Moving to Knoxville area (Oak Ridge, Maryville: low crime, best schools, universities)

[blndhlywd]

My husband and I are possibly looking to move to the Knoxville area but don't know much about the area. We're concerned about crime and schools and jobs.
Any advise would be appreciated!

Deb

[TedTAce]

Originally Posted by blndhlywd

My husband and I are possibly looking to move to the Knoxville area but don't know much about the area. We're concerned about crime and schools and jobs.
Any advise would be appreciated!

Deb

I suggest by starting to read the pages for knox at this site, then google knoxville and the categories you are concerned about. Watch the local news over the web, that helps.

[Mytown]

A lot is relative depending on where you are moving from. In general Knoxville has a low crime rate and decent schools. Personally, I don't want to live any where else.

[roselover772]

I really liked Knoxville. It reminded me of Providence RI in terms of old brick buildings and the UT adds a great deal of prestige and interesting people. Traffic seemed to just about stop after 6 or 7 and even when it was "busy" ( and there is traffic in the city), it was tolerable. However that will increase and become a pain in a few years. Nice housing hidden away off the main streets. Schools are good and the area seemed very clean - actually the entire state seems clean. YEAH

[john t]

Hi blndhlywd,

There are no Knoxville schools ranked in the top 1000, yes thats right no Knoxville schools in the top ONE THOUSAND. We were appalled when we found out. It's hard to believe but the highest ranked Knoxville school is Farragut ranked at 1186, meaning there are 1185 better choices for schools in the country. Second highest Knox school was West at 1206. Nearby Oak Ridge had the only East TN school in the top 1000 at 582. These are the only schools in all of East TN that were ranked at all. There are much better choices if you want a really good education for your children. Here's one link to some data. America's Top Public High Schools - Newsweek America's Best High Schools - MSNBC.com

I have more research sources that I will pull out for you as well.

[Mytown]

How many schools are there in the country? If there are 10's of thousands wouldn't 1185 be in a pretty high percentile? I know Farragut a couple of years was nominated as one the President's top 100 blue ribbon schools of the year. My kids went there and they are doing quite well, thank you very much and got full scholarships to good universities and now have excellent jobs. I am satisfied.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by roselover772

I really liked Knoxville. It reminded me of Providence RI in terms of old brick buildings and the UT adds a great deal of prestige and interesting people. Traffic seemed to just about stop after 6 or 7 and even when it was "busy" ( and there is traffic in the city), it was tolerable. However that will increase and become a pain in a few years. Nice housing hidden away off the main streets. Schools are good and the area seemed very clean - actually the entire state seems clean. YEAH

Providence, Rhode Island? I don't agree. The nice housing is riddled with inner city problems. There are very little "local" restaurants, and the New England cuisine. The beach is at least ten hours away.

It doesn't remind of Providence at all.

[sliverbox]

I think some of you who are so dead-set on having the BEST schools for your kids are perhaps reading way too much into these reports. My mom has taught in the Knox County School system for over 35 years, in 5 schools, and frankly most of the schools in Knox county are considered very good with the exception of some of the inner city schools. Many of these even offer vocational and pre-college programs.

I am a product of Knox County schools. So is my dad,brother,grandmother and Aunt. We're all doing pretty well for ourselves and turned out just fine. So will your kids unless they don't want to. Don't believe all the hoop-la over the best this and best that. if you do, you're going to be spending a small fortune just so that lil' Junior can go to the BEST school in the country.

[john t]

I only said that there are 1185 better rated schools than Knoxville's best rated school Farragut.

If you look through the list you'll find many better choices in southern cities with low cost of living and good wages.

We have been researching and were actually shocked at the low scores. If you work with your kids and they're bright, they'll do fine anywhere. Some people only want to paint a perfect picture of Knoxville, but if you study the data you can make a better informed choice of where to move.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by john t

I only said that there are 1185 better rated schools than Knoxville's best rated school Farragut.

If you look through the list you'll find many better choices in southern cities with low cost of living and good wages.

We have been researching and were actually shocked at the low scores. If you work with your kids and they're bright, they'll do fine anywhere. Some people only want to paint a perfect picture of Knoxville, but if you study the data you can make a better informed choice of where to move.

Hear Hear! Excellent post. We moved out of the Knox County (Farragut) schools to Maryville. While Maryville isn't perfect (what is?) we are much happier with the schools here than Farragut. I am personal friends with several teachers and principals in the Knox Co school system and they wring their hands with their frustrations with the system. As the previous poster mentioned, doing your research and making informed choices is the way to go. I do think that it is a very individual choice and I wish you, and everyone, the best.