Lancaster issues (York, Elizabethtown, Columbia: real estate, car insurance, house)

[meandb]

Can anyone tell me what areas where the Amish don't live - no personal problem, just want to avoid driving around buggies and tourism traffic West side?

Car insurance costs? Utilities?

I hear schools are decent - Hempsfield, Manheim Township - umm, how "fast" are these kids growing up - I was just in Florida and have heard scary things like oral sex on the middle school buses, sex in general by 8th grade, problems with myspace (parents don't know what kids are into and writing about, sexual predators online etc.) Drugs? Alcohol? Respect for authority? How are the schools in Mount Joy/Marietta - I read "average".

Any info on neighborhoods, where to avoid, lower taxed up and coming areas etc. is appreciated... Thanks!

[shcoop]

Mount Joy would be either Elizabethtown or Donegal school districts. Both are pretty good, I sub teach in the county and have subbed at both these school districts. Donegal is a bit better, higher qualified teachers. E-Town as everyone calls it is a lower paid school district which tends to get lower qualified teachers but not much different.
If you worry about avoiding Amish Buggies you should learn to slow down. The Amish are the best Neighbors anyone could wish to have and if your conserned about Kids having sex or drugs and alcohol in the community you should think again about what a positive influence the Amish could be on your kids. The Amish have a very high Moral and ethical standard and are a good influence on everyone in our community. They work hard and have great faimly values. More people should learn to respect them, and that means you slow down for buggies and give them room. It's a truly a kinder gentler way of life. The "plain" peoples of Lancaster county co-exsist with us of the modern hi-tech lifestyle. Slowing down when you drive could have an added benifit, it could save your life, to many people speed.
I was a full time teacher in Floridia for three years and I can tell you from experience that there is far more sex, drugs and alcohol in the school in FLA than here in Lancaster. I sub teach in Manhiem HS and MS a great deal and it is clearly the best school district in the county. With the highest academic standards and the best teachers it ranks with many of the best public school in the whole country. But of course Manheim township has the highest priced Real estate to go along with that so I hope you can aford to live there.
Good luck.
Scoop

Originally Posted by meandb

Can anyone tell me what areas where the Amish don't live - no personal problem, just want to avoid driving around buggies and tourism traffic West side?

Car insurance costs? Utilities?

I hear schools are decent - Hempsfield, Manheim Township - umm, how "fast" are these kids growing up - I was just in Florida and have heard scary things like oral sex on the middle school buses, sex in general by 8th grade, problems with myspace (parents don't know what kids are into and writing about, sexual predators online etc.) Drugs? Alcohol? Respect for authority? How are the schools in Mount Joy/Marietta - I read "average".

Any info on neighborhoods, where to avoid, lower taxed up and coming areas etc. is appreciated... Thanks!

[amsm196]

Schoop,

I agree and i'm not even living in Lancaster county! I'm originally from NY currently in Las Vegas but considering a move to Lancaster. And i agree 1005 i see the Amish as very polite and great neighbors to have, they were in Lancaster long before most if not all of us, so if anything if one doesnt like them or wants to avoid them, then Lancaster should not be the area to move to!

And sex and drugs could be anywhere, but yeah it seems that Lancaster county is doing a better job with the school systems compared to many other states. Here in Vegas its alot worse where i came from on Long Island NY.

Thanks

Originally Posted by shcoop

Mount Joy would be either Elizabethtown or Donegal school districts. Both are pretty good, I sub teach in the county and have subbed at both these school districts. Donegal is a bit better, higher qualified teachers. E-Town as everyone calls it is a lower paid school district which tends to get lower qualified teachers but not much different.
If you worry about avoiding Amish Buggies you should learn to slow down. The Amish are the best Neighbors anyone could wish to have and if your conserned about Kids having sex or drugs and alcohol in the community you should think again about what a positive influence the Amish could be on your kids. The Amish have a very high Moral and ethical standard and are a good influence on everyone in our community. They work hard and have great faimly values. More people should learn to respect them, and that means you slow down for buggies and give them room. It's a truly a kinder gentler way of life. The "plain" peoples of Lancaster county co-exsist with us of the modern hi-tech lifestyle. Slowing down when you drive could have an added benifit, it could save your life, to many people speed.
I was a full time teacher in Floridia for three years and I can tell you from experience that there is far more sex, drugs and alcohol in the school in FLA than here in Lancaster. I sub teach in Manhiem HS and MS a great deal and it is clearly the best school district in the county. With the highest academic standards and the best teachers it ranks with many of the best public school in the whole country. But of course Manheim township has the highest priced Real estate to go along with that so I hope you can aford to live there.
Good luck.
Scoop

[meandb]

Great to hear about the schools - we'll see what we can find at what we can afford.

I would love to have my kids right smack in the middle of amish neighborhoods for their influence - the driving issue is related to what I've heard several times - that other folks are often in a hurry and then come passing buggies in your lane head on taking risks - what I'd like to generally avoid. Especially in tourist season with many more on the road. What towns are they located in? A few here and there is no problem, but I wouldn't live in Bird-in-Hand or Paradise.

What can you tell me about Mount Joy and the schools there? College bound kids? Level-headed teenagers? Sounds like Lancaster county has a pretty good reputation...

[amsm196]

Where are you moving from? That might help others give you an idea what to expect from Life in Lancaster compared to your area.

Also if your looking for work, that's the one thing I was told could be an issue, well at least some have told me that. Some said the job market is not so hot there, others e-mailed me and said Lancaster is growing and growing with new jobs and businesses.

Originally Posted by meandb

Great to hear about the schools - we'll see what we can find at what we can afford.

I would love to have my kids right smack in the middle of amish neighborhoods for their influence - the driving issue is related to what I've heard several times - that other folks are often in a hurry and then come passing buggies in your lane head on taking risks - what I'd like to generally avoid. Especially in tourist season with many more on the road. What towns are they located in? A few here and there is no problem, but I wouldn't live in Bird-in-Hand or Paradise.

What can you tell me about Mount Joy and the schools there? College bound kids? Level-headed teenagers? Sounds like Lancaster county has a pretty good reputation...

[meandb]

Well, I'm originally from Long Island, went to college in Ohio (loved being in the sticks!)...we are now relocating from Austria after 10 years here. We live in a little village (less than 1000 people) about 3 miles from a town of 50,000 - and this is my ideal location (not the people, but the place). When/if my kids are late coming home (all walking from elementary school), they are petting cows or picking cherries. Their classes are 15 kids max (this is not the norm, but because we are on the Slovenian border, mixed languages...) It is a gorgeous farm area, surrounded by mountains, river down the road, as safe as safe gets.

We love the country, (but being a mom, don't either like to drive miles and miles to get to stores, doctors etc.). Love rural attitudes and work ethic, respect, discipline, gardening... Not crazy about kids growing up too fast, tv, movies, electronics etc. There's a time and a place for all that, but really would like our family to have a good appreciation for the outdoors, and be prepared well for their futures. I think Lancaster is the right county??

M husband is self-employed out of the home, so really, it doesn't matter much what the job situation is, although I am a nurse, and hope to return part time in 4-5 years or so.

Is it me, or isn't there much more to a school than test scores? It seems like looking at school ratings, there is (obviously) a big emphasis on grades, but if there is no parent review written, it is very hard to get a good picture of the "climate". What can anyone tell me about character, discipline, behavior, safety, cleanliness/order, activities etc. about the following:

Hempfield, Manheim township, Donegal, Warwick, Manheim Central, Conestoga Valley, or Columbia districts... If I had to guess, I'd say at least 2 of my 3 children are college bound, no learning disabilities etc. Where might we fit? Any place to specifically avoid? The towns that feed into these districts?

Thanks in advance!

[amsm196]

Hi Meanb,

Wow from Long Island like us, thats cool! What town? We are from Huntington & East Meadow, been in Las Vegas Nevada since 1996 and now we have 2 very young children and we are looking to move more for them then us, thats for sure.

Lancaster sounds ok from what i'm reading, some things bother me though. Like many poeple told me that there are many, many lay offs taking place in Lancaster county and that usually means the homes will depreciate and where will these people work?

Anway I agree going by the scores of grades is not much info at all, some schools in California have awesome grades yet they are only minutes from the gang areas, same here in Vegas, we live in a very nice area, the school 4 mins from our house rates well, yet 5 mins down the road is a well known gang area.

Since i'm not from Lancaster i can only say what others told me and what i read. The only 2 areas we were told by many to avoid were "Lancaster City" and the " Columbia district" due to crime, again thats just what i read and was told by people who live there now or once have.

I'm in the casino industry here in Vegas, so when i meet people from states we are considering a move to i ask them tons of questions, and thats where i get alot of info from. Sometimes its very accurate.

I'm hoping more locals who currently live in Lancaster County start to respond to this post, we could use the input from some locals.

Calling all Lancaster locals- please give us all the info

Thanks

Originally Posted by meandb

Well, I'm originally from Long Island, went to college in Ohio (loved being in the sticks!)...we are now relocating from Austria after 10 years here. We live in a little village (less than 1000 people) about 3 miles from a town of 50,000 - and this is my ideal location (not the people, but the place). When/if my kids are late coming home (all walking from elementary school), they are petting cows or picking cherries. Their classes are 15 kids max (this is not the norm, but because we are on the Slovenian border, mixed languages...) It is a gorgeous farm area, surrounded by mountains, river down the road, as safe as safe gets.

We love the country, (but being a mom, don't either like to drive miles and miles to get to stores, doctors etc.). Love rural attitudes and work ethic, respect, discipline, gardening... Not crazy about kids growing up too fast, tv, movies, electronics etc. There's a time and a place for all that, but really would like our family to have a good appreciation for the outdoors, and be prepared well for their futures. I think Lancaster is the right county??

M husband is self-employed out of the home, so really, it doesn't matter much what the job situation is, although I am a nurse, and hope to return part time in 4-5 years or so.

Is it me, or isn't there much more to a school than test scores? It seems like looking at school ratings, there is (obviously) a big emphasis on grades, but if there is no parent review written, it is very hard to get a good picture of the "climate". What can anyone tell me about character, discipline, behavior, safety, cleanliness/order, activities etc. about the following:

Hempfield, Manheim township, Donegal, Warwick, Manheim Central, Conestoga Valley, or Columbia districts... If I had to guess, I'd say at least 2 of my 3 children are college bound, no learning disabilities etc. Where might we fit? Any place to specifically avoid? The towns that feed into these districts?

Thanks in advance!

[meandb]

Hi fellow Long Islander!

You know, I thought I'd lost a lot of my LI ways until I was recently in Tennessee - oh my, I am still a northern girl! Glad to hear of other NYers in the area. I no longer have my accent (unless talking on the phone to family in Brooklyn - then it comes right back!), but do still appreciate no-nonsense straight-forward thinking/relating.

I'm from Bohemia, but had lots of friends on the north shore - Smithtown/Northport. Have you been there in awhile - it's changed quite a bit.

Anyway, I'm with you - would appreciate if you get info you could share! We have friends (Americans living in Italy) who are originally from the Lancaster area, and he recently called a friend of his who is a realtor in the York area - supposedly this contact said if you want better appreciation on your home, stick with Lancaster county. We had been looking at York, but wanted maybe a bit more "progressive thinking", so are now looking more intently at Lancaster. I can't visit until summer - wish I could get a better feel for it.

OK - let's shake the trees a bit - I'll post again for the schools. Keep the Lancaster threads going!

[shcoop]

I too am originaly from Long Island, I grew up in Huntington and went to Half Hollow Hills schools. Which I honestly believed were the BEST public schools anywhere. I now live in the city of Lancaster, and sub teach all over the county. So I know the schools fairly well. But I don't know the housing market ( I don't own a house ) except what my friend who is a real estate agent tells me. Schools in the city of Lancaster are at the lowest academic standard in the area. I wish I could say there was some reason for this except that many people in the city of Lancaster are Poor and not well educated, as such the faimly situation is not good in the city and the kids don't have any insentive to work in school. They have no faimly role models who value education and so they don't care about school. So thier grades are poor and they have to lowest graduation rate in the county. THIS IS THE EXCEPTION in the couty not the rule. Many of the subburban school districts in the county are very good. And YES Grades are a good indication of how good a school is. Schools with high academic standards have fewer behavor problems, less drugs and alcohol, better teachers, and in general better students with stronger faimlys who value education more highly. These are the kinds of places both you and I want to send our kids to school.
SHC

[shcoop]

How old are your kids? I teach in MT Joy at Donegal HS, and this week I subbed at Donegal Springs Elementary school. Springs Elem. is a new state of the art school building about 5 years old, with excellent computers and nice classrooms. The donegal HS is getting old and needs soem updateing.
There are good solid accademic programs in Donegal district and many highly qualified teachers.