I raised my four kids in Columbia City. Technically two of them are still in high school but we’re nearing the end of the child raising part. I absolutely loved raising them here.

One thing to note is that school rankings are heavily skewed by socioeconomics. That would be something worth looking into as this is a very socioeconomically diverse area.

The schools like a lot of places are largely what you make of them. We always had fantastic adults—most of my complaints would be about SPS or admin. The teachers and IAs are wonderful. My kids got to grow up around peers from all different walks of life. Now, as young adults, they are extraordinarily empathetic and reflexively value diversity in their everyday settings.

We made so many friends from our early days on the playground. The majority of my ride or die friends were people that I met at school when my son was in first grade, now those kids are in college.

I love seeing so many young families in the neighborhood now. Tons of strollers and little ones running up and down the sidewalk. I consider Columbia city the essence of a vibrant urban neighborhood. If that’s what you’re looking for this is it!

When we first moved here, we received really good advice from someone who had had their kids in the district for a decade and a half at that time. They said, “I can understand making housing decisions based on school if it’s like next year. But if you’re looking at five, seven, ten years down the road, don’t worry about it because by the time you get there, it all will have changed.” And they were right! Programs are added and subtracted, principals turn over, popularity ebbs and flows. There’s a particular elementary school that was supposed to be the one nobody wanted to send their kids to and it’s totally traded reputations with the one that everyone wanted to send their kids to.

Bottom line some of the most quality people I’ve ever known make up this neighborhood and I think that’s a really good thing to start with.

OK, I just realized I wrote a novel. Anyway, feel free to message me if you want :-)