Concerns about Monroeville PA

[Last Resort]

Greetings everyone. I am currently considering moving my family to Monroeville PA. We have two young children, and so the school district is a huge concern. We were fortunate to find a great house at a great price, and it is located so that our children will go to Ramsey Elementary School. It also has a great proximity to my job, and will shorten my daily commute. I've been told repeatedly that Ramsey is the best elementary school around, and a huge perk to buying locally. Unfortunately though, I also just learned that Cambridge Square (Public/Section 8 housing) children are now attending Ramsey due to recent redistricting. Do you guys think this will lead to the demise of Ramsey's top notch reputation? I'm already frustrated by the current property tax reassessment situation in Monroeville, and also am not crazy about Gateway school district. I guess I'm looking for any thoughts or advice from those of you with a knowledge of the area. Is Monroeville and Gateway school district still a good place to live and raise children?

-Thanks

[jje]

I lived in Monroeville for some time, and it isn't a bad place to live. However, Gateway School district is not what it used to be. I moved to Penn Twp. 12 years ago. Just inside Westmoreland County (6 minutes from Monroeville) You can take advantage of lower property tax, as well as Penn-Trafford School District, which is rated 10 in the State:

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/PA/districtrank.aspx


Gateway is rated: 169 !

So, lower taxes, better schools, conservative leanings, and sportsman's clubs near by.

Just my 2 cents.

John

[Last Resort]

Thanks for sharing John, good points about Penn Township.

[RandomTask]

I'd never live in Monroeville, or anywhere along that US22/Parkway East corridor. The traffic alone is enough to keep me outta there.

[Irwin Inhabitant]

Penn Twp. resident now too, 11 years, grew up near Irwin, still have an Irwin address.
Sounds like you already closed on your new house. If you had just moved 2 or 3 miles to the east across the bridge, you would have been in Westmoreland County in the Penn-Trafford school district. A great place for those of us who are politically right-leaning.

Without a doubt our taxes are much lower here. Not so sure about Ramsey's demise, but sounds likely eventually.
I know a guy who told me his grandson got beaten up many times at Gateway, twice to the point of being hospitalized short term. Very little disciplinary action was taken against the bullies, until they eventually got caught with weapons and drugs. Just sayin'. Not at all trying to scare you, it can happen anywhere now.

Good Luck, the area near Ramsey is still a pretty nice neighborhood.

[PisnNapalm]

I grew up in Plum Boro which borders Monroeville. I wouldn't move there.

[arjohnson]

Moved here 15 years ago, it was nice then. Now I'm ready to move out, hopefully by sept if all goes as planned. School district sucks now and lots of sec 8 filling up the apartment complexes. My advice, if you have kids in school look for a better place a little further out.

[renegadephoenix]

Another Penn Township resident reporting in, as mentioned, great area to live and outside of the high tax area/crime area of Allegheny county

[Got Ammo?]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Murrysville, but that would be an option too.

[renegadephoenix]

PT's a better school district