Help relocating to Jackson, MS area (Brandon, Madison: houses, transfer, neighborhood)

[Sierratipper]

Definitely consider the Reservoir/Brandon area. My husband and I relocated here 2.5 years ago, and we are so pleased that we chose this location. Good schools...growing area...beautiful Reservoir!

[Anne5]

Try Ridgeland and Madison for nice $500,000 homes, good schools, good recreation activities, not too far from the city (!) of Jackson, with fine museums, lots of art and super music from blues to symphony. To fit in, be reticent about criticizing (though natives feel free to do that), but be ready to volunteer time and service to the many non-profits, charities and churches. If you want to know more about anything that interests you, you can sign up for classes in anything from sailing and jewelry making to physics and foreign languages. There are folk art groups, computer interest groups, church groups, civil rights groups, and at least seven colleges, universities and seminaries in the immediate area. We moved here almost six years ago, and have found wonderfully wise, funny, intelligent, and interesting people. Just be ready to listen to their stories before you tell your own. We were immediately accepted into some groups and moved on from groups where we found little in common. No problem.

[MSbound]

I too am moving to the Jackson area and haave few questions. Which areas (Madison, Ridgeland or Brandon) have the best public middle and high schools. Which of these areas would be the best to purchase a home in the $300,000 price range? I would really like something in a developement with a community pool and close in to shopping. My husband's new job is in Flowood. Why do so many people put their children in private schools in the Jackson area? Is it due to poor public schools or they just prefer private schools? I really need help in where to look for a house.

[MSbound]

Originally Posted by Sierratipper

Definitely consider the Reservoir/Brandon area. My husband and I relocated here 2.5 years ago, and we are so pleased that we chose this location. Good schools...growing area...beautiful Reservoir!

If you don't mind my asking, do you live in a subdivision, and if so what do you like or dislike about it?

To everyone who lives in the Jackson area, if you were just moving to this area, what area would you pick and why?

[Terry37]

Originally Posted by MSbound

I too am moving to the Jackson area and haave few questions. Which areas (Madison, Ridgeland or Brandon) have the best public middle and high schools. Which of these areas would be the best to purchase a home in the $300,000 price range? I would really like something in a developement with a community pool and close in to shopping. My husband's new job is in Flowood. Why do so many people put their children in private schools in the Jackson area? Is it due to poor public schools or they just prefer private schools? I really need help in where to look for a house.

I am interested in this as well. What are the names of the elementary, middle and high schools?

[auntbee]

Flowood Elementary is the only elementary actually in Flowood, but it's a good school. All the schools at the Reservoir are good. Northshore and Oakdale are the elementaries. (They're also building a new one on Lakeland Dr, Hwy 25). The Middle school and high school are both called Northwest Rankin. My grandkids go to them and my daughter is very pleased. You don't need to go to private school in that area.

Two good subdivisions that have pools are Bay Pointe and Castlewoods. Fox Bay is nice too. Actually there are a lot of nice subdivisions in that area, but I'm not sure which ones have pools. You should be able to find a house in the $300,000 range in any of these areas.

[SashaBlue]

Originally Posted by Terry37

I am interested in this as well. What are the names of the elementary, middle and high schools?

For elementary, you cannot do better than the Madison School District. Madison Avenue Elementary being number one, closely following behind are Madison Station, and Madison Crossing. Everyone, but everyone, who wants their kids to have the best in public school education relocates to Madison when their kids become school age. My husband is a subcontractor for many of the schools (including Brandon and Northwest Rankin), and he says that the Madison kids are a "cut above" in behavior, courtesy, and politeness. He says that the Rankin schools have more "hoodlums" than the Madison schools. This is something to consider as kids' friends and peers have such an effect on them these days.

In Ridgeland, Old Towne Elementary is first class, however, Ridgeland High School has much to be desired. Madison Central High Schools is the best, so if you live in Ridgeland, be sure that you are in the Madison Central district.

Good luck!

[SashaBlue]

Originally Posted by Terry37

I am interested in this as well. What are the names of the elementary, middle and high schools?

Terry37, to be honest, most people who put their kids in private schools do so to be a "big shot". Jackson Public Schools are severely lacking; however, most kids who attend private schools are from the Madison, Ridgeland, Brandon, Flowood area where the public schools are acceptable. It's a "big shot" thing... just to be completely honest.

[SashaBlue]

Originally Posted by Anne5

Try Ridgeland and Madison for nice $500,000 homes, good schools, good recreation activities, not too far from the city (!) of Jackson, with fine museums, lots of art and super music from blues to symphony. To fit in, be reticent about criticizing (though natives feel free to do that), but be ready to volunteer time and service to the many non-profits, charities and churches. If you want to know more about anything that interests you, you can sign up for classes in anything from sailing and jewelry making to physics and foreign languages. There are folk art groups, computer interest groups, church groups, civil rights groups, and at least seven colleges, universities and seminaries in the immediate area. We moved here almost six years ago, and have found wonderfully wise, funny, intelligent, and interesting people. Just be ready to listen to their stories before you tell your own. We were immediately accepted into some groups and moved on from groups where we found little in common. No problem.

You can even buy nice 3/2 or 4/2 homes in Ridgeland or Madison for $215k. Check out subdivisions like Trace Ridge, Madison Crossing, Shadowood, Wendover, Dinsmore, etc.

[SashaBlue]

Originally Posted by Jackson Supporter

If you are relocating to Jackson, explore areas in Jackson and Hinds County first. Everyone here is trying to run to Madison. It is the Collierville effect. Sounds familiar? I used to live in Germantown. Jackson has nice properties in Northeast Jackson. Suburbs in Hinds County that are well respected are Byram, Clinton, Raymond, and Terry. The Jackson Public School District is outstanding!! Most high schools have Advanced Placement and Jim Hill offers the International Baccalaureate program. The IB program is similar to AP. However, the students are required to complete 150 community service hours before graduation, write a 4000 word essay on a defined topic, and succeed academically. The point I am trying to make is that a school is a school. It is what your child puts into their academic preparation which makes them successful.

Yes, I agree. Terry High School is good and so are the Clinton Public Schools. Clinton is a very nice community, and so is Terry; however, Terry is more rural. It just depends on what you are looking for.