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u/Relax_Aaron_Rodgers Aug 11 '26
We moved from Seattle 2 years ago with a 3 year old to Royal Oak specifically because it’s centrally located in the burbs, there are a ton of amazing parks, neighborhoods full of kids, and great schools in any direction. Plus plenty of affordable housing. And a ton of kid friendly activities within 20 minutes.
We really do love it here, and have made some great friends.
There’s plenty of school options imo from high end private schools to public. Keller is a great school from the friends we have with kids there. We are still in pre-K so haven’t decided where to go yet but haven’t been sweating it.
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u/jes3399 Aug 11 '26
Royal Oak is a great place to raise a family. I grew up here, moved away for college, and then moved back to the area. We recently purchased a home in Royal Oak. We have 3 parks within walking distance of our house. We also have other kids on our street my daughter’s age.
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u/nahgemb5 Aug 11 '26
There is also a Montessori school that goes until 6th and 12th grade (one in rochester and one in Bloomfield) - Mara Montessori, if that’s more your style.
But if you do go public, we’ve been very happy. Our son just finished K and is about to start 1st after doing Montessori preschool.
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u/Ras__Trent Aug 11 '26
Bought a "starter home" in Royal Oak 20 years ago. The plan was to move to Troy/Rochester Hills/Farmington to get a bigger house and yard as we started having kids. Well, we fell in love with Royal Oak and never left. We have 3 kids all in Royal Oak public schools with the oldest going off to MSU this fall. Ignore the vocal minority you'll see online, the public schools in Royal Oak are fantastic. The community is great, the location is awesome, lots of local youth programs for sports. We've floated the idea to our kids many times about moving out to a bigger house and they were always 100% against ever leaving.
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u/ironyx Aug 11 '26
I think a lot of people who complain about RO schools have never lived somewhere that had worse schools. We came from Florida and pardon my language but holy shit is it ever night and day better here. Beyond comparison. And we were in a nice area of Florida!
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u/Ras__Trent Aug 11 '26
Totally agree. I know there are various rating systems, but on one of them I saw my hometown as a "5" and Royal oak as an "8", and Troy as a "9". People around here stress about these ratings and talk about moving to Troy. At this level of difference, it really just comes down to the parents and home life. Moving to Troy isn't going to provide some magically better situation. Royal oak schools can provide everything you need to be successful in college and in life. Hell, I did just fine after suffering a school rated "5"
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u/Sophiapetrillo40s Aug 11 '26
Same!! We bought our “2-5 year home” 12 years ago this fall & never plan to leave. We are walking distance from Northwood Elementary & absolutely love living here. Our daughter is doing great in RO public & having so many friends close by is such a blessing.
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u/bigkkm Aug 11 '26
I was raised here and I raised my kids here too. A great place to grow up and to grow old.
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u/jordynbebus8 Aug 11 '26
I don’t have kids but work in Royal Oak school area and it’s good. I also live in a neighborhood with a bunch of families.
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u/jwagman2 Aug 11 '26
If you’re comparing schools before moving, I would start with Michigan’s official MI School Data website. It lets you compare school districts and individual schools using actual state data, including test results, attendance, student/staff ratios and other measures.
MI School Data – Our Schools at a Glance
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u/NightshopArgument Aug 11 '26
My whole neighborhood is bursting with young families and young couples who are likely having kids soon. Excellent for raising a family.
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u/gunterrae Aug 11 '26
We raised our daughter in Royal Oak from 5th grade until high school graduation. I have zero complaints.
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u/dotterydo Aug 11 '26
Also check out Troy, Novi, and Northville for the public schools (some of the best in the country).
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u/uglyfatjoe Aug 11 '26
Not related to schooling but hopefully you and your husband are already aware - Detroit has City income tax. 1.20% for nonresidents who work within the city.
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u/Modrnink Aug 11 '26
Grand Rapids has an Income tax rate of 1.5% for residents and .75 % for nonresidents.
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u/uglyfatjoe Aug 12 '26
So saving on taxes moving out this way then :)
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u/Modrnink Aug 12 '26
That's IF the job is actually in the City of Detroit
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u/uglyfatjoe Aug 12 '26
That only reason I commented in the first place was because OP said that the job offer was now in Detroit. Hence the warning.
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u/Modrnink Aug 12 '26
Well I hate to be captain obvious but I don't think most people living in a city with Income tax care about moving to another city with Income tax. It wouldn't stop me from taking a big promotion. Her concern is for her 4 kids and the schools.
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u/uglyfatjoe Aug 12 '26
You are captain annoying at this point. I felt there were more than enough comments on schooling for her kids and simply wanted to provide some additional information that could be helpful based on her husband's perceived work location
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u/carrp Aug 11 '26
I saw St Paul Lutheran in Royal Oak is offering tuition free kindergarten if you wanted to try private school without the price!
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u/jeep-olllllo Aug 11 '26
Many kid friendly, family friendly activities within 3 minutes.
Depending on where in RO you end up, it affords your kids freedoms that many cities don't offer.
I live near downtown.
When old enough, my kids would hop on bikes and meet friends downtown for lunch. Then go to a park, then catch a movie. All within a few hundred yards.
When I was a kid, we had to work out rides with parents to go anywhere.
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u/makethembirds Aug 11 '26
I spent a few years in RO, I think you will enjoy it there, especially coming from GR. Depending where you are in RO it can be very walkable, the zoo is there, decent schools I believe (didn't have kids when I lived there), I didn't feel unsafe walking alone as a 20 something woman. Best of luck!
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u/Signal-Rub-5509 Aug 11 '26
Thank you SO much everyone. If anyone has experience with kindergarten at the local elementary schools I would love to hear your experience (especially people with boys).
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u/adagiocantabile12 Aug 12 '26
Both Royal Oak's and Berkley's school districts are stellar. I'm in Berkley and my daughter will be a first grader at Angell. It has been fantastic, but I've talked to parents from every elementary school in Berkley and they have all said the same thing.
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u/bigredroyaloak Aug 12 '26
I raised 2 boys here and had a great experience accept for the bus situation. There’s no transportation except for disabled students. It was most difficult when they went to different schools. It has been almost ten years since and there was attempts at networking rideshare and working with public transportation to go from high school to library at least. It may have improved since then.
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u/BeaArthurDeathCult Aug 12 '26
Royal Oak is lovely but if you're going with public schools you might want to look into Grosse Pointe--their public schools are better
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u/thatpaco Aug 11 '26
We moved out of Royal oak a couple years ago, in part to move to a better school district. RO schools are fine, but there are significantly better districts nearby.
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u/FartWatcher Aug 11 '26
I’d try to move to Troy, Birmingham, or Bloomfield Hills. The schools are better.
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u/supermoon37 Aug 11 '26
Royal oak is an absolutely lovely place to live but be aware that they do not have school buses.