HELP! My report on Alexandria, LA & etc.

[Mrs. Bradbury]

So last week was an interesting week . . . in addition to the job interview in Alexandria, my husband also had one in Tallahassee, FL. We drove from GA to Tallahassee and then over to Alexandria. And the a/c in my car is not working properly. I loved the area of Tallahassee we were in! Alexandria, I reserve judgment. I don't think we saw the "pretty" areas as we were mostly near what used to be England AFB. We had some fabulous donuts at Harlow's bakery in either Pineville or Alexandria, I can't remember!

They offered him a job at both places. He liked the folks in LA better than the ones in FL. But LA is much further away from our families . . . I hate having to make these types of decisions! He also interviewed in SC this week and we're waiting to hear back from them. That would be where I would prefer to go; it's in the foothills area. I've been eyeballing Easley as a place to live but his job would be near Six Mile.

Then today I saw a job posting for Windermere, FL and my husband sent his resume and they emailed him right back saying they wanted to see him next week. Do I need to point out that Windermere is quite close to Orlando????

DIS family, give me advice! For the areas I've mentioned, do any school systems stand out as being good or bad? We're not in a good one now so it wouldn't be hard to improve. Any other issues I need to know about, such as crime, liveability, housing? I'm looking for all the help we can get.

 

[ilovejack02]

So last week was an interesting week . . . in addition to the job interview in Alexandria, my husband also had one in Tallahassee, FL. We drove from GA to Tallahassee and then over to Alexandria. And the a/c in my car is not working properly. I loved the area of Tallahassee we were in! Alexandria, I reserve judgment. I don't think we saw the "pretty" areas as we were mostly near what used to be England AFB. We had some fabulous donuts at Harlow's bakery in either Pineville or Alexandria, I can't remember!

Yes, I think I might have mentioned , Alexandria is not the prettiest part of our state LOL. But the friendly people and food help make up for it !

One of my girlfriends just moved to Windermere area. She homeschools just like she did her in Louisiana so i cant help you with schools, but listening to her talk I know it is very important for you to find out about schools and crime . Some of the Orlando areas are very sketchy .

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I have a question regarding that area of LA - everywhere we went there were farm fields. This wasn't an issue with us because we live in a rural area right now, and always have. Cows are my neighbors on 3 sides. I was a little shocked on the way home as we were arriving in Vicksburg, MS and 2 hopper-wagon type farm trailers were getting police escorts down I-20 at noon, taking up more than 1 lane and going ~40 MPH.

And wow, is that area flat! But beautiful, with lots of trees. I spent a week in Wichita Falls, TX once and by the end of the week I needed to see a real tree, not those bushes that pass for trees there.

But back to my question: we saw field after field - I mean MILES - of what we assumed was corn for sileage, and after a while it occurred to me that I hadn't seen the first farm animal other than the occasional horse. What do they do with all that sileage?

I'm way too curious for my own good.

 

[Mono~rail]

Alexandria is in the central part of our state. It's a nice town with friendly people. My best friend grew up there. Most people I know lived out in Pineville or the DeVille area. I grew up near there in Natchitoches. I'm not sure about schools so no help there. When we lived in South Louisiana, my friends and I used to meet up with our kids in Alex at Chuck E. Cheese since it was a halfway point.

As for the farm land. It sounds like you went through the Mississippi River Delta. It is flat. Its the area between the Ouachita River (Monroe, LA) and the Mississippi River (Vicksburg, MS). Personally, I've rarely seen farm equipment on I-20. Pretty sure that is a rarity. It is common on the highways off I-20 though.

In that area, lots of corn and soybeans are grown. Earlier in the year, the corn for human consumption was harvested. Not all of it is harvested at that time. It is kept to continue maturing on the stalk. Currently, it is being harvested for animal feed. ETA: At some point it is harvested to make ethanol.

Soybeans and cotton plants look very similar in the field. I forget how to tell the difference.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[uk_wildcat]

I was born in Fort Polk, LA and lived there for about 6 years as a child. My sister got married and stayed in DeRidder, which is about an hour away from Alexandria. DeRidder is such a small town that Alexandria used to be the place to go for shopping at the mall. I don't think her family goes as much anymore because the mall went downhill.
Her kids have all gone through schools in that area and I would not say they are very good. None of her kids (2 are out of school now) are good readers or spellers and were just passed on year after year without much help.
I went to Kindergarten and then 3rd-6th grade there and I would also say that it wasn't the best school system even back then.
Of course, Alexandria may be better, but I would doubt it is much better.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Earlier in the year, the corn for human consumption was harvested. Not all of it is harvested at that time. It is kept to continue maturing on the stalk. Currently, it is being harvested for animal feed. ETA: At some point it is harvested to make ethanol.

Aha! I never considered ethanol. Thanks!

I was born in Fort Polk, LA and lived there for about 6 years as a child. My sister got married and stayed in DeRidder, which is about an hour away from Alexandria. DeRidder is such a small town that Alexandria used to be the place to go for shopping at the mall. I don't think her family goes as much anymore because the mall went downhill.
Her kids have all gone through schools in that area and I would not say they are very good. None of her kids (2 are out of school now) are good readers or spellers and were just passed on year after year without much help.
I went to Kindergarten and then 3rd-6th grade there and I would also say that it wasn't the best school system even back then.
Of course, Alexandria may be better, but I would doubt it is much better.

Thanks, it's a tough decision and it's even tougher when there are other situations and cities to consider, too. I'm just so thankful that we even have job offers to consider, when so many are struggling. During my divorce several years ago I tried to find a job for months and months and no one wanted me, so I know how awful that is.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

You can check out the school ratings on www.greatschools.net .

My stepsons go to public schools in that area of Louisiana and they are not very good schools as far as test scores and other criteria that Great Schools measures.

Easley, SC - the surrounding Greenville area is very up and coming with some great schools. I have a friend that works in the school system there if you have any specific questions I would be happy to ask her for you.

We had looked at schools in the Windermere area when we thought DH was going to be stationed in the area and there are some good areas nearby like the Dr Phillips/Sand Lake area schools. We were told by friends that live in the area that most of the kids that live in the upscale areas in Windermere went to private schools.

There are some great deals in the Orlando area if you are looking to buy a home - just something else to consider.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[wdwpjs]

Dont forget that there is no state income tax in Florida. You will have to pay it in La. I was born in Alexandria, moved to New Orleans around the age 4. Moved to Pensacola at 18 and now in Tallahassee at 40! We live in the Buck Lake area of Tallahassee and really like it. There is also no tax on food in Fl. either. As much as I still love visiting La., I really love living in Fl. better.