Well settled but consistently unhappy with the schools in Durham region (Ajax). Wanting to move only for school with both elementary and secondary in mind.

4 Yrs down my older one would be in secondary school so want to plan for that now. Areas I have been considering are Mississauga, Vaughan and Richmond Hill. In these areas I have comeup with few good Elementary and High school combination but my analysis is only based on Fraser ratings which I feel cannot be trusted 100% and makes difficult to find a combination consistently performing well.

Mississauga - Matured area so crowded schools in busy neighborhoods. Are there enough resources and programs available to all students at secondary level or its a struggle to find spot in desired programs usually?

Vaughan - Upcoming but surprisingly only 3 elementary schools with rating above 8 and even though it is YDSB which is considered better, none of the High schools doing that great.

Richmond Hill - Many good elementary and high school combinations but filled with Chinese population. A Chinese collegue of mine says her school has almost 90% Chinese and too much competition among kids to get good marks at 11/12 th grades. That reminds me of India! Dont know if all schools have dominant asian population. Not sure how healthy that competition is here to throw the kids in a 'have to perform' environment.

From grade 5 -10 I feel are character building years for the kids. I am not just looking into good rating but a good neighborhood with kids coming from peaceful backgrounds and academics should ofcourse be a priority.
Fellow CDs with older children please let me know how your experience with kids going to school and college has been here? If you want to move for school as priority where would you move? Is there a point i am missing here?

You are glad you are in Ajax..further east and you would be in Oshawa which is a DUMP !

A real ghetto with third world poverty levels in Oshawa !

Oakville is one place everyone harps about when it comes to schools .

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Fido.

Compared the other cities you listed, Ajax is a newer city. So the schools are newer too. That could be one reason why the scores are low. Vaughan and RH schools are good along with Oakville and Markham. Also, you will find some of the best schools in Toronto.

Yes, if I can afford, I would move for my child's education if I were living in Ajax. I would also have to find a suburb that is close to both me and my wife's workplace. Also, note that the property values appreciate better in those cities you mentioned when compared to Ajax.

Thanks for all your replies.

Oakville is out of question for me. Dont want to go to another end of GTA.
I am considering only Peel board (Mississauga) and York board (Vaughan and RH) for schools.

Why are so many ppl moving out of Mississauga what is wrong with Sauga?? that I don't know....

Few houses that we have seen there, found out from the agent ...Oh, they are moving to Vaughan.

In Vaughan other than 3 elementary schools I dont find any other elemn or single high school good. Why is that? Are ppl moving here only for newer construction and central location?
Other wise Vaughan appears to be dull with only houses and some basic strip malls.

Couple of my friends in Vaughan are staying fine with 5-6 rating school, longer commute etc but they haven't lived anywhere else in GTA to compare with other neighborhood and ofcourse affordability of buying somewhere else has become the biggest reason to stay put wherever sucking up any untoward change/s in life.

I totally agree with you Northyork Desi.

All the points you mentioned I have them in mind since two years. Keeping school as my first priority matching with other needs in the house makes it very hard to find something where I want what I want.

My current location is excellent in all respects sans the schools.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Cherry

Why are so many ppl moving out of Mississauga what is wrong with Sauga?? that I don't know....

Few houses that we have seen there, found out from the agent ...Oh, they are moving to Vaughan.

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