Calling all former Floridians...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also grew up in Florida. I managed to get in application magnet school IB program while my siblings went to the "good" public schools in Boca Raton. I agree with the other Florida native above. Florida is terrible for kids. The schools are generally laughably bad, even the "good" ones. The old people really run the show, which means underfunding schools, parks, any family related things. There are extremely limited dining choices (Chains, fast food, Florida seafood restaurants, Cuban, and Italian food). There are very few cultural activities to do. The only good university is University of Florida, which admittedly is excellent (and very hard to get in). Every other college is third tier at best, and I'm including University of Miami on that list (seven year medical program excluded).

All of my friends who had any ambition at all left Florida eventually. I enjoy visiting in winter, but trust me that real floridians never go to the beach. Everyone hangs out at their own pool and spends most of their time complaining.

From what you've posted on here it seems that you will like the Boca Raton, Delray area. I would not wish that on anyone, but your combative nature and limited income seem to be a good fit. Gainesville is nice, but full of students and rednecks. Think lots of loud parties all the time, especially on football weekends. Also think of stars and bars and sweltering, unbearable summers.

Best of luck.

Former Floridian. I second (third?) this sentiment. I also grew up in the Parkland/Boca area. Beyond the fact that it is a cultural desert, there are a lot of incredibly snobby, superficial idiots. Be prepared for your kids to expect a BMW for their 16th birthday. I got a brand new jeep grand cherokee and was sort of mortified. I went to private school in Boca and was one of the only girls who didn't get a nose or boob job for their hs graduation gift. Terrible. If I had a gun to my head I would consider raising my children in South Florida or Sarasota but absolutely nowhere else in the state. If you aren't in a higher income area then you're going to be surrounded by redneck hicks.

Love you PP. I just laughed out loud remembering how mortified I felt driving my used (USED!!) civic to school when everyone else drove a BMW. Hahahaha!

How Boca of me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also grew up in Florida. I managed to get in application magnet school IB program while my siblings went to the "good" public schools in Boca Raton. I agree with the other Florida native above. Florida is terrible for kids. The schools are generally laughably bad, even the "good" ones. The old people really run the show, which means underfunding schools, parks, any family related things. There are extremely limited dining choices (Chains, fast food, Florida seafood restaurants, Cuban, and Italian food). There are very few cultural activities to do. The only good university is University of Florida, which admittedly is excellent (and very hard to get in). Every other college is third tier at best, and I'm including University of Miami on that list (seven year medical program excluded).

All of my friends who had any ambition at all left Florida eventually. I enjoy visiting in winter, but trust me that real floridians never go to the beach. Everyone hangs out at their own pool and spends most of their time complaining.

From what you've posted on here it seems that you will like the Boca Raton, Delray area. I would not wish that on anyone, but your combative nature and limited income seem to be a good fit. Gainesville is nice, but full of students and rednecks. Think lots of loud parties all the time, especially on football weekends. Also think of stars and bars and sweltering, unbearable summers.

Best of luck.

Former Floridian. I second (third?) this sentiment. I also grew up in the Parkland/Boca area. Beyond the fact that it is a cultural desert, there are a lot of incredibly snobby, superficial idiots. Be prepared for your kids to expect a BMW for their 16th birthday. I got a brand new jeep grand cherokee and was sort of mortified. I went to private school in Boca and was one of the only girls who didn't get a nose or boob job for their hs graduation gift. Terrible. If I had a gun to my head I would consider raising my children in South Florida or Sarasota but absolutely nowhere else in the state. If you aren't in a higher income area then you're going to be surrounded by redneck hicks.

Miamian here. I'd fourth (fifth?) these statements. I'd not raise a family in Florida for any reason. Slow, shallow, flashy, plastic. No thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also grew up in Florida. I managed to get in application magnet school IB program while my siblings went to the "good" public schools in Boca Raton. I agree with the other Florida native above. Florida is terrible for kids. The schools are generally laughably bad, even the "good" ones. The old people really run the show, which means underfunding schools, parks, any family related things. There are extremely limited dining choices (Chains, fast food, Florida seafood restaurants, Cuban, and Italian food). There are very few cultural activities to do. The only good university is University of Florida, which admittedly is excellent (and very hard to get in). Every other college is third tier at best, and I'm including University of Miami on that list (seven year medical program excluded).

All of my friends who had any ambition at all left Florida eventually. I enjoy visiting in winter, but trust me that real floridians never go to the beach. Everyone hangs out at their own pool and spends most of their time complaining.

From what you've posted on here it seems that you will like the Boca Raton, Delray area. I would not wish that on anyone, but your combative nature and limited income seem to be a good fit. Gainesville is nice, but full of students and rednecks. Think lots of loud parties all the time, especially on football weekends. Also think of stars and bars and sweltering, unbearable summers.

Best of luck.

I am the other Florida native from PPs. I grew up in a town near Ocala (essentially Gainesvilles sister town), and your description brought back flashbacks.

I wasn't sure about Boca and the beach towns, but it seems a tale of two cities? I would have thought it was a least nice place to live. I figured schools were bad all over b/c my rural HS was highly ranked and it was such woeful preparation for college it's laughable. Between that sample and the national ranking of Floridabschools systems, there are very few adequate public schools. And the PP who listed UNF as a good school? It's educational quality is about on par with NOVA! UF is good; UCF is not bad for engineering (historically was engineering only), FSU I think ok if you want to teach. Everything else are essentially commuter schools for folks to get a bachelors to be a nurse or manage a retail chain.

And to reiterate: Florida summers make you yearn for the cold embrace of death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Wrong! New College of Florida is a great school. Went there for hardly any money after graduating from an IB high school.

PP^2 skeptical Floridian here. new College is a new honors college and seems pretty good deal. I think most of us here are older and this didn't even know it existed.

But with such selective and small enrollment, you should be sure your kids are exemplary or they will be commuting to the largest public university in the country: UCF (who knew? Bigger thank UMd, Ohio state, even UF).

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/new-college-of-florida-153704

[Anonymous]

I want to live in Sanibel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also grew up in Florida. I managed to get in application magnet school IB program while my siblings went to the "good" public schools in Boca Raton. I agree with the other Florida native above. Florida is terrible for kids. The schools are generally laughably bad, even the "good" ones. The old people really run the show, which means underfunding schools, parks, any family related things. There are extremely limited dining choices (Chains, fast food, Florida seafood restaurants, Cuban, and Italian food). There are very few cultural activities to do. The only good university is University of Florida, which admittedly is excellent (and very hard to get in). Every other college is third tier at best, and I'm including University of Miami on that list (seven year medical program excluded).

All of my friends who had any ambition at all left Florida eventually. I enjoy visiting in winter, but trust me that real floridians never go to the beach. Everyone hangs out at their own pool and spends most of their time complaining.

From what you've posted on here it seems that you will like the Boca Raton, Delray area. I would not wish that on anyone, but your combative nature and limited income seem to be a good fit. Gainesville is nice, but full of students and rednecks. Think lots of loud parties all the time, especially on football weekends. Also think of stars and bars and sweltering, unbearable summers.

Best of luck.

Former Floridian. I second (third?) this sentiment. I also grew up in the Parkland/Boca area. Beyond the fact that it is a cultural desert, there are a lot of incredibly snobby, superficial idiots. Be prepared for your kids to expect a BMW for their 16th birthday. I got a brand new jeep grand cherokee and was sort of mortified. I went to private school in Boca and was one of the only girls who didn't get a nose or boob job for their hs graduation gift. Terrible. If I had a gun to my head I would consider raising my children in South Florida or Sarasota but absolutely nowhere else in the state. If you aren't in a higher income area then you're going to be surrounded by redneck hicks.

Love you PP. I just laughed out loud remembering how mortified I felt driving my used (USED!!) civic to school when everyone else drove a BMW. Hahahaha!

How Boca of me!

Private schools in Potomac and really any rich school population around here is the same - fancy cars for 16th. Ridiculous.
I would think that there's more disposable income in Florida though as housing is cheap.

You forgot to factor in exterminator costs though ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also grew up in Florida. I managed to get in application magnet school IB program while my siblings went to the "good" public schools in Boca Raton. I agree with the other Florida native above. Florida is terrible for kids. The schools are generally laughably bad, even the "good" ones. The old people really run the show, which means underfunding schools, parks, any family related things. There are extremely limited dining choices (Chains, fast food, Florida seafood restaurants, Cuban, and Italian food). There are very few cultural activities to do. The only good university is University of Florida, which admittedly is excellent (and very hard to get in). Every other college is third tier at best, and I'm including University of Miami on that list (seven year medical program excluded).

All of my friends who had any ambition at all left Florida eventually. I enjoy visiting in winter, but trust me that real floridians never go to the beach. Everyone hangs out at their own pool and spends most of their time complaining.

From what you've posted on here it seems that you will like the Boca Raton, Delray area. I would not wish that on anyone, but your combative nature and limited income seem to be a good fit. Gainesville is nice, but full of students and rednecks. Think lots of loud parties all the time, especially on football weekends. Also think of stars and bars and sweltering, unbearable summers.

Best of luck.

Former Floridian. I second (third?) this sentiment. I also grew up in the Parkland/Boca area. Beyond the fact that it is a cultural desert, there are a lot of incredibly snobby, superficial idiots. Be prepared for your kids to expect a BMW for their 16th birthday. I got a brand new jeep grand cherokee and was sort of mortified. I went to private school in Boca and was one of the only girls who didn't get a nose or boob job for their hs graduation gift. Terrible. If I had a gun to my head I would consider raising my children in South Florida or Sarasota but absolutely nowhere else in the state. If you aren't in a higher income area then you're going to be surrounded by redneck hicks.

Love you PP. I just laughed out loud remembering how mortified I felt driving my used (USED!!) civic to school when everyone else drove a BMW. Hahahaha!

How Boca of me!

Private schools in Potomac and really any rich school population around here is the same - fancy cars for 16th. Ridiculous.
I would think that there's more disposable income in Florida though as housing is cheap.

You forgot to factor in exterminator costs though ...

Oh yeah, the bugs, the ROACHES.

But really the gradient from snobby rich to car-on-block in yard redneck is pretty steep in Florida, not much of a middle class b/c not many middle class jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Wrong! New College of Florida is a great school. Went there for hardly any money after graduating from an IB high school.

PP^2 skeptical Floridian here. new College is a new honors college and seems pretty good deal. I think most of us here are older and this didn't even know it existed.

But with such selective and small enrollment, you should be sure your kids are exemplary or they will be commuting to the largest public university in the country: UCF (who knew? Bigger thank UMd, Ohio state, even UF).

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/new-college-of-florida-153704

I don't know why you're eye rolling. New College is not new, it's been around for decades.

I got into several top 15 law schools after attending and received a full ride to one. That said, it is a very difficult school to get into but well respected. Most NC students have options out of state at top schools. Has one of the highest rates of graduates who get PhDs in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Wrong! New College of Florida is a great school. Went there for hardly any money after graduating from an IB high school.

PP^2 skeptical Floridian here. new College is a new honors college and seems pretty good deal. I think most of us here are older and this didn't even know it existed.

But with such selective and small enrollment, you should be sure your kids are exemplary or they will be commuting to the largest public university in the country: UCF (who knew? Bigger thank UMd, Ohio state, even UF).

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/new-college-of-florida-153704

I don't know why you're eye rolling. New College is not new, it's been around for decades.

I got into several top 15 law schools after attending and received a full ride to one. That said, it is a very difficult school to get into but well respected. Most NC students have options out of state at top schools. Has one of the highest rates of graduates who get PhDs in the country.

If you follow the thread, that was a different P if you follow the thread, that was a different PP Who is rolling her eyes. I was stating that it actually was a respectable school, but until 2001 it was just the honors program of USF, and affiliation with that large commuter school definitely hindered its appeal.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_College_of_Florida

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Wrong! New College of Florida is a great school. Went there for hardly any money after graduating from an IB high school.

PP^2 skeptical Floridian here. new College is a new honors college and seems pretty good deal. I think most of us here are older and this didn't even know it existed.

But with such selective and small enrollment, you should be sure your kids are exemplary or they will be commuting to the largest public university in the country: UCF (who knew? Bigger thank UMd, Ohio state, even UF).

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/new-college-of-florida-153704

I don't know why you're eye rolling. New College is not new, it's been around for decades.

I got into several top 15 law schools after attending and received a full ride to one. That said, it is a very difficult school to get into but well respected. Most NC students have options out of state at top schools. Has one of the highest rates of graduates who get PhDs in the country.

If you follow the thread, that was a different P if you follow the thread, that was a different PP Who is rolling her eyes. I was stating that it actually was a respectable school, but until 2001 it was just the honors program of USF, and affiliation with that large commuter school definitely hindered its appeal.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_College_of_Florida

Ha ha sorry for mangled text, Siri

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Floridians:
What's the vibe on Destin, Rosemary Beach, Miramar beach, Seacrest?

To die for, but not sure of the schools.
Prettiest part of Florida!

lots of traffic from what we saw

[Anonymous]

You said Naples didn't appeal but have you looked at Marco Island? It's had a huge change in year-round demographics over the last 10 years, in large part due the real estate bubble bursting. While it's still the playground of the retired during season, there is an ever-growing population of younger families living there full time. The schools are very good (they have a new charter high school that seems to be doing well) and the cost of living is reasonable. Yes, you need to venture off the island for big box stores and the like, but more and more is moving on to Marco proper. My folks have lived there for years and every time we visit I am more tempted to explore staying.

[Anonymous]

OP, did you ever decide to move? Just curious as I am planning the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard the public schools in Florida are not good anywhere. Period. And, most people with money put their kids in parochial or private schools. My family lives full time in the DC Metro area but we own a home in Boca Raton. I would never move down there with grade school children. I have kids in middle school now. At least in the DC area you have a wide variety of school options but not in Florida. Plus, people down there are stupid (culturally, socially, politically...) at least in South Florida. OP, you should think long and hard about it.

You must have missed the part where I said I lived in florida for 7 years and love it.

But, you have kids now which is a critical component. You weren't concerned about schools when you were loving it.

I was mostly responding to the bolded. No one can be so stupid to think that there are literally no excellent public schools in the entire state of florida, so that I didn't even think to respond to that part of the PP's comment.

NP. I grew up in Florida. Don't do this to your kids. You understand great school ratings don't work across state lines? And though UF is not a bad school, it is the only viable in state option and decent university for like 600 miles.

Culturally there is a reason why Florida is the butt of many jokes. And summers are unbearable unless you live on the beach. No one will be walking in your cute downtown area for 5 months of the year because of the blistering heat. And it is the south with a bunch of lower income folks who moved down from up north to live large.


If you must do this, Gainesville is cute college town but kind of grungy, St Augustine is decent option, bayside in Tampa, parts of New Tampa are where all my friends with professional jobs ended up (but suburban sprawl). Maybe Celebration, but snooty. Winter Park I think is ok but less familiar with Orlando. Space coast might be nice but has been in decline since NASA outsourced everything to SpaceX and Russians.

You will not find cats and dogs and teachers and doctors living together; teachers make $30k, it just doesn't happen unless teacher marries a doctor. Gated communities are EVERYWHERE.

Blistering heat??!!!

DC is much hotter and much more suffocating in the summers.

I also grew up in Florida, Tampa area, and we certainly walked in cute downtown areas year round.

(I also have family in St Augustine, Naples, Delray, and Miami). There are many places in Florida that are much more livable than DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard the public schools in Florida are not good anywhere. Period. And, most people with money put their kids in parochial or private schools. My family lives full time in the DC Metro area but we own a home in Boca Raton. I would never move down there with grade school children. I have kids in middle school now. At least in the DC area you have a wide variety of school options but not in Florida. Plus, people down there are stupid (culturally, socially, politically...) at least in South Florida. OP, you should think long and hard about it.

You must have missed the part where I said I lived in florida for 7 years and love it.

But, you have kids now which is a critical component. You weren't concerned about schools when you were loving it.

I was mostly responding to the bolded. No one can be so stupid to think that there are literally no excellent public schools in the entire state of florida, so that I didn't even think to respond to that part of the PP's comment.

People are THAT stupid. I went public school in Florida, and even one of those dreaded not so excellent ones. I then got into Northwestern, got a great job in Chicago, then got into Kellogg for my MBA.

Yea, all with an educational foundation built in Florida public schools.