Possible Move to LA? Possible areas (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: waterpark, crime, neighborhood)

[AngieMc26]

We are possibly moving to LA. It will be either Shreveport, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans/Mandeville. We have school age kids. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about any of those areas and the school districts. Any other information on theses areas would be helpful.

[California Dreaming]

Originally Posted by AngieMc26

We are possibly moving to LA. It will be either Shreveport, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans/Mandeville. We have school age kids. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about any of those areas and the school districts. Any other information on theses areas would be helpful.

I live close to Mandeville, The school district is very good from what I have heard from friends. New Orleans and Baton Rouge, I would not suggest. Unless you're looking at private schooling.

[IloveNOLA]

Originally Posted by AngieMc26

We are possibly moving to LA. It will be either Shreveport, Baton Rouge, or New Orleans/Mandeville. We have school age kids. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about any of those areas and the school districts. Any other information on theses areas would be helpful.

The public schools in New Orleans are overall really bad, except for rare schools like Ben Franklin High, which is the top rated public high school in the state. Most of the students attend private schools, usually Catholic. Some of the schools, like Jesuit and Newman, have good reputations that are known around the country. The public schools in Jefferson are a little better than Orleans. St. Tammany, where Mandeville is located,has excellent public schools. St. Charles Parish, another New Orleans suburb, also has a good public school system.

Shreveport's public schools are overall bad. Bossier's schools are much better, and Bossier has a much higher quality of life than Shreveport.

Baton Rouge's public schools are also bad. The Zachary system, which was carved out of Baton Rouge, is tops in the state.

Here is each school district's performance score ranking in 2004-2005. These were the last rankings before Katrina. http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/8604.pdf

Zachary Community School District-ranked first.
St. Tammany-ranked second.
St. Charles-ranked 8th.
Bossier-ranked 15th
West Baton Rouge-ranked 29th.
Caddo-ranked 44th.
Jefferson-ranked 53rd.
East Baton Rouge-ranked 56th.
Orleans-ranked 67th.

[AngieMc26]

Thanks for the info.!!! Hopefully, we will get more specific information on where we are going this week.

[Caa]

Just a little note to you-we have l ived in Baton Rouge for 3 years and love it. it changed a bit after the hurricanes, but overall, has almost gotten back to normal as far as traffic etc. We have a 4 year old daughter that loves it here as well. There are many activities for children including gymnastics, all types of sports, many summer camps to choose from and so many play places I cannot even think of them all. Also we have Blue Bayou a family waterpark that is a lot of fun. AS far as schools, our child attends a private school and we would cut off our right arm to keep her in private. Public schools here are terrible as far as I have heard, but have never truly looked into them as we knew private was for us. LSU is here and that keeps a lot of kids busy in sports related activities and I have never seen such polite children than here in Louisiana-especially Baton Rouge(we moved from Florid and the kids there are not the same!) I wish you luck in your search. Also a great family neighborhood in bR is Woodridge, I would high,y recommend that area as we have 2 sets of friends that live there and we are moving there ourselves. it is a very family and pet friendly neighborhood! Good Luck to you!

[Caa]

I have afriend that lives in Mandeville and she said it is more crowded than Baton Rouge and a lot of very rude people there now compared to before Katrina-just and FYI

[AngieMc26]

Public schools are probably the only way can go. We have a child with Special Education issues, ADD and APD. It took us several years to get her a special education plan here in VA. The other child seems to be GREAT education wise but there is no way we can afford private for both, plus independant services we need for our daughter with the above mentioned disabilities. Does anyone know anything about Special Education in LA - speech/language, etc.? Thanks so much!!! I hope we know where we are going this week. I also, hope everyone is as friendly in LA as on this site. Thanks again!!!!!

[CindyM]

With a special needs child you'll need to research carefully. I know someone who is struggling right now with the public school system in Denham Springs (20 miles from Baton Rouge). They insist on mainstreaming her 7 year old son who has various learning disabilities. The teachers aren't equipped to handle children like that and when they disrupt class they're sent home. So much for education.

There is a school in Baton Rouge for special needs children, but it's expensive and I know nothing about it's track record.

Hope Academy of Baton Rouge (http://hopeacademybr.org/m_28.asp - broken link)

[bentonhomes]

Bossier Parish schools are great...I have one in middle and one in elementary. I am also familiar with some special needs teachers in the system. If you move to Bossier or Benton, I will be glad to put you in touch with them. Let me know if I can be of any help.

[SunnyJeep]

Shreveport schools are bad, bad, bad. And New Orleans is much worse. If you do chance move to New Orleans, I highly suggest putting your child into a private school there. It's worth the trouble.

Over all, if you have kids, and you're looking to move for their sake, I highly suggest moving to somewhere like Keithville (suburb/Shreveport) or some place like Ruston/Monroe. The crime is far less, and the schools are much safer.