Submitted by TeresaNP on September 16, 2009 - 12:33am
newbie, in fact so new I'm still in ny state. Moving to tacoma end of October and looking for rental near a good high school (daughter 15). Will be working at TGH and St. Joe. Is stadium good High School? How about Wilson ? Curtis? Thanks -Teresa
Submitted by ntflinn on September 18, 2009 - 3:35am.
So, feeling helpful...I'll try with this one. North End would be closer to downtown, 6th Ave., Stadium etc. It's kind of a general term, honestly I tend to use it for anything north of Hwy 16. Ruston is North, but it's own little (cool) area, the highlight being Pt Defiance.
Also, not that you asked, but as the resident of a very diverse Tacoma neighborhood I feel compelled to tell you that a place close to the hospital may also be very "diverse" I love my 'hood, but it definitely has many less than desirable factors as well as the good. The areas closest tothe hospitals are much the same, beautiful homes literally blocks from abandoned and run-down homes.
However, this is true for much of our lovely town....just thought I'd put it out there. I'm always struck by this in that particular area - perhaps because the nicer areas are just that nice they stand out all the more.
Good luck in your move!
Test score-wise, Stadium and Wilson are about neck in neck, although Stadium is a castle, which is kind of hard to beat. (If you've never seen it, it's the building where they filmed "10 Things I Hate About You.") They have the highest WASL scores in the Tacoma School District, aside from Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) to which you have to apply. I'm not sure how SOTA transfers work, it might be too late for this year. But SOTA is downtown and very close to Stadium, relatively speaking.
To go to Stadium, you can live anywhere from Northeast Tacoma all the way over to parts of the UPS area. From there North and West you are looking at Wilson. Wilson has a lot of space available and is much less popular than Stadium for reasons I don't completely understand. (I don't have high school aged kids, someone else may have more insight into that.) Stadium's scores run generally at or just above or below the state average, Wilson is usually at or just below.
Curtis is actually in the University Place school district, so for that you'd need to be in UP. It trends consistently just above the state average. I don't know much else about it.
To look at the WASL scores (and keep in mind the WASL is a universally despised test which will be jettisoned beginning next year) check the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction report card site:
Hopefully someone with older kids can give you more advice on what the schools are actually like. From a purely appearance standpoint your daughter will probably be disappointed if she doesn't go to Stadium :)
Aside from school issues, the North end of Tacoma (not the *North East* side, which is very suburban 70s) is absolutely fantastic, with lots of pre-war craftsman homes, decent transit, real sidewalks and walkable neighborhoods with restaurants and things to do.
University Place is more or less like any other suburb anyplace else in the world, but with taller Washington style trees.
Submitted by TeresaNP on September 16, 2009 - 10:13am.
Thank you so much. I will keep you posted on my results. I am getting great vibes from one that is near the hospitals.
When you say north end - do you mean close to Ruston or closer to the downtown?
Thanks
Submitted by NSHDscott on September 28, 2009 - 9:50pm.
Teresa, lots of good info here but no one's really given you a recommendation, so here goes.
If you're going to be working at TG, that's great as there are lots of good neighborhood to choose from. The North Slope Historic District (across Division from TG), the Wedge neighborhood (between Division and 6th Ave), and the Stadium neighborhood seem like the ideal location for someone in your situation. All three of these neighborhoods are mostly large, impressive historic homes interspersed with apartment buildings built in either the early 1900s or the 1970s or so. They are lovely and pretty safe. They are also within walking/biking distance of Stadium High, a school with fabulous facilities and mid-grade test scores. You won't get much better education at the other Tacoma high schools so no sense talking about them, unless you want to pay big bucks for Annie Wright private school, which is also nearby.
One other decent option is the Hilltop neighborhood, which has a rough history (1980s mostly) but is pretty fine now. It's between TG and St. Joe's, which might be a plus for you, and I bet the rents are a bit cheaper. Further from Stadium High, though.
Submitted by TeresaNP on September 29, 2009 - 3:47am.
Hi all, found a house to rent it is around the corner from St. Joe's. A little farther from Stadium but I think it will be nice.
Very reassuring to hear the postives about the school. My daughter is a junior and Stadium is significantly larger than her current school.
Oh and I've already mapped out the Y, library, church and restaurants in the neighborhood
Submitted by CeeCee on September 25, 2009 - 9:00pm.
I would avoid Ruston. There was a smelter there for years; some of the land is still being cleaned up. Ruston is NW from Tacoma. The neighborhoods nearest to the hospitals are hilltop, the addresses from 1000 to 4000 near 6th Ave., and the "north slope"/Division Ave.; they have the spotty areas that ntflinn mentioned. Many of the houses and apartments are charming, but there are also some blocks that are "interesting." South Tacoma and East Tacoma generally have more crime than north and west. The most popular neighborhood is the north end. These houses will have "north" in the addresses, are on streets from 12th and up, and are west of Steele. They're near Univ. of Puget Sound, Proctor, and Old Tacoma. That segment of town is quite safe and housing is more expensive than some other areas. Tacoma General and Stadium are approx. 3 miles away. Moving west, you have another section of the north end - it's near Wilson. The houses are newer - 1950s, 60s, 70s, and some 80s. Continue moving west and you have the west end. Houses are similar to the area near Wilson, but there are views of the Narrows Bridge so housing there is more expensive. Finally, there's University Place. There isn't a university there - confusing! The houses are mostly 1970s, 80s, and 90s; I think crime is minimal, it's very suburban, as another poster said. It takes about 25 -35 minutes to drive to the hospitals from there. Safe and nice. Curtis is an excellent school; lots of AP and extracurricular programs. I know many families with kids there; they are all very happy with the school. Trader Joe's is in U.P, as is my daughter's doctor, dentist, dance school, etc. Seems I'm always driving over there. One last thought - the School of the Arts has a lengthy admitting process. Unless your daughter is in 9th grade, she probably has missed m any entrance deadlines. "SOTA" is downtown. Hope this helps. Welcome to the NW!
Submitted by TeresaNP on October 8, 2009 - 4:56am.
Thanks everyone. I noted all the tips and info. Have the house, but what about utilities. Currently I have direct TV. Verizon is my cell phone carrier, But what are the other options. Who do I call to turn on home phone, internet, gas water, eledt? Thanks. you are making this move easier for me
Teresa
Sorry for the late reply, you've probably already got it figured out but Tacoma Public Utilities manages everything but the gas. (That's Puget Sound Energy) For internet, I recommend Click! Network. (Also run through the city! Good rates and great service.)
Submitted by CornHuskie on October 19, 2009 - 12:03pm.
I, too, am relatively new to Tacoma (here since July 08). We live in the North End and enjoy the location -- love walking down to the water!
Regarding schools -- I am not very familiar with Tacoma's public high schools; however, I do have first hand experience with The Annie Wright School. I would encourage you to give it a look. Yes, it is quite an investment; however, they do offer financial aid and payment plans. Their college acceptance list is pretty impressive. Classes are small and there is a very tight knit community of young women there. Not sure if your daughter would be interested, but thought I'd mention it as a possibility (if there is room in their junior class). Their website is aw.org. :)
Comments
So, feeling helpful...I'll
So, feeling helpful...I'll try with this one. North End would be closer to downtown, 6th Ave., Stadium etc. It's kind of a general term, honestly I tend to use it for anything north of Hwy 16. Ruston is North, but it's own little (cool) area, the highlight being Pt Defiance.
Also, not that you asked, but as the resident of a very diverse Tacoma neighborhood I feel compelled to tell you that a place close to the hospital may also be very "diverse" I love my 'hood, but it definitely has many less than desirable factors as well as the good. The areas closest tothe hospitals are much the same, beautiful homes literally blocks from abandoned and run-down homes.
However, this is true for much of our lovely town....just thought I'd put it out there. I'm always struck by this in that particular area - perhaps because the nicer areas are just that nice they stand out all the more.
Good luck in your move!
Hi Teresa, Welcome to
Hi Teresa,
Welcome to Tacoma!
Test score-wise, Stadium and Wilson are about neck in neck, although Stadium is a castle, which is kind of hard to beat. (If you've never seen it, it's the building where they filmed "10 Things I Hate About You.") They have the highest WASL scores in the Tacoma School District, aside from Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) to which you have to apply. I'm not sure how SOTA transfers work, it might be too late for this year. But SOTA is downtown and very close to Stadium, relatively speaking.
To go to Stadium, you can live anywhere from Northeast Tacoma all the way over to parts of the UPS area. From there North and West you are looking at Wilson. Wilson has a lot of space available and is much less popular than Stadium for reasons I don't completely understand. (I don't have high school aged kids, someone else may have more insight into that.) Stadium's scores run generally at or just above or below the state average, Wilson is usually at or just below.
Curtis is actually in the University Place school district, so for that you'd need to be in UP. It trends consistently just above the state average. I don't know much else about it.
To look at the WASL scores (and keep in mind the WASL is a universally despised test which will be jettisoned beginning next year) check the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction report card site:
http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/
Hopefully someone with older kids can give you more advice on what the schools are actually like. From a purely appearance standpoint your daughter will probably be disappointed if she doesn't go to Stadium :)
Aside from school issues, the
Aside from school issues, the North end of Tacoma (not the *North East* side, which is very suburban 70s) is absolutely fantastic, with lots of pre-war craftsman homes, decent transit, real sidewalks and walkable neighborhoods with restaurants and things to do.
University Place is more or less like any other suburb anyplace else in the world, but with taller Washington style trees.
Thank you so much. I will
Thank you so much. I will keep you posted on my results. I am getting great vibes from one that is near the hospitals.
When you say north end - do you mean close to Ruston or closer to the downtown?
Thanks
Recommendation
Teresa, lots of good info here but no one's really given you a recommendation, so here goes.
If you're going to be working at TG, that's great as there are lots of good neighborhood to choose from. The North Slope Historic District (across Division from TG), the Wedge neighborhood (between Division and 6th Ave), and the Stadium neighborhood seem like the ideal location for someone in your situation. All three of these neighborhoods are mostly large, impressive historic homes interspersed with apartment buildings built in either the early 1900s or the 1970s or so. They are lovely and pretty safe. They are also within walking/biking distance of Stadium High, a school with fabulous facilities and mid-grade test scores. You won't get much better education at the other Tacoma high schools so no sense talking about them, unless you want to pay big bucks for Annie Wright private school, which is also nearby.
One other decent option is the Hilltop neighborhood, which has a rough history (1980s mostly) but is pretty fine now. It's between TG and St. Joe's, which might be a plus for you, and I bet the rents are a bit cheaper. Further from Stadium High, though.
Hope that helps and welcome to Tacoma!
House
Hi all, found a house to rent it is around the corner from St. Joe's. A little farther from Stadium but I think it will be nice.
Very reassuring to hear the postives about the school. My daughter is a junior and Stadium is significantly larger than her current school.
Oh and I've already mapped out the Y, library, church and restaurants in the neighborhood
North, etc.
I would avoid Ruston. There was a smelter there for years; some of the land is still being cleaned up. Ruston is NW from Tacoma. The neighborhoods nearest to the hospitals are hilltop, the addresses from 1000 to 4000 near 6th Ave., and the "north slope"/Division Ave.; they have the spotty areas that ntflinn mentioned. Many of the houses and apartments are charming, but there are also some blocks that are "interesting." South Tacoma and East Tacoma generally have more crime than north and west. The most popular neighborhood is the north end. These houses will have "north" in the addresses, are on streets from 12th and up, and are west of Steele. They're near Univ. of Puget Sound, Proctor, and Old Tacoma. That segment of town is quite safe and housing is more expensive than some other areas. Tacoma General and Stadium are approx. 3 miles away. Moving west, you have another section of the north end - it's near Wilson. The houses are newer - 1950s, 60s, 70s, and some 80s. Continue moving west and you have the west end. Houses are similar to the area near Wilson, but there are views of the Narrows Bridge so housing there is more expensive. Finally, there's University Place. There isn't a university there - confusing! The houses are mostly 1970s, 80s, and 90s; I think crime is minimal, it's very suburban, as another poster said. It takes about 25 -35 minutes to drive to the hospitals from there. Safe and nice. Curtis is an excellent school; lots of AP and extracurricular programs. I know many families with kids there; they are all very happy with the school. Trader Joe's is in U.P, as is my daughter's doctor, dentist, dance school, etc. Seems I'm always driving over there. One last thought - the School of the Arts has a lengthy admitting process. Unless your daughter is in 9th grade, she probably has missed m any entrance deadlines. "SOTA" is downtown. Hope this helps. Welcome to the NW!
utilities
Thanks everyone. I noted all the tips and info. Have the house, but what about utilities. Currently I have direct TV. Verizon is my cell phone carrier, But what are the other options. Who do I call to turn on home phone, internet, gas water, eledt? Thanks. you are making this move easier for me
Teresa
Need OB/GYN M.D. in Tacoma
Admin note: Moved to new forum topic, reply there!
Another great resource
Here's another resource to help with living in Tacoma. Good luck. http://www.multicare.org/blazenewtrails/comm.html
Utilities
Sorry for the late reply, you've probably already got it figured out but Tacoma Public Utilities manages everything but the gas. (That's Puget Sound Energy) For internet, I recommend Click! Network. (Also run through the city! Good rates and great service.)
My two cents
I, too, am relatively new to Tacoma (here since July 08). We live in the North End and enjoy the location -- love walking down to the water!
Regarding schools -- I am not very familiar with Tacoma's public high schools; however, I do have first hand experience with The Annie Wright School. I would encourage you to give it a look. Yes, it is quite an investment; however, they do offer financial aid and payment plans. Their college acceptance list is pretty impressive. Classes are small and there is a very tight knit community of young women there. Not sure if your daughter would be interested, but thought I'd mention it as a possibility (if there is room in their junior class). Their website is aw.org. :)
Hope you have a smooth move to Tacoma!
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