[GiGi81]

my husband accepted a job in Battle Creek Mi. We don't know anything about MI and need some help. We are having our first child and we would like to move to a safe area that has great schools. Anyone have any advice as to where we should focus our search (b/c his job is located in battle creek, we'd need to be 15 to 30 mins from there or closer).

thank you in advance.

[Bydand]

Marshall or Gull Lake come immediately to mind. Marshall has a very good school system. There are several other outlaying towns that are nice as well, but it has been a while since I was living down there so I will let others chime in on the other places.

[magellan]

Portage, South of Kalamazoo?

[michigan83]

I think the Lakeview school district has a good reputation. Lakeview school district is the area just to the south of Battle Creek.

[Bydand]

I forgot about Lakeview, that had a very good reputation when I was down there.

[Coldjensens]

Marshall is a really neat little town. We go out of our way to stop there for lunch or dinner and walk around a bit when we are in the area. The townsfolk and shop owners are freindly and very happy to tlak about life in Marshal and most are very positive. We looked at moving there a while back but it was too far away from DTW for us. Our other concerns were: the schools are good but not great and there are a limited number of things to do in the area, especially for kids/teens (bowling and fishing appear to be the major pasttimes - but there is a river for canoing, kayaking; lots of open areas to explore and Battle Creek, Jackson, Lansing and ann Arbor are not too far away). On the plus side the town is quaint and wonderful, the housing stock is unparalleled, and the commnity is active and cohesive. I particularly love the history in Marshal. They did not tear everything down and replace it with junk.

Marshal is the only town we considered that far west. the next closest we know anything about is Chelsea which is also fabulous, perhaps more so, but too far away for you.

[leadsquirter]

I'd recommend the Richland area in the Gull Lake School district. They always have high test scores and is an easy drive to Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.

[GiGi81]

Thank you so much! We'll narrow our search there. I'll come back with any specific questions so I can have unbiased responses. Thanks so very much!!

[ckhthankgod]

Pennfield Schools just north of Battle Creek may work, as well as Harper Creek schools just south and east of the city.

[beachmouse]

If you like historic homes, Marshall really has some cool options.

However, wherever you end up, I'd be careful about small boats in the Kalamazoo River, which still has significant pollution issues even after repeated attempts to clean up the worst of it.