South Louisiana ?s (Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Baker: home, rent, cost of living)

[ananth]

I am planning on doing Teach for America (Teach For America - Home) in a couple of years. I want to do it in one of the rural regions so I could become more connected to the students and communities. One of the rural region placement sites is in South Louisiana. Baton Rouge is one the cities which is in the region. I would teach/live in one of the following school districts/counties:

East Baton Rouge Parish Schools
East Feliciana Parish Schools
St. Helena Parish School System
St. Landry Parish Schools

If anyone out there lives near or in one of these school districts/counties and could tell me what its like to live there, cost of living, things to do and other general info it would be much appreciated

[darylwi]

Well, Baton Rouge is far from being rural. Maybe you're talking about the outlying areas surrounding the city itself.
I have gathered that East Feliciana and St. Helena have poor schools along with much of EBR. To note: EBR has split into several smaller districts (Baker, Zachary and Central) while EBR still has most of the city schools. Not all are poor quality but most are.
If you're not from Louisiana, you would probably do better living within the city where it is somewhat more cosmopolitan. Some small towns open up easily to outsiders, but some don't. Cost of living is a lot less in the rural areas (although some areas have higher utilities, i.e. Plaquemine). Rent is higher in Baton Rouge now. Expect to pay $600+ for a decent place, much higher for any amenities.
St. Landry is north of Lafayette, so if you head that way, that's a whole different area. Don't plan to commute back and forth across the basin if you don't have to.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by darylwi

Don't plan to commute back and forth across the basin if you don't have to.

That's the best advice I've ever seen given.

I hate driving between Lafayette and Baton Rouge with a passion.