking about. And no matter what I think you should be understanding and empathic over the next year if you do move to any feelings your kids have about it. Even if you perceive your life to be "better" the best thing to do is to accept all of their feelings about it. 9th and 6th is a hard year to move. Your kids will have transitions but the kids in Ithaca will likely have been going to school, many of them, since elementary. So it's just going to be a transition and those are hard. At those ages, I would personally get to a good place with spouse on pros and cons and then bring it to kids. Letting them know that mom and dad have to make the ultimate decision but that their thoughts and opinions on it are valuable to you. WOrk it through a little as a family.