Find a Home within Walking Distance to a Great School

As the school year has begun and my shift as taxi driver has renewed, I once again mourn that my elementary school of choice is not within walking distance.  What luxury it would be to walk down the street versus loading everyone in the car including the preschooler and the baby, waiting in line to drop off, get everyone home and out of their car seats, just to load everyone in again to do it all over.  What a waste of gas, time, and energy.

If I had to do it over again, I would find my dream home within walking distance of a great elementary school.  Luckily those moving to Gilbert Arizona can find a plethora of excellent schools and friendly neighborhoods.  Here are just a few:

Gilbert Homes for Sale near Great Schools

Val Vista Lakes Elementary is locating within, you guessed it, the community of Val Vista Lakes.  The schools receives high marks with a lot of parent involvement.  I love the community because of it’s excellent location, close to the freeway and lots of shopping, along with its clubhouse, pools, and of course, the lakes.  You can find everything from two bedroom condos, typical 4 bedrooms homes, up to mansions on the water, pontoon boat included.

If you’re intersted in a home with a “rural” feeling, you would love the neighborhood around Mesquite Elementary.  Homes surrounding the school are a throwback to Gilbert’s farming days.  Usually they sit on 1-2 acres so there’s lots of room between you and your neighbor, and are zoned for chickens, and a cow or a horse or two.  The homes are ranches, ranging in size from 3 bedrooms up to 6 or so.  The great thing is that it’s still close-in Gilbert, it’s not out in the middle of nowhere.

You can find typical “suburbia” at Finley Farms Elementary.  It’s a great school right in the middle of a friendly neighborhood.  These homes were all built in the last ten years or so, typical 3-5 bedrooms homes, about a third with pools.  The school is right in the middle of the community, and easy walk for just about everyone.

If you have a first grader and a seventh grader, you might looking into Greenfield Elementary and Greenfield Junior High.  They are the only elementary school and junior high right next to each other in Gilbert.  However, they are on opposite sides of Guadalupe Road so keep that in mind.  The majority of homes within walking distance are custom, big and beautiful, with huge lots.  It’s a nice area. 

If you are looking for a private, Christian-based school, check out Surrey Garden Christian School within the community of Agritopia.  Agritopia is one of the most renowned Phoenix-area neighborhoods.  It combines organic farm fields with a coffee shop, restaurant grill, and craftsman-style residential architecture that is hard to find in Arizona.  Homes for sale in Agritopia range from 1500 square foot cottages up to 5,000 6 bedroom homes with separate casitas. 

These are just a few of the options for Gilbert neighborhoods with great schools within walking distance.  Any others you’d like to recommend?