Clinton or Zachary??? (home, purchase, top school)

[jfralia]

Hi there! My husband may take a job in Clinton - he works for a large oil and gas company and they are placing a field office there. I teach elementary school and we have two junior high children. I know the schools in Clinton are not great so I was looking at Zachary. It should be an easy commute for hubby. I know very little about the area - does anyone have advice on any other areas with great schools that might be an easy commute?

Thanks in advance.

[mhounit]

City of Central . Send me a direct message if you have any questions . I can recommend a Realtor in Central as well .

[cynthia_70791]

Zachary has been the top school district in the state for the last 7 years. My oldest goes to Zachary High and I love the school. We recently moved here from Ohio (my husband's job - in oil industry as well) and I was amazed at the structure, education level offered here. Not to say anything bad about Louisiana but overall the education system in Ohio is very good in the area where we are from in Ohio. I love living in Zachary and wouldn't change it all. The great thing about living in Zachary is that we don't deal with much traffic going to work (if you work in the city of BR) or coming home because the traffic is always going the opposite direction. I would say home wise, you get more bang for your buck in Central than Zachary, however the school district to me is worth paying more money per square foot for a house. Keep in mind if your husband's job is offering relocation package, you want the temporary housing to be in the city of Zachary, because if you don't live in city limits even if you plan to move here (for example if you have to wait to close on home) they will not allow you to register your kids for school. Most cities will allow you to register with a purchase agreement, but they will not in Zachary because they have many individuals trying to "sneak" into the school for the education. Recently the state of Louisiana passed a law that kids who go to schools with a grade of C, D or F can register their kids in other schools who are doing much better if approved by the district the child moves to, or a private school. The city of Zachary has said no they will not allow outside children to come to school in the area, so that is something to keep in mind as well. Are you going to look to teach when you move?

[jfralia]

Thanks to the both of you for your help! I am familiar with Zachary Schools - we live in northwestern Louisiana. I had never heard of Central, though. I would love for my kids to attend a school system like it. They are at a great magnet school now but our high school isn't good at all. It's nice to hear someone out of state to say something nice about our schools....hehe...

Yes, I will teach, as well.

[MetroBTR]

Zachary. No question.