For many families,
quality schools are among the most
critical concerns. That was the case
for Almaden Valley residents David and Lisa Simpson, who moved from Plano,
Texas in August 1998. The Simpsons, who have three children, ages 5, 7 and 9,
wanted a positive learning environment for their kids. "We looked at school
test scores," says Lisa, "and checked out every one of them." Their children
attend Graystone Elementary, where individual STAR testing scores are above
the 80th percentile. The Simpsons' experience proves individual schools within
a district can excel. Test scores in most San Jose Unified schools fall closer
to the 50th percentile.
In Almaden Valley, outdoor recreation is another plus. "We can walk to the end of our street and be at Quicksilver Park," says Lisa. The community is fluent in the language of an active life, with bike lanes framing every road and a network of horseback riding and hiking trails. "I've heard people say life is stressful in Silicon Valley," says Simpson, whose husband is vice president of operations at On Command. "But living here, there are so many outdoor activities available it seems less stressful to me. My husband is less likely to work weekends because we have so many options when it comes to things to do."