Moving to Michigan

[MovingtotheUS]

I'm looking for some advice about moving to Michigan.

My DH has been offered a new job in MI. We've been expats in Asia for the past few years.
Our DC has been in private international schools, and I wondered how hard it is to get into private schools in MI. Does everyone have to take an entrance exam (even a 6 year old?)

The main reason we'd want private is for class sizes. What would they be in elementary school public/private?

Which area would be best to live? We're used to big Asian cities, so I'm not sure how we'll cope with anything too suburban. We'd like somewhere with good shops, restaurants, but mostly schools.

Ann Arbor and Birmingham have been.suggested. Our housing budget would be around $6000 per month.

Anything else we should be aware of?

Well, you're probably aware it's cold and it snows. Which means driving is a big consideration for commuting on snowy and icy roads. Job location is a big consideration. I wouldn't suggest Ann Arbor if the job is based in Grand Rapids!

I suggest looking at City-Data.com forums on Michigan. You'll find more experts on Michigan there. It's super helpful.

I'm generalising, but private schools are not as common in Michigan. When you look at the list of private schools, you will often find they have a religious or alternative-schooling bent rather than a lot of academic hot housing. Roper in Birmingham or Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills might be the closest equivalent of the schools your children have in Asia. But a lot of the public schools in the area are equally amazing with reasonable class sizes and extensive extra-curricular sports and activities.

Schools are generally very good over here. Be prepared as it will be rural, cold and snowy.

Thanks for the tips. Not looking forward to the cold, especially after the heat of Asia

What kind of class sizes would the public schools have?

In Maine classes are 15-18 Max.

You get used to the cold, just remember EVERYTHING freezes. Be gentle with anything outside......extension cables do snap!

I teach in a private school in Ann Arbor. We are K - 8. Potential students have to take an intelligence test, but not an entrance exam, and 'fit' more important than academic IQ. Class size a max of 20, public school is likely to be around 30, maybe more.

PM me if you'd like.

I'm a Brit who moved here 10 years ago. I live just outside A2, in a small town.Apart from the winters I love it here. Happy to talk about schools (not just my own) and living here.

Thanks so much for the responses. I keep hoping I'll adjust to the weather, but I hate the cold.

@KickAssAngel - I'll message you. Thanks for the offer.

We are in Illinois and winters are cold. Each state will be different but where we are the suburbs have good small state schools with guaranteed places.
We chose to live in the city and go private but we have a good choice of schools here, don't know about your state.
I am dreading the months of winter we are about to slid into, first snow for us forecast today but the Midwest isn't a bad place to live.