Can someone explain it to me?

[Bud]

I live in west central Texas. For years, as everyone knows, the population has slowly moved east. 4A schools are now 3a. 3a's are now 2a, etc, etc. The population of the county I live in was 14,000 in 1900. Now it barely has 5,000. I understand the economics of the situation. I understand that people want to move to the cities to make more money for a better life for their children, but is money all of it. I hear all the time about the drugs, and the crime, and wonder when the tide will turn.

Do you think people will ever give up monetary goals for the sake of living in a place that might offer a better lifestyle?

Where I live you have great deer, dove, and some hog hunting. The taxes are low. Super low crime. (I haven't locked my front door in ten years) Good schools. Good land can be bought for less than $1,000 per acre.

I just wonder why more people are getting out of the cities? Just a question.

[SmTx]

Money probably isn't all of it but most likely the majority.

Have to go where there is work. If the work is in more urban areas that's where the people will go.

[Dale Moser]

I'm ready to get out...

Tough to imagine the pay cut though, even though COL drops too.

[bowhuntntxn]

Generally there are not enough good and services provided close enough to support a big population. And if there are, then it is a bigger city, and with that come normal city problems.

[Mayhem]

i would love to live in the country there just isnt anywhere to work.

[RdRdrFan]

I've looked at several jobs in smaller towns. Generally speaking (obviously not true in all cases), the schools aren't nearly as good. That is important to my wife and I. Out of the towns that we have looked at, all but one would put us in a position where my wife would be homeschooling.

We haven't ruled it out and there are obvious reasons why we would like to have our kids raised in a small town. But there is only one place we are even considering at this point.

[Coach W]

Let em move... less traffic on the roads!

[Dale Moser]

I have a question about schools, and I guess this is as good a place to ask as any.

When people talk about better school district this, and better schools that....what does this mean exactly? What rating are we going by here? I suspect it all comes down to scores on those stupid tests they use nowdays? How nice the buildings are?

[Bud]

I wonder too why companies don't relocate. I know Ballinger, for example, got a new railroad from basically San Angelo to DFW (for hauling windmills from the new plant in San Angelo) Two major hiways go through Ballinger, US HiWay 67 and US 83. Mueller Inc is located here as well as Buddy's PLant Plus (they make Miracle Grow) I know the labor costs would be nothing like a big city. I guess water would be an issue, but it is everywhere.

Just seems to me like west texas would be a good place for manufacturing.

[Coach W]

I have a question about schools, and I guess this is as good a place to ask as any.

When people talk about better school district this, and better schools that....what does this mean exactly? What rating are we going by here? I suspect it all comes down to scores on those stupid tests they use nowdays? How nice the buildings are?

Its usually based on your pop, and sub pop...

[Coach W]

I wonder too why companies don't relocate. I know Ballinger, for example, got a new railroad from basically San Angelo to DFW (for hauling windmills from the new plant in San Angelo) Two major hiways go through Ballinger, US HiWay 67 and US 83. Mueller Inc is located here as well as Buddy's PLant Plus (they make Miracle Grow) I know the labor costs would be nothing like a big city. I guess water would be an issue, but it is everywhere.

Just seems to me like west texas would be a good place for manufacturing.

Got to have workers if you want to manufacture.

More potential workers live in the cities/suburbs... so more manufacturers tend to base close to a larger worker base...

[Dejashoot]

I have a question about schools, and I guess this is as good a place to ask as any.

When people talk about better school district this, and better schools that....what does this mean exactly? What rating are we going by here? I suspect it all comes down to scores on those stupid tests they use nowdays? How nice the buildings are?

Good question Dale. I think that % of graduation is probably a part of that as well.

[Bud]

Better schools to me means a place where a parent doesn't have to worry about guns, bullies, drugs, etc. A place where the teacher will call the parent if there is a problem. A place where kids get to participate in athletics if they work at it, not just if they are really good at it. And a place where teachers really care about the welfare of their students and are doing their best to teach them what they need to succeed.

Bud

[JHT]

I have a question about schools, and I guess this is as good a place to ask as any.

When people talk about better school district this, and better schools that....what does this mean exactly? What rating are we going by here? I suspect it all comes down to scores on those stupid tests they use nowdays? How nice the buildings are?

The way it looks here in my part of Houston.

Higher test scores = more $$ for the school.

More $$ for the school = better pay for the teachers, better facilities.

Another factor:

Property tax rates are a very good indicator here to how the schools function.

Generally the higher the property taxes you pay, the better the schools will be.

[Dale Moser]

Better schools to me means a place where a parent doesn't have to worry about guns, bullies, drugs, etc. A place where the teacher will call the parent if there is a problem. A place where kids get to participate in athletics if they work at it, not just if they are really good at it. And a place where teachers really care about the welfare of their students and are doing their best to teach them what they need to succeed.

Bud

Me too, and I think you're a lot more likely to find that in Ballinger Texas than in Keller! Keller just happens to be where I'm sitting right now, and where I went K-12, and a top rated district. But it seems to me that it's run by complete morons, there's so many kids crammed into each school I don't know how a few don't turn up missing everyday, and I don't think my HS ecucation is one eyelash better than a kid could get in Ballinger, or Chico, or anywhere else.....on the contrary, in fact.