Oxford (Birmingham, Anniston, York: city hall, crime, new home)

[MKML]

My husband and I are considering a move to Oxford, AL, where he will be working. I know nothing about the area or its schools, other than what I can read online. I'm a little confused about the Oxford schools, too: several elementary schools and one middle school, one high school and then another school just for 5/6th graders. Why is that? And why are some of them in Anniston, when Anniston seems to have their own district.
We want to live in a new home. Any suggestions for nice communities?We have 2 children not in school yet, but of course, school is important !
We live in New York State now, with outstanding school systems.
Any and all info. characterizing the area would be very much appreciated!
Thanks!

[Kingshize]

I grew up and live in Oxford and am a product of its school system. The elementary schools Coldwater,(me yeah) Dearminville and Oxford elementary are all well maintained good schools. A brand new school is being built for Dearminville not sure when it will be completed though. The reason there are three is because Coldwater and DeArminville used to be part of the Calhoun County School system. Coldwater was K-6. DeArminville was K-10. As the city grew it bought these schools from the county school system. So they are both K-4 now. The Oxford School system is extremely well taken care of by the city therefore they have a much larger budget and were better suited to take over these aging schools. This also allows for the younger children to stay closer to home. The separate 5th-6th grade school is a much older story. After the Civil War freed slaves moved to a valley between Anniston and Oxford. At that time Anniston and Birmingham were the same size and competing over steel. Oxford was very small. Later before the Civil rights era this area petitioned the state to leave Oxford and become its own city due to the fact that the residents had to pay Oxford school tax even though there kids were not allowed to go to the Oxford schools. Their petition was granted and Hobson City was born. They then built there own school called C.E. Hanna. Hobson City remains its own city yet residents numbers have dewindled (less than 500) and money problems have been constant. In the eighty's Hobson city no longer had enough money to run their own schools and segregation was long over so Oxford bought it and absorbed its students. The state later ruled that according to desegregation laws this school must contain entire grades not just local student. During the years after this though Hobson City's crime problems continued to grow and the area became exceedingly dangerous. They finally came up with a compromise about five years ago which finally allowed Oxford to replace the aging school and get it out of the rough area. They built a brand new school directly behind the one year old Middle School but they had to de-annex the property line around it. Then The property was re-annexed into Hobson City. This school is still called C.E Hannah. Long and strange I know but its all true. No schools are located in Anniston City limits they just have Anniston addresses. Addresses are confusing in certain areas because the two city's border each other. Ohh and while all other school systems in the area are worried about state budget cuts, Oxford City approved a school budget that replaced all money taken away by the state plus a few million. For example the teachers had a classroom budget of $175 per sem last year it was increased to $225. There are many nice neighborhoods in Oxford as long as your in the city limits your fine. Of course a house that cost 100 in Anniston cost 150 in Oxford. Good luck hope this helped you. (SECOND EDIT) Can you believe i am adding more? I got so tangential on the under schools I forgot the High School. OHS is located on a hill right downtown. It was named Oxford because it started as a college in the 1800's. Last years completed construction project was a Freshmen Academy the year before that it was a new Library and Media Center. This year they started a new main building. Alll that and still manage to pay the highest paid high school football coach in the state. As i am sure you have infered Oxford is a very wealthy city therefore its public buildings, Library, City hall, community centers and parks are just as great with many more in planning. but i have to stop typing now. If your Building your house I would love to do your kitchen we have thirty years experience in custom cabinets. We are a well established high end shop. Keith's Cabinet's (256)831-3990 Matthew