Moving to EL Paso Fort Bliss, anyone know about the schools and housing? (Post: environment)

[carjenri1]

My husband received orders for Ft. Bliss today. I would apprecaite it if anyone could give me some insight on life at Fort Bliss. I have heard horror stories about living in the area; they all can't be true. I have heard that the elementary schools on post are terrible; children are bussed in from rough areas, is this true? I thought They had DOD schools on post. Education is very inportant to us, we have three elementary aged children. We want to live on post, We are eligible for 4 bedroom quarters. How are the homes, and what about availibility? Where are good areas to live off post that have good schools?
Is the area outside the post safe? Thanks so much!!

[Miner72]

EP Media Group | El Paso's Proud Publisher of El Paso Magazine, The El Pasoan & In The 915

Ft. Bliss is served by the EPISD. It has Bliss elementary on Post. It is a good school. teh other schools that serve the military are good too. Check out the District's web site for more info ; EPISD.ORG SHOULD GET YOU THERE.


El Paso Scene


I highlighted to sites that would give you insight on what goes on here in El Paso. We also have two discussion forums here that have discussed much of what you were looking for interms of information.

El Paso is a good city and has had a good relationship with Ft. Bliss since 1846. Good luck and welcome.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by carjenri1

My husband received orders for Ft. Bliss today. I would apprecaite it if anyone could give me some insight on life at Fort Bliss. I have heard horror stories about living in the area; they all can't be true. I have heard that the elementary schools on post are terrible; children are bussed in from rough areas, is this true? I thought They had DOD schools on post. Education is very inportant to us, we have three elementary aged children. We want to live on post, We are eligible for 4 bedroom quarters. How are the homes, and what about availibility? Where are good areas to live off post that have good schools?
Is the area outside the post safe? Thanks so much!!

I would check with Greatschools.net and read parent reviews -- not that it will tell you everything but it might give you some idea about particular schools -- including parental involvement.

I can't say I know much about Fort Bliss. Have you checked their website:

https://www.bliss.army.mil/Services/...ILYPROGRAM.htm

Most people I know who have been stationed there enjoyed their time here well enough. There are a lot of nice neighborhoods in the NE near Fort Bliss and some people live in other parts of town and commute. Schools in El Paso leave a lot to be desired but many kids do fine, there are good teachers but in my opinion it's more about the home environment, if the children are properly prepared for school and the parents stay involved. There are kids from public schools here who go away to college and do just fine.

[southernbliss]

Posted carjenri1"

My husband received orders for Ft. Bliss today. I would apprecaite it if anyone could give me some insight on life at Fort Bliss. I have heard horror stories about living in the area; they all can't be true. I have heard that the elementary schools on post are terrible; children are bussed in from rough areas, is this true? I thought They had DOD schools on post. Education is very inportant to us, we have three elementary aged children. We want to live on post, We are eligible for 4 bedroom quarters. How are the homes, and what about availibility? Where are good areas to live off post that have good schools?
Is the area outside the post safe? Thanks so much!!



We have been at ft. bliss now from dec.07, so we are new here to still finding our way, but so far is has not been to bad.
When I 1st made it here I notice that alot of people I met are haters and nomatter where you put them they would have something bad to say!!
we have done this now for almost 15years so there are some people that think they are to good to be here but this is not to bad of a base!!!
no it is not the best base I have ever been to but they are fair here and to me that is all you can ask for,there are just some people on this base that you could not make happy nomatter what you did for them!!!
the schools on base are not to bad so far I have been happy with them, the schools off of base on this side of town suck!! I do not know much about schools on the west side but I have heard good things.
I do not care that much about the base hospital but all base hospital are lacking in some way(you are just a number)no people skills kinda sad with all these troops coming in.
As for base housing what is you husbands rank that matters alot on housing we are on biggs field which is nice(we are away from main post but still busy out here with tra.almost all the house here are new(on biggs field that is).we only stayed in the hotel for a week before they had our home ready for us but I have been told there is now a list so I do not know how long it is but the sooner you get on it the better!!
As for the people off of base so far they have been nice, sometimes I think the people on post are more rude then the people of el paso(did I say that!)

I think el paso is different and some people do not like change(I love change)
but if you come here with a open mind everything will be fine.

like I said it is different but do not listen to all the stories make up your own mind, there are some things I do not like here but there is not much I can do about it so I try and make the best of it. the schools are the one thing that needs to be changed on base most bases I have been to there schools go to 8th grade where bliss only goes to 5th. that sucks because if you live on base that means your child goes off post at 6th grade and like I said before the schools on this side of town are very behind.

I have found if you are nice to people they are nice back in el paso.

good luck on your move!!!

ps. how long will you be here? that is a big thing I like change so I am ready to go in about 3 years.

[carjenri1]

My husband is an O4, and will will be here from 2 to 3 years. Thanks so much for your help.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by carjenri1

My husband is an O4, and will will be here from 2 to 3 years. Thanks so much for your help.

I hope you enjoy your stay here. You can't always go by what others say because El Paso isn't for everybody, but many military stay on or come back to retire here.

[Mrs. Hos]

We have been here for just about a year now, and I must say I really like it. I didn't think I would but I really do. We live on post, but because of your husbands rank you should be able to get a pretty decent house. Ours is kind of crappy and we are actually moving off post in a few weeks. I actually work for the schools here and I think they are pretty good. If your child goes to Bliss or Milam (on post and the air field) there really shouldn't be any other kids bused in. It should be all military. We live in housing that is not on main post and the school I work at is a mix of military and civilian even though it's on the Army post. But these are just kids who live across the freeway, they are by no means shipped from the bad parts of town. If you were looking to live off post the far northeast has a lot of really nice houses as does the Westside. And the schools on the Westside are also EPISD but are generally better funded and pretty good. Like a PP said, if you come with an open mind you will really like it here. My husband gets out soon and I am even trying to convince him to stay here for a few years as a civilian because I like it

[LEVOW]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Hos

We have been here for just about a year now, and I must say I really like it. I didn't think I would but I really do. We live on post, but because of your husbands rank you should be able to get a pretty decent house. Ours is kind of crappy and we are actually moving off post in a few weeks. I actually work for the schools here and I think they are pretty good. If your child goes to Bliss or Milam (on post and the air field) there really shouldn't be any other kids bused in. It should be all military. We live in housing that is not on main post and the school I work at is a mix of military and civilian even though it's on the Army post. But these are just kids who live across the freeway, they are by no means shipped from the bad parts of town. If you were looking to live off post the far northeast has a lot of really nice houses as does the Westside. And the schools on the Westside are also EPISD but are generally better funded and pretty good. Like a PP said, if you come with an open mind you will really like it here. My husband gets out soon and I am even trying to convince him to stay here for a few years as a civilian because I like it

GOOD 4 U MS HOS, IM GLAD TO HEAR THAT, AND EL PASO WELCOMES YOU WITH OPEN ARMS IF YOU DECIDE TO STAY HERE PERMANENTLY OR TEMPORARILY!!!!

[abbyk]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I were informed yesterday that we will be moving to Bliss as well! I am already on the waiting list for housing and just hope that I can get a home shortly after arriving. We're #117!

We're moving from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and will hopefully sell our home before PCSing...don't want to make 2 payments! Anyone PCSing here and looking to buy? lol!

We were at Fort Polk, Louisiana before here and still haven't seen what most people refer to as a "real base". But, I do have an open mind and am looking forward to a new environment, and getting to use my Spanish!

A friend of mine is currently there, until June, and also said that the on-post schools are good. I was wondering if any of you knew how early you could register your children for this coming school year? I heard there may be a waiting list?

We should be arriving in July, to get there early to allow my eldest child time to adapt before starting kindergarten!

Thank you for your time!
Abby

[southernbliss]

I know there is a waiting list for homes but not for the schools on post so I can not help you there sorry, I know that there are more and more kids showing up everyday but at the same time there are a lot of people leaving also.
because we came in the middle of the school year we just waited for the 1st day of school to open back up, the only thing I can tell you is when you get here take the kids to make sure there shots are updated due to being so close to the border they have to have more shots other then that it was not that big of a deal.
do you know what side of post you will be on yet? that will tell you what school your kids will go to.
good luck with you move, I am sure everything will be fine.