Relocating to STT

I can answer about FERRY between STT and STX might be available again soon, but it will not be priced much cheaper than an airline flight.

There are ferries to/from St. John hourly for activities or adventure hiking the national parks, etc.

There are ferries to/from the British Virgin Islands for additional trips.

There are students who are enrolled in ONLINE schooling (k-12), but I do not know details. Maybe somebody else can add more about online schooling.

As for bringing teenagers, it would be an experience for them and hopefully they will enjoy the change. However, it will depend on how well they get involved in activities to meet others (especially if they are not attending public or private schools).

If you do not make the move, you will always wonder "what if".
If you do make the move and it does not work out, then you can move back with the memories.

It is a big decision with a family and wish you the best.
jj

I am trying to determine if we should take the job by weighing the pros and cons of the move. Mainly the cost of living and schooling.....My questions are varied such as should we bring our 11 yr old, 14 yr old, and 17 yr old to the virgin islands.... I would greatly appreciate some help. We have only until Friday the 27th to decide so any help would be awesome.

Debra

Obviously this is a big step but it is a decision YOU have to make for yourself. No one here can make it for you.

Fortunately there is a wealth of information on this site that can help guide you.

Start at the top of this page and click on all the dropdown menus and read EVERYTHING you find, then search the forums for more specialized topics that concern you. Just about every topic/question you can think of and plenty more topics you haven't even thought of yet have been discussed hundreds and hundreds of times and while some of the threads/comments you read may be a bite dated (i.e. several years old) the information is still is as relevant today as it was years ago. Reading and heeding the information in the archives will help you make an informed decision.

Debra: That is a very short period of time to decide! There is an active home schooling network on St Thomas, but they run a bit under the radar.

When you ask if you should bring your children, is there another option? If you can do it without burning any bridges, perhaps if your husband comes down, he can help figure out if the island would be a good fit for your family before you make a final decision.

When you are asking about a house "that will fit all of us", people typically live in smaller spaces here than the states. Unless you happen to have a large budget... And lots of safe neighborhoods, just not neighborhoods like in America.

And there are lots of places to go by ferry from St Thomas, but not St Croix currently. And while jj is optimistic about the new start-up, I am not holding my breath. 😎

We wouldn't leave our kids behind. The short time frame is because that is when he has to accept the job he was offered. We are pretty sure he is going to accept it. But hearing from other people helps a lot. Thanks for your help!!!:

Well good luck! I didn't think you were going to leave them "Home Alone", but I was thinking you could somehow ease into the move. Hope to hear some updates from you.

We live on STX and homeschool our 13 year old son. We moved to the island when he was 2 so he has grown up here. For preschool and kindergarten he was in private school.

The online school we started with was K12 and we used the homestudy option, (pricey but cheaper than private school) where I was the teacher. There is an option with K12 that is considered public school. It is very rigorous but free. Contact K12 and look at them online to see if that is something that would be a fit for your family. There are other online schools or you can order a complete curriculum and teach them yourself. Check with the department of Education to see what the rules are in the VI.

In my experience, older children who move to the VI have a more difficult time adjusting especially teens. Social activities are limited if they are not in a public or private school setting. I am speaking for STX. STT may have more opportunities.

Please don't let me deter you if you really want to move here. All children and families are different. Many children thrive here and love the adventure of a new place.

Tammy