As many of you know, we are relocating from Forsyth County to somewhere down on the coast. Still waiting for the house to sell (so, if anyone is looking for a nice house in Cumming, hint hint), but we have started reconning the area. I am going to be based out of SAV, but do not have to live in SAV. Everyone has told us to steer clear of Chatham County. The public schools are notoriously bad, even more so than your avg ordinary gov't run public school. The problem is, it doesn't seem that any of the others are much better with the possible exception of Richmond Hill in Bryan County as well as Effingham County.

WTH?????

(Sorry, just venting).

Dude, why are you even considering letting the governmewnt educate your kids????  Put them in a private school and give them a chance to become worthwhile people and avoid having their minds poisoned.

Quoted: Dude, why are you even considering letting the governmewnt educate your kids????  Put them in a private school and give them a chance to become worthwhile people and avoid having their minds poisoned.

+1, Not to sound too harsh, but allowing your kids to attend government school is irresponsible, if not bordering on abusive.  All I know is that you should stay away from Chatham Co. schools.  They have just gotten a new superintendent, and it may take some time for changes to take place.

Savannah Private Schools

I think ya'll are over-reacting.  I was a product of "natoriously bad" public schools (Lilburn middle/Meadowcreek high/2 years in Redan High School in Dekalb).  I excelled, went to college, got my masters degree and am working on my CPA.  It's all about the work ethic that you teach your children at home.  I had a much higher SAT score then my friends that went to $$ private schools(Woodward academy).  Also, if nothing else your kids will get plenty of "street smarts" which will serve them well in the future.  Working in Atlanta is no big deal for me, but for my wife, who went to a nice comfortable Christian school, it is a nightmare and she's perpetually scared.  Anyways...

Good luck on picking the right school.  Just don't knock Public schools too harshly, if you teach your children right/wrong at home it will stick with them no matter what the schools try to inculcate.  

I too was a product of public schools but that was a different generation (the 70's) and a world ago.  I too was able to excell and succeed in spite of it and earned my degree while serving in the military.  I owe my sucess to my parents as well as the military and the work ethic they instilled in me.  I agree with MusicBach14 on the point about parents.  The really good ones can prevent the damage that government schools will try to inflict on our children IF they make the commitment to do so which will involve a great deal of their time on a daily basis.  Sadly it seems that many parents today do not seem to be willing to make that level of commitment to their children.  There are always exceptions but IMO by and large most people that have come out of government schools since the 90's are also the products of absentee parents.  That combined with the government school teachings has made them fairly dumb, very liberal, and has instilled a mostly socialist, who's going to take care of me mindset.  They are a people that will be easily conquered and quick to capitulate if faced with moderate force.

i don't live in brunswick, but stay there and work during the week. apparently the school system there is a joke.  lost the accreditation a while back.  school board comes on local tv and it is a power struggle between individuals, not really looking out for the good of the children

thompsondd,

AS i said once before, the South Effingham School district is one of the best in the area. The Bryan County/Richmond Hill area is ok, but is full of transient army folks, so the climate of the schools change often. There are some private schools here, but they are expensive. Have you found any leads yet? They are building a large new housing tract near me with houses in the $170 -  $240 range. If you want more info, let me know

As far as public schools go, I fully believe they are what you make them. If you send your kids to them and expect the schools to raise your kids, THEN they will and do fail and I do agree that it is the equivelent of child abuse (mental).

However, if you participate in your children's education and stay on top of what they are or are not learning, then a public education is just fine. I also think that the social environment of public schools, whether a good thing or not is debatable, is a plus as it more closely models the real world. It helps children learn to deal with all different types of people.

I am a product of public schools as well. I grew up in da' hood and spent the first 1/2 of my education in Fulton County. We 'fled' in the early 80's and I finished up in Clayton County. Neither are anywhere that I would want to be today. I had a lot of friends from da' hood went to Woodward Academy as a way out of the public school system. My next door neighbors after we moved went to Woodward.

My public education was good enough to get me to a military academy. It wasn't because someone handed it to me though. I worked my ass off for it. Guess what I found when I got there? A bunch more products of private schools. Trust me, I have seen the good and bad side of both public and private education. Neither are perfect.

My biggest complaint against private schools is that people get accustom to and then can only associate with people 'just like them'. Put them around someone from a different social or economic demographic and they are either too superior or frightened to function for the most part.

That, and having 5 kids, private school just isn't going to be an option. Sorry. Call me a bad and/or irresponsible parent if you like. My public education has done well enough for me that I support a family of 7 on a single paycheck. No, my wife does not work.  I am sure some folks here would suggest she get a good to pay their private school tuition. Having her home was a mutual decision and one made in the best interest of the kids. Unless you are a philanthropist and want to chip in for private school tuition, let's stick to the original question.

So, back to the regular scheduled program.........

Quoted: thompsondd, AS i said once before, the South Effingham School district is one of the best in the area. The Bryan County/Richmond Hill area is ok, but is full of transient army folks, so the climate of the schools change often. There are some private schools here, but they are expensive. Have you found any leads yet? They are building a large new housing tract near me with houses in the $170 -  $240 range. If you want more info, let me know

archer2 - Maybe I need to go back and spend some more time in Effingham. We just got this crazy idea in our heads that we would be going coastal. Not the beach, but at least coastal. 10 miles outside of Savannah is more like middle GA, farm county instead of coastal. Again, I just need to check more into it. I'm trying to arrange for a weekend that I can bring my wife. Getting the kids situated isn't easy!!

No leads so far. We're just recon'ing the areas down there as best we can while we have time waiting on this end.

Quoted: archer2 - Maybe I need to go back and spend some more time in Effingham. We just got this crazy idea in our heads that we would be going coastal. Not the beach, but at least coastal. 10 miles outside of Savannah is more like middle GA, farm county instead of coastal. Again, I just need to check more into it. I'm trying to arrange for a weekend that I can bring my wife. Getting the kids situated isn't easy!! No leads so far. We're just recon'ing the areas down there as best we can while we have time waiting on this end.

You can go coastal, but as my wife and I found, you will pay way too much for too small a house. There were houses to be had, but they were almost twice as expensive than the same sq ft house in Effingham County. The other factor to consider is hurricaines with their associated flooding........... At least where we are, we are a bit more protected than the coast.

We found our best value here in Effingham county. We are within an hour from the beach (Tybee or Hilton Head) and we don't have to put up with the "tourist mentality" that surrounds areas right on the coast. It's fun for a while, but gets old quick!

Savannah (downtown) is 30 minutes away, so the drive is not too bad. After being in the Atlanta area, you should find our traffic jams here to be a breeze!

Check out the area.......Get off I95 northbound at exit 109. Take a left off the freeway on Hwy 21. go approx 1/4 mi and make a left on Hwy 30. The first 2 - 2 1/2 miles is still Chatham County, but after that is Effingham County. Lots of new houses being built, as well as some older ones for sale. If you went down Hwy 30 another 6 miles, you would see South Effingham Middle and High schools. Just a thought.................

There is a Great Catholic School on Tybee Island.

We considered moving to Tybee as my Mother lives there. If we purchased on Tybee we decided to send our Children to the school for the superior education although we aren't Catholic.

You might want to look into it as Tybee is convenient to Sav.

We decided against coastal living and purchased a farm in Dexter which is about 45 miles SE of Macon on I-16. We still need to sell our home and rentals in Gwinnett and Walton Co and build our house. Our goal is to be in Dexrter summer '07.

TD

Quoted: Quoted: archer2 - Maybe I need to go back and spend some more time in Effingham. We just got this crazy idea in our heads that we would be going coastal. Not the beach, but at least coastal. 10 miles outside of Savannah is more like middle GA, farm county instead of coastal. Again, I just need to check more into it. I'm trying to arrange for a weekend that I can bring my wife. Getting the kids situated isn't easy!! No leads so far. We're just recon'ing the areas down there as best we can while we have time waiting on this end. You can go coastal, but as my wife and I found, you will pay way too much for too small a house. There were houses to be had, but they were almost twice as expensive than the same sq ft house in Effingham County. The other factor to consider is hurricaines with their associated flooding........... At least where we are, we are a bit more protected than the coast. We found our best value here in Effingham county. We are within an hour from the beach (Tybee or Hilton Head) and we don't have to put up with the "tourist mentality" that surrounds areas right on the coast. It's fun for a while, but gets old quick! Savannah (downtown) is 30 minutes away, so the drive is not too bad. After being in the Atlanta area, you should find our traffic jams here to be a breeze! Check out the area.......Get off I95 northbound at exit 109. Take a left off the freeway on Hwy 21. go approx 1/4 mi and make a left on Hwy 30. The first 2 - 2 1/2 miles is still Chatham County, but after that is Effingham County. Lots of new houses being built, as well as some older ones for sale. If you went down Hwy 30 another 6 miles, you would see South Effingham Middle and High schools. Just a thought.................

What area is that? It is south of Rincon, but doesn't sound like Rincon. It doesn't sound like Guyton either.

Taxes and insurance are other big considerations in addition to the schools. I am glad you brought all that up.

how far would you be able to drive  every day??
Brooklet is a small town  30 min away
Stilson is even closer and even smaller  20 min away
Statesboro is largest  and less than 1hr. away

Quoted: how far would you be able to drive  every day?? Brooklet is a small town  30 min away Stilson is even closer and even smaller  20 min away Statesboro is largest  and less than 1hr. away

My drive in ATL is about 1 to 1 1/2hr each way. My drive from ATL to SAV is anywhere from 4 1/2 to 6 hours.

Living in ATL, you get used to driving, or should I saying sitting in a car. I have thought about living 90 miles up or down the coast in either direction (Charleston to Brunswick), but the schools still seem to suck even that far away.

I'm an LEO in Effingham, and there are some very nice developments in the county.  As archer2 said, the public schools are among the best you will find in the Savannah area.  Let me know if I can be of any help.

Quoted: What area is that? It is south of Rincon, but doesn't sound like Rincon. It doesn't sound like Guyton either. Taxes and insurance are other big considerations in addition to the schools. I am glad you brought all that up.

It is the Guyton area. Guyton mailing address. Close to Rincon, Port Wentworth, Faulkville and Guyton.....

Taxes and insurance havn't been bad, but are going to go up as the area grows...................

I have thought about living 90 miles up or down the coast in either direction (Charleston to Brunswick), but the schools still seem to suck even that far away.

Probably the best school system along the coastal counties would be Camden county.  That would be just about be your max distance.  The county line would be a mile or two south of Exit 29 on I95.  The next exit is Dover Bluff.  IMO it's going to be the next biggest/best growing area around Brunswick.  The worst part about Camden County schools is you would have to drive down to Exit 3 or 6 to take the kids to school.  That was one of the reasons we didn't move out that way.  We feel the elementary school for the south western part of Brunswick is the best (which compared to some of the others aint saying a whole lot) in the county.

Good luck with the transition.

I know some people that live just outside of Hilton Head and the only schools there are on the island and it makes for an interesting commute to school during the tourist season.

Quoted: I have thought about living 90 miles up or down the coast in either direction (Charleston to Brunswick), but the schools still seem to suck even that far away. Probably the best school system along the coastal counties would be Camden county.  That would be just about be your max distance.  The county line would be a mile or two south of Exit 29 on I95.  The next exit is Dover Bluff.  IMO it's going to be the next biggest/best growing area around Brunswick.  The worst part about Camden County schools is you would have to drive down to Exit 3 or 6 to take the kids to school.  That was one of the reasons we didn't move out that way.  We feel the elementary school for the south western part of Brunswick is the best (which compared to some of the others aint saying a whole lot) in the county. Good luck with the transition. I know some people that live just outside of Hilton Head and the only schools there are on the island and it makes for an interesting commute to school during the tourist season.

Camden County is the home of Kings Bay sub base.  I agree it is a growing area and I would not mind living there.

I lived on Tybee for 5 years and loved it.  It is not a touristy as you might think.  It is, in fact, less of a tourist trap than downtown Savannah and nowhere near as bad as Hilton Head.  I worked over there quite a bit and I really detest that place.

Effingham is nice.  Roebling Road, a 2.5 mile road course is out there off Zeigler Road.  It is a club track and is only used for SCCA club racing and some WERA (motorcycle) racing.  Some pro teams also test there.  For the club events, you have to be an SCCA member to go in.  It is this way due to insurance regs.  All you have to do is buy a membership and you can go spectate any of the races or you could become a corner worker.

Richmond Hill is a little too busy to suit me.  However, the DNR range is very near there and it is a nice range.   You can back right up to the shooting stations.  Be forewarned that if it has been raining, you will need 4WD to get back there.

Been thinking about your Bro.  I know ya'll will make the right decision.  

Quoted: Been thinking about your Bro.  I know ya'll will make the right decision.

Thanks. I hear ya'. You know me well enough to know that I will probably stress away the equivalent of another 5 years off my lifespan worrying about this before pulling the trigger on something.

Quoted: Quoted: Been thinking about your Bro.  I know ya'll will make the right decision.   Thanks. I hear ya'. You know me well enough to know that I will probably stress away the equivalent of another 5 years off my lifespan worrying about this before pulling the trigger on something.

Sounds like you need to come to the March 11th shoot, and pull your trigger a bunch.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Been thinking about your Bro.  I know ya'll will make the right decision.   Thanks. I hear ya'. You know me well enough to know that I will probably stress away the equivalent of another 5 years off my lifespan worrying about this before pulling the trigger on something. Sounds like you need to come to the March 11th shoot, and pull your trigger a bunch.

I'm so stressed  right now that pulling my trigger doesn't have much effect.

Actually, if my arsenal wasn't stashed away (again ) I might. But our realtor 'suggested' that I needed to put them away somewhere. After all, you don't want to leave the nasty black rifles lying around to scare potential home buyers away. You know how the sheeple can be about 'machine guns'.

West Chatham aint that bad.  My wife teaches at a local school in Pooler and both my kids go there and they are ok.  Savannah/Chatham schools do seem to go though superintendents fast than I can go though ammo

This thread got me thinking again about schools.  Out of the blue I decided to price a couple of the private schools near me.  Prices were a lot more resonable than I had envisioned.

I may end up sending my child the private route.  Application on it's way.