Moving to Warner Robins...need info! (Macon, Perry: renting, buying a house, transfer)

[ckmixon]

My husband is in the Air Force, and we are being transferred to Robins AFB. I have a daughter in middle school and one in elementary school. We are trying to decide whether we want to live in base housing or buy our own house. Ultimately, the schools will be the deciding factor. If we live in base housing, what schools will my children go to? What do you consider the best middle and elementary schools? Also, my oldest is a cheerleader. Is competition cheerleading big in the middle schools? Which is the best?

Thanks so much for any information you can share!!!

[ckmixon]

If anyone has any information, I'd appreciate it.

[LovinDecatur]

Originally Posted by ckmixon

If anyone has any information, I'd appreciate it.

I suggest doing a forum search keywording 'Warner Robins'...there have been plenty of threads on here about Warner Robins and its' schools that I've seen. My impression is that posters generally consider the schools to be superior to Macon's, for what that's worth.

[johncobb]

I am somewhat familiar with base housing. They used to have off base housing through an independent contractor, then they closed that down - I guess it didn't work out as well as they planned (Hunnington Village). I'm not positive but I think on base housing goes to Warner Robins High School, but I'm not sure about the elementary or middle school. It probably works the same as everyone else - you have to look at the Houston County School map at Zone Maps of School Districts

Favorite elementary schools are lake joy, perdue. Favorite middle schools are bonaire, feagin mill, and mossy creek. Favorite of the majority of people are Warner Robins and Houston County.

[BuckeyeGal]

We have been assigned at Robins for 13 years now. We bought a home. Base housing at Robins AFB is privatized now. You'd be better off renting or buying. Here is a website for you. As far as schools, my kids have been out for quite a while. I'm no help there.

Robins AFB, GA Housing Relocation Information

[matcha]

There's an elementary school on base, and I'm pretty sure there's a middle school on base as well. I never attended, or lived on base but I was friends with a number of base kids. My friends family ended up waiting until their youngest children were out of middle school before moving off base and into a home and sending their children to Northside High School.

[TheJagMan]

There are three school districts, segmented basically by south, inbetween and north...No disrespect to anyone, speaking from a DEMAND standpoint, the most sought after district is in the south. I'd also consider Bonaire...Staying on base may not be a bad idea to get acclimated to the area...I would avoid buying a house in middle unless you plan on staying here for a while, plan on renting out (and understand the risk that you may not find a tentant) or find a great foreclousure...Also I strongly recommend looking into Bonaire, it's one town over and about a half mile from the base's 2nd most popular gate...

[schnowzerz]

Originally Posted by TheJagMan

There are three school districts, segmented basically by south, inbetween and north...No disrespect to anyone, speaking from a DEMAND standpoint, the most sought after district is in the south. I'd also consider Bonaire...

Yes, sought after by people with racist tendencies. Only now, it doesn't matter, because black people are moving south too. This above message was a direct slap to Northside High School, which is the school I chose for my kids to go to. Most of the teachers teaching in Houston county went to NHS. NHS packs them in at one act plays, football games and debate competitions because they WIN...consistently. Yes, there is a small percentage of economically disadvantaged people that go there, and yes, it is a title one school because of that,but does that make it a bad school? NO! My daughter graduated with HONORS and enjoyed every minute there. My son starts next year and cannot wait to be an eagle. If you want MASSIVE traffic congestion, uppity attitude, class warfare, snobs, lots of drugs, and fighting, then yes, Houston County High is the school for you. I know folks who have children there, and the cover ups made to hide what REALLY goes on in that school is amazing! Vandalism on cars in the parking lots, drug deals in the halls, sexual assaults...yep....you won't read about it either, because the big wigs don't want to sully Hoco's brilliant reputation. Have you ever driven down Hwy 96 after 4 pm? How about Houston Lake Road? Give it a shot. It will take you 45 mins to go to the base if you work there. My husband gets there in less than ten via Dunbar Road. Your choice. Bear in mind the number 1 reason people 'think' Houston County High and Mossy Creek, Bonaire et al are superior to the other schools, is the black/white ratio. Plain and simple.

[TheJagMan]

Originally Posted by schnowzerz

Yes, sought after by people with racist tendencies. Only now, it doesn't matter, because black people are moving south too. This above message was a direct slap to Northside High School,

You got it all wrong, I said DEMAND and did not say "quality of education"...

With the OP's spouse being military, uncle sam can tell them they're moving to another base at any given time...In the event they buy a house, you want the best odds to sell that house quickly...

[schnowzerz]

Well, we all know why the 'demand' is for....

I CHOSE the northern part of the county because I have WOODS in my backyard. I have no neighbors behind me, just deer and trees. LOVE IT. I have no traffic to speak of...only the Centerville folks returning home from the base via Elberta Road and Dunbar/Carl Vinson. Even then, it is minimal compared to the utter chaos on the southern corridor. We looked at houses down there and realized that the commute to work would be horrible. It has only gotten worse. The southern part of the county before you got to Perry used to be scenic and sprawl free, now it is ugly, slam full of cookie cutter homes with postage stamp yards. How that is 'desireable living' is beyond me. I love where I live. Quiet and most of the people here have lived here for a long time.

Back to the schools...I work for the BOE and I know the untold stories about Hoco. I just think it is pretty funny how the big wigs keep all the bad news hush hush, but heavens, get a kid from there to get a STAR scholarship and it is all over the paper and media!