Ft. Lewis, Washington?

[mamajoan]

To the fabulous world of DIS'er information:

My son just returned from another tour of Iraq. He got orders Ft. Lewis, Washington for early September.

Does anybody have any info on good school districts, housing options, after school programs/daycare options, commute times... the good, the bad on Ft. Lewis. Thank you for all of your opinions!
His son will be in the first grade.

He is visiting with us this week and will be headed out to Ft. Lewis soon.

He is gathering information from many places for this move. I told him I would ask the all knowing DIS communtiy for their opinions and information.

Thanks folks!

 

[Magic Mom]

Fort Lewis was my favorite duty station. There is some older housing and some brand new(ish) housing. What you get depends on pay grade and a little good luck. Off post housing is a little on the expensive side depending on where you buy/rent. The school district for on post is Clover Park. There are elementary schools on post, but they are run by the local school district, not DoDEA. I loved our elementary school (Evergreen), but really hated our middle school (right off post- Woodbrook) It was trashy and educationally crap. There is another middle school the some on post kids go to also, but I can't remember the name.

We used the on post after school care and day care. It was wonderful. I never had a complaint.

Fort Lewis has wonderful family support programs. There was always something fun to do on post, and the local area is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[mamajoan]

Thank you.

DS is considering living in Olympia or Lacey? any opinions?

How is the housing market out there?

 

[Anne MN]

Depends on how far he wants to drive- there is only 1 road from olympia/lacey to ft lewis that isn't a long way around- (you have to cross the nisqually river) Housing is expensive, the cost of living is higher.

Sent you a PM

 

[mamajoan]

ok... another question. General cost of before and after school care for a 6 year old? Do schools in the area often have these programs located on their school grounds?

 

[Magic Mom]

On post child care price is on a sliding scale depending on your total family income.

 

[mamajoan]

You guys are great!
Any other general information you have about the area would be grand. My son was encouraged by the things he found online about the school systems in the surrounding areas. He liked that the school lunch program included the usage of organic and locally grown foods.

He is at Ft. Hood now and has been stationed there for many years. He is looking forward to this change of duty station. He is also a single parent now so that will give him a new set of challenges. All in all I am sure this is all a very good thing.

 

[Anne MN]

there are after school programs a lot are run by CYS (child youth services) there is also a lot of mom's that do before and after school in home (they have a program up there)
schools- my youngest went to Evergreen elem. (on-post) and that school is great (disney themed- a teacher a while won teacher of the year and the whole school is decorated in disney!) I agree about middle school- woodbrook is ok- not the best- not in a nice neighborhood- had no problems with them-

housing- depending on rank and where he wants to live- on post might be an option- but they are having ALOT of units just coming back from deployment (seems like half the post) and with housing, you have to physicaly be there to get your name on the waitlist. even if you aren't going to live on post- you have to attend the briefing

Off post housing- rent varies- there is Dupont & stillicom(spelling) right outside the gate- lacey/olympia down the highway- not bad but getting thru the gate in the morning is NO FUN- looong lines (and you have 3 gates along I5) there is also Lakewood- some parts are good- right outside one of the gates- NO. on post housing is now available in McChord(they are joint base now)
cost of living is a lot higher than TX (I am now in texas) his BAH will be alot higher but everything costs more.
any more questions- ask away-