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If you are moving to Bend with your children, a key part of your preparation is learning about your school options and making the right choices. There are around 40 schools in the Bend-La Pine School District, with a wide variety of options for every age. Our overview will help make a quick introduction to these schools so you are ready to learn more!

Elementary Schools

There are nearly 20 elementary schools throughout Bend, designed to be near residential areas for easy, safe access. Depending on where you find your home when living to Bend, walking, or biking to elementary school may be particularly easy. From Bear Creek Elementary on 13th street to Elk Meadow on Brookswood, there are many different options to consider. With so many choices, you may want to visit potential locations in person to get a better idea of what’s right for your family when living in Bend.

Middle Schools

There are currently seven middle schools in the Central Oregon area to consider. This includes La Pine Middle in La Paine, Cascade Middle up on Mountaineer Way, and Pilot Butte Middle on the east side on Neff Road. Middle schools aren’t as common as elementary schools, which makes location more important, so start with the nearest middle schools.

It’s also a good idea to consider if charter schools are right for your child: These are independently operated public schools that operate on a lottery system and may offer certain specializations or services that other schools do not. They are an alternative for elementary and middle schools and include options like Desert Sky Montessori. Magnet or Focus schools, which tend to have a curricular focus, are also available as options in the Bend area.

High Schools

Bend’s public high schools are available at no cost to students within their districts. Bend Senior High has a central location, Summit High is on the westside, Mountain View High on the east side, and Caldera High for the southern portion of Bend. For those in La Pine, La Pine High is the district high school. There are also alternative options here, such as the Bend Tech Academy. We have a map of the school districts and individual school locations that can make understanding this easier! There is also an official School Attendance Area webpage for schools in Bend that you can use for research and planning.

Independent Options

Private schools and home schooling are also options in the Bend area. Home schoolers can benefit from the High Desert Education Service District, a program that provides valuable resources and preparation for students currently being home-schooled.

Remember, whatever school you choose, it’s important to start the application process very early for the best results. This is particularly true if you would like to enter a lottery for a magnet school, or if you are applying to transfer to a school in another district. If you’d like to learn more about your school options in Bend, how enrollment works, and other important details, be sure to visit our education portal. Our relocation services in Central Oregon can offer the information need to choose a school and get ready for the next school season.

Meet the Bend Relocation Services Team—your dedicated partners in making your move to Bend seamless and stress-free. Whether you’re relocating or buying a home, our expert team specializes in addressing all your needs, including ensuring your pets feel right at home. Trust us to guide you through every step of the process with personalized care and expertise.

It’s National Dog Month, and there’s no better place to celebrate than Bend in the summer! While there are many places you can take your dog when heading out for a drink or social time with friends, one of the best spots is a dog park – especially one that your furry friend hasn’t visited yet. Let’s look at some of the best dog parks in Bend, what makes them special, and what you can expect when you make a visit

1. Ponderosa Park

Ponderosa is an easily accessible park that many can jog or bike to with their doggy companions, with five fenced-in acres for dogs to explore. There’s also a variety of amenities here that everyone will appreciate, including picnic shelters for events, a nearby skatepark and other play options, clean sources of water for thirsty pets, and poop bag dispensaries to help clean up. If you are new here and wondering what to do in Bend with your dog, Ponderosa Park is a great place to start!

2. Pine Nursery – Bob Wenger Memorial

Pine Nursery Park is always a beautiful destination, but it also has one of the best dog parks in the state, with the Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash area for dogs to frolic and explore. There’s a grassy run area, more than 18 miles of trails for you and your dog to hike and wonder, and in the summer a season spray park to help your pets cool down – something every dog owner has been very grateful for this summer!

3. Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park has several perfect options for your dog depending on what you have in mind. The trails following the Deschutes River up and down are a great place for on-leash exercise and exploration with some great views to boot. There’s a fence-in area to meet new furry friends and deal with the zoomies, and a riverside spot for swimming and cooling down in hot weather. The rest of the park has picnic shelters, water, restrooms, poop bags and everything else you need for a great afternoon. The park is also centrally located right by Old Mill, so it’s readily accessible with a short trip from anywhere in Bend. If you feel like other outdoor activities in Bend, you can also float the river or paddleboard here!

4. Big Sky

This five-acre park is an off-leash area that your dog will love to explore, especially when they find the doggy pond for a quick splash or swim! Clean water is provided as well – and Big Sky is notably family-friendly, with playgrounds and a BMX track for entertainment while your pet runs off some energy.

5. Hollinshead Park

Prefer to start off small? Those living in Bend will love the grassy Hollinshead Park, three acres of beautiful lawn for off-leash play with your dog. You can also stroll through the nearby community garden and relax at the restored barn for calmer on-leash fun! It’s a good choice for dogs that are still getting used to new locations.

Remember, Moving To Bend can help you find pet-friendly rentals and a wide variety of other services that you may need if you are thinking about relocating to Central Oregon!

Sorry, I don’t have the Crystal Ball.  It does appear that some sellers that are listing their homes too high are now taking a price reduction.  It is still a seller’s market, but sellers might want to list closer to actual list price as is always the best listing strategy.

Buyers still have to be more than ready as the pool of buyers is still very large even with a little more inventory.

Now, for a few numbers reflecting the market.  Median price in Bend is $640,000 a whopping increase of $176,000 over June 2020.  This is fueled by 20% of home sales being over $1,000,000.  List price to sales price is consistently around 105% for all price bands in the market, so most homes are still receiving multiple offers.  Days on the market holds steady at around 4 days with an inventory of less than 1 month.

There is a similar story in Redmond.  Median price is $451,000 with an increase of $119,000 over June of 2020.  Days on the market is at 4, inventory is less than 1 month and list price to sales price is over 100%.

Median sales price in Sisters in $610,000, Sunriver $792,000, LaPine $352,000 and Crook County $378,000.

For more information on this and other market trends, contact Mark Holme

Meet the Bend Relocation Services Team! We’re dedicated to helping you with all your relocation and home buying needs in Bend. Whether you’re seeking the perfect home or need guidance on the best entertainment spots, our team ensures a seamless transition. Let us make your move enjoyable and stress-free!

If you’re new to living in Bend, you may be wondering just what events to look forward to. Let’s look at Bend’s best entertainment options for the rest of the year!

Les Schwab Amphitheater Concerts

If you’re wondering what to do in Bend now that there are no crowd restrictions, Les Schwab has put together an incredible late summer/autumn lineup this year, and you should be able to find something you or your family will enjoy. Death Cab for Cutie, Dave Matthews Band, Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, Flogging Molly…there’s a lot to choose from in 2021! Act quickly to find tickets at reasonable prices!

First Fridays

The First Friday Art Walks are back every month until cold weather arrives, and it’s a better way than ever to spend your Friday evening. Downtown Bend opens and spills out into the streets with exhibits, discounts, and free drinks. For those wondering what to do in Bend, it’s a great way to get acquainted with many downtown businesses and people – you’ll be planning additional outings in no time.

Music on the Water/Munch N’ Music

These are two summer music series ideal for more laidback outdoor activities in Bend. One focuses on the beautiful views at Elk Lake Resort, while the other encourages you to enjoy local snacks at Drake Park.

Family Fun Float

If you are looking for things to do in Central Oregon with the family, we highly recommend preparing for the July 14th Family Fun Float at the Sunriver Marina, which offers two to six-person rafts for a fun river floating experience.

Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo

For more traditional fun, the County Fair & Rodeo starts on July 28th and packs the Redmond Expo Center with events, carnival games, food, exhibits and animals, concerts, and of course the rodeo itself.

Bend Beer Chase 2024

This September 25 event is for the more athletic – and beer lovers, of course! It’s a relay race with six-person teams that covers around 55 miles from Bend to Redmon and back. Even if relay running isn’t your style, you can happily cheer on friends or help runners find each other to form teams! There are also a variety of smaller races (often beer related as well), being planned across the city for those interested in a less strenuous option.

Theater in the Park 2024

Theater in the Park continues August 20 with a Dark Park production of Into the Woods. We especially recommend getting VIP tickets if possible, as they include catering from the delicious local Peruvian fusion restaurant Hola!.

Bend Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is back in style starting on September 18th, bringing back the classics like stein holds, beer bongs, dancing, traditional music, the wiener dog race, and – of course – lots and lots of beer. A wide variety of local food and products will also be available, with plenty of highlights on traditional German foods plus much more, so there’s sure to be something for everyone here.

Bend Fall Festival

Those moving to Bend should always mark the date for our seasonal festivals. While Summerfest just passed us by in early July, the Bend Fall Festival is coming up the weekend of October 1st, where downtown is blocked off and filled with incredible food, music, art, and products from around the Northwest. Don’t miss it!

BendFilm Festival 2024

The 10-day BendFilm Festival starts on October 7th and is an excellent way to catch up on the latest indie and upcoming films, meet your favorite directors and actors, make connections for a future in the industry, and much more. If you’re a movie buff, you’ll want to start making plans ASAP.

While we love to talk about the many outdoor activities in Bend Oregon that newcomers are welcome to, there’s one outdoor pastime we get a lot of questions about Taking photos! Central Oregon is packed with incredible vistas and opportunities for photos, whether you like taking pictures of the landscape, capturing the light in just the right way, or finding the most interesting subject out in nature. If you’re living in Bend now and want to know where to take your camera, these are some of the best photo spots in Bend!

1. Top of Pilot Butte

This is not only an excellent introduction to Bend but it is a favorite spot for catching the sunset over the Cascade Mountains, highlighting both the forest and desert aspects of Central Oregon. It’s also a good spot to look for other angles and vistas you can use for future photography plans.

2. Paths Along Old Mill

Old Mill, a short drive away from downtown Bend, is filled with paths along and around the Deschutes River, and ambitious photographers will be able to find many, many interesting places to capture the surrounding beauty. Whether you like to capture the light on the river, the perfect angle for the Old Mill smokestacks, or a mix of the traditional-style brick buildings and sunset, there are plenty of opportunities here.

3. Drake Park

The towering trees and more placid turns of Drake Park/Mirror Pond offer lots for photographers to love, and the well-kept riverside housing can be an ideal backdrop for all kinds of photo ideas. If you’re wondering what to do in Bend and intend on taking your camera with, Drake Park’s easy access central location makes it a great place to start. It gets an extra nod during autumn when the trees turn a stunning gold.

4. Dillon Falls

If waterfalls and rapids are what your lens is looking for, Dillon Falls is a great place to get started: It’s very accessible, offers a stunning waterfall, and can easily showcase the greener wildlife of Central Oregon. Sahalie Falls, while a bit more of a trip, is another excellent spot if you prefer mossy waterfall scenery

5. Smith Rock

Your photography adventures aren’t complete until you make at least one trip out to Smith Rock, a gorgeous basalt display that offers a variety of perspectives depending on the weather, angle of approach, and if you’re at the base or on one of the summits. Photographers will love spending time around here!

6. Lava Butte

This more secluded butte is a perfect place to capture otherworldly landscapes of frozen lava and twisted juniper, an excellent spot for photographers who are looking for something different without needing to travel too far from Bend.

7. Highway 20 Between Bend and Sisters

Our list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this grassy stretch of highway, which offers a famous view of the Three Sisters mountains that both amateur and professional photographers stop by all the time. Catch a beautiful sunset or moonrise over the mountains, and you can be you won’t be alone here.

8. Shevlin Park

This massive park is easily accessible in Bend and presents an excellent opportunity to capture beautiful images of towering trees in summer or winter, depending on what you are looking for. Wait for the early morning fog to capture the area’s haunting beauty or grab your snowshoes in winter to find an untouched scene of a snowy forest.

Eastern Oregon, United States is a beautiful place and the perfect location to capture lifelong memories with friends and family. As always, if you are interested in learning more about Bend or finding some help when you are moving to Bend, contact us to learn more!

For other spectacular views to visit on the Oregon Coast, check out these locations below:

• Deschutes National Forest
• High Desert
• Umpqua Hot Springs
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument
• Columbia River Gorge
• Crooked River
• Mount Hood
• Crater Lake
• Sparks Lake
• Lava Tube
• Misery Ridge Trail
• Lake Billy Chinook
• Cannon Beach
• Lava River Cave
• Paulina Peak
• Warm Springs
• East Lake
• Farewell Bend Park