Southern California Schools
Mar 14th 2018, 9:56 pm
#31
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
Thank you!
What do you make of schools in Lake Forest? What district is that?
Mar 14th 2018, 10:03 pm
#32
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
No.
Regarding the dyslexia, which I missed, that might affect your school choice as well. I have an autistic son which is different, of course, but he doesn't go to the local school because they don't have a special ed program beyond 3rd grade.
Regarding enrolling in June: you might have to wait until early August. Depends on the school district but we moved over a summer holiday once, but before the new school closed, and had to wait until the school admin offices re-opened about 2 weeks before the school opened. Different district but SoCal.
Regarding the dyslexia, which I missed, that might affect your school choice as well. I have an autistic son which is different, of course, but he doesn't go to the local school because they don't have a special ed program beyond 3rd grade.
Regarding enrolling in June: you might have to wait until early August. Depends on the school district but we moved over a summer holiday once, but before the new school closed, and had to wait until the school admin offices re-opened about 2 weeks before the school opened. Different district but SoCal.
Thank you!! I really appreciate your knowledge! :-)
I had no idea how long things take. This is all new to me but we definetly won't be enrolling any children in school any time soon! My husband will most likely go without me and our children until I can sort out our visas. Atleast I'm not against the time trying to pack up a whole house etc!!
Mar 14th 2018, 10:05 pm
#33
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
I would suggest asking on this forum
Orange County Forum - Relocation, Moving, General and Local City Discussions - City-Data Forum
also - just as a way of sorting some possibilities - USNews does an annual high school rankings that might eliminate some for you. As a note of caution though, they look at college readiness and graduation rates which may not translate to a lot of support for your child with dyslexia but on the other hand, I know from the local rankings for me, the schools mentioned are good.
You are quite correct to choose the middle/high school so that you don't have to think about moving again and separating your children from their friends to get a better education.
Once you've looked at USNews, go to the school/district website and find the feeder schools for the middle and elementary.
https://www.usnews.com/education/bes...ame=california
Orange County Forum - Relocation, Moving, General and Local City Discussions - City-Data Forum
also - just as a way of sorting some possibilities - USNews does an annual high school rankings that might eliminate some for you. As a note of caution though, they look at college readiness and graduation rates which may not translate to a lot of support for your child with dyslexia but on the other hand, I know from the local rankings for me, the schools mentioned are good.
You are quite correct to choose the middle/high school so that you don't have to think about moving again and separating your children from their friends to get a better education.
Once you've looked at USNews, go to the school/district website and find the feeder schools for the middle and elementary.
https://www.usnews.com/education/bes...ame=california
Thank you!! :-)
Mar 14th 2018, 10:16 pm
#34
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
Unless you have a criminal record or a drug habit it will likely be very easy for you to get an IR-1 visa, I believe the current reported time to get a CR-1 or IR-1 in London, if the US citizen sponsor is legal resident in the UK, is 4-6 months.
The IR-1 visa will lead automatically to a green card when you use the visa to enter the US. So you are applying for a visa, the green card comes later, on entry to the US. .... You will have green card status immediately, with a stamp in your passport, the actual physical green card will come 2-3 months later.
Neither you nor your children need to give up their British passports or citizenship, and indeed it would be quite difficult to do so, even if you wanted to.
The IR-1 visa will lead automatically to a green card when you use the visa to enter the US. So you are applying for a visa, the green card comes later, on entry to the US. .... You will have green card status immediately, with a stamp in your passport, the actual physical green card will come 2-3 months later.
Neither you nor your children need to give up their British passports or citizenship, and indeed it would be quite difficult to do so, even if you wanted to.
Thats great!! So, hopefully it should be fairly straightforward for me. Thank you! :-)
I'm still so undecided on where to live for schools. I thought he would be working in Irvine but they've recently moved office to Corona. Wondering wether it may be better to move nearer to his work? I really like the sound of Mission Viejo but know he won't enjoy being stuck in loads of traffic. Also, not sure on schools in that area.
Think we need a proper trip out to explore the areas and schools and traffic. All I hear is that there's terrible traffic! Ha ha!
Mar 14th 2018, 10:24 pm
#35
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
Yep! Not sure entirely when but they'd like him to begin work asap. No way me and the kids will be able to join him any time soon as I'll be left to pack a whole house up, sell our cars etc!! So much to sort out! I need to get this house in a fit state to let out. We want to keep this house until we've found our feet in the US. Not sure how we'll be affected when it comes to selling it. The plan is to initially rent. Needs to be dog friendly too! This is not going to be easy haha!! 
Mar 14th 2018, 10:31 pm
#36
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Location: Saffron Walden, Essex
Posts: 15
Re: Southern California Schools
I'm not sure this will search properly but I'll try it:
https://www.greatschools.org/califor...Levels%5B%5D=e
There is quite a spread in rating. Like I said don't get too hung up on them but they are not all good.
Note that real estate websites like Trulia, Zillow and Redfin usually list assigned schools in the listings. They aren't always accurate though. I've seen some listing the good schools when they are actually allocated to bad schools (realtors are well... err... often conservative with the truth shall we say)
If you want any details of Mission Viejo specifically PM me and I'll help.
https://www.greatschools.org/califor...Levels%5B%5D=e
There is quite a spread in rating. Like I said don't get too hung up on them but they are not all good.
Note that real estate websites like Trulia, Zillow and Redfin usually list assigned schools in the listings. They aren't always accurate though. I've seen some listing the good schools when they are actually allocated to bad schools (realtors are well... err... often conservative with the truth shall we say)
If you want any details of Mission Viejo specifically PM me and I'll help.
Mar 15th 2018, 3:18 am
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: Southern California Schools
I thought he would be working in Irvine but they've recently moved office to Corona. Wondering wether it may be better to move nearer to his work? I really like the sound of Mission Viejo but know he won't enjoy being stuck in loads of traffic. Also, not sure on schools in that area.
Eastvale is just to the north of Corona. Houses are in the 400-500k range to buy (probably 2k-3k to rent) for a 4-bed. It's a much nicer area than Corona, is relatively new, but can suffer from densely packed houses within arms' reach of each other.
Temecula/Murrieta to the south is further away - though if the office is south Corona then probably not so much an issue. One of the safest pair of cities in the nation apparently, wine country (and beer), some great restaurants, very family oriented, and good schools.
Mar 15th 2018, 9:43 pm
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Posts: 298
Re: Southern California Schools
Thats great!! So, hopefully it should be fairly straightforward for me. Thank you! :-)
I'm still so undecided on where to live for schools. I thought he would be working in Irvine but they've recently moved office to Corona. Wondering wether it may be better to move nearer to his work? I really like the sound of Mission Viejo but know he won't enjoy being stuck in loads of traffic. Also, not sure on schools in that area.
Think we need a proper trip out to explore the areas and schools and traffic. All I hear is that there's terrible traffic! Ha ha!
I'm still so undecided on where to live for schools. I thought he would be working in Irvine but they've recently moved office to Corona. Wondering wether it may be better to move nearer to his work? I really like the sound of Mission Viejo but know he won't enjoy being stuck in loads of traffic. Also, not sure on schools in that area.
Think we need a proper trip out to explore the areas and schools and traffic. All I hear is that there's terrible traffic! Ha ha!
Mar 15th 2018, 10:51 pm
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Midlands - MA - CO-CA
Posts: 2,763
Re: Southern California Schools
Chino Valley School District does have a good rap, but you would have to look at the individual schools. It is north of Corona, so would likely be a little bit of hassle on the freeways. I think there is quite a bit of rental property available as well, houses as well as condos. Chino Hills is a little bit more upscale than Chino.
